• SPAM: [Vk1wia-news] WIA News, Text Edition

    From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Sep 23 01:33:54 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-09-25.mp3
    Text edition:


    2022 SEPTEMBER 25 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 SEPTEMBER 25 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    WIA IMMEADIATE PAST PRESIDENT AND CURRENT DIRECTOR GREG KELLY VK2GPK. -

    WIA SECRETARY VK8ZZ PETER CLEE

    THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA


    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.

    Well what a week, and STILL the war against the WIA goes on.

    I was taken to task why this news service did NOT carry the item
    from a splinter group... why not call a spade a spade and call it
    Rasa.. I was even by that clubs Treasurer last week basically to
    do a stop press!

    So why did it NOT appear on VK's mainstream news service?

    Mainly because it did not stack up - it was not ratified by our own
    President nor did it appear on WIA sites or ACMA site.

    A nice idea non the less to commemorate the passing of HRH Queen
    Elizabeth II by using AX but seeing through the innuendo it was clear
    to this lil 'baker baker' it was illegal.

    To those who received a copy of this suggestion via the WIA News
    broadcasters mailer I apologise, in some 20 plus years this was the
    first time someone posted to it a note other than something to do
    with the transmission of the news/JOTA/ RD contest.

    Those on FaceBook and in the WIA group should read the item put out
    several days ago by the WIA clarifying this illegality of using AX as
    suggested.

    www.facebook.com/wiavk

    Also the excellent post by Grant Willis VK5GR WIA stalwart - summed
    up the fiasco in a nutshell.

    So from Graham News Editor with a personal preface to news that IS
    news it's to WIA Secretary Peter Clee.




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    WIA Board Comment by Peter VK8ZZ

    Thanks Graham and good morning members and listeners.

    Our members are deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
    She has been the only head of state many Australian have known. Some
    of our members will also recall King George IV, the father of
    Queen Elizabeth.

    Queen Elizabeth II was the embodiment of grace, class, dignity, and
    strength. She left her mark on history and will be sadly missed.
    Our thoughts are with the all members of the Royal Family at this
    sad time.

    In Board Comment last week by WIA Board Member Steve Green VK2TSG,
    we are reviewing and reconstituting the functions of most of the WIA
    Groups and Committees. Some time ago we called for expressions of
    interest from members to join the WIA Education Committee. At the
    time we received a number of such expressions but need to expand the
    numbers to be included in this committee. Previously the Education
    Committee were involved as part of the ACMA Syllabus Review.

    The Board are currently reviewing the terms of reference for the
    WIA Education Committee and the board have several specific projects
    in mind for that committee to undertake, including that of the
    current syllabus review and also looking at future syllabus
    requirements. We would also like the committee to review current and
    future education material.

    We again request that any member who would like to join the
    WIA Education Committee should submit their EOI to the secretary and
    include a summary of their capabilities and experience applicable to
    the needs of such a committee.

    That email address is
    secretary@wia.org.au

    I am Peter Clee VK8ZZ, coming to you from Darwin in Australias
    north.





    This is WIA Director Greg VK2GPK.

    The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) is, as most of our news
    broadcast listeners are aware, is a volunteer based not-for-profit
    organisation that originated in 1910, over 112 years ago. The WIA is
    the sole Australian National organisation of radio amateurs
    recognised internationally by the IARU .

    In 2004 it transitioned to a single national organisation
    incorporated as a public company it had previously been a state
    based federated organisation with a federal committee consisting of
    state representatives. Interestingly this transition was primarily
    initiated following a formal request from the Australian spectrum
    regulator at that time. The spectrum regulator has had a number of
    names over the years and was originally called the PMG Radio Branch
    its current incarnation is called the Australian Communications
    and Media Authority or more commonly by its acronym the ACMA.

    So why did ACMAs predecessor want the multiple state (and territory)
    WIA organisations to transition to a single national peak body ?

    Because, in a nutshell, the regulator found it had become very
    difficult, if not impossible, to deal effectively with multiple
    organisations that couldnt agree on issues impacting the
    Radio Amateur Service. This lack of a single cohesive body for the
    Amateur Radio Service was exacerbated by legislative changes that
    were transforming the RadComm act around the time of the new
    millennium.

    In the last decade, the ACMA has been subject to year-on-year budget
    cuts euphemistically called by the politicians as efficiency
    dividends. This has led to a dramatic drop in staff numbers and in
    particular technical staff both in the office and in the field.
    Many senior executives over the years were actually radio amateurs
    and/or had a long association with dealing with the Amateur Radio
    Service, but over the last 4 or 5 years these staff have either
    retired or taken redundancy as part of the ongoing budget cuts.

    The move as a preferred option to a Class Licences by the ACMA is
    primarily, in the authors opinion, motived by savings to the ACMA
    rather than any tangible benefits to the AR community.

    This reduction in technical capability and any direct affiliation
    with the amateur cohort is negatively impacting us as radio amateurs,
    and the ACMA has become more dependent on getting advice through
    consultations. In fact the ACMA has itself contributed directly to
    making dealing with the radio community more difficult and divisive
    by giving seemingly unwarranted credibility to a splinter AR group
    with a comparatively small member base. In fact the ACMA actually
    mistakenly referred to them as an alternative peak body to the WIA,
    although they quickly walked this back.

    There are in fact far larger and far more representative AR groups
    such as ARNVIC, ARNSW and ALARA all of which are closely aligned
    to the WIA as affiliated clubs.

    This apparent recognition of an AR splinter group by the ACMA has
    led to a dj vu repeat of history for the ACMA in creating the
    same type of problem they sought to avoid in the early 2000s trying
    to deal with differing opinions with little common ground. In fact,
    the situation is much worse than before due to the constant vitriol
    and mis-information that emanates from the splinter group the ACMA
    has even had to issue public statements retracting false claims
    published by the splinter group.

    On another subject, the 2021 census data recorded a 19 per cent drop
    in volunteering since the last snapshot in 2016. The finding is
    backed up by more regular, in-depth social surveys done by the ABS.
    The number of Australians volunteering has reduced significantly in
    recent years. This is impacting the WIA, for instance, in the last
    few years we have had only enough nominations for director positions
    to actually require an election every other year plus we dont have
    an even distribution of directors from the various states and
    territories . The time for director nominations is coming up soon
    towards the end of the year if you think you have the skills to
    help manage and shape the future of the WIA and would like give back
    to the radio amateur community please consider nominating.

    I'm WIA Director and Immediate Past President Greg VK2GPK





    DISCUSSION POINT

    Hello, Im Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and Ive been thinking.

    This past week there was a certain confusion caused by messages put
    out that the AX prefix might be used as a memorial to Her Majesty.

    It was noted that this was contrary to our rule book, the LCDs and
    an inference was drawn that compliance action was not a priority by
    the ACMA. Apart from the fact that pirate operation would invalidate
    any claims for contacts submitted for awards it was the fact that
    the SPIRIT of our pursuit was being called into disrepute that
    worried many operators.

    We should not encourage the breach of the regulations under which we
    are licenced.

    It can be hoped that no supposedly sanctioned breaches are
    advertised in future. As a service we strive to be correct in our
    operations and not place our Regulator in an embarrassing position.

    Im Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and thats what I think....how about you?




    ----------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
    & the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    RTTY intruder

    Especially on the 40m band there are always radio services that have
    no place there, sometimes these are hard to recognise as intruders.

    This is the case for transmissions on 7080 kHz. At first glance it
    looks like a legal amateur radio RTTY signal. Taking a closer look
    it becomes clear that this particular FSK mode is not used in amateur
    radio. The speed is 50 baud with a shift of 200 Hz, instead of the
    typical 425 Hz shift. This method, called CIS-50-50, is used
    primarily by the Russian Navy.

    A similar emission can be observed on 7088 kHz.




    Radio amateurs are not afraid of a blackout

    Switzerland's USKA reports there are almost 4000 enthusiastic
    radio amateurs throughout Switzerland. They met September 18
    for the Swiss Emergency Contest to test their equipment.

    A translation of the USKA post reads:

    The Internet has not killed them, the radio amateurs all over the
    world have not become entangled in the net.

    "We have batteries and solar cells. You can also send emails or
    compressed photos. Above all, the possibility of communicating with
    the whole world, since the waves are reflected in the upper layers
    of the atmosphere.

    Enthusiasts demonstrated last Sunday in the Bains des Pquis to
    test the signals that will be the only means of communication in the
    event of a blackout. In the event of a power failure, Ham Radio works.

    tinyurl.com/48ccyzxu




    REGION TWO

    Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), the national association for Amateur
    Radio in Canada, is conducting a survey to enable them (RAC) to
    better serve Canadian Amateurs. The survey is open to anyone
    holding a Canadian Certificate and call sign.

    The survey is comprehensive and it covers such questions as:

    * should Canadian Amateurs be required to change their call signs
    when they move to another region of Canada?

    * should Canadian Amateurs be required to reconfirm their call signs
    every few years?

    * should call signs with one suffix letter be issued as permanent
    personal call signs?

    * should call signs with prefixes other than the traditional
    VA, VE, VO and VY prefixes be issued as permanent personal
    call signs?

    Other topics include:
    * rules on two-letter suffixed call signs
    * rules on the handling of the call signs of deceased Amateurs
    * special prefix authorizations
    * special event call sign authorizations




    104-year-old radio ham is on the air

    ARRL report one of their members, Oscar Norris W 4 OXH, of
    North Carolina, turned 105 September 25 and he is still on the air

    W4OHX lost his sight when he was 24 and it was his blindness that
    led him to amateur radio. He earned his license in 1949, and has
    been on the air for 73 years.

    These days he communicates mostly using DMR .

    In honour of his 105th birthday, the special event station N 1 O
    until 8pm UTC on October 1 on HF, 2 meters, 1.25 meters, and
    70 centimetres CW, SSB, FT4, FT8, DMR, and D-STAR.




    REGION THREE

    NZART 100-year celebrations & Future Conferences

    Auckland branches will host the 100-year annual conference in 2026.
    Furthermore, Council has formed a subcommittee led by Daniel ZL2DRV
    to make preparations to commemorate the NZART Centennial.

    Also in news from New Zealand, a total of 118 successful examination
    passes were achieved for 2021 a record in recent years for NZART.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------

    WIA - NZART OCEANIA CONTEST

    CW - Second full weekend in October
    0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    PHONE - First full weekend in October
    0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday


    Log deadline for ALL logs - 31 October.

    --------------

    Spring Digital Run Contest Second weekend of October

    Hi This is Tim VK1TTY on behalf of the Pride Radio Group

    Id like to introduce the Spring Digital Run Contest held on the
    Second weekend of October Thats the 8th through to the 9th
    starting from 00UTC Saturday till 00UTC Sunday

    This contest is encouraging all operators to get on the air and
    partake in this friendly event.

    The modes will be FT4 / FT8 / JT9 / JT65 / RTTY and of course PSK

    Taking a page from the ARRL World Wide Digital mode contest that was
    held recently, This has a bit of its own unique spin to it. This
    event will be on 80 / 40 / 20 / 15 / 10 / 6 / 2 and 70 centimetres
    thus allowing access to those who do not have HF at their shacks to
    take part and whilst also encouraging the use of the 6, 2 and 70cm
    bands

    This contest is split into 4 hour blocks with Categories of

    Single Operator / Single Operator Multi Radio /
    Multi Single and Multi Multi

    The Exchange is your signal report between operators.

    All other information can be found on our website
    prideradio.group/SpringDigitalRun

    We hope to see you on the air this October

    Till next time from VK1TTY and the Pride Radio Group

    (pride)

    ---------------

    OK/OM DX CONTEST. Karel, OK1CF, CRC HF Manager, announced the
    following September 16th:

    Due to the current events, the CRC (Czech Radio Club) has decided to
    reject the stations from Russia and Belorussia from participation in
    the OK-OM DX SSB Contest which is scheduled to take place
    Nov. 12th and 13th.

    (opdx)

    ---------------

    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAYS
    SPRING
    0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November

    --------------

    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    Dates: First full weekend in December (December 2-4, 2022).

    Contest Period: Begins 2200 UTC Friday, ends 1559 UTC Sunday.
    This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    --------------

    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Dates: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11, 2022)

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    K4C / 75 UNITED STATES (Special Event).

    Operators from northern Virginia are using the special callsign
    K4C/75 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the
    Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) until September 30th.

    QSL Manager is N 4 JR.

    (opdx)

    --------------

    9H, MALTA (Special Callsign).

    Members of the Marconi Amateur Radio Circle (CALL 9 H 1 MRC) have
    activated the special callsign, 9 H 6 QE, on the island of Malta
    to celebrate the life and remember of Queen Elizabeth II.

    Activity will last until October 14th, and will be on
    20/17/15/12/10 meters.

    (opdx)

    --------------

    Frans, PC2F will be active as PF01MAX until the 20th of November,
    over the twenty-two Grand Prix weekends of this year's
    FIA Formula One World Championship.

    for PF 01 MAX, you QSL via PC2F either direct, via the bureau,
    Logbook of The World or eQSL

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    BBC centenary special event GB 100 BBC

    Members of the BBCs radio club, The London BBC Radio Group, have
    been granted an exceptional all-year Special Event callsign to help
    celebrate the BBCs centenary year.

    GB 100 BBC operates throughout the year, from the headquarters
    station in Broadcasting House, London.

    (southgatearc.org)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    DEFENCE

    SK7RN Total Defence Day on land

    Sweden's SSA reports the land Island Amateur Radio Society SK 7 RN
    will be promoting the hobby at this year's Total Defence Day on
    Saturday, October 1

    SK7RN has, as earlier this year, an important role to play as a
    mediator of radio traffic between air and ground management during
    the big Total Defence Day on land during the harvest festival there.

    This year, SK7RN has been further commissioned by the management of
    the Total Defence Day to inform the audience about amateur radio in
    general and what it can mean for society in a situation of crisis in
    particular. In addition, they will show emergency radio systems
    where the island's repeaters are connected to others in the rest of
    Sweden via, among other things, SVXLINK.

    SK7RN site
    sk7rn.se/

    SSA
    tinyurl.com/IARU-Sweden




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FAITH.

    Anglican Chaplain On Air From Kenya

    Wayne, 2E0FXY, is once again active as 5 Z 4 WH from Molo, Kenya.

    In his role as an Anglican Chaplain, he visits this African country
    several times during a year. Activity is mainly on 20/17/15 meters
    using SSB and FT8.

    Of late, Wayne has been seen on 15 meters FT8 between 0600-0800z.

    QSL via home call, again, 2 E 0 FXY.

    (sourced to OPDX)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    FCC Proposes Five-Year Rule For Dead Satellite Disposal

    The Federal Communications Commission wants to do something about
    space junk in low Earth orbit. The agency published a proposal that,
    if adopted, would put a deadline on how long non-geostationary
    satellites can stay in space.

    As things stand, voluntary NASA guidelines published in the 1990s
    recommend dead satellites deorbit within 25 years. The FCC wants to
    adopt a five-year rule that would require domestic satellite
    operators and companies that want access to the U.S. market to
    dispose of their non-functioning satellites as soon as they can.

    (na)



    LOOK - UP IN THE SKY - IT'S A BIRD - IT'S A PLANE - ITS JOHNNY WALKER

    Well maybe not Johnny but BlueWalker 3

    The largest commercial communications array ever has just launched
    Expect to see it its huge and bright The problem is, it might
    outshine all stars and planets

    Last weekend SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket launched a giant satellite
    into space, called BlueWalker 3, its a prototype which is to create
    a space-based mobile broadband network. This is only one of multiple satellites
    planned for the SpaceMobile constellation some even bigger
    than BlueWalker 3.

    It's size?

    Well once the satellite unfurls which it will do in the next few
    weeks the antenna will measure 64m2.

    (SouthGate)




    A small spacecraft designed to test out key components of NASA's
    Artemis program to the Moon has run into trouble in space.

    The CAPSTONE probe is expected to act as a pathfinder for NASA's
    Gateway a small space station designed to orbit the Moon and act
    as a jumping-off point for crewed missions to the surface.

    CAPSTONE's mission cantered around testing a never-before-used orbit
    to learn more about its stability before sending the Gateway to it.
    Advanced Space, which operates CAPSTONE, said in a statement that
    the spacecraft is in "safe mode" after an engine burn and appears to
    be in a "stable orbit." Mission managers are hoping to perform a
    "detumble" that will allow the spacecraft to point its solar panels
    to the Sun and charge its batteries.

    AMSAT Board of Directors has made a commitment to support amateur
    radios inclusion on NASAs Gateway, a small spaceship in orbit
    around the Moon with living quarters for astronauts, a lab for
    science and research, ports for visiting spacecraft, and more.

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN.

    WinRFCalc free RF calculator now has an internet website

    To keep users informed about the capabilities of WinRFCalc, a
    website is launched where current and future calculation tools
    are shown.

    rfcalculator.com/

    (SouthGate)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    The RSGB IOTA contest was again very popular this year with over
    2,300 entries. Most Island and Island-DXpedition entries were made
    by European Stations, followed by Asia and Oceania.

    (irts)


    Couple of AS locators to check on:-


    EU-031. Andy (Sparky), RW3AH (KL1A), will be active as IC8/KL1A
    from Ischia Island until September 30th. QSL via OE1ZZZ.


    EU-032. Pat, F8BON, ceases activity Monday 26 as TM2RE from
    Re Island. He's been on all HF bands using SSB and FT8.
    QSL via F5MFV, direct, by the Bureau or ClubLog's
    OQRS.

    (opdx)




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    On September 7, 2022, Jeanne (Jan) Socrates, VE0JS/MM, and her
    sailboat, the SV Nereida, set sail from Cape Flattery, the
    north westernmost point of the contiguous US to visit friends in
    San Francisco but 35 knot winds and storms left her sailboat
    disabled and her on board radio equipment marginally operational.

    Amateur operators in New Mexico, California, and Canada, and members
    of Group 7.155 heard her requests for assistance.

    They were able to make periodic contact with Jan Socrates and give
    her updated wind reports. Their last contact was as she was sailing
    with only the forward sail on her 38-foot sloop. As she approached
    the Golden Gate Bridge, Socrates was able to use the tidal
    information passed on by amateur radio operators to make it safely
    to San Francisco Bay.

    "I wouldn't call it a rescue," said Socrates, "just good amateur
    radio assistance -- and I'm grateful for their help."

    Socrates is 81 years old and the oldest person to have ever sailed
    around the world unassisted.

    (sourced to arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2022 Social Scene


    VK6 - PerthTech October 21-23 (vk6pop)

    VK7 - November 5-6 Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo.
    Hobart reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/


    VK4 - Nov 5 Tannum Sands Gathering with Gladstone ARC (vk4zz)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST Nov 13. @ Country Paradise Parklands

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)



    2023

    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)






    THE FINAL FINAL

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Ive been listening, and reading, and thinking.

    Its not the sort of thought experiment that Einstein used to
    conduct about the universal laws of the cosmos, but I have been
    able to draw some clear conclusions.

    Im talking about the recent proposal to use the AX prefix on our
    callsigns over the past week to honour the death of Queen Elizabeth
    the Second.

    The proposal to use AX was advocated despite it being in breach of
    our licence conditions. The ACMA cautioned the proponent that
    proceeding to use AX in lieu of VK when using our callsigns on-air
    was a breach of the licence conditions determination the L C D.

    The use of AX is limited to three specific days each year
    26 January, Australia Day; 25 April, ANZAC Day; and 17 May,
    World Telecommunication Day.

    While it is a historically significant and solemn occasion, worthy
    of appropriate commemoration, the ACMAs formal advice was very clear
    it is NOT LEGAL to use the AX prefix on this occasion regardless
    of whether it is a major or minor breach. While the sentiment about
    honouring the death of Queen Elizabeth is appreciated, promoting a
    breach of our regulations breaking the law is not.

    None-the-less, the chief proponent was out there on the bands
    signing AX and encouraging others to do the same. And on the
    internet.

    This sort of adventure-ism thumbing our noses at the governance of
    our hobby, or service clearly undermines whatever standing radio
    amateurs may have in the hallowed halls of government authorities
    the ACMA in particular when it comes to the principles of
    self-regulation.

    It concerns me that one interpretation of the purpose of this
    episode is to do exactly that demonstrate that amateurs, the
    Australian radio amateur community and those who advocate for us
    cannot be trusted.

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH all on my own, not speaking for
    anyone else!







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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

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    ------------------------------------------------------------*


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  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Sep 29 19:50:42 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-10-02.mp3
    Text edition:



    2022 OCTOBER 02 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 OCTOBER 2 2022

    WIA Vice president, Lee Moyle VK3GK joins us and we
    have a reminder to read the latest ACMA email to we hams,
    it deals with their review of non-assigned amateur and
    outpost regulatory arrangements

    THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.


    Back in February of 2021 the ACMA commenced a review of non-assigned
    amateur and outpost regulatory arrangements consultation 01/2021

    Outcome No 1 was published some 9 months later, last Thursday,
    September 29 the ACMA published outcome #3.

    This has been emailed to us all and is worth a solid read.

    ACMA are now consulting on updates to the proposed amateur class
    licensing arrangements as well as on their proposal for a staged
    implementation of higher power authorisation. Details of this
    consultation, including the consultation paper, can be found at
    IFC 31/2022 Updates to the proposed amateur class licensing
    arrangements.

    tinyurl.com/3c7mjd9h





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Good Morning from WIA Vice president, Lee Moyle VK3GK

    On the 22nd of September 2022, we commemorated the passing of ex
    WIA President Michael Owen VK3KI ten years ago. At that time he was
    WIA President, and IARU Region 3 Chairman. Michael was immensely
    influential in shaping the hobby of Amateur Radio since the 1960s
    both in this country and internationally.

    Michael expertly led the WIA through the progression from a
    Federal structure with State Divisions, to an efficient
    national organisation with affiliated local clubs.
    This occurred in 2004.

    He championed and guided the introduction of the Foundation Licence
    class in Australia, a move which bolstered the numbers of Australian
    radio amateurs while other countries numbers were declining.

    Through Michael, the WIA became highly regarded by government agencies
    and the ACMA for its professionalism and efficiency, especially in
    relation to the WIA examination and call sign management service.
    More information on Michael Owen can be found on the WIA website
    under News Releases OR DIRECT HERE:-

    tinyurl.com/yckzds7w


    The WIA Board is seeking expressions of interest from persons who
    may wish to help out in being part of the new WIA Membership working
    group. Our Memnet membership database has recently had some new
    features introduced and once implemented should streamline and
    improve methods and processes for membership retention and
    communications with members with more regular email newsletters,
    notification of upcoming membership renewals, WIA promotions and
    other important announcements.
    If interested please send an email to secretary@wia.org.au
    marked Membership working group with your details and any brief
    description you may have of previous experience in this area.

    The WIA benefits program will shortly have some updates done to the
    vendors list. If you dont have your card yet which qualify WIA
    members for nominal discounts from vendors like Jaycar, Altronics
    and other suppliers, then contact the WIA office, preferably via
    email to arrange it to be emailed to you. We are working on having
    it simply downloaded from memnet again shortly.


    This weekend is the Oceania DX Contest Phone Section, next weekend
    is the CW Section. Historically it was known as the VK ZL Contest.
    A number of the WIA Board of Directors are avid and passionate
    contesters. Tuning around the HF bands this weekend may bag you a
    couple. It is important that some of your board members are active
    radio Amateurs on the bands as it keeps them connected at the coal
    face, where the action is.

    The OCDX Contest offers many awards to participants, including
    prestigious plaques and certificates. Even if you only work a few
    stations, consider entering you log. The Contest history and a list
    of awards and the contest sponsors are available at the OCDXC website
    found at:
    oceaniadxcontest.com

    I hope to work you in the OCDX Contest, for now 73, this is
    Lee Moyle, VK3GK WIA Vice President.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
    & the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    The RSGB has published the draft programme for its annual Convention.
    There are over 50 lectures planned for the weekend so there should
    be something for everyone to enjoy. This is the Societys first
    hybrid event where some lectures will also be livestreamed so if you
    are an RSGB Member you should be able to join in wherever you are
    now living.

    Further details of that livestream will be added to the RSGB
    Convention web page in following days.



    Imagine being the first amateur to log a DX contact on a band that
    is experimental in your country. Well, that happened to one ham
    recently in England. We hear about him from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    "For Paul, G7PUV, it was an experiment that worked. The East Sussex
    amateur, who holds an Innovation and Trial licence to use 40 MHz,
    announced that he has made the first SSB contact on the band between
    the UK and South Africa, where 8 metres is a standard ham frequency
    which gives amateurs a primary allocation with a maximum of 400 watts
    output between 40.675 and 40.685 MHz.

    Paul reports that he accomplished this Trans Equatorial Propagation
    contact with Willem ZS6WAB.

    He writes on his QRZ.com page that Ofcom has permitted him access to
    the band on frequencies between 40 and 42 MHz for testing purposes.

    I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    Paul posted a video of the September contact on his Twitter feed.
    You can watch it by following the link that appears in the text
    version of this week's newscast

    twitter.com/AceBlaggard/status/1571161819846164482 ]



    REGION TWO

    Organizers have just announced that campers attending next
    year's Youth on the Air camp in the Americas will be packing
    their bags for a northern location.

    The Youth on the Air Camp is moving north to Canada for its
    third year.

    The camp will be able to host as many as 30 young amateurs from
    North, Central and South America on the campus of Carleton
    University in Ontario.

    Any amateur radio operators in the Americas who are between the ages
    of 15 and 25 are welcome to apply. Prospective campers who do not
    live in Canada are being encouraged to apply for passports and
    tourist visas in time to enable them to enter the country to attend
    camp.

    Youngsters who attended previous sessions of Youth on the Air camps
    will return to serve as leaders.

    The camp will take place 2023 from July 16th through to the 21st
    with Radio Amateurs of Canada serving as the local host.




    THE TOWER OF POWER

    For this story, thanks again to Amateur Radio NewsLine, we take you
    to Long Island, New York, where inventor Nikola Tesla conducted many
    of his ground-breaking experiments.

    Tesla's former laboratory is the perfect inspirational spot for a
    ham radio club to celebrate an important anniversary.

    Yes marking its 75th anniversary on Long Island, the Suffolk County
    Radio Club, W2DQ, appreciates what it means to be part of radio
    history.

    So it's celebrating the occasion at a nearby historic spot -
    Wardenclyffe, the former laboratory of electronics innovator Nikola
    Tesla, now renamed the Tesla Science Centre.

    Though the noted engineer and inventor died in 1943 - four years
    before the radio club was founded, his spirit will be present on
    October 8th when the club activates special event station N 2 T from
    the historic tower between 1500 UTC and 2359 UTC.

    Wardenclyffe was the perfect place for the special event station
    because of the history behind the site and Tesla's contributions to
    radio.

    Hams contacting the operators during the event will be able to
    receive a downloadable certificate.

    Meanwhile, even with Tesla himself long gone, his old laboratory is
    still functioning as an incubator for new things in the radio
    universe. The Tesla Science Centre Amateur Radio Club, N2TSC, was
    formed this past July by a handful of hams. Members have the
    immediate goal of focusing on education in the schools - a priority
    that is sure to have an impact that lasts beyond the next 75 years.




    REGION THREE


    CHINA PREPS NEXT AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITE

    China is preparing to send a new ham radio satellite into orbit in
    the next few weeks.

    The CAS-10 amateur radio satellite is set to go into space from
    China's Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre in early November, where it
    will be sent to the Tiangong Space Station aboard the Tianzhou-5 cargo
    spacecraft. The satellite, which carries a V/U linear transponder, will
    become operational sometime after its deployment from the space station
    around the 15th of December. The transponder is expected to operate all
    day throughout the satellite's lifetime, using a VHF uplink and UHF
    downlink with a 30 kHz bandwidth. CAS-10 is also equipped with a camera.
    Hams will be able to send DTMF commands to download photos taken by the
    camera and stored in the satellite's flash memory. Satellite telemetry
    data will be sent via Morse Code."

    For additional details and frequencies, visit the link in the
    text version of this week's newscast at wia.org.au

    amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=858 ]


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT


    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------

    --------------


    WIA - NZART OCEANIA CONTEST

    PHONE - ON RIGHT NOW

    CW - Second full weekend in October
    0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday


    Log deadline for ALL logs - 31 October.

    --------------

    Spring Digital Run Contest Second weekend of October
    run by PRIDE Radio Group

    ---------------

    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAYS
    SPRING
    0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November

    --------------

    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    Dates: First full weekend in December (December 2-4, 2022).

    Contest Period: Begins 2200 UTC Friday, ends 1559 UTC Sunday.
    This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    --------------

    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Dates: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11, 2022)

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    ------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------


    JAN MAYEN, JX. Helge, LB4MI is QRV as JX/LB4MI until early October.
    Activity is in his spare time on 20 and 17 meters using SSB.
    QSL to home call LB4MI

    (arrl)

    --------------


    PAPUA NEW GUINEA, P29.
    A group of German operators will have P 29 RO on the wireless from
    October 25 to November 10 transmitting on 160 to 6 meters using CW,
    SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via DL4SVA, direct, by the Bureau,
    Club's OQRS and LoTW.

    (arrl)

    --------------


    INDONESIA.

    7B2C, 7B2E, 7B2T, 7B2H and 7B2O are QRV until the end this month
    to celebrate the Javanese-Hindu Ceto Temple that was built in 1475.

    Activity is on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using SSB and FT8.
    QSL via operators' instructions.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    In the World of DX, be listening on the HF bands for 8N65JP, the
    special call sign being used by the Japan Amateur Radio League's
    Okinawa Branch. Hams are marking the 50th anniversary of the return
    of the Okinawa Prefecture to Japan from United States administration.
    The callsign 8 N 650 JP was active through the 30th of September,
    last Friday.

    QSOs will be confirmed automatically through the bureau.


    --------------------------------------------------------------


    WIRELESS WEATHER

    In 1859, British astronomer Richard Carrington saw a blast of white
    light on the surface of the sun. This was the Carrington Event, as
    scientists now call it, and it is the largest recorded solar storm
    ever recorded.

    It was linked with extraordinary auroras -- the Northern and
    Southern Lights -- that were visible in the sky near both the poles
    and the equator, everywhere from Canada to Australia. The enormous
    solar outburst also caused electrical disruptions from Paris to
    Boston.

    While the Carrington Event may seem like history, there are many
    concerns about what might happen if an event as powerful as -- or
    even more powerful than -- the Carrington Event were to strike
    Earth today, now that humanity is far more dependent on electricity.

    In the 'old' days, people were used to the idea that radio
    communication isn't always perfect. AM radio had cracks and pops
    and if you had to make a call with a radiophone, you expected it to
    be unreliable and maybe even impossible at a given time. Modern
    technology, satellites, and a host of other things have changed and
    now radio is usually super reliable and high-fidelity.

    Usually.

    However, a magnitude 7.9 solar flare about 9 days ago reminded
    radio users in Africa and the Middle East that radio isn't always
    going to get through. At least for about an hour.

    It happened at around 10 AM GMT when that part of the world was
    facing the sun. Apparently, a coronal mass ejection accompanied the
    flare. The culprit seems to be an unusually active sunspot which is
    expected to die down soon. Interestingly, there is also a coronal
    hole in the sun where the solar wind blows at a higher than usual
    rate.

    We are ill-prepared for technology blackouts due to solar activity,
    even on the power grid. The last time it happened, we didn't rely
    so much on radio.

    tinyurl.com/4h39fr8u


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/

    Andy Clift G6PJZ has achieved the coveted SOTA Mountain Goat award
    for reaching 1000 activator points.

    His Mountain Goat-qualifying activation took place from the summit
    of Helvellyn G/LD-003, in the English Lake District.

    Andy's SOTA journey started back in 2015, learning about the programme
    through answering a CQ call from an activator. He soon activated
    his first summit and thus started, as it does for so many, a keen
    obsession over the ensuing years!

    Reflecting on his achievement, Andy commented: " Without SOTA I
    would not do anywhere near as much walking, I would not be as active
    on the radio and I would not have discovered some of the fantastic
    smaller Marilyns that people dont bother travelling to."

    (SouthGate)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org


    ArianeGroup unveiled a multi-year design project for a new crew and
    cargo upper stage that it hopes will meet Europes appetite for
    space travel.

    Susie (Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration) will launch on
    top of the nearly flight-ready Ariane 64 heavy-lift vehicle,
    carrying cargo and astronauts to Low Earth Orbit and, eventually, to
    deep space.

    Susie is designed for safety and reusability.

    The 12 m-long craft is significantly larger than Dragon, Starliner,
    or Orion, it features 40 cubic meters of payload space and a total
    mass of 25 tons.




    As WIA National News reported last week, CAPSTONE continues to
    tumble, but, this week better news, the spacecrafts communication
    situation has improved and its propulsion system is being warmed
    back up to operating temperatures.

    The CAPSTONE probe is expected to act as a pathfinder for NASA's
    Gateway, the small space station designed to orbit the Moon and act
    as a jumping-off point for crewed missions to the surface.

    (ans)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN.

    Updated RSGB EMF Calculator

    The RSGB have released an updated version of their online EMF
    Calculator to enable radio amateurs to check EMF exposure limits.

    Version v2.0.1 is available as a web app at
    rsgb.org/emfcalculator

    RSGB EMF page
    rsgb.org/emf

    (rsgb)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    OC-036 NEW ZEALAND.

    Members of the Whangarei Amateur Radio Club, ZL1AM on New Zealand's
    North Island (OC-036, WW Loc. RF74) are active as ZL 75 WARC
    to celebrate their club's 75th anniversary until December 31st.
    Listen for QSL info with the operators.

    (OPDX)



    SA-002 FALKLAND ISLANDS.

    Garry, ZC4GR is now active as VP8DLB from Port Stanley, Falkland
    Islands SA-002. Activity has been mainly on 40/10 meters SSB between
    1800-1900z and after 0145z. He will be there until December before
    returning to Cyprus. QSL via EB7DX.

    (OPDX)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Mid Century Television - live, local and unpredictable late 1950s
    television

    In the late 1950s US television networks ruled the airwaves from
    7 to 11 PM, but outside of that timeslot, television was
    live, local and unpredictable.

    Jim Hanlon, W 8 KGI, worked as a summer relief engineer at
    Cincinnati's WCPO-TV from 1956 to 1958. At that time WCPO-TV
    did not have any video recording technology, so all local TV
    was live TV and provided a refreshing dose of live programming,
    equipment failures and production creativity that been lost in today's
    pasteurized, homogenized TV ecosystem.

    Join Jim as he recalls what it was like producing live TV
    programming in the early days of television broadcasting.
    The link is in the text edition best read (if you are not subscribed
    to our early feed) on wia.org.au

    youtube.com/watch?v=UZ1XOowSlQI





    Hello everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is
    the first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers
    Club of Australia's October bulletin to go to air.

    Now, three important announcements; please listen carefully:

    Firstly, The Club's banking arrangements have changed from Westpac
    to Bendigo Bank.

    Secondly, the Perth monthly luncheon has a new venue. The Basie is
    no more. The new luncheon meeting venue is the Woodbridge
    Hotel, 50 East Street, Guildford WA, and the next meeting
    will be held on Tuesday, October 11th, starting at around
    midday.

    Thirdly, Andrew VK3CAH has updated the Club website. Full details of
    all Club activities, including membership, bulletin transmission
    times, and much more can be found at www.raotc.org.au
    or just Google RAOTC.
    All Club members and friends of the Club are urged to visit the
    website to acquaint themselves with these latest updates.

    This month as well as all the latest Club news, and there is quite a
    lot of it including a report on the AGM, we have the story of the
    1946 photo survey of Australia, a precursor of the Woomera rocket
    range, plus some anecdotes of the rocket range, and then the story
    of the ugly duckling World War 2 Liberty ship.

    Everyone, ROATC members and non-members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call-backs afterwards. All the
    many different times, frequencies and transmission modes are listed
    on the Club website. However, if none of the transmission times suit
    you, you can download the audio file at any time from today.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.



    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    LX 9 S Jamboree On The Air

    LX9S will be on the air from Luxembourg as part of the 65th Jamboree
    On The Air October 14-16

    From the SSA page we quote " Here in Luxembourg we are once again
    representing the WOSM, the World Scouts Office Europe. The call sign
    is again LX9S and amateurs from the Netherlands, Switzerland, France
    will travel to Luxembourg City. Around 20-25 radio amateurs present,
    2-3 IT staff, 6 kitchen staff and 4 scout leaders.

    The LX9S Team 2022 will do whatever it takes to put on a good show
    again. "

    Watch LX9S JOTA-JOTI preview 2022
    youtube.com/watch?v=aI2H-O9KOFQc

    Source SSA
    tinyurl.com/IARU-Sweden





    Return of face to face JOTA JOTI

    After two years of interruptions JOTA JOTI 2022 in VK is back.

    Over the weekend on Saturday 15 October and Sunday 16 October the
    bands will be alive to the sound of CQ Jamboree.

    vkjotijota.com/ is Scouts Australia JOTA JOTI website.

    If you are running a JOTA station, please register your station on
    vkjotijota.com/

    When you register your site, you can detail hours of operation,
    bands and any information that will assist other sites to find you
    on the bands.

    The Governor Generals opening address will be broadcast at 1pm
    local time in each state as per previous years. Scouts Australia
    would like to thank all the amateurs that assist and participate in
    JOTA JOTI. A special thank you to the WIA broadcast team for
    broadcasting the opening address each year.

    On behalf of Brett Nicholas, the National Coordinator JOTA JOTI
    Scouts Australia and for VK1WIA National News, I am Alec VK2APC
    in Sydney

    vkjotijota.com/




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    EASTERN US SEABOARD

    As Hurricane Fiona ravaged the region, amateur radio operators
    were hard at work in areas of the Eastern Caribbean and Western
    Atlantic AND Hurrican Ian then hit Florida

    Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos
    islands suffered severe flooding, catastrophic wind damage and major
    power outages as the storm, which grew to Category 4, made its way
    toward Bermuda then up to Canada.

    In addition to local communications support, the Hurricane Watch Net
    was activated and Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network was
    handling health and welfare traffic.

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted an ARRL emergency
    request for a 60-day temporary waiver intended to facilitate amateur
    radio emergency communications for relief.
    The waiver was adopted on Tuesday, September 27 and immediately
    permitted amateur radio operators supporting amateur data transmission
    for Hurricane Ian traffic to employ a higher symbol rate for data
    transmissions than the current limit of 300 baud.

    (ARNewsLine/ARRL)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2022 Social Scene


    VK6 - PerthTech October 21-23 (vk6pop)

    VK7 - November 5-6 Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo.
    Hobart reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/


    VK4 - Nov 5 Tannum Sands Gathering with Gladstone ARC (vk4zz)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST Nov 13. @ Country Paradise Parklands

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)



    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)






    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)

    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
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    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
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    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
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    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Oct 6 23:23:22 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-10-09.mp3
    Text edition:


    2022 OCTOBER 09 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 OCTOBER 9 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    A Working Group has hit the ground running to develop the Wireless
    Institute of Australias response to the ACMAs proposal on
    Class Licensing and high power operation by Advanced amateurs.

    THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.



    STOP PRESS As seen across the socials this last week the Tassie Ham
    Radio Conference and Expo has just become the place where ICOM is
    doing the VK debut of their impressive IC-905 microwave rig.
    Yes.you can see it at the expo, up close and personal and even talk
    with Hiro the ICOM Engineer who will also be there. More later!



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    A Working Group has hit the ground running to develop the Wireless
    Institute of Australias response to the ACMAs proposal on
    Class Licensing and high power operation by Advanced amateurs.

    The deadline for responding to the ACMAs proposals is 29 November.
    The ACMA intends to implement the proposed arrangements from
    1 July 2023.

    Leading the Working Group is the WIAs Regulatory Counsel,
    Peter Young VK3MV. Peter has been licensed since 1965 and has a
    background in maritime communications engineering. He is a former
    Regional Manager with the ACMA in Melbourne and, since retiring,
    held positions with the WIA as a director in the WIA Board,
    director with the Region 3 International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
    and on the Spectrum Strategy committee.

    Members of the Working Group come from a wide variety of backgrounds
    and experience, but particularly having experience in preparing
    persuasive responses to government proposals, expertise in
    RF engineering, in science, and in the machinery of government.
    Members also have interests in contesting and DX, home design and
    construction, and propagation.

    The first meeting of the Working Group was held by Zoom on Monday
    3 October, which identified key issues to be addressed in developing
    the WIAs response and setting regular meetings.

    Firstly, it is clear that we will have to address the Class licensing
    questions, and the matter of Advanced amateurs wishing to use
    high power, as separate issues.

    As weve done before, a survey of the Australian radio amateur
    community will be held to gather viewpoints and suggestions from
    individuals, groups and WIA Affiliated Clubs.

    Look out for regular despatches from the WIA Working Group on the
    ACMAs Class Licensing proposals.

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for the WIA Working Group
    responding to the ACMAs proposed Class Licensing and
    high power regulations.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
    & the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    Radio ham elected ITU Secretary General

    Radio amateur Doreen Bogdan-Martin KD 2 JTX has become the first
    woman to be elected as secretary-general of the International
    Telecommunication Union (ITU)

    Ms Bogdan-Martin KD2JTX decisively beat her Russian rival
    Rashid Ismailov by 139 votes to 25. She will succeed Houlin Zhao,
    who has been in the role since 2014, when her term begins on
    1 January 2023.

    On September 29 Doreen KD2JTX tweeted:

    Immensely proud to be the first woman ever elected to the post of
    ITU Secretary-General. We've finally smashed a 157-y.o. glass
    ceiling! and I hope this result inspires women & girls everywhere
    to dream big & make those dreams a reality!

    twitter.com/ITUBDTDirector/status/1575403606131474433

    bbc.co.uk/news/technology-63074895




    IARU welcomes new member society

    The IARU member-societies have voted to admit the SARU, Sudan Amateur Radio Union as its
    newest member society. Founded on August 6, 2021, SARU has 54 licensed
    radio amateurs as members.

    Congratulations to the officers and members of our newest
    member-societies!




    Peter, SM 4 KEL has been awarded a gold medal by the Swedish Academy
    of Engineering Sciences (IVA):

    Peter, who also has the call sign W4KEL, is awarded the Gold Medal
    for his outstanding work with the global development of the internet
    and with its early establishment in Sweden. The medal is awarded by
    the Swedish King.

    For over a hundred years, IVA has rewarded outstanding efforts in
    technical and economic research, innovation and business for the
    benefit of society.

    youtube.com/watch?v=kvF1RuOfQr8

    tinyurl.com/IARU-Sweden





    REGION TWO

    REPORT PINPOINTS FACTORS IN ARECIBO COLLAPSE

    A new report has pinpointed some contributing causes behind the
    collapse of what was once the largest radio telescope in the world.

    Kent Peterson KCDGY from Amateur Radio NewsLine brings us up to
    date.

    "Engineers have identified a number of key factors that led to the
    2020 collapse of the Arecibo Telescope, once the world's largest radio
    telescope. A forensic examination by the New York-based firm Thornton
    Tomasetti identified issues that included design of the cable system
    with relatively low safety factors for gravity loads as well as the
    force of naturally occurring events in the environment. Those included
    Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the January 2020 earthquake tremors in
    Puerto Rico where the telescope was located. The report said that
    despite having a hurricane-resistant design, Arecibo's cable system had
    already led it to suffer stress under its own weight whenever storms
    hit. The engineers recommended higher safety factors for cable systems
    under such conditions.

    Although the investigators said they found the telescope to be generally
    well maintained, they did note in their report that they found that
    moisture had intruded, paint had degraded and individual wires had
    broken within the cable system.





    REGION THREE

    What with the OPTUS hack recently much has been dealt with re
    Cyber Security.

    CERT Australia is the national computer emergency response team.
    CERT Australia provides advice and support on cyber threats and
    vulnerabilities to the owners and operators of Australia's critical
    infrastructure and other systems of national interest.

    It is an office within the ACSC.

    Across the ditch in New Zealand their Government announced an
    investment of $22.2 million to set up a national Computer Emergency
    Response Team (CERT) as part of Budget 2016. In establishing a CERT,
    New Zealand joins an international network of CERTs. This improves
    access to information on potential or real-time cyber-attacks

    CERT NZ will be holding their annual awareness Cyber Smart Week
    this coming week, 10 to 16 October where the primary goal of the
    campaign is to empower all New Zealanders to improve their online
    security so theyre less vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

    Its a very easy and useful web page to visit, no matter where in the
    world you are.

    cert.govt.nz/cybersmart/

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2022
    --------------

    WIA - NZART OCEANIA CONTEST

    CW - Second full weekend in October so that's THIS WEEKEND
    0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday


    Log deadline for ALL logs, SSB AND CW - 31 October.


    --------------

    Spring Digital Run Contest is also this weekend and it's
    run by the PRIDE Radio Group

    ---------------

    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAYS
    SPRING
    0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November

    --------------

    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    Dates: First full weekend in December (December 2-4, 2022).

    Contest Period: Begins 2200 UTC Friday, ends 1559 UTC Sunday.
    This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.


    --------------


    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Dates: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11, 2022)

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.



    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    ANTARCTICA.

    Warren, VK 0 WN is QRV from the Casey Research Base. Activity is
    "holiday style" on 20 meters usually between 0500 to 0600z.
    QSL via LoTW.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    Danish DX Group celebrates 50 years

    The Danish DX Group (DDXG) was founded May 27, 1972 and to celebrate
    the 50th anniversary special event station OZ 50 DDXG is on-the-air
    until December 31.

    Radio amateurs around the world can obtain the anniversary award by
    having contacts using CW, Microphone or Digital modes with the
    anniversary station OZ 5 DDXG.

    The anniversary station may be contacted once on each band and with
    each modulation type in every month. Each approved contact counts
    1 point.

    Full details on
    qrz.com/db/OZ50DDXG

    (SouthGate)

    --------------

    Frans, PC2F is be active as PF 01 MAX until the 20th of November,
    over the twenty-two Grand Prix weekends of this year's
    FIA Formula One World Championship.

    For PF 01 MAX, you QSL via PC 2 F either direct, via the bureau,
    Logbook of The World or eQSL

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    BBC centenary special event GB 100 BBC

    Members of the BBCs radio club, The London BBC Radio Group, have
    been using thisexceptional all-year Special Event callsign to help
    celebrate the BBCs centenary year.

    (southgatearc.org)


    ------------------------------------------------------------

    BEACON ADVICE

    This is Peter, VK5DMR and VK4NBL.

    WOW, what a response to the vkdmr net on Tuesday night.

    We had amateurs calling from Launceston to Longreach, Perth to Sydney
    and all points in between. With 67 check-ins, Id like to thank
    everyone who participated in the 4th anniversary of the VKDMR Net.

    Come join us at 0900 Zulu Tuesday night on Talkgroup 5 on Australias
    biggest amateur digital network.

    For VK1WIA, this has been Peter, VK5DMR.

    Peter also advises that there are now 60 repeaters on the VKDMR
    network across Australia.



    ------------------------------------------------------------



    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Ukraine amateur radio satellite may launch November

    Though the war battles on, students at the National Technical
    University of Ukraine 'Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute'
    have built an amateur radio CubeSat expected to launch soon

    The IARU satellite frequency coordination pages carry the information:

    A 2U CubeSat. QBU A 01 is a project driven by Kiev National
    University and its mission is to launch a Ukrainian educational
    satellite built by KPI students and space exploration enthusiasts
    for solving a number of educational, scientific and technological
    university problems.

    (SouthGate)




    IARU Coordinates Frequencies for CosmoGirlSat

    BUT

    What is CosmoGirlSat?

    It is a project of the Cosmo Women's Amateur Radio Club, an organization
    established from Cosmo Women, a women's community with the theme of
    "Making Space Closer to Home."

    The Cosmo Women's Amateur Radio Club regularly holds specialized
    study sessions and events that can be enjoyed even by beginners who
    are a little concerned about space, and from the knowledge gained
    through these events, a plan was launched for Cosmo female members
    to fly satellites.

    Currently, plan is to launch in 2023.

    CosmoGirlSat is a 1U CubeSat mission with three-fold communications
    capabilities:

    1) An automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) Digipeater - APRS
    shall provide digital message relay service to the Amateur Radio
    community by means of digipeating.

    2) Picture Data Transmission - The satellite carries a high resolution
    camera, which can take pictures of the earth which can be
    downloaded to the ground stations.

    3) Short Text Message Transmission - Short text messages uplinked on
    UHF signals by Radio Amateurs are stored on the satellite. UHF
    request commands from the ground station triggers the downlink of
    the stored messages. One stored message is randomly picked up and
    downlinked to Amateur Radio stations on GMSK signal.

    CosmoGirlSat will be deployed from the ISS. A CW beacon and 4k8 GMSK
    telemetry downlink on 437.120 MHz has been coordinated together with
    the APRS digipeater on 145 825 MHz

    satellite.cosmos-girl.com/

    [ANS + Cosmo Girl AR Club]




    MOON-HACK

    Moonhack is an online coding challenge for young learners and
    celebrates humans technological achievements.

    The 2022 event takes place from tomorrow, October 10 to 23 coinciding
    with World Space Week, and it features six brand-new projects that
    show how satellites can help us live more sustainably. Moonhack is
    free and open to any young coder, whether they are part of a Code
    Club or not.

    The projects are already available in English, French, Dutch, and
    Greek.

    More information on
    raspberrypi.org/blog/moonhack-2022/

    [ANS]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    Marco, IS BSR, and a number of other amateurs will be using the
    call sign IM B from San Pietro Island, IOTA number EU-165, between
    October 22nd and November 5th BUT and this is important QSL only
    via LoTW.




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    WCBI-TV in the USA have had a look at Ham Radio and how it heled out
    after the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian as it came ashore in
    Florida.

    Now, as recovery and clean-up begin, local amateur radio operators
    are helping relay valuable information to victims, their family members,
    and emergency services.

    In a corner of the Tupelo Veteran's Museum, members of the Tupelo
    Amateur Radio Club and the Wireless Prayers Group are monitoring
    ham radio traffic in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Ham radio
    operators are able to provide and relay information that can be
    crucial to those on the ground. Many of the emergency centres have
    a ham radio operator, who helps coordinate relief services and pass
    on information to families with loved ones in the path of the storm.

    wcbi.com/tupelo-ham-radio-operators-help-hurricane-ian-victims/

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2022 Social Scene


    VK6 - PerthTech October 21-23 (vk6pop)

    VK7 - November 5-6 Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo.
    Hobart reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/

    The Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo is happening on the 5th
    and 6th of November in Hobart Tasmania.

    Why is this all happening well its to provide some inspiration,
    education and promotion of our wonderful hobby with a brand new
    experience never seen before on the VK Amateur Radio calendar - a
    Radio Conference and Expo.

    As mentioned earlier ICOM have let us know that the VK debut of the
    IC-905 will be at the Expo on the 6th. Why not come along and see
    what all the hype is about? ICOM will also have a large range of
    their other products that you can see and talk with the Engineer
    about. A huge thank you to ICOM.

    Our raffle prize pool is huge and can be seen at the link on the
    text edition of this broadcast and the only way you can get a raffle
    ticket or three is to register to be in person at the Conference
    and/or Expo.

    reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/raffle-prizes/

    We have had a huge response so far with well over 100 people already
    booked to come along. Vendors include ICOM, All About DX, SpookTech,
    DX Systems and many more. There is a huge number of information
    stands including WIA, ALARA, SOTA, ROAR, VEA and many more.
    There will also be many pre-loved tables to re-distribute the
    treasure as well HIHI!

    Its all happening at the University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus
    with plenty of free car parking and only a short 20 minute car trip
    from the airport. Registrations for attendance, Vendors and Pre-loved
    tables are NOW open and registration for the event is essential.

    reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/

    We look forward to seeing you all in Hobart!

    73 Tassie Ham Expo Organizing Committee



    VK4 - Nov 5 Tannum Sands Gathering with Gladstone ARC (vk4zz)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST Nov 13. @ Country Paradise Parklands

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)



    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)









    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)

    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
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    unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au
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    Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
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    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Oct 13 16:45:28 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-10-16.mp3
    Text edition:


    2022 OCTOBER 16 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 OCTOBER 16 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS


    FOLLOWING & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

    We welcome all the Scouts and Girl Guides listening today via
    JOTA setups

    We hear from the Australia's Chief Scout and also Patron of the
    Girl Guides

    A note in from WIA Direcor Chris VK3FY re a service for we
    members

    and hear from Peter, VK4EA, on behalf of the WIA Board of Directors.



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    Hello, this is Peter VK4EA on behalf of the WIA Board.

    JOTA 2022, Jamboree On The Air, is in full swing.

    The Board is extremely grateful to those individuals and clubs
    that have helped their local Scout and Guide groups to enjoy
    our wonderful hobby.

    My local club, (Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club) puts in a
    particularly big effort split across two locations, BP Park at
    Samford, VK 4 SAA and at Murrenbong, VK 4 SMB. Offering the ever
    popular fox hunting in addition to DMR, DStar, Echolink, IRLP and
    of course, HF.

    All the best for your planned activities and lets hope there is a
    foundation license or two coming in the future.

    I am really looking forward to the Radio Electronics Association of
    Tasmania (REAST) conference and trading day, first weekend in
    November Most of the Board will be in Hobart before the conference
    (note, we are all paying our own way). We are getting together to
    finalise a long term strategy for the Institute. Please keep an eye
    out for us at the conference, we are always happy to talk to
    amateurs how we can better serve the hobby.

    I am looking forward to seeing the new Icom IC-905, I am saving my
    5 cent pieces.

    Awesome work REAST, it should be a fantastic weekend.

    I will also be attending the Gold Coast Hamfest, 13th of November,
    in my capacity as a WIA Director, look out for me in the black WIA
    polo, Ill have my flame suit ready, HI.

    And finally, I wish to thank Peter Hannay, VK6HAX, for his excellent
    analysis of the WIA Cyber-security posture. This is part of the
    on-going IT systems review and we are very grateful for Peters
    expertise.

    Cheers for now,

    This has been, Peter, VK4EA, on behalf of the WIA Board of Directors.





    Received a note from Director Chris VK3FY asking we remind all members
    If you are thinking of buying or selling Amateur Radio Equipment,
    the WIA has a website for its members where you can safely add items
    for sale or buy.

    The website is hamads.com.au






    Yesterday Saturday at 1pm local across Australia the majority of the
    WIA News transmitting folk aired the opening address for JOTA-JOTI

    Here now, again, an excerpt by both His Excellency, General the
    Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd)., the Chief Scout of Australia
    and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley Patron of Girl Guides Australia

    vkjota.com/resources/JOTA-JOTI_Opening_2022.mp3


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
    & the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    RSGB DX trophies presented at their 2022 Convention

    Two prestigious trophies for achievement in the field of DX.

    Ian Justice, M 0 RNH was awarded the G 5 RP Shield, for the greatest
    progress in DX made by an RSGB member resident in the UK during the
    year. Keith Evans, G 3 VKW won the ROTAB Trophy for outstanding and
    consistent DX work.

    Congratulations to them both, now lets try to work them from the
    "land down under".




    Sergei Krikalev, head of Russias human space flight programs, told
    reporters that Roscosmos had started to discuss extending our
    participation in ISS program with our government and hope to have
    permission to continue next year.

    With ties between Russia and the West rupturing over the war in
    Ukraine, Roscosmos chief Yuri Borissov had announced that Russia
    would leave the ISS after 2024, and would seek to build its own
    space station. He has not set a firm date for that plan.





    REGION TWO

    Teams at NASAs Kennedy Space Centre in Florida have conducted
    initial inspections to assess potential impacts from Hurricane Ian.

    There was no damage to Artemis flight hardware, and facilities are
    in good shape with only minor water intrusion identified in a few
    locations. Next, engineers will extend access platforms around the
    Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft inside the
    Vehicle Assembly Building to prepare for additional inspections and
    start preparation for the next launch attempt, including retesting
    the flight termination system.

    As teams complete post-storm recovery operations, NASA has determined
    it will focus Artemis I launch planning efforts on the launch period
    that opens Nov. 12 and closes Nov. 27. Over the coming days,
    managers will assess the scope of work to perform while in the VAB
    and identify a specific date for the next launch attempt. Focusing
    efforts on the November launch period allows time for employees at
    Kennedy to address the needs of their families and homes after the
    storm and for teams to identify additional checkouts needed before
    returning to the pad for launch.




    IEEE (eye triple e) AWARD

    ARRL Electromagnetic Compatibility Committee member Gerald J. Ramie,
    KI6LGY, received the Laurence G. Cumming Award for Outstanding
    Service on August 4, 2022. Presented by the Institute of Electrical
    and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) EMC Society, the award recognized
    Gerald for promoting meaningful EMC immunity testing for utility
    control products over the last decade.





    REGION THREE

    New frontier in space weather forecasting opens in Australia

    The Bureau of Meteorology's Australian Space Weather Forecasting
    Centre will deliver 24/7 space weather forecasting and warning
    services to support Australia's space industry understand,
    prepare for and respond to space weather events.

    Space weather affects communications, GPS, energy supply, aviation
    and other critical infrastructure.

    The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre is based in VK5
    alongside 80 other space industry agencies and businesses. The
    Bureau collaborates closely with its industry and government
    partners to devise, refine and deliver real-time services to those
    who need it most.

    The Bureau's space weather forecasts, warnings and observations are
    available on its website alongside its Earth-based products that
    Australians rely on every day

    bom.gov.au




    AMSAT-INDIA GIVES ENGINEERING STUDENTS AN INTRO TO HAM RADIO

    Amateur radio was the big lesson of the day recently on one
    university campus in India.

    AMSAT-India's regional coordinator, Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP,
    in four hours took the 80 students from the Information and
    Communications Technology Department, along with a special team
    assigned to a student project, on a trip gaining insights into
    amateur radio as well as ham radio satellites. For that one special
    team of students, the timing could not have been better:
    The university recently announced that they will be building a
    satellite to be launched by the ISRO. The workshop provided some
    bonus preparatory work for them.

    The more terrestrial-minded demonstrations - from digital modes and
    VHF FM to SSTV - were conducted with the help of Sakshi Vagadia,
    VU3EXP, and Shyama Vagadia, VU3WHG, who is also part of the student
    satellite team. Workshops also covered such topics as the jargon of
    amateur radio, operating in the POTA and IOTA award programmes,
    high-altitude balloon tracking and, of course, CW.

    Just as every amateur contact on the air is usually followed up with
    a QSL of some sort, this workshop is not the end of the contact with
    this campus. Rajesh reported that the university administrators were
    so pleased that AMSAT-INDIA can expect to come back to conduct more
    programmes.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------

    --------------

    WAG Contest

    This weekend the Worked All Germany Contest runs from 15:00 UTC
    Saturday until 1459 UTC on Sunday, CW and SSB on the 80 to 10 meter
    band contest segments.

    The exchange is signal report and serial number, German stations
    also send their DOK, an identifier for their DARC districts.

    (IRTS)

    ---------------


    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAY
    SPRING
    0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November


    --------------

    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    Dates: First full weekend in December (December 2-4, 2022).

    Contest Period: Begins 2200 UTC Friday, ends 1559 UTC Sunday.
    This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.



    --------------


    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Dates: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11, 2022)

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.




    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    Celebrating 100 Years of the BBC

    Over the year we've brought you updates and reminders of station
    GB 100 BBC

    It was back on the 18th of October 1922, that the Marconi Company
    and other equipment manufacturers formed the British Broadcasting
    Company, which became the British Broadcasting Corporation six years
    later.

    To mark this momentous date exactly 100 years on, members of the
    BBC Amateur Radio Group have been invited by Arqiva to operate for
    the day at the Daventry transmitting station that was home to so
    much of BBC shortwave broadcasting over the years.

    Members of the BBC and Arqiva clubs will be operating HF this
    Tuesday, 18 October from the Empire Service Building at the
    Daventry site.

    As well as GB 100 BBC, the callsign G 2 LO will be on air.

    2LO was the callsign allocated to the very first BBC transmitter,
    built by Marconi and located at Savoy Hill in London.

    Keep an eye on the GB100BBC QRZ page for more information.

    (bbc)


    --------------

    Not quite in the same class yet but VK 90 ABC is an Aussie station
    celebrating 90 years of the National Broadcaster and is operating
    all year.


    --------------

    Hadrian's Wall Special Event Station

    There are two special event stations GB 1900 HA and GB 1900 HW
    running throughout the year to commemorate 1900 years since the
    building of Hadrians Wall.

    QSL Via Logbook of the World and Club Log OQRS.


    --------------

    The year has been a good one for members of the Irish Radio
    Transmitters Society. Hams are still using the special callsign
    EI 90I RTS to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of
    Ireland's national society. Listen for the EI90IRTS callsign,
    it ends at the end of December.

    QSL via EI6AL.

    (ARNewsLine)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS



    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/

    AND HOW ABOUT A NEW ONE? BOTA??

    You've heard, of course, of the Solar Cycle but what kind of hams
    concern themselves with the Charitable Cycle? That would be members
    of MY CLUB, the Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics Club and
    our Pedal Radio Group.

    Throughout this month, October, these most mobile of the moble
    operators are in motion to meet the Great Cycle Challenge, which is
    raising money throughout Australia for research into childhood cancer.

    This is an event that the Pedal Radio Group participates in each
    year. The group's spokesman, Graeme Knight, VK3GRK, writes:

    [quote] "This is a great chance to get out, have fun, exercise
    and promote amateur radio." [endquote]

    Riders pledge how many km they will ride and how many dollars they
    hope to raise. As Graeme also notes, there's nothing to stop riders
    from carrying a hand held - safely of course - and making contacts.

    He asks:

    [quote] "Could this be Bikes on the Air?" [endquote]

    Perhaps yes but remember, it's kilometres that count most here - not
    contacts.

    Oh and we'd like to thank Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT for penning that
    story.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    TWO MORE HAMS TO BE ABOARD FOR STARLINER'S MAIDEN FLIGHT.

    Astronaut Scott Tingle KG 5 NZA will be its commander and
    Mike Fincke KE 5 AIT of NASA will serve as the Starliner's pilot.
    They will join Jeanette Epps, KF 5 QNU, who will be aboard as
    mission specialist. NASA assigned her in August 2020 to join the
    crew.

    There is no launch date yet for Starliner-1. It must complete NASAs
    Boeing Crew Flight Test, which ensures the spacecraft can fly crewed
    missions to the ISS on a regular basis. This is part of NASA's
    Commercial Crew Program.

    The first test flight is scheduled for early 2023.

    (ARNewsLine)




    Will SpaceX be able to save Hubble?

    At SpaceXs request, NASA and SpaceX signed an unfunded Space Act
    Agreement to cooperate on a six-month study of the feasibility for a
    Polaris Program mission to boost Hubbles orbit.
    Without a boost, the thruster-less telescope is expected to re-enter
    and burn up around 2037, it has lost about 30 km since the final
    Shuttle visit 13 years ago.

    It seems Jared Isaacmans nascent commercial space program is looking
    for useful things to do, and this certainly qualifies. Their first
    mission, Polaris Dawn, is scheduled for March 2023 and includes
    plans for the first commercial spacewalk.

    If NASA decides to move forward with the reboost, other companies
    will also likely get to bid (perhaps unless Polaris decides to do it
    for free).

    NASA originally envisioned periodically boosting Hubble with an
    uncrewed Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle as an augment to the Shuttle
    program.

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN.

    Internet Archive looking for Amateur Radio material

    Thanks to funding from the ARDC Foundation the Internet Archive is
    building an online Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications
    and are asking amateurs for material

    I want the obscure stuff, the locally-produced ham radio
    newsletters or the smaller magazines, that sort of thing,
    the archivist said

    Internet Archive has begun gathering content for the Digital Library
    of Amateur Radio and Communications (DLARC), which will be a massive
    online library of materials and collections related to amateur radio
    and early digital communications., a digital library that documents,
    preserves, and provides open access to the history of our community.

    The library will be a free online resource that combines archived
    digitized print materials, born-digital content, websites,
    oral histories, personal collections, and other related records and
    publications. The goals of the DLARC are to document the history of
    amateur radio and to provide freely available educational resources
    for researchers, students, and the general public.

    (SouthGate)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    We've often made mention of the Military affiliate club in the US,
    The American Legion Amateur Radio Club.

    Well that club is no longer operating as a national program, this
    due mainly to a lack of licensed ham radio operators on staff.
    Legion ham radio clubs and programs, meanwhile, will continue to
    operate at the local level.

    TALARC was created by resolution in 2011, and the club grew to become
    one of the largest in the nation.

    American Legion National Headquarters encourages continuation of
    ham radio programs at the local level but will no longer process
    memberships, manage the TALARC website or produce other promotional
    materials to operators.

    tinyurl.com/yc4emxfr





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.



    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070



    Jamboree On The Air is a here again, being the 65th year that
    Scouts, and Girl Guides have used the medium of Amateur Radio to
    meet and with each other from anywhere around the country or around
    the world.

    In recent times the VK Digital Radio Network or DMR, has been used
    for Jamboree On The Air with great success, providing access to
    60 repeaters Australia wide. The VK DMR network can also be accessed
    using a small local hot spot or by using the Droidstar application
    on a smart device.

    Additional talk groups have been made available for Jamboree
    On The Air Contacts over this weekend 14th to 16th October and
    Talk Group 30 should be used as the call channel to establish a
    contact with another Jamboree On The Air radio station, then change
    to one of the other free talk groups in the ranch TG31 to TG39.

    It is useful to monitor the DMR dashboard to check which talk
    groups are not being used, and might be available for your
    Jamboree contact. Links to the DMR Dashboard can be found by entering
    VKDMR into your search engine, then scroll to the bottom of the home
    page.

    For more contact options on other bands including HF, please go to
    the VKJOTAJOTI.COM website.

    We wish everyone a successful Jamboree On The Air this weekend,
    this is Alec VK2APC back to you Col

    (Paul vk2gx)





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Dale Klonin, a firefighter at Baltimore/Washington International
    Airport in the USA, was off duty and busy running errands when he
    stumbled upon a chance to save lives.

    Klonin, 46, lives in Hampstead, Maryland. As an amateur ham radio
    operator with an interest in "any news or weather event," he was
    keeping an eye and ear on Hurricane Ian. "Of course, the hurricane
    was pretty big news," Klonin told Fox News Digital in a phone
    interview. Thinking about family members who live outside Sarasota,
    Florida, Klonin and his wife "were pretty concerned" about the storm,
    he said. They have loved ones maybe in harms way.

    Klonin made contact with a net.. They asked for better ideas of where'
    they are

    "And I said, Hey, I have someone here in Maryland, and they are
    receiving messages from their loved ones on Sanibel Island the
    island is destroyed, their house is battered, and it's flooding.
    They may need possible rescue," Klonin continued.

    So again it was "Ham Radio to the rescue.

    (fox news and nets)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    2022 Social Scene


    VK6 - PerthTech October 21-23 NEXT WEEKEND (vk6pop)

    VK7 - November 5-6 Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo.
    Hobart reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/


    VK4 - Nov 5 Tannum Sands Gathering with Gladstone ARC (vk4zz)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST Nov 13. @ Country Paradise Parklands

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)



    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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







    ==============================
    WIA NEWS BROADCAST FEEDBACK
    www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/feedback/index.php
    ===============================








    LINKS WE LIKE










    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)

    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Oct 21 14:27:50 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-10-23.mp3
    Text edition:

    2022 OCTOBER 23 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 OCTOBER 23 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    WIA Working Group responding to the ACMAs proposed Class Licensing
    and high power operations and it appears ACMA DON'T wish to deal
    with large numbers of form letter responses to the consultation.
    Your WIA's Roger Harrison VK2ZRH tells all. -

    WIA director Steven Green VK2TSG joins us.-

    AND be afraid - be VERY afraid - Halloween is almost here. WIA past
    board member John, VK4JJW has the "gory details".

    THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA


    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032, Yes BUILT in the
    EAST and heard all across Terra Australis and the world.

    This weekend in the west is PerthTech a gathering of VK6 hams.

    Speaking of VK6, a couple of westerners, namely
    Zeljko VK6VY and Alan VK6CQ (and isn't THAT a great call) are
    off to Cocos Keeling Island, Australia's most westerly tropical
    possession.

    A little DXing in store from Tuesday October 25 until the 4th of
    November with callsign VK9CM.

    4 operators ( Zeljko VK6VY, Alan VK6CQ, Luke VK3HJ and Chris VK3QB )
    make up VK9CM BUT they'll also participate in the CQWW SSB Contest
    as VK 9 C

    For qsl info and news visit qrz.com.





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH with an update on the WIAs response
    to the ACMAs latest proposal on amateur radio licensing.

    You will recall that in my last bulletin, I explained that the
    WIA Board had engaged a team of highly experienced and
    well-credentialed active amateurs who had hit the ground running
    to develop the WIAs response to the ACMAs proposed new licensing
    regime.

    In its first meeting via Zoom on Monday 3rd October, the team
    identified a number of sticking points in the ACMAs proposals.

    This is going to be a quantum step in the evolution of amateur
    licensing in Australia, such as we have not seen previously. Hence,
    it all needs close and careful consideration.

    A number of issues to improve amateur privileges that the WIA has
    doggedly pursued over a decade or more are included in the ACMAs
    proposal like access to the whole 6m band for Standard licensees,
    for example. Give that a tick!

    At the Groups latest Zoom meeting, last Tuesday the 18th of October,
    work on developing answers to the ACMAs numerous questions was
    continued. In addition, work has begun on comparing the existing
    licence conditions to the ACMAs Radiocommunications Class Licence
    2022.

    Not only that, parallel work is continuing on developing details of
    the proposed amateur community survey to gather viewpoints and
    suggestions from individuals, groups and WIA Affiliated Clubs.
    Part of the reason for doing this is that we note the ACMAs stated
    view that they dont wish to deal with large numbers of form letter
    responses to the consultation.

    An exposure draft of the WIAs response to the ACMA is anticipated
    to be ready in early November.

    Sharpen your keyboards to join the WIAs radio amateur community
    survey when it opens online in November.

    As I said previously, maintain a watch for regular despatches from
    the Wireless Institute's Working Group on the ACMAs licensing
    proposals.

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for the WIA Working Group responding
    to the ACMAs proposed Class Licensing and high power operations.





    Hello, this is your WIA director Steven Green VK2TSG; with three items today,

    Firstly, I wanted to bring your attention to the Clubs and individuals who put time
    into making the recent Jamboree of the Air or 'JOTA' a success.

    In seeing the preparations made by my own club in the Blue Mountains of Sydney; I
    know a great deal of work goes on behind the scenes, including prior to the weekend.

    Therefore we wanted to express our thanks all Amateur Operators and their clubs who
    were involved, but also their supporters, families, and Friends for giving up precious time to help introduce Radio to young people.


    I am also looking forward to the upcoming Ham Radio Conference in Tasmania next month, the details of which can be found on the website of the Radio and Electronics
    Association of Southern Tasmania.

    This looks to be an event that caters for so many facets of Radio with some very
    interesting talks planned. For myself, I am particularly interested in the opportunity to learn from the experiences of the groups and clubs that will be present, and how we can share this with all affiliated groups.


    Lastly, a number of clubs have implemented some terrific programmes to encourage
    people to get on air more often, I hear terms such as 'Radio Active', '23-on-23' for
    the 23cm band, and so on.

    As a community we need to look at this situation further; Increasing the use of the
    bands helps provide evidence that our continued use of the frequencies is justified,
    and helps us achieve our aims of communication, technical education, experimentation
    and so forth.

    How about considering calling on and off your local repeater or call frequency when
    traveling. Let people know that you are about; and consider taking your radio with
    you when traveling or commuting. It does not mean you have to be talking the whole
    time or having lengthy conversations, as even a little increase in activity helps us
    and lets newcomers know there are others out there.

    Until next time, 73's from Steven VK2TSG....


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
    & the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    The International Telecommunication Union has announced that the
    2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) will be held from
    November 20 through December 15 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    WRCs are held every three to four years, at which time delegates
    from around the world review and, as needed, revise the ITU Radio
    Regulations, which provide an international framework for regulation
    of the RF spectrum and the orbits of communications satellites. The
    Radio Regulations include the basic structure of the Amateur Radio
    Service, including frequency allocations and license requirements.

    National Radio Societies and The International Amateur Radio Union
    (IARU) are always involved in pre-conference deliberations and send
    observers to the conferences.



    Speaking of the IARU:-
    IARU President keynote at RSGB 2022 Convention

    On 7 to 9 October the RSGB held its first hybrid Convention which
    had speakers, attendees and livestream-watchers from across the
    world.

    The keynote presentation by IARU President Tim Ellam, Kings Counsel
    and Ham Op VE6SH/G4HUA was very thought-provoking. In it he
    highlighted threats to amateur radio as well as the importance of
    embracing modern techniques, whilst also being willing to adapt and
    change.

    The Society has released on its YouTube channel a standalone
    recording of Tims presentation, combined with his interesting
    Convention Chat with the RSGB and IRTS Presidents.

    youtube.com/watch?v=jKfI6c8LfQ4




    AN AMATEUR radio operator is set to be ordered to remove several
    alien and intrusive antennae from the walls of a terraced home in
    the UK, Essex, Shoebury.

    Planning experts claim seven antennae will need to be taken down from
    a building because they are out of character with the area and
    have not received planning permission.

    Enforcement action has previously been taken on the property in 2002
    when some antennae were removed. Another enforcement notice was
    issued in 2014 but those antennae remained and have since been added
    to.

    According to the Radio Society of Great Britain, most antennae need
    planning permission unless they are considered permitted development
    such as for TV antennae and ground mounted antennae up to 3 metres
    in height, although some local councils allow more.

    If they have been present for four years or more they may also be
    exempt but proof would be required. If an antenna is mobile it may
    also not need planning permission.

    However, the report adds: The antennae on site do NOT benefit from
    permitted development provisions and with the service of the 2014
    notice any potential permitted development rights have been lost.

    tinyurl.com/mwu3cuax




    REGION TWO

    Bouncing a signal off the moon.

    Learning more about a mysterious polar light.

    Sending a beam to Jupiter.

    Those are just some of the 13 experiments for a packed 10 days of
    science at the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program.
    The University of Alaska Fairbanks operates the facility and the
    number of experiments is the highest so far under a five-year,
    $9.3 million US grant awarded last year by the National Science
    Foundation to establish the Subauroral Geophysical Observatory at
    HAARP.

    The observatorys purpose is the exploration of Earths upper
    atmosphere and geospace environment.

    Among the experiments is the Moon Bounce, a joint operation of the
    JPL, Owens Valley Radio Observatory in California and the University
    of New Mexico Long Wavelength Array. The purpose is to test the
    coordination of the three facilities for the eventual study of
    near-Earth asteroids, especially those that can be a hazard to Earth.

    Knowing an asteroids composition can influence the type of defence
    to be used.

    The experiment consists of transmitting a signal from HAARP to the
    moon and receiving the reflected signal at the California and
    New Mexico sites.

    The Jupiter experiment, run by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics
    Laboratory, aims to prove a method of observing planetary
    ionospheres by using Earth-based radio transmitters.

    The experiment will send a beam to Jupiter and bounce it off the
    giant planets ionosphere with the hope that it will be received at
    the New Mexico site. Jupiter is currently about 374 million miles
    from Earth and this experiment will stretch the transmitting ability
    of HAARP, which can produce up to 3.6 Megawatts of power, to the
    fullest. It will also test the receiving ability of the New Mexico
    site, which consists of 512 antennas.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WEIRD AND WONDERFUL.

    HORRORS! ZOMBIES SEEKING QSOs WITH CW OPS

    As so many of its enthusiasts will tell you, CW is not - most
    definitely NOT - dead. At this time of the year, however, with
    Halloween just around the corner, CW does have a tendency to become
    a little "ZOMBIE-FIED" as we saw in a recent Amateur Radio NewsLine
    edition.

    You don't need to go trick-or-treating as Samuel F.B. Morse to
    become a CW Zombie. On the night of Friday, October 28th, just turn
    your power to 5 watts or less and you too can participate in a QRP
    activity that's been haunting hams for 25 years:

    The Zombie Shuffle.

    The zombies and their keys rise from the grave at 4 p.m. local time
    and continue until the witching hour of midnight in the hope of
    using 15 and 20 meters before nightfall spirits the good conditions
    away.

    Now because this is radio, wearing a costume won't help you very
    much, but organizers encourage operators to adopt an alias for the
    night. Last year's ops reported working "Chucky," "Boris," "Elvira,"
    "Lazarus" and even....."Igor."

    Details can be found in the event link that appears in the text
    version of this week's WIA National News

    wia.org.au

    zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.htm]

    Fellow Creatures of the Night: Please remember to shuffle - Zombies
    do not like to go fast. Call "CQ BOO" and....let's hope the bands
    won't be --- wait for it----'dead.'

    (ARNEWSLINE)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    ALARA FINAL AWARDS
    Trophies YL/OM
    Top scoring Australian YL (Trophy) YL VK7QP Linda Luther 930
    Top scoring Foundation Licence ALARA member (Trophy) YL VK7AKT Eagles 375

    Overall Awards - Certificates
    Top score YL overall YL VK7QP Linda Luther 930
    Top score YL phone only YL VK7QP Linda Luther 930
    Top score YL CW only YL VK4SWE Lyn Battle 18
    Top score YL EchoLink only YL VK7AKT Eagles 375
    Top score VK YL Foundation Licence holder YL VK7AKT Eagles 375



    --------------

    CONTESTS TO COME:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------

    The QRP Hours Contest is today, Sunday, October 23 only on 40M.

    The aim of the contest is to make as many contacts in a one-hour
    period using your choice of mode with one hour dedicated to CW and
    FT4, followed by one hour of SSB.

    Time CW/FT4: 0400-0459 UTC
    CW 7010-7040
    FT4: 7040-7060. Suggested USB dial frequency 7047.5

    SSB: 0500-0559 UTC try 7060-7170

    The contest is open to all Amateur
    Radio Operators.

    This contest give you a chance to test your QRP operating skills,
    your QRP equipment and to meet other QRP operators in a fun and
    challenging way.

    (vkqrpclub.org)


    --------------


    A week from now will see the SSB leg of the CQ WW Contest.

    Expect a lot of activity in the contest segments from top band
    thru to 10m during this gruelling 48 hour shouting duel.

    The SSB leg is on October 29th and 30th, the CW leg is on the
    weekend of November 26th and 27th.

    (irts)


    --------------


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW AND MY FOUR IN PLAY THIS WEEK ARE
    --------------
    --------------

    1/ FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Special Event Stations

    QARS is delighted to announce special events stations for FWC Qatar
    2022 commenced last Tuesday, October 18 and stays on air till
    QRT December on all HF bands and QO100 satellite for all modes:

    A 722 FWC headquarters of QARS and the Fans Zones at Doha Cornish.

    8 different stations to be known as World Cup Stadiums but the stadium
    our Socceroos are playing in, Al Janoub Stadium has NOT got
    a ham station scheduled.


    A71FIFA (Albayt Stadium)
    A72FIFA (Lusail Stadium)
    A73FIFA (Education City Stadium)
    A74FIFA (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium)
    A75FIFA (974 Stadium)
    A76FIFA (Thumama Stadium)
    A77FIFA (Khalifa Stadium)

    ------------

    2/ FRANCE CALLING THE BBC

    Michel, F8GGZ and other operators have activated TM 100 BBC until
    tomorrow, Monday the 24th of October to commemorate the 100th
    anniversary of the BBC. Activity has been all modes, including EME,
    DMR and C4FM. QSL via F8GGZ, direct or bureau.

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    3/ PB 60 CUBA,

    Although this special event stations suffix is Cuba, it IS from the
    NETHERLANDS.

    Michel, PE1MR, will activate PB 60 CUBA to commemorate the 60th
    anniversary of the Cuban Crisis during the Cold War (1946-1990)
    this weekend.

    PB60CUBA is based in the Command Post of the Dutch Civil Defence.

    QSL via PE1MR.

    (iota)

    --------------

    4/ PF 01 MAX

    Until the 20th of November has been running over the
    Grand Prix weekends of this year's FIA Formula One World Championship.

    Sunday 30th is next event.

    The race will be then Mexico City Grand Prix, which takes place at
    the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

    for PF 01 MAX, you QSL via PC2F either direct, via the bureau,
    Logbook of The World or eQSL

    (rsgb / wia news)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN


    Ham TV to Return to the ISS

    AMSAT has announced the Ham TV unit for the ISS is repaired and on
    the way to Houston for testing. The flight date dependent on testing.

    Ham TV has been inoperative since April 2018.

    The ARISS Ham TV transmitter is capable of downlinking DVB-S digital
    video of ARISS contacts and other activities on board the ISS to
    amateur ground stations in the 2.3 GHz amateur band.

    More information can be found at the link in Australia's TRUSTED
    news service, your WIA National News this week

    ariss.org/hamtv-on-the-iss.html

    (twiar)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    CWops is a worldwide organization of CW enthusiasts with over 3,000
    members who strive to promote and encourage the use of CW, educate
    in the skills and use of CW, and which supports a range of events
    and programs that allow members to continually learn, practice and
    improve their CW skills.


    A yearly award is to recognize individuals, groups and organizations
    that have made the greatest contribution(s) toward advancing the art
    or practice of radio communication by Morse Code.

    This is the seventh year that CWops has made this Award.

    The 2022 winners of the CWops Award for Advancing the Art of CW are:

    Kurt Zoglmann AD 0 WE
    Long Island CW Club
    Neil Sanderson, ZL 1 NZ

    (sourced to NZART Break-in)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    PROGRESS FOR IRELAND'S FIRST SATELLITE

    Another success has been scored by Ireland's first satellite, which
    is moving forward through development and testing to its eventual
    launch. Jeremy Boot G4NJH reports.

    The team developing EIRSAT-1, Ireland's first satellite, has
    returned from Belgium, where the project underwent rigorous testing
    at the CubeSat Support Facility, including an assessment to ensure
    it would survive launch. The University College Dublin team includes
    David Murphy, EI9HWB, and Lna Salmon, EI9HXB. They are developing
    the low-earth-orbit CubeSat as part of the European Space Agency's
    "Fly Your Satellite" programme.

    ESA administrators have said in the past that they view the project
    as a way to grow a new generation of space scientists and engineers
    to nurture a space programme for Ireland. The satellite is
    tentatively scheduled for a launch from an ESA base in French Guiana
    by early 2023.

    This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    (ARNewsLine)




    Satellite AO-27s timer has drifted enough to be workable for a
    few minutes from the northern United States, Canada, and much of
    Europe. For our listeners in those areas, give it a listen.

    This timer drift of AO-27 has allowed a new distance record to be
    set on the satellite. Joe Werth, KE9AJ, at a SOTA summit in
    Wisconsin in the upper Midwestern United States worked Nick Garbett,
    M 1 DDD/P in IO83ru October 5.

    The satellite was at 59 degrees north during the QSO and remember
    a distance record on this satellite is greatly complicated by the
    3.5 minutes the satellite is activated on each orbit.

    (twiar)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    The 2023 Sable Island CY0S DXpedition team has announced a VERY
    generous offer from an anonymous but well known DXer and
    DXpeditioner.

    This DXer has offered to match any donations to the CY0S DXpedition
    from this point forward until arrival on the Island, March 20, 2023.

    For example, if you were to contribute 100 USDs to the DXpedition,
    this will then be matched making a total of 200 USD.

    Again NA-063 Sable is set to air March 20 next.

    (iota)



    AF-OO2

    ZD 7 CA from St. Helena Island (AF-022) is set for between November
    5 and 26 on 40/20/17/15/10 meters using SSB, PSK31, RTTY and WSPR.

    (iota)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.



    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070

    VK4CNQ Nick Quigley OAM sent us a JOTA wrap from Chinchilla in
    VK4.

    120 Scouts, Cubs and Joeys and 30 leaders and helpers with the base
    at the Polo grounds.

    Saturday there were 3 bases, canoeing on the river at one, others with
    Defibrillators and CPR and also Communications.

    Quite a cool morning at the river but it didnt worry the kids.

    VK4CNQ set up the Morse station and a Battle ships Command station
    every child and some leaders learnt how to key out their first name
    and were rewarded with a participation certificate. When they got
    back to the Polo grounds the buzz was who had a certificate and
    who didnt.

    Battleships- 4 UHF handhelds on Ch. 13 and 14 and in pairs they tried
    to sink the ships. Nick had his CB on both channels so he could hear
    what was going on.

    Next day, Sunday, back at the Polo Cross Field -- Morse Code and
    some small electromagnets winding wire around a nail and had some
    for the kids to make their own. The target was to see how many
    paper clips they could pick up.

    Using a biro casing they made a solenoid and used a straight paper
    clip so when the power was applied the paper clip was sucked in.

    So In all seems they had an amazing and rewarding weekend.

    Back to you Bruce.




    (VK4CNQ Nick)




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Florida Amateur Radio Operators Activate for Hurricane Ian

    The ARRL say as Hurricane Ian was making its way to Tampa, Florida,
    in late September, the Sheriffs Tactical Amateur Radio Communications
    (STARC), W 4 HSO, was preparing for activation.

    ARRL member Tony DeAngelo, N2MFT, said STARC was activated
    Monday, September 26, and continued operations through Thursday,
    September 29, 2022 with amateur radio equipment in five of the
    Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office locations, as well as a
    Homeland Security office. Its a great working arrangement with all
    of the equipment provided for us, said K3MFT. Our volunteers
    staffed those locations and the remainder worked from their homes.

    Over the course of the 4-day activation, 16 STARC volunteers worked
    24 hours a day passing information for aid and assistance through
    the sheriffs office using WebEOC, a web-based emergency management
    information system.

    DeAngelo emphasized that STARC is not a club, but a service
    organization. Volunteers are required to undergo an extensive
    background investigation, including fingerprinting.
    STARC volunteers are civilians and employees of various Hillsborough
    County government agencies, Verizon, Tampa Electric, St. Josephs
    Hospital, Tampa Police Department, and other public and private
    agencies.




    CLOSER TO HOME

    The members of the North East Victoria Amateur Radio Club have
    opened their flood initiative again to help those fellow amateurs
    in need.

    Joining me is Frank VK2BFC Club Secretary



    A pool of $2000 is available for amateurs in the flood
    affected areas, particularly Shepparton and Echuca in the form of
    20 x $100 Coles/Myer gift cards.

    These cards are for the Amateur and their family that have been
    affected by the floods, to buy any needed items, be it a bit of
    food, down to a dry pair of socks.

    Please see the policy document, and see the website at
    nevarc.org.au/flood-recovery for more information.

    (Frank VK2BFC - Club Secretary)




    ------------------------------------------------------------*





    2022 Social Scene



    VK6 - PerthTech October 21-23 THIS WEEKEND (vk6pop)

    VK7 - November 5-6 Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo.
    Hobart reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/


    VK4 - Nov 5 Tannum Sands Gathering with Gladstone ARC (vk4zz)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST Nov 13. @ Country Paradise Parklands

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)



    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)




    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







    ==============================
    WIA NEWS BROADCAST FEEDBACK
    www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/feedback/index.php
    ===============================








    LINKS WE LIKE










    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
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    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)

    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
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    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
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    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
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    Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want
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    Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Oct 27 00:38:36 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-10-30.mp3
    Text edition:


    2022 OCTOBER 30 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA ------------------------------------------------------------*

    THE BEST HAM 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 OCTOBER 30 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS


    Well its only a week to go and the Tassie Ham Radio Conference and
    Expo has shaped up as a huge weekend of inspiration, education and
    promotion of our wonderful hobby. More later with a focus on the
    huge Expo line-up!

    WIA SECTRETARY PETER VK8ZZ and calls for BOARD NOMINATIONS.

    WIA PRESIDENT SCOTT VK3KJ JOINS US

    THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA


    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    Greetings to all that have tuned into the WIA Broadcast this week.
    This is WIA President and Director, Scott Williams VK3KJ.

    The WIA working group that is developing the WIAs response to the
    ACMA proposal on Class Licensing and High Power have been busy at
    work considering all aspects to our pending submission. As part of
    this process, the WIA will be releasing an electronic survey to both
    Members and non-Members in the coming weeks to capture information
    and the broad views of the Amateur Radio Community.

    If you are not a member of the WIA, look out for communiques that
    will appear on our website and social media platforms, where you
    will be able to register your interest to receive the survey when it
    is released.

    WIA members will not need to register and will automatically receive
    the survey based on information held on the WIA database (Memnet).

    Once the survey is released, it is expected it will take 8 10 mts
    to populate. Text fields will also be provided in some cases to
    capture additional comments around specific areas, but is important
    to stay on topic. Once all survey responses from members and
    non-members have been compiled, and the WIA has made its submission
    to the ACMA, the WIA will release the outcome of the survey either
    in the form of submission summary or a Webinar which will be held to
    brief the Amateur Radio Community.

    Make sure you look out for the survey in the next week or two.

    The WIA is pleased to announce that it will shortly release
    guidelines and a non-exclusive licensing agreement to allow members
    and affiliated clubs to officially use the dedicated WIA logos.
    The WIA continually receives requests to us the WIA logo and it has
    been decided that members can use the WIA member logo in areas such
    as QSL cards, on your QRZ webpage profile, your own website, email
    signatures and a range of other mediums.

    WIA Affiliated clubs will be able to use the WIA Affiliated club logo
    on merchandise such as shirts, hats, club websites and stationery.

    The WIA corporate logo will be strictly reserved for WIA corporate
    usage only and the pending guidelines will clearly show you which
    logo can be used and where.
    The non-exclusive licensing agreement will form part of the
    membership renewal process and upon renewing your membership, a
    12-month license to use the applicable logo will be extended to you.
    Clearly if your membership ceases for any reason at all, you will need to cease using the logo where reasonably possible.

    On a final note, the WIA would like to confirm the Board have
    approved the following members that will be joining the recently
    re-constituted Education Committee.

    They are:
    Liz Billiau VK2XSW (who will also act as the interim chair)
    Peter Cossins VK3BFG
    Chris Huggins VK3QY
    Amanda Hawes VK1WX
    Jan Van Ekris VK2FEB
    Irene Van Ekris - VK2VAN
    Harry Edgar VK6DOC

    This newly re-constituted committee will kick off its first meeting
    in the near future and will also develop a new Terms of Reference
    that will be approved by the board that will help shape its future
    direction. If you are interested in joining the committee now or
    into the future, make sure you send a message to the national office
    expressing your interest to nationaloffice@wia.org.au

    Stay safe and well.

    Best Regards
    Scott VK3KJ





    Call for Nominations as a Director of the WIA

    Pursuant to the Constitution of the Wireless Institute of Australia,
    The Board has determined that the election of directors shall be
    conducted by ballot.

    Nominations open this week, on 1st November 2022.

    Four directors retire at the conclusion of the next Annual General
    Meeting which will be held in May 2023, namely Scott Williams VK3KJ,
    Peter Clee VK8ZZ, Greg Kelly VK2GPK and Peter Schrader VK4EA. Each
    retiring director is eligible for re-election.

    Nominations are called for from persons seeking election as a
    director of the WIA. A director must be a voting member of the WIA,
    must hold an Australian amateur radio license and a Company Director
    Identification Number.

    Any person wishing to nominate as a candidate for election as
    director of the WIA must deliver or cause to be delivered to the
    Returning Officer by not later than 2.00pm on 16th December 2022 a
    nomination form which is available on the WIA web site at
    wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/board/documents/Nomination%20Form%20-%20WIA%20Board%20of%20Directors.pdf

    Candidate information will be posted online and emailed to members.
    Members are requested to ensure that their email address is correctly
    recorded on the WIA membership register.

    Nominations received by facsimile or by electronic means cannot be
    accepted.

    Authorised by
    John Marshall
    WIA Returning Officer
    Spoken by Peter Clee VK8ZZ WIA Director/Secretary.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
    & the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    EMF assessments

    From 18 November all UK amateurs are required to have conducted EMF
    assessments for all the bands they use.

    The RSGB provides an assessment app, which includes many current
    antennas. Certainly worth a look at the link in this weeks edition
    of WIA National News

    rsgb.services/public/software/emccalculator/




    SILENT KEY - and the word to the world-wide DX Ham Community is to
    "plant a Rhododendron."

    This announcement came from Martti Laine OH 2 BH

    Peter Tigerstedt, OH5NQ & OH2BM now Silent Key.

    Amateur Radio in Finland has lost one of its giants.

    As a visiting professor in many parts of the globe, he always became
    integrated with the local amateur radio community. A great example
    being W9YT, the University of Wisconsin.

    Peter was one of the pioneers at both ends of the HF radio spectrum;
    160M and 6M, and his contributions to both were significant.

    Peter was a mentor for a large portion of the younger OH contest
    generation and maintained an impressive multi-station OH5Z at the
    Mustila Estate as its host and sponsor. Now the OH5Z group has lost
    their "father figure."

    When not involved in the many facets of Amateur Radio,
    Prof. Dr. Peter Tigerstedt OH 5 NQ was a world renowned scientist,
    plant breeding expert and professor emeritus at the Helsinki
    University. He was perhaps most famous as being the founder of the
    rhododendron breeding program at Mustila Arboretum.

    Hams world-wide are asked " If you wish to remember Peter and honour
    his legacy, perhaps you can plant a rhododendron, particularly
    P.M.A. Tigerstedt, named after him. They grow to reach impressive
    heights, much like everything else Peter did during his lifetime.




    Speaking of Silent Keys, a nice one from our Polish friends.

    SK Memorial

    The Polish PZK has announced an initiative to commemorate their
    Silent Keys. A rough translation of the most recent PZK news
    Bulletin article reads: "Almost every ham radio has an "SK" sign in
    his memory, that is, a sender whose key is silent forever.

    The "Remembrance of those who passed away" "Silent Key Memorial 2022"
    campaign aims to commemorate our deceased colleagues. The organiser
    of the action is the Editorial Office of PZK Communications.

    The SP 0 SKM memorial radio station will be active in the
    80m-40m-20m-2m bands, with CW, SSB and FM emissions in the period
    from 1 to 6 November 2022. Operators joining the action establish
    contacts with SP0SKM, during which they provide the call-sign of the
    SK operator, which they would like to commemorate.




    AMATEUR AIRCRAFT MAKER.

    Although this story contains reference to avionics it's really all
    about a chap in the UK who made a 'flying machine' in his Essex back
    yard, the ULTIMATE 'home brewed'.

    Ashok Aliseril Thamarakshan built the 4 seat South African designed
    Sling TSi aircraft under the VERY watchful eye of the Light
    Aircraft Association, the UK representative body that oversees the
    construction and maintenance of home-built aircraft, under an
    approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority

    Each stage of the project had to be signed off by an inspector
    before he could move onto the next task the Light Aircraft
    Association completed around 12 inspections in total.

    The first flight, some 18 months after the back yard build commenced,
    was conducted by a test pilot who gave the $320,000 AUD aircraft the
    official tick of approval.

    The Sling kit was less than half the total cost but Engine, propeller
    and the Avionics system soon added to it.

    tinyurl.com/yc582mxv





    REGION TWO

    SPECIAL EVENT STATION COMMEMORATES LAKE SUPERIOR TRAGEDY

    Even if you're not in the United States, you may have heard of the
    tragedy of the freighter that sank during a storm in 1975 in one
    of the Great Lakes. The vessel's story is being told again with the
    help of a special event station, as we hear from Sel Embee KZ3TZD.

    "In the state of Michigan, the story of the tragedy cannot be told
    enough: On November 10th, 1975, an American freighter, the SS Edmund
    Fitzgerald was sent to the bottom of Lake Superior. The crew of 29 lost
    their lives that day. That story will be shared once again between
    October 30th and November 13th by members of the Livonia Amateur Radio
    Club, K8UNS, as they operate as special event station W8F. On Saturday,
    November 5th, the operation will also be at the Dossin Great Lakes
    Museum from 1600 to 2030 UTC. This is also a POTA activation and an
    entity in the US Islands Awards scheme. The museum and the Detroit
    Historical Society are hosting the event, hoping that amateurs from
    around the world will make contact and that visitors to the museum will
    observe the portable ham station on its day of operation there. Hams who
    log W8F as a contact will be issued a confirmation certificate.

    See the QRZ.com page for special event station W8F for more details.

    This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.





    REGION THREE

    LIFE FOR VK3QI

    VK3QI Peter commenced work with the VK3 QSL bureau in 1988 sorting
    a backlog of some 100,000 QSL cards when the then WIA Vic Division
    took over the management of the Victorian Bureau.

    Peter continued with in inwards bureau until 1998 when he took over
    the outward bureau. Averaging at its peak some 20,000 cards per year
    Peter, VK3QI, has single handily undertaken this task for over 20 yrs.

    He recently retired from this position and at the recent AGM it was
    unanimously moved that A.R.V. bestow LIFE MEMBERSHIP on Peter for
    his work with the bureau. President of Amateur Radio Victoria,
    Tony Hambling, congratulated Peter and presented him with his
    certificate.




    Astronomers have never seen anything quite like it.

    On Oct. 9, Earth-orbiting satellites detected the strongest gamma-ray
    burst in modern history:

    GRB221009A.

    How strong was it?

    It caused electrical currents to flow through the surface of our
    planet. Dr. Andrew Klekociuk in Tasmania (VK7) recorded the effect
    using an Earth Probe Antenna. "I am a climate scientist at the
    Australian Antarctic Divisionthat's my day job," says the good
    Doctor. "VLF is my hobby. I started doing VLF radio measurements in
    the 70's when I was in high school. This is the first time I have
    detected a gamma-ray burst."

    Dr. Andrews's unusual "ham rig" uses Earth itself as a giant antenna.
    In his back garden there are two metal spikes stuck into the ground
    75 meters apart. They are connected to a radio receiver via
    insulated buried wires. In recent years amateur radio operators have
    been experimenting with this weird kind of antenna to detect VLF
    radio signals circling our planet in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. Earth's crust forms one of the waveguide's walls, allowing Earth Probe antennas to detect distant transmitters.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------

    This weekend it's the SSB leg of the CQ WW Contest.

    Expect a lot of activity in the contest segments from top band
    thru to 10m during this gruelling 48 hour shouting duel.

    The SSB leg is on now, October 29 and 30, the CW leg is on the
    weekend of November 26th and 27th.

    Speaking of CW, also this weekend for our Morse fraternity is the
    Central Siberia DX-lubs HAM SPIRIT CONTEST.

    The goal is to improve amateur operating skills by conducting 2-way
    radio communications with as many amateur radio stations around the
    world and from as many ITU Zones and square Fields of the QTH Locator
    as possible on the HF bands.

    October 29, at 06:00 UTC ending the 30th at 05:59 UTC on
    160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m.

    hamspiritcontest.com/eng/rules


    --------------

    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAY
    SPRING
    0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    Listen for Jaap PA7DA, operating from Aruba with the call sign P4DA
    from November 13th through to the 27th. QSL via the Dutch QSL Bureau to
    his home call sign. For direct QSL information, see his QRZ.com page.

    --------------

    Listen for Oleg, ZS1ANF, who hopes to be on the air as ZS7ANF at Wolf's
    Fang Runway in Antarctica starting on November 1st. QSL details are on
    QRZ.com

    (DX-WORLD.NET)

    --------------

    VK9C & VK9CM, COCOS-KEELING DXPEDITION NEWS (Update/Reminder)

    VK9CM from Cocos Keeling Islands (OC-003) between October 26th and
    November 3rd on 80-10 meters (possibly 6m).

    They will also use the callsign VK9C during the CQWW DX SSB Contest
    this weekend. QSL both callsigns via EB7DX or LoTW.

    Another operation from COCOS-KEELING AND CHRISTAMS ISLANDS will use
    VK9C (a few days earlier 25-27) and VK9X from CHRISTAMS ISLANDS
    These two DXCC entities VK9QO on the QO-100 satellite between
    October 25-31st.

    October 25-27th -- Cocos (Keeling) Island (VK 9 C)
    October 28-31st -- Christmas Island (VK 9 X)

    QSL via LoTW and eQSL, as well as paper-QSL, will be handled.

    QSO with VK9QO is valid for "JAMSAT 50th Anniversary Award"
    jamsat.or.jp/?p=1854

    (sourced to wia / opdx)

    A search of the ACMA data base failed to show any single suffix call.


    --------------

    MALAWI

    7 Q 6M is on air until November 29 on 160 to 6 meters.
    Also in this weekends CQ World Wide DX SSB contest.
    QSL to home call K 6 ZO

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    NO BARE-BONES OPERATION FOR HALLOWEEN

    As Halloween approaches, people have been growing increasingly
    creative in the ways they decorate their homes.
    Meet one ham in Colorado, who carries the theme way above all the
    others - way, way above - because it's on his roof.

    Neil Rapp WB9VPG gives us the details.

    If you look at the photos on his page on QRZ.com, you'll notice
    right away that Keifer Hunniford, K3IFR, doesn't exactly have a
    shack that you'd call a bare-bones operation. Well, Halloween has
    changed all that. His wife, Ari, is a big fan of the holiday and
    recently brought home nine skeletons from the local Home Depot.

    Some of them are now scattered around the couple's yard and a few
    are hanging off the roof of their house in various poses.

    The luckiest skeleton of the bunch got the highest visibility of all:
    Keifer has him mounted on his antenna, and the installation required

    - you guessed it -

    only a skeleton crew.

    Keifer zip-tied that festive bunch of bones into place to keep him
    secure through the end of the month.

    We're not sure whether its presence has an impact on Keifer's SWR -
    that's Skeleton-Wave-Ratio - but we do know it has scared up a lot
    of interest locally and on Facebook too, where he posted a picture.

    It has turned their house into quite a haunt - and if any neighbours
    should try to compete with it... let's just say.....they don't stand
    a ghost of a chance.

    This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    It's congratulations to VK 6 MJ who last Wednesday the 19th,
    conducted a successful ARISS TELEBRIDGE hook up from WA to Canada.

    Chief Whitecap Elementary School, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was the
    lucky school who, thanks to Martin VK6MJ PhD a Research Student at
    Curtin University and Retired Teacher, contacted the ISS with
    crewmember Josh Cassada KI5CRH
    using the call NA1SS

    This coming Wednesday 26th another opportunity for an Aussie Station
    was to present when they attempted to put the same ISS crewmember in
    touch with the same ISS crewmember with Five Bridges Junior High
    School, Stillwater Lake, in Nova Scotia, Canada.

    (AMSAT NA / VK4BB)




    Richard Branson's small satellite service provider Virgin Orbit
    Holdings Inc will be doing its first launch from European soil
    within 5-6 weeks, its founder said last week.

    "Virgin Orbit can launch satellites into space from anywhere in the
    world into any orbit at a days notice," Branson said during a press
    conference in Milan, Italy. "We are doing the first launch from
    European soil into space ... from Cornwall," he added.

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    For this story, I just need go down the street and catch up
    with fellow Bendigo AR Club member Bruce VK3FF


    Few have heard the tale of Watertown USA patriot Jim Monroe Bradley,
    a man born with a birth defect that kept him from serving in the
    military, BUT, who aided his country during World War II using his
    ham radio so that families could hear the voices of their loved ones
    soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen who were convalescing in
    hospitals overseas.

    "He had a radio so strong that it sometimes interfered with WSM
    Radio, said Bradleys daughter, Betty Edwards, who recently donated
    her fathers ham radio to the Wilson County Veterans Museum.

    At some time during WWII, the Federal Communications Commission came
    to the Bradley residence to inspect Jims transmissions because it
    occasionally knocked WSM Radio, home of the Grand Ole Opry, off
    the air. They stayed a couple days and after checking things out
    allowed him to continue his hobby.

    In fact, Bradley was able to transmit and receive to and from the
    European and Pacific theatres of combat.

    On the American home front, families received telegrams from the
    military alerting them that their husbands or sons had been injured. The messages shared what military hospital they were in but did not divulge details of their injuries.

    Bradley wanted to help the families of the wounded soldiers.

    He put word out to these families that he could transmit / receive
    anywhere there was fighting overseas, and if they wanted to, they
    could come to his house, recalled Edwards. He mainly heard from
    these families by letters. He would locate the wounded soldier first
    then get the actual patient on the radio, but he had to go through
    others and sometimes it took several days to reach the patient,
    mostly hours late at night. He would stay up all hours of the night
    patching people through.

    As they say in the services... "WELL DONE THAT MAN"

    tinyurl.com/bdzz8es4

    (eHam)


    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    Government House Services Reception

    Friday evening, 14th October three WICEN NSW members attended a
    reception at Government House Sydney on behalf of VRA Rescue NSW.

    WICEN Members attending were Neil Fallshaw, Malcolm Alexander and
    Simon Brown.

    There were number of New South Wales Services including, Rural Fire
    Service, Fire & Rescue NSW, NSW SES, St Johns Ambulance, Corrective
    Services, Army, Navy and Air Force.

    The reception was hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret
    Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales.

    This weekend cancelled. Well the Hawkesbury Classic Paddle is.

    As a result of ongoing safety concerns for paddlers, land crews and
    volunteers, what with the state of flooding in VK2, a decision has
    been taken to CANCEL this year's Classic.

    The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association has taken this decision in
    consultation with safety network partners, including NSW State
    Emergency Service, Marine Rescue NSW, WICEN NSW together with First
    Aid and Physio team.

    This decision revolves around the condition of the Hawkesbury River
    itself as a result of flooding, together with the damage caused to
    the infrastructure at the land-based safety checkpoints along the
    river.

    This months flood, a lesser event than the March and July floods,
    was the fourth flood in the region this year.

    The event is planned to return next yea

    (wicen nsw web)





    Amateur Radio Club Members Assist Law Enforcement

    The Wayne Amateur Radio Club in the US manned a 30-foot-tall mobile
    observational Infrastructure Protection Unit, or SkyWatch tower, at
    Ohio's Wayne County Fair.

    Staffed by specially trained amateur radio volunteers, the tower
    provided 24-hour surveillance, monitoring, and a record of activity
    on the fairgrounds, including medical emergencies, lost children,
    and other situations where help may have been needed.

    Captain Doug Hunter, KE 8 JNH, of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office,
    was impressed with its performance.

    The tower gave volunteers a bird's-eye view of the midway that
    allows one person to see from the air what four or five people
    can see from the ground. The observation deck is equipped with
    state-of-the-art video equipment that provides situational awareness
    in places where there are large crowds in attendance.

    (arrl)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    YOTA Contest 2022 Youth On The Air (ham-yota.com)


    School Amateur Radio Club Network - An AMATEUR RADIO VICTORIA
    initiative under the expert guidance of Julie VK3FOWL and Joe VK3YSP.

    Here is Alex VK2APC

    School Amateur Radio Clubs are a neat way to get in an extra shot of
    Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) while
    exercising your on-air conversational skills and tuning up your
    enquiring minds. It will expands our horizons, builds our confidence,
    harnesses creativity and helps develop new skills.

    Each week there will be different activities to whet your appetite.
    SARC members learn to work together as a group and to help each
    other through some pretty exciting challenges.

    Visit the site we like, the SARCNET web page, a part of the
    Amateur Radio Victoria SITE, but easily found under sarcnet.org

    This site is for school principals, teachers, parents, students and
    amateur radio enthusiasts. It provides inspiration, ideas, articles,
    news and activities all free to download, modify and use as you wish.

    (vk4bb)





    2022 Social Scene

    VK7 - November 5-6 Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo.
    Hobart reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/


    VK4 - Nov 5 Tannum Sands Gathering with Gladstone ARC (vk4zz)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST Nov 13. @ Country Paradise Parklands

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)



    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)



    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/100 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Nov 4 02:02:17 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-11-06.mp3
    Text edition:

    2022 NOVEMBER 06 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 NOVEMBER 06 2022

    THIS WEEK YOU'LL HEAR FROM WIA IMMEADIATE PAST PRESIDENT. - CURRENT
    PRESIDENT WIA. - VICE PRESIDENT WIA. - SECRETARY WIA along with
    OUR ALWAYS TO BE RELIED ON TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL AMATEUR NEWS LEADERS
    . - WE'LL DOUBLE DOWN WITH A PAIR OF JOHNS, 4JJW and 4FJRK. - TO
    FINISH IF TIME A LITTLE 'GARDENING', YES ITS ROSEBUD TIME IN VK3.

    THIS AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Election of 2023 Directors of the WIA

    Last weekend on the national news broadcast we announced that
    nominations to become a director of the WIA were now open.
    There are 4 positions up for election this time around.
    The 4 directors will retire at the conclusion of the next
    Annual General Meeting which will be held in May 2023.
    Each retiring director is eligible for re-election.

    Nominations for position of WIA Director Close at 2.00pm 16 December
    2022. Nominations must be in the approved form. Nomination forms are
    available on the WIA web site and a link to the form was provided
    in last weeks text edition of the broadcast.

    wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/board/documents/Nomination%20Form%20-%20WIA%20Board%20of%20Directors.pdf

    Members must be financial as at 31 December 2022 in order to vote in
    this election.

    This year the election will be held electronically with an option for
    a postal vote. Application for a postal vote has been printed on the
    reverse side of the Amateur Radio Magazines November / December
    issues address label. An application for a postal vote is also
    available for download from the WIA web site.

    wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/about/member_documents/application_for_a_postalvote.pdf

    Registration for a Postal Vote is are now open and will close on
    15th December 2022. An Application for a postal vote may be posted
    to the WIA post office box or delivered by email to the returning
    officer. Details of which are on the application for a postal vote
    form. An application for a Postal Vote will close on 15 December 2022

    This announcement has been authorised by the
    Board of the Wireless Institute of Australia.

    This is WIA Secretary Peter VK8ZZ




    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    Have you recently renewed you Amateur Radio Licence with ACMA?

    A number of Amateur Radio operators have recently reported that their
    Amateur Radio licences have shown up on the ACMA RRL database as
    Expired when they have previously thought to have been successfully
    renewed well prior to the expiry date.

    One affected WIA Member, on phoning ACMA to rectify the issue was
    instructed by ACMA staff to forward by email, with an ACMA reference
    number, supporting evidence of the successful payment to ACMA. This
    could consist of a screen grab of your bank statement, receipt
    numbers etc. ACMA would then investigate and resolve the issues.

    It was reported that the new recently installed ACMA payment portal
    may have some anomalies to still be ironed out with Credit and
    Debit card payments seemed to have created the non-payment status.
    Payments to ACMA using the Bpay method is said to be currently
    functioning without any known issues.

    Although ACMA do notify us of the upcoming licence expiry date, it
    is our responsibility to renew our licences prior to the date of
    expiry. You can find the ACMA RRL at

    https://web.acma.gov.au/rrl/register_search.main_page

    Just enter your callsign in the appropriate box on the website and
    your file with you client ID should be shown displaying your licence
    details. Please take note and if you have recently paid your ACMA
    renewal in the last few months, please check that you licence is
    still current and flagged as Granted.

    If it states Expired, then check the expiry date and check your
    records to confirm you have actually paid.

    ACMA can be contacted directly on 1300 850 115 to discuss payment
    or any other issues.

    Have your client ACMA ID available along with your ACMA invoice
    number to make things easier. To be safe it would be wise for
    everyone to check that current status of your licence on the
    ACMA RRL database as an expired licence after 60 days will lose the
    callsigns attached and they will be relinquished back into the
    Callsigns Available register for others to apply for. Losing our
    callsign can be very disappointing and the process to recover your
    old callsign once reissued can be a frustrating long drawn out
    process and in the end not always possible.

    Lets try and avoid that situation altogether and check the ACMA RRL.

    Please do it now.

    73 from Lee VK3GK currently in Sunny Hobart, Tasmania where many
    have gathered to attend the REAST Conference and EXPO this weekend.




    This is Greg VK2GPK with this weeks board comment:

    As we all travel at 107,00 thousand kilometres an hour on spaceship
    earth around the sun, the end of another year is quickly approaching.

    The year 2022 has been, like the last few years, quite tumultuous.
    For most of us, especially in eastern Australia, incessant rain has
    been an unwanted guest, and flooding has been widespread with
    devastating impacts on many communities. The upside is the rallying of
    community spirit with so many volunteers selflessly assisting those
    affected.

    November 2022 is an important month for Australian radio amateurs.
    The spectrum regulator, the Australian Media and Communications
    Authority aka the ACMA has a consultation period that closes on
    November 29 for drastic changes to our licencing arrangements.

    The ACMA is proposing to implement a single Class Licence for
    Radio Amateurs starting mid next year (July 2023) that will totally
    eliminate the individual licences we currently hold. Additionally,
    and quite separately, the ACMA are seeking comment on increased
    power options but on this unrelated issue there is no definite
    proposal or timeframe to implement. It is vitally important not to
    focus solely on the increased power part of this consultation as the
    only part of ACMAs proposals that has an implementation date is the
    Class Licence. I have seen a great deal of discussion on social
    media that focusses only on increased power and ignores the
    elephant in the room of a Class Licence.

    The WIA has constituted an expert working group to address this
    consultation and is well underway to release a position paper early
    November on the ACMA proposals this will be published to our
    members very soon and the WIA will, of course, be seeking your
    considered feedback. As I have mentioned a prior news item, my
    personal opinion is that the ACMA Class Licence proposal has no
    apparent tangible benefits for the Australian Amateur Service, and
    appears entirely motivated by a business case to decouple the ACMA
    from the Amateur Service and reduce ACMAs overheads. The ACMAs
    motivation and business case is completely understandable given the
    year-on-year budget cuts to the ACMA by the previous Federal
    Government euphemistically described as efficiency dividends.

    I also firmly believe that there are simpler alternatives for the
    ACMA to minimise overheads and costs that are utilised by regulators
    in other similar jurisdictions.

    Significantly, the WIA has a adopted a negotiation position of
    no disadvantage to the Amateur Service should ACMA proceed with
    their Class Licence proposal as is their current intent. The WIA has
    already met with the ACMA executives on multiple occasions to
    discuss their Class Licence proposal. It is vitally important that
    we have your support in ensuring the best outcome for Australian
    radio amateurs.

    WIA members, to ensure you dont miss any import updates please
    check your email spam folder regularly, as many email providers
    have very aggressive filters in force for mass mailings.

    Finally, a reminder that WIA director nominations for the half-board
    elections will close mid-December. As a democratic member-based
    organisation, the WIA can only continue its 112 history of
    representing the radio amateur fraternity with your support as a
    volunteer. So, if you have management, strategy, financial or other
    relevant experience ( or know someone who does ) please volunteer.
    Details will be in AR magazine and our website.

    This is Greg, VK2GPK





    DISCUSSION POINT

    Hi, this is Dan VK6NAD and we've just wrapped up Perth Tech and
    I've got a couple of gentlemen here that hosted one of the sessions.
    So we've got Paul VK2APA and we've got Scott VK3KJ. Now the thing
    these two guys have got in common. If you haven't already guessed,
    is they're both presidents. We've got Paul, President of RASA and
    we've got Scott, President of the WIA , and they hosted a PerthTech
    presentation together. Gentlemen can you tell me how you came to be
    sitting together on the stage and talking about a common subject?

    Paul VK2APA
    Well, be honest with you. I had dinner last night with Scott and he
    also shared with me what he was going to talk about, and I noticed
    that we are talking about the same things in amateur radio. It's
    surprising what we have in common, our concerns. Interests in
    amateur radio.

    Scott VK3KJ
    Yeah, and look from my side firstly to say it's not the first time
    that Paul and I have actually come together. You know we talk from
    time to time. There's obviously items of common discussion about
    things that are happening within the amateur radio sector, and it
    was great to have dinner last night.

    But look, you know today I guess you know I spoke about just some of
    the things that are probably close to my heart. Some of the things
    in the hobby that need to change and the things that obviously come
    to mind. Today we were talking a bit about, politicisation where
    there's really no role for that within the hobby and you know we
    must get along and we've just got to be better role citizens.

    The next thing we spoke about today was around bullying, harassment,
    victimisation and some of the behaviours in the industry which are
    just not conducive to what we want within the hobby. You know where
    we obviously all want to be united and I guess, look, you know we
    identified today and I was talking from a personal level.

    That you know, irrespective of your views of either organisation,
    everybody will make a decision who they want to join and many people
    obviously are members of both organisations. But I think you know
    the takeaway today for us was you know we've just got to do it
    better. We've got to do the yards we've got to work together. We've
    got to influence ACMA, but importantly, we just need to represent
    the hobby better.

    Dan
    On that subject you both sat together with ACMA in recent times and
    one of the things that surprised me from your conversation was how
    much impact some of the politics had on amateur radio relationship
    with the ACMA and how they view us.

    Paul
    Well, what happened is there was a quite a surprise I think from the
    people attending the meeting. They did comment it was good to see
    both the WIA and RASA joining together in a meeting and I think that
    was quite an eye opener for the ACMA.

    Dan
    The noise that's coming out of the amateur community in the ACMA
    s ears - has that had any impact?

    Scott
    Yeah, well look there there's no doubt and I think you know I
    commented about this today in the talk that you know if we sort
    of reflect back in time and you know we're talking today of course,
    about class licencing we're talking about increased power. Obviously,
    you know last year we got our two by one call signs after a lot of
    work that took place in the background, and I guess if we were
    united and were all working as one, that probably would have
    happened a lot earlier. Would have happened years ago.

    So I think you know the point of it is that you know we're
    stronger as one. That was a really strong sort of theme today
    coming through, we're stronger as one and you know, there's not a
    lot of amateur radio operators in Australia. And I think we all
    share a common interest and a common goal. And you know, I think we
    can do it better.

    Dan
    So that begs the question, do we need two entities? If you're both
    on the same page?

    Paul
    Well, RASA came out of a need and I guess we're a little bit
    different. We're a modern organisation that operates a little
    differently. We've adopted perhaps a different approach to amateur
    radio representation. We put some initiatives out there. We support
    things like QRM Guru. We've got things like the regs info website
    which supports those people learning their regulations or those
    people who want to top things up so we do a lot of different bits
    and pieces which are a little different to the WIA.

    However, you know we've often spoken within RASA whether or not
    there is a need for us in the future if things changed, and that
    would be something we would have to cross in the future, but perhaps
    there isn't a need for RASA if things do change.

    Dan
    Well, I think right now we support having both of you here, so thank
    you very much gents. I look forward to seeing you in the future.
    Paul and Scott Thank you, thank you.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
    & the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    OH2A is ready for use

    IRTS news is reporting " Work HF from anywhere with SRAL's
    new remote-controlled amateur radio station. The Swedish remote
    station OH2A is used via an internet connection on a computer or
    mobile device with a standard web browser such as Firefox, Chrome
    or Safari.

    You can find more information about the remote station and
    instructions for obtaining personal user IDs on SRAL's website
    at www.sral.fi/palvelut/etaasemat




    RSGB launches its latest construction competition.

    To enable members across the country, and even the world, to enter,
    entries will be judged over the internet rather than in person.

    There are four categoriesBeginners, Construction Excellence,
    Innovation, and Softwareand the deadline for entries is 1 March 2023.

    Special recognition will be given to entries submitted by hams under
    the age of 24, and to those who have just gained a Foundation licence.

    RSGB members to find out more, including how to enter, see the full
    details on the RSGB website.

    rsgb.org/construction-competition.




    REGION THREE

    Better wireless communication during the festival season?

    Thank Indian LEDs

    Millions of LED chains are used to decorate Puja pandals ( temporary
    stages and structural decorations) along with surrounding areas during
    the Hindu festive season.

    Even government agencies use LED chains to decorate structures in
    public places like parks and gardens during the festival.

    The replacement of Chinese made Light Emitting Diodes with Indian
    ones led to a marked improvement in VHF radio communication this
    year.

    A senior officer of the West Bengal Police noted how communications
    between the control room and personnel on the ground used to be a
    big challenge due to severe interference during the 1o day festival
    known as Durga Puja in previous years.

    We didnt know the reason till amateur radio operators from the
    West Bengal Radio Club carried out their own research, the officer
    said. Ambarish Nag Biswas, secretary, WBRC, said that they detected
    the phenomenon while carrying out tests on their ham VHF sets.

    Chinese LEDs use tin while Indian ones use metals like copper.
    All this interference has to do with photon particles that are
    key to emission of light by the diodes. Whenever the cheap LEDs are
    used, a noise is emitted that travels along the radio waves,
    causing interference."

    As Indian LEDs are now replacing the Chinese ones, the problem has
    come down significantly, it's said.




    YOUNG HAM FROM INDIA SET FOR ANTARCTIC TRIP

    Imagine being a young amateur radio operator chosen for a first-time
    trip outside your home country - to Antarctica. Well for one young
    ham in India, that just became a reality.

    John Williams VK4JJW tells us about him.

    Congratulations to Sarabjeet Singh Chhabra, VU2CUW, who at age 27
    becomes part of a team going to Antarctica in December as part of
    the 42nd Indian Scientific Expedition there.

    Sarabjeet has been a ham since 2015 and according to a news report
    in Telengana Today, this will be his first international journey.

    He was chosen to join the logistics team by a panel of 11 at the
    Ministry of Earth Sciences in Delhi. His work will involve providing
    support to the primary research team. Each team has two radio
    operators who will be using handheld VHF radios or larger HF rigs to
    cover greater distances, depending on what type of communication the
    team needs.

    This is an annual expedition to India's Antarctica Base Station
    conducted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.

    This is John Williams VK2JJW.




    Astronomers Richard C. Carrington and Richard Hodgson saw the most
    powerful geomagnetic storm ever seen in history in September 1859,
    which was forever known as the Carrington Event.

    If a storm hits our planet again, it will cause severe damage to our
    electric networks and technologies. The Carrington Event, though, is
    nothing compared to another solar event.

    Many astronomers have long held that the cosmos experiences solar
    storms around every thousand years that are nearly 12 times more
    powerful, destructive, and intense than the Carrington Event.

    The Miyake Event is the name given to this stronger solar storm.
    But more interestingly, a group of researchers from the University
    of Queensland in VK4, claimed that data from tree rings might be
    able to help us anticipate when the next Miyake Event would likely
    occur.

    Enter the humble tree ring.

    First author UQ undergraduate maths student Qingyuan Zhang developed
    software to analyse every available piece of data on tree rings.

    Because you can count a trees rings to identify its age, you can
    also observe historical cosmic events going back thousands of years,
    Mr Zhang said. When radiation strikes the atmosphere it produces
    radioactive carbon-14, which filters through the air, oceans,
    plants, and animals, and produces an annual record of radiation in
    tree rings.

    We modelled the global carbon cycle to reconstruct the process
    over a 10,000-year period, to gain insight into the scale and
    nature of the Miyake Events. The University of Queensland announced
    in a press release October 26.

    tinyurl.com/yjw6bvs2


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------
    --------------

    I am Shirley, VK5YL Reporting on a special YL Contest.

    This contest takes place on 18th and 19th November between the times
    of 1900 UTC and 2100 UTC on the 18th and 0800 UTC and 1000 UTC on
    the 19th.

    Frequencies 80 meters 3.520MHz 3.560MHz
    40 meters - 7.010MHz and 7.030MHz

    Logs are to be returned to f5rpb@orange.fr

    Please check the web page at
    YL-UFT Competition French Union of Telegraphists
    for further information:-

    uft.net/activites-et-concours/concours-yl-uft/

    I am Shirley, VK5YL Reporting on a special YL Contest.


    --------------


    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAY
    SPRING
    0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November


    --------------

    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    Dates: First full weekend in December (December 2-4, 2022).

    Contest Period: Begins 2200 UTC Friday, ends 1559 UTC Sunday.
    This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.


    --------------


    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Dates: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11, 2022)

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    Much of our DX news over the years has come from the Ohio/Penn
    Dx PacketCluster and KB 8 NW, Tedd Mirgliotta.

    This week Editor Tedd was sad to report:

    " This will be my last OPDX Bulletin. After just under 32 years of
    writing the OPDX Bulletin , I have decided to retire. Actually
    I have been providing DX information for the last 42 years
    starting on a local RTTY BBS, Packet Radio BBS and an online
    dial-up BBS (which received global phone calls before adding the
    InterNet to it).

    The last 42 years has been fun, but it is time to retire due to my
    age (I turned 70 this year). "

    From all of us here at WIA operational news Ted, all the very best
    in your retirement and THANK YOU!

    --------------

    MALAWI

    7 Q 6M is on air until November 29 on 160 to 6 meters.
    Also in this weekends CQ World Wide DX SSB contest.
    QSL to home call K 6 ZO

    (eHam)


    --------------

    Frans, PC2F will be active as PF01MAX until the 20th of November,
    over the Grand Prix weekends of this year's FIA Formula One World
    Championship.

    for PF 01 MAX, you QSL via PC2F either direct, via the bureau,
    Logbook of The World or eQSL

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    Listen for Jaap PA7DA, operating from Aruba with the call sign
    P 4 DA from November 13th through to the 27th. QSL via the
    Dutch QSL Bureau to his home call sign, again thats PA 7 DA.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    THE FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    ISS Partners Weigh Options for Using Commercial Space Stations

    Partner agencies on the International Space Station program say they
    are in discussions about how they will use, and pay for, commercial
    space stations that will replace it.

    Representatives of several countries currently involved in the ISS
    said during a panel at the American Institute of Aeronautics and
    Astronautics ASCEND conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 25 that
    they are looking at options for how to continue work they currently
    do on the ISS on the commercial space stations in low Earth orbit
    NASA is helping develop to replace it at the end of the decade.

    The ISS today relies extensively on barter arrangements among
    participating agencies, providing services to cover their share of
    operations of the station. Such arrangements are unlikely to work for
    commercial stations however.

    [ANS]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is
    the first Monday of month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers
    Club of Australia's November bulletin to go to air. VK6 Members and
    Friends are reminded that the November lunchtime meeting will be at
    the Woodbridge Hotel in Guildford tomorrow, Tuesday 8th.

    This month as well as the latest Club news:

    * Ill be talking about The Man behind the Butterworth filter,
    * This is followed by the Memoirs of Ray Norton - VK3ATN - by Bill,
    VK3BR,
    * Lastly, Andrew VK3CAH talks about a now-defunct Australian
    broadcaster, Radio VNG, the standard time and frequency service

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call-backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmission times and modes can be found on the
    RAOTC website:-

    raotc.org.au

    or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the
    audio file at any time from today from the club website.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the November RAOTC bulletin, enjoy
    the program and please join in the call-backs.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.



    SCOUTING CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    Bundaberg District Scouts and Guides have had an active month,
    nine local scouts, guides and leaders gave up a week of school
    holidays to attend a special camp in Brisbane called Agoonoree.

    The focus was not so much on participants just enjoying themselves,
    but on ensuring that themselves and a guest with a disability formed
    bonds and shared experiences that are like nothing else.

    Agoonoree is a scouting term for a camp for young people with
    special needs, the Queensland Agoonoree is a camp that gives
    special needs children from outside of Scouting and Guiding the
    chance to experience the fun and excitement of these two long
    running movements.

    Emma Stack from Bundaberg Girl Guides has now completed two Agoonorees
    and said it was a little different to a normal scout or guide camp.

    It is more focusing on helping them (the guests) do stuff, she
    said.

    Bundaberg Now: https://bit.ly/3Nkj60V




    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

    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Students from the University of Puerto Ricoz participated in a
    communications practice session as part of the yearly
    "Great Puerto Rico ShakeOut."

    This drill, October 20, is part of International ShakeOut Day
    and is said to draw millions of people worldwide to participate
    in earthquake drills at work, school, or home.

    ARRL Puerto Rico Section Assistant Section Manager Leyda Rios,
    WP 4 RBK, presented a conference entitled, "Radio Services and
    the Great ShakeOut," which provided advice and hands-on activities
    about how to use different personal radio services in the event of
    an earthquake. Staff members and students learned about the
    Amateur Radio Service with hands on '2nd operators' actually
    picking up the mic.

    ( sourced to arrl )




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    YOTA Contest 2022 Youth On The Air (ham-yota.com)

    NEXT MONTH IS YOTA MONTH

    IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group reports during the month of
    December, several youngsters will become active with YOTA suffixes
    in their callsigns

    The idea behind this is to show the amateur radio hobby to youth and
    to encourage we youngsters to be active on the ham radio waves.

    The last time YOTA callsigns hit the air waves was from the 10th
    annual YOTA Summer Camp in early August. Nearly 100 youngsters were
    activating various bands and modes. This shall be continued in this
    years 10th edition of the December YOTA Month activity.

    Every ham radio operator can support us worldwide By making a QSO
    with us, we can improve our skills on air and learn more about
    geography and ham radio abbreviations, among others.

    Licensed and unlicensed youth will be making QSOs, be aware this
    could be their first radio contact ever and give them a chance to
    experience a possible new hobby.

    As every year, there is again an award program available. Work as
    many YOTA stations on as many bands and modes as possible and be
    eligible for your Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum award for free.

    Furthermore, there will be plaques for the best achieving radio hams
    worldwide available once again.




    SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- STAMP COLLECTING AMATEURS

    NEW POSTAL SERVICE MESSAGE NEEDS NO DECODING

    Sending messages the old fashioned way - by postal service - just
    got even more traditional for letter-writers and bill-payers in the
    United States. A new postage stamp has been issued honouring women of the
    US military who handled messages in a much-less straightforward way:

    They were the cryptologists of World War II, the backbone of an
    operation that contributed in a big way to the Allied victory.

    The stamp was formally released October 18th at a ceremony in
    Maryland.

    The stamp is a tribute to the more than 11,000 women who worked
    tirelessly with the traffic of intercepted enemy message that were
    sent encoded. Like so many others in the military at that time, they
    were sworn to secrecy about their roles. The stamp's design features
    a recruitment poster seeking the participation of these women, who
    were known as WAVES, an acronym for Women Accepted for Volunteer
    Emergency Service.

    In announcing the new stamps, the US Postal Service called the women
    "STEM pioneers" adding that they [quote] "opened the door for women
    in the military and have helped shape information security efforts
    for future generations." [endquote]

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------------------------------------------------------

    MEDIA WATCH

    SILENT KEY: SOUTHGATE AMATEUR NEWS' RICHARD BRUNTON G4TUT

    If you follow amateur radio current events you are probably aware of
    the Southgate Amateur Radio News website. We are sad to report that
    the colleague of ours in England, who ran that important website,
    has become a Silent Key. Richard died at age 77 as the result of a
    fall on the 21st of October.

    Like now Silent Key Bill Pasternak who started Amateur Radio NewsLine
    we at the WIA National news came to rely on what Bill and I likened
    to the old 'wire services' we accessed at our Radio and TV station
    news rooms.

    One VERY sad aspect of Richard G4TUT's passing is that NO tribute,
    let alone even a brief mention, appeared on his clubs web page,
    in fact that page has now disappeared into 404 heaven!

    When WIA news started using the service, it took a LOT of arm
    twisting to now and again get Richard to voice material, a very
    private and unassuming Ham Radio News Editor indeedy!

    As long time WIA news correspondent Jeremy Boot said in a filing for
    ARNewsLine:-

    "Richard himself was an intensely private man who had no close family,
    but he reached thousands of friends daily through his website.
    Amateur radio has lost a statesman and a stalwart whose dedication
    to amateur radio was valued and enjoyed by so many."

    This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    (RSGB, ARNEWSLINE, IRTS and VK4BB)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    I'M JOHN KNOX VK4FJRK AND THIS IS REWIND

    84 years ago, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre of the Air,
    destroyed the world (and CBS radio) before our very ears with
    the radio broadcast of H.G. Wells "War of the Worlds."

    And radio has never been the same since...

    If you have an hour, a link to the original broadcast is given
    in the text edition of the Australian Ham News you can trust.

    Sit back, close your eyes, and listen to the power of radio.

    youtube.com/watch?v=Xs0K4ApWl4g

    And what, you might ask, does this have to do with Amateur Radio.

    I want to say that it's at about 28 minutes into the broadcast and
    you'll hear an Amateur Radio call or two.

    MY TIME IS UP - I'M JOHN KNOX VK4FJRK AND THIS HAS BEEN REWIND

    (arrl and ARNewsLine)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2022 Social Scene

    VK7 - ON NOW November 5-6 Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo.
    Hobart reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/


    VK4 - ON NOW Nov 5 Tannum Sands Gathering with Gladstone ARC (vk4zz)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST Nov 13. @ Country Paradise Parklands


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)

    This is Andrew, VK3CAH, from the Southern Peninsula Amateur
    Radio Club reminding listeners that the Rosebud RadioFest will
    be held once again this year on Sunday, the 20 th November.

    As usual, the event will be held at the Eastbourne Primary
    School at Allambi Avenue, Rosebud, with outdoor displays open
    from 8 am and the main sale area open from 9.30 am, continuing
    through till 1.30 pm.

    If you have pre-loved equipment to sell, tables are still
    available at $10 and can be booked on-line at:-

    rosebudradiofest.com

    But be quick as only a few tables remain.

    Three (3) great Technical forums will also be part of the
    Rosebud RadioFest and the event has full catering, plenty of
    off street parking, and great door prizes. Entry fee is only
    $6 with under 12s free.

    See you in Rosebud on the 20 th of November. 73 from Andrew



    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)



    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
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    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
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    Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who
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  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Nov 11 02:00:16 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-11-13.mp3
    Text edition:

    2022 NOVEMBER 13 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 NOVEMBER 13 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    JOINING US THIS WEEK:-

    WIA AR MAGAZINE EDITOR IN CHIEF VK2ZRH. -
    WIA SECRETARY VK8ZZ. -
    WIA AFFILIATED CLUB CO-ORDINATOR VK2NWT
    WIA SPRING FIELD DAY MANAGER VK2ZRH

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS 30 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA


    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.




    ---------------------------------------------------------------------*

    11 AM 11 NOVEMBER - REMEMBRANCE DAY

    https://www.wia.org.au/members/bookshop/page_data.php?id=258

    WIA's WIRELESS MEN AND WOMEN AT WAR


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------*



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    This is Angelo VK2NWT WIA Affiliated Clubs Coordinator.

    As we approach the end of this year most clubs will have conducted
    their respective Annual General Meeting by now or are about to do so.
    If your club has had a change of committee members this year or, your
    Club's contact details have changed for any reason then please
    ensure that your Club's WIA Webpage has been updated to reflect
    those changes.

    The WIA really needs to have the correct contact details to ensure
    we are contacting the right people in your Club and that you receive
    correspondence from us in a timely manner. Obviously, it's also very
    important that the details are correct in order for potential new
    entrants to the amateur world to get in touch with your Club.

    By the way if there are additional features your club feels should
    be added to your WIA Web page please feel free to forward your
    suggestions to me, Angelo VK2NWT.

    As always, If you need any assistance with logging on or making
    updates to your Web page, please don't hesitate to contact me via
    email at vk2nwt@wia.org.au

    This has been Angelo VK2NWT for VK1WIA News.





    WIA BOARD COMMENT by Peter VK8ZZ

    Good morning listeners.

    Listeners will most certainly recall that in March 2021, the Wireless
    Institute of Australia (WIA) sought feedback on the Australian
    Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) consultation paper which was
    titled a Review of non-assigned amateur and outpost regulatory
    arrangements.

    The ACMA nominated only three options for consideration, on which they
    stated they preferred Option C.

    The three options put forward by the ACMA were:

    Option A: keep the existing apparatus licensing arrangements and
    licence conditions.

    Option B: simplify the current licensing arrangements and licence
    conditions by amending the amateur LCD.

    Option C: transition to class licensing arrangements for non-assigned
    amateur stations. The operation of assigned amateur stations
    would continue to be authorised under apparatus licences.

    A WIA poll received 1690 individual responses.

    84% of respondents favoured Option A;
    9% of respondents favoured Option B and;
    7% of respondents favoured Option C.

    There is no doubt that the ACMA are setting the scene for what appears
    to be the introduction of Class Licencing despite sector concerns.

    The ACMA have never hidden their wish for a single Amateur Radio
    certification level. A class licence would most certainly be a step in
    this direction.

    The ACMA has already transitioned the outpost licensing to a class
    licence. The outpost class licence did away with callsigns and
    equipment licensing. This would be a poor outcome if it was applied to
    the Amateur Service.

    A class licence would see the removal of individual station apparatus
    licences. The only criteria to use the Class Licence is a recognized
    operators certificate of proficiency. A consequence of the removal
    individual licences would see the removal of the RRL licence database
    for all amateur station details. Amateur repeaters will remain under
    the apparatus arrangements and therefore remain in the RRL database.

    Without a station licence it is hard to see how we would be able to
    have reciprocal licensing when we travel or move internationally
    without some alternative documentation. It may even be difficult to
    prove our amateur status if we are pulled over by police for operating
    a mobile radio. The WIA has highlighted these issues to the ACMA and
    will be included in its submission.

    It would also limit our ability to deal with complaints about RFI as
    the ACMA wants the Amateur Service to be self-regulating. This has not
    worked well in the Citizens Band Radio Service.

    The WIA spectrum committee are exploring options with the regulator
    that could deliver benefits to both the amateur service and the ACMA.
    In September 2022, the ACMA released a comprehensive consultation
    paper for a proposed amateur class licence and consideration of higher
    power. The spectrum committee are currently drafting the WIA response
    to that paper.

    We are being enticed by the possibility of nil licence fees and
    increased power. However increased power is a separate and unrelated
    issue to class licensing, they are not one in the same and are not a
    guaranteed outcome.

    The WIA will be publishing our draft response paper and are looking
    for feedback by way of a survey. All WIA members will receive the
    survey link by email.

    Non WIA members are invited to register their interest in contributing
    to this survey. Non WIA members can register your interest in
    participating by sending an email to

    register@wia.org.au

    with only your amateur callsign in the subject line.

    Individuals and short wave listeners with no callsign will need to put
    their full name in the subject line of the email.

    WIA members do not need to register.

    This has been WIA Director Peter VK8ZZ





    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    I have just returned from the suburban sights of Sandy Bay in Hobart,
    VK7, still reeling from the roisterous recitals at the Tassie Ham
    Conference and Expo; but Ill let others give you the skinny on that.

    Last Tuesday, the files for the latest edition of A R Issue Number 6
    for 2022, the last for the year were uploaded to the printer's server
    in Bairnsdale, Victoria.

    On Wednesday, the magazines guts rolled off the press to be folded
    into the waiting arms of the glossy, heaver weight cover that was
    printed the week before. Look out for the issue landing in your
    letterbox, your Post Office Box, or your local newsagency, late next
    week.

    Youll recognise it easily because splashed across the front cover is
    the bold begorrah Class licence, ready or not! And, weve done
    something not done with AR magazine since December 1964 we have a
    cartoon on the front cover!

    The theme for this issue is Contest Capers. Hence, the centre pages of
    the magazine comprise a lift-out calendar of VK and popular contests
    for 2023. Pages 34 and 35 are the centre sheet of the magazine.
    You can readily ease it out and post it to the noticeboard in your
    shack, on the door of your fridge, or anywhere at-hand.

    In the Contest Capers pages, you will find details on the 2023
    Australia Day Contest rules, a rundown on using the digital modes
    of FT4 and FT8 in contesting, a feature article from our colleague
    Flapjaw Knopfloch that asks the question What is a contest?
    and a very handy Contesters Checklist from the indefatigable
    Diane Main VK4DI, plus rules for the upcoming 2000-&-23 Ross Hull and
    John Moyle contests.

    Other features in the issue include news on whats happening with
    Solar Cycle 25, which seems to be rising fast and might be bigger
    than expected.

    The WIA Returning Officer, John Marshall, has a Call for Nominations
    for the election of directors to the Board. Dont miss it its on
    page 9.

    If youre confounded by coils, then youll be pleased to read a couple
    of clarifying articles by Dale Hughes VK1DSH. They precede Part 1 of a
    2-part article of his describing a Multi-Mode transmitter for the
    2200 metre band featuring a Class-E final.

    And thats not all.

    Theres so much more to Issue 6. Its worth the wait.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 90, Issue Number 6 for 2022.
    Serving Australian radio amateurs since 1933.

    Available in print and online.

    Always published to a schedule, never random.

    This has been AR magazine Editor-in-Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH
    for VK1WIA News.





    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, SARL,AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    Radio World, & the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    Germany's proposed new "N" class entry-level licence could be in
    place as early as January the 1st of 2023.

    The possible addition, is being reviewed by the German regulator,
    as a way to add a third licence class to the existing E, Novice and
    A, Full licence classes.

    A change in the regulations would give N class operators call signs
    with the prefix DN and the current DN callsigns, which are only used
    for training purposes under supervision of a licensed ham, would be
    cancelled on December 31st of this year, to be replaced by the use
    of a DN/ prefix .




    Most of us will have experienced RF interference problems of one sort
    or another over the years. Many will have noticed that the incidence
    and intensity has increased. In this world of advanced digital
    technology and increasing wireless connectivity, the probability of
    interference is high and increasing rapidly.

    Enter the RSGB.

    They say this is giving rise to an ever-increasing pollution of the
    radio spectrum which is threatening all wireless communication.
    To counter these problems, RSGB need to make the relevant
    authorities aware by taking measurements and surveying any
    available documents and reports. They are looking for volunteers
    who can help with this work.

    tinyurl.com/2fhttua8





    REGION TWO

    Delegates Attend IARU Region 2 General Assembly

    The triennial General Assembly is the formal decision-making body of
    IARU Region 2, comprising The Americas and delegates are the
    representatives of each member-society. The President of
    IARU Region 2 is Ramn Santoyo, XE1KK.

    At the meetings the delegates reviewed challenges to amateur radio,
    debated proposals from member-societies, and received reports from
    coordinators and elected volunteers. The Guayaquil Radio Club was
    selected to host the next General Assembly in 2025 in Ecuador.

    Twenty-six member-societies are represented with 117 registered
    attendees from across Region 2, as well as representatives from
    Region 1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Asia),
    Region 3 (Asia-Pacific), and the IARU Officers.

    The Assembly was closed by President Ramn Santoyo XE1KK, who noted
    that this was his last Assembly as an Officer or Director after
    16 years working within Region 2. His contributions were
    acknowledged by many expressions of thanks and well wishes.

    iaru-r2.org/en/news-release-for-general-assembly/




    A GIANT CALLED COLLINS

    The Titan Missile Museum, also known as Air Force Facility Missile
    Site 8 is a former ICBM site located outside Tucson, Arizona in the
    United States. It was constructed in 1963 and deactivated in 1984.

    Visitors journey through time to stand on the front line of the
    Cold War. An amazing place and a unique and equally amazing antenna
    that you can hook up to!

    Ham Radio Operators can broadcast and listen on the discone antenna
    at the Titan Missile Museum. When the Titan ICBM site became
    operational its communication system included a large, broadband
    discone antenna that is still standing today. Built by Collins Radio
    Company, the antenna is 80 feet tall and has a large crown, enabling
    it to radiate signals over a wide range of frequencies.

    If youre an amateur radio operator, you can use the antenna free
    of charge when the museum is open.




    Did AM Radio Just Get Hit By Lightning?

    Theres something missing from the newest F-150 Lightning truck

    In the USA Ford has led the way in trucks for decades with the F-150,
    but manufacturing the electric version of this truck represents a
    major risk for the company and perhaps a turning point of the
    internal combustion engine.

    The new 2023 electric model of the F-150 has NO AM radio.

    That's due to electrical interference to AM used in an EV.

    The 2022 F-150 Lightning had a whip antenna to facilitate AM
    reception. Now, the Ford brain trust has apparently concluded
    its not worth the expense for a radio platform that is facing
    the death spiral.

    tinyurl.com/bdh9xhpa





    REGION THREE

    Stunning Solar Flare Causes Radio Blackouts in the South Pacific:

    A surprise solar flare has burst from an area of dense magnetism
    on the suns surface, causing a temporary radio blackout in parts of
    Australia and all of New Zealand. The M5-class, medium-strength
    solar flare was recorded by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as it
    erupted from the sunspot AR3141 at 10:11 am EST on Monday Nov. 7.

    The flare created a rush of radiation that ionized Earths
    atmosphere, according to spaceweather.com.




    Saturdays Womans Rugby World Cup final between the Black Ferns and
    England has had interest skyrocketing to such an extent over the
    past week that a world record attendance is assured at Eden Park

    BUT

    Not everyone there has gone to see the defending world champions
    against the Red Roses.

    ENTER RSM (ZL's equivalent of our ACMA)

    Behind the scenes, RSM teams are working alongside organisers and
    broadcasters to ensure the event is a success. Investigators are on
    site to help identify and resolve any potential radio spectrum
    issues that may arise.

    So far, RSM Investigators have been busy dealing with interference
    on match days between the many different users of radio communication
    devices. This has been greatly assisted by the co-operation of all
    parties to resolve interference issues.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------
    --------------

    Last week Shirley, VK5YL Reported on a special YL Contest to take
    place next weekend, 18 and 19 November on 80 and 40 meters
    Please check the web page at
    uft.net/activites-et-concours/concours-yl-uft/


    --------------


    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAY
    SPRING
    0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November


    --------------


    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    Dates: First full weekend in December (December 2-4, 2022).

    Contest Period: Begins 2200 UTC Friday, ends 1559 UTC Sunday.
    This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.


    --------------


    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Dates: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11, 2022)

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    PILOTS SELECTED FOR 2023 BOUVET ACTIVATION

    As the time draws closer for the Bouvet Island activation, new
    members of the team are being put into place as pilots.

    These hams provide a critical role as intermediaries between the
    DXpedition team and the DX chasers. They will be keeping an eye on
    propagation in their designated parts of the world to help facilitate
    contacts. The chief pilot and pilot for Europe is Morten, LA3MHA;
    Hams in VK/ZL/OC will have WIA Vice President Lee, VK3GK, as pilot.

    The Bouvet team expects to activate from the sub-Antarctic island
    between January 13th and February 28th.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    This week I take a look at the various contacts you can make during
    the CQWW CW contest taking place on November 26th and 27th.

    They include Henning who will be on the air from Kosovo as Z 68 EE
    during the contest.

    A Slovenian team will be active as TK C in Corsica.

    Doug and Anthony, will be operating from Grand Turk, call sign VP 5 Y.

    And listen up for call sign HQ 9 X from Roatan Island, Honduras,
    IOTA number NA-057, during the CQWW CW contest.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    GB 1 LJF begins its on-air activities on Thursday the 1st of
    December. The Special Event Station is operating to celebrate
    the manufacturing of the English Electric Lightning aircraft
    in Lancashire.

    The English Electric Lightning is a British fighter aircraft that
    served as an interceptor during the 1960s, 70s and last flew in the
    UK in 1988.

    More information is available via the GB1LJF QRZ.com page.

    (rsgb / vk4bb)

    --------------

    BBC centenary special event GB 100 BBC

    Members of the BBCs radio club, The London BBC Radio Group, have
    on air all-year with Special Event callsign to help celebrate the
    BBCs centenary year. GB 100 BBC has been operating throughout the
    year from the headquarters station in Broadcasting House, London.

    (southgatearc.org)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    BOOK EM JOHNO

    BOOK SHOWCASES QSL CARDS' DESIGN AND TYPOGRAPHY

    If you enjoy sending and receiving QSL cards, you're not alone.
    This next story celebrates the art of those still-popular cards.
    Here is John Williams, VK4JJW


    The legacy of Charles Hellman, W2RP, continues.

    At the time Charlie became a Silent Key in 2017, the 106-year-old
    New York amateur was considered the oldest amateur in the US and
    likely the longest licensed. Active almost right up to the year he
    died, Charlie amassed a collection of QSL cards that, so many years
    later, is now carrying a different message to the world, one about
    graphic design and communication between people.

    One hundred fifty cards in Charlie's collection, which were later
    purchased by a designer visiting a local antique shop, are now the
    subject of a soon-to-be published book on typography and graphics.

    Its title?:

    QSL: Do you Confirm Receipt of My Transmission?

    The collection's owner, Roger Bova, made the cards available to
    Standards Manual, an independent publisher that specializes in books
    about design history. The book features the simple, bold design of
    the card from RB HZ, confirming a 1986 contact on 20m, SSB.

    In contrast, there is a whimsical, cartoonish card from DM 3 EJ for a
    1979 SSB contact on 10m.

    Many of the pages are full and rich and colourful.

    The cards are as much a study in design as in communication in the
    age before the internet took a-hold. They are presented, in the book,
    in chronological order.

    No doubt Charlie, a retired educator, might be pleased to know he is
    still providing a means for people everywhere to expand their
    knowledge

    This is John VK4JJW -- QSL?

    (ARNewsLine)





    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/


    Over time we've made reference to POTA, Parks On The Air, so
    how do YOU participate?

    General information about the program is available on
    parksontheair.com, so check out the information there as a start.

    Here in VK the co-ordinator is Marty Nelson VK4KC, you'll find a
    list of all the worlds 'go to' people on that parksontheair.com site.
    In the text edition this week we also include their FaceBook URL.

    facebook.com/groups/parksontheair/

    Once youre ready to start, just remember that the golden rules of
    POTA are to have fun and keep it simple. They want to give you as
    much flexibility as possible, to have fun your way.

    Getting started with POTA can happen via one of two paths
    as an activator who heads out into the parks or as a hunter who
    is trying to contact someone in a park. The easiest way to
    participate in POTA is obviously as a hunter.

    (POTA WEB)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    From the Shaky Isles comes Straight Key Night.

    The Summer Edition of Straight Key Night will be held Sunday 4th
    December from 9pm to 10pm on 80 metres.

    Neil ZL 1 NZ says SKN is not a contest, but is a great chance to
    dust off that straight key and let us hear what it can do.

    New to CW? No problem, I'm told they'll happily match your speed.

    radio1nz.com/skn

    (nzart)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    HOT FROM THE RED PLANET:-

    NASAs MOXIE experiment on Perseverance has now generated ISRU
    oxygen successfully during many different times of the Martian
    day and year, producing about 6g of oxygen per hour, similar to
    the production rate of a medium-sized tree. NASA life support
    design requirements specify 35 g of oxygen per hour for astronauts.

    From Perseverance to InSight and under layers of dust, NASAs
    Mars InSight lander is fading, but the first and only seismometer
    on Mars had one parting gift for humanity: on May 4th, a magnitude
    4.7 marsquake, one of the largest detected on the red planet.

    InSights detection of meteor impacts on Mars has been well documented
    a significant impact spotted showed excavated boulder-size chunks
    of ice buried closer to the Martian equator than ever found before.

    [ANS]




    FINALLY, IF WE DARE USE THAT WORD WITH THIS STORY:-

    Monday 14th SHOULD see the highly anticipated, often delayed, launch
    of Artemis 1.

    HOWEVER

    NASA is working with U.S. Space Force and the National Hurricane
    Centre to monitor Subtropical Storm Nicole. NASAs Kennedy Space
    Centre in Florida is currently in Hurricane Condition 4 status,
    which includes implementing checklists and preparations for the
    storm as the agency continues to prioritize its employees in the
    Kennedy area.

    Based on forecast data, managers have determined the Space Launch
    System rocket and Orion will remain at Launch Pad 39B. Teams at
    Kennedy will continue to monitor the weather, make sure all personnel
    are safe, and will evaluate the status of the Monday, Nov. 14,
    launch attempt for the Artemis I mission as they proceed and receive
    updated predictions about the weather.

    Once Heavenly bound, amateur radio operators will join a powerful
    international network tracking NASA's Orion spacecraft as she
    flys to the moon. NASA officials announced that a network of
    18 volunteers, organizations and space agencies will assist with
    tracking Artemis 1, which will send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft to
    orbit around the moon after blasting off from Earth atop a Space
    Launch System rocket.

    The selected volunteers, including two individuals in the amateur
    radio world, will "demonstrate whether they can receive Orion's
    signal, and use their respective ground antennas to passively track
    and measure changes in the radio waves transmitted by Orion," NASA
    officials said in a statement.

    nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/artemis_i_tv_schedule_rev._i.pdf

    tinyurl.com/ycxydhts





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    Commemorating Remembrance Day, in Belgium, members of UBA section
    ARA (Actieve Radio Aamateurs) are still active as OP 22 HWL until
    13 November. The station is set up at the Klein Zwaanhof Museum in
    Ypres.

    The special call sign is in memory of Harry Whitelock, killed in
    action in the Ypres Salient of World War I August 1917.


    Whilst in Belgium a call sign of OT 5I DPD started up November 3 and
    runs til December 3 for the International Day of Persons with
    Disabilities, whose annual observance (3 December) was proclaimed
    by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992.

    All the operators of OT 51 DPD are amateurs with a disability.

    (SARL)





    2022 Social Scene


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST Nov 13. @ Country Paradise Parklands

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)


    This is Andrew, VK3CAH, from the Southern Peninsula Amateur
    Radio Club reminding listeners that the Rosebud RadioFest will
    be held once again this year on Sunday, the 20 th November.

    As usual, the event will be held at the Eastbourne Primary
    School at Allambi Avenue, Rosebud, with outdoor displays open
    from 8 am and the main sale area open from 9.30 am, continuing
    through till 1.30 pm.

    If you have pre-loved equipment to sell, tables are still
    available at $10 and can be booked on-line at:-

    rosebudradiofest.com

    But be quick as only a few tables remain.

    Three (3) great Technical forums will also be part of the
    Rosebud RadioFest and the event has full catering, plenty of
    off street parking, and great door prizes. Entry fee is only
    $6 with under 12s free.

    See you in Rosebud on the 20 th of November. 73 from Andrew


    VK4 - Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club Car Boot Sale
    Saturday 10th Dec. Macfarlane Park, Klingner Road Kippa-Ring.
    (vk4tn)

    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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)

    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
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    Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want
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    unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au
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    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
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

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    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Nov 17 13:03:10 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-11-20.mp3
    Text edition:

    2022 NOVEMBER 20 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 NOVEMBER 20 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    WIA National Inwards QSL Bureaus John Seamons VK3JLS

    But now the news:-


    Artemis 1 dispatches an un-crewed Orion spacecraft on its journey to
    the moon.

    Amateur radio operators are part of the 18-member team of volunteers
    who will be tracking various parts of the 25-day mission, recording
    whether it is possible to copy Orion's signal.

    The team includes satellite enthusiast Scott Chapman, K4KDR, and
    amateur astronomer Scott Tilley, VE7TIL of British Columbia.

    Artemis picks up where 50 years ago Apollo ceased. For those into Greek
    mythology, Greek God Apollo's twin sister? well her name, ARTEMIS.

    More when Bruce visits the Final Frontier in this weeks Special Interest
    Group news.





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    YouTube LiveStream Event - Saturday 19th November

    Your WIA invites all members and Australian radio amateurs to join
    Saturday evening for a special YouTube Livestream event.

    Following the release of the WIA Exposure Draft paper in response to
    the ACMA's "Proposed amateur class licence and considerations for
    higher power operation" consultation, the WIA Spectrum committee and
    members of the WIA board will gather to discuss the proposals and the
    proposed WIA responses.

    The Youtube Livestream will be on
    youtu.be/kEFLPiaCNpA

    at 8.00pm AEDT.

    This is an opportunity to hear from the WIA on the issues under
    consideration, and also to submit questions for the panel.

    ( text edition )





    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK.

    Earlier this week, last Tuesday and Wednesday, the WIA was represented
    at Radcomm 2022, held at the Grand Hyatt in Melbournes CBD. Attending
    were President Scott Williams VK3KJ, myself Vice President Lee Moyle
    VK3GK and WIA Spectrum Planning Committee Chairman Peter Young VK3MW.

    Radcomm 2022 is organized by ACMA and convenes usually every two years,
    focusing on relevant new technologies and topics for the radio
    communications industry sector with the opportunity to engage with
    ACMA regarding spectrum management. Topics included emergency
    communications infrastructure within remote and indigenous communities,
    Electromagnetic Exposure discussions, with demonstrations of EME
    measurement techniques of RF emitting devices and a general outlook at
    the new emerging technologies with the difficulties of implementation
    to meet compliance within the current regulations.

    During the conference, relevant discussions were had regarding the new
    proposed Amateur class licencing structure, the high power proposal and
    the ongoing Five Year Spectrum Outlook or FYSO.

    A number of ACMA attendees mentioned that they were aware that the WIA
    survey and the comprehensive exposure draft proposal had been released
    and distributed within the Amateur Radio community. They were looking
    forward to the survey results being tabulated and forwarded for a later
    discussion.

    The WIA Spectrum Planning Committee definitely have their work cut out
    for themselves over the next few weeks consolidating and organising the
    Amateur radio cohort survey results to be put into the final submission
    to ACMA on the Class Licence and High power proposals before the
    closing date later this month.

    News in from WIA Director Chris VK3FY is that he and his family are
    currently in the Middle East. Chris has pre-planned to be visiting
    several Middle Eastern countries peak representative organizations.
    This week was his visit was to A 47 RS, the station of The Royal Omani
    Amateur Radio Society.

    This weekend is going to be big as WIA have a Live stream with Hayden
    VK7HH on Saturday night 19th, discussing the class licence and high
    power proposal, details of the you tube link are on the WIA website
    and have been sent to WIA members and anyone who has registered for
    the survey .

    On today, Sunday, the WIA will be present at the SPARC HamFest in
    Rosebud Victoria. If you happen to be attending come over and introduce
    yourself to the WIA directors at the table.

    Thats all for this week, for now 73 From Lee VK3GK





    Hi, this is John Seamons, vk3jls, from the National Inwards QSL Bureau.

    I'm directing this message to all the VK4 amateurs, and the VK4
    affiliated radio clubs.

    For personal reasons, the VK4 QSL manager has recently resigned, and
    we are now left with no VK4 QSL manager to receive and distribute the
    VK4 QSL cards. The National Bureau currently is holding some 3,000
    cards for VK4, but we have no-one to send them to.

    I am calling for any amateur, or Radio club in VK4 who is willing to
    undertake this WIA volunteer position to help out your fellow VK4
    amateurs, who are patiently waiting to receive their Bureau QSL cards
    that are stuck in VK3 land.

    We currently have a number of States and Territories where the sorting
    and distribution is undertaken within radio clubs, and this may be a
    great option to help ease the workload within the State.

    If anyone is interested in helping out their fellow amateurs, please
    contact me for any further details, or any questions you may have via:-

    vk3jls@wia.org.au





    DISCUSSION POINT

    I'm Geoff VK4ZPP

    In the past week, as most of us would be aware now, the Wireless
    Institute survey into the response to proposed class licence system
    was released.

    I for one have logged on and completed the survey which is in total
    just 24 questions long. For amateurs who arent members of the WIA,
    you are invited to log on and register and complete this survey. It is
    a major change in how our licensing and governance is to be conducted
    and the more comprehensive and representative the final submission is
    to the ACMA, the greater benefits will accrue to us all.

    I dont represent the WIA in an official way as I am just one volunteer
    but in the next weeks before submissions close, it would seem
    appropriate for as many of us as possible to submit our thoughts on the
    matters that are under consideration. There is definitely no
    requirement to support any recommendation of the WIA Committee in this
    survey and there is ample provision for people to disagree and put in
    their own ideas. What I suggest is that clubs can assist in helping
    their members in lodging their own ideas or indeed support a considered
    club opinion by completing the survey.

    Whether it is a matter of contesting call signs, high power operation
    or other items such as reciprocal licensing, it is now the time to
    advise the ACMA via a method which reduces double handling of
    submissions.

    Lets make this survey an early seasonal present to the radio amateurs
    of VK-land.

    73 Geoff VK4ZPP


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC, ARRL, NZART, eHam,
    AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    The Wales Millennium Centre is hosting a 360 degree virtual reality
    experience inspired by the wireless signals G Marconi and G Kemp
    exchanged between Flat Holm Island and Lavernock Point in 1897.
    Called A Signal Across Space, the experience takes the audience on a
    multi-layered journey that includes the history, mythology, language
    and nature of the area surrounding Lavernock.




    Earlier in the year, the RSGB was approached by the BBC to find experts
    to contribute to two episodes of its planned series, "The Secret Genius
    of Modern Life." In this weeks episode, Neil Smith, G 4 DBN re-created
    the Great Seal Bug. The RFID technology developed for the bug is what
    allows contactless card payments to work. You can catch up with the
    programme on BBC iPlayer.




    Although UK based this is a story surely some group in in the antipodes"
    could and should take on board.

    The Bath-based Distance Learning team has helped over 1,000 students
    to pass UK amateur radio exams with pass rates consistently above the
    national average. Their next course will be for Intermediate level and
    it will run from January to May 2023.

    There is NO charge for the training, but students will need to provide
    their own textbook, scientific calculator, electronic parts and tool
    kit. As well as weekly work packages via a virtual classroom, there
    will be weekly online tutorials, revision quizzes and lots of practical
    exercises to bring the theory to life. Students will also have access
    to one of the remote tutors who will provide feedback and additional
    guidance when required.

    As part of the application process, there will be some pre-course work
    to ensure students are able to use the online learning systems and
    ensure they are ready to study in January.





    REGION TWO

    Reaching Youth Through Amateur Radio in the Classroom

    ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K 5 ATA, attended
    the Georgia Educational Technology Conference.
    The conference was the first part in a series of planned ARRL exhibits
    to meet with teachers and promote amateur radio in the classroom.

    ARRL spoke to hundreds of teachers, school administrators, and
    technology directors about the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless
    Technology.

    ARRL's participation at this conference, as well as future events, is
    meant to inform and network with educators looking to incorporate
    amateur radio into their curriculum.

    "The level of interest among teachers was incredible!" said K 5 ATA.
    "Our booth enjoyed heavy traffic for the duration of the conference,
    much of the time with all four of us engaged in discussions with
    multiple people simultaneously. Except for a couple of teachers we met
    who were already hams, few teachers had heard of amateur radio before
    this conference. These teachers were absolutely amazed at the
    possibilities that exist when including amateur radio and related
    educational experiences in their schools."




    FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced plans to reorganize
    the commissions structure to create a new Space Bureau to consolidate
    all activities related to satellites.

    Under the plan, the International Bureau will have satellite-related
    responsibilities transferred to the new Space Bureau and will be
    reconfigured as a standalone Office of International Affairs.
    The Space Bureau will also deal with domestic satellite matters.

    It is unclear how or whether this change in FCC bureau structure will
    impact our own Amateur Satellite Service. The FCC did not release a
    timetable for making these changes.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2022

    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAY SPRING
    0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November

    --------------

    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    Dates: First full weekend in December (December 2-4, 2022).

    Contest Period: Begins 2200 UTC Friday, ends 1559 UTC Sunday.
    This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    --------------

    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Dates: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11, 2022)

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    St Helena Island is on air as ZD 7 CA on 40-10m, holiday style.
    SSB and the Digital modes.
    QSL via EA 5 GL.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    On the air from New Providence Island is C 6 AQQ from November 24
    through to December 1st on all HF bands.

    Again QSL via EA 5 GL.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    MALAWI

    7 Q 6M is on air until November 29 on 160 to 6 meters.
    QSL to home call K 6 ZO

    (eHam)

    --------------

    VK 90 ABC an Aussie station celebrating 90 years of the National
    Broadcaster and goes QRT end of December

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    When Artemis 1 dispatched the un-crewed Orion spacecraft on its journey
    to the moon, two hams were on board the mission even though they're
    keeping their feet solidly on Mother Earth.

    As Col told us last week here on WIA National News, amateur radio
    operators are part of the 18-member team of volunteers who will be
    tracking various parts of the 25-day mission, recording whether it is
    possible to copy Orion's signal. NASA said they will also track and
    measure changes in Orion's radio transmissions.

    Now we can tell you the hams on the team will include satellite
    enthusiast Scott Chapman, K4KDR, of Vermont and amateur astronomer
    Scott Tilley, VE7TIL of British Columbia. The two amateurs were chosen
    to join space agencies and international companies from Canada,
    Germany, Korea and elsewhere.

    (ARNewsLine 2350)




    CAS-10 Launched to Chinese Space Station

    CAMSAT's CAS-10 launched November 12, carried on the Tianzhou 5
    cargo spacecraft to the Chinese Space Station. Deployment is expected
    on or about December 15th. The satellite will be active immediately
    upon deployment into its own 400 km orbit with an inclination of
    42.9 degrees.

    CAS 10 is an 8U CubeSat, a follow on mission from CAS-9 and also known
    as Hope-4 (XW-4) Carrying a V/U Mode Linear Transponder, a UHF
    CW Telemetry Beacon, a UHF AX.25 4.8k/9.6kbps GMSK Telemetry
    downlink and a space camera.

    Downlink frequencies for VHF/UHF linear transponder 435.180 MHz,
    for UHF CW telemetry beacon 435.575 MHz and for telemetry 435.725 MHz.
    Also an uplink for the transponder 145.870 MHz have been coordinated.

    [NA]





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Maybe we should retitle this for today to
    RADIO TRANCEIVERS - OLD TIME BOAT ANCHORS

    For those of us who not only have a few more solar cycles in the log,
    but also managed to hold on to our old transceiver will soon have
    their day:

    Hams in Finland organise the PRT35 event, taking place on Tuesday,
    6th of December. It is not a competition, but a mark of respect for
    the over 40 year old, meaning the veteran radios and the radio veterans
    who use them. The event is free form, there are no points or
    multipliers. CW, AM and SSB is used, activity is on the 40 and 80m bands, starting early in the UTC morning.

    The recommendation is that the vintage QRP stations operate at the
    upper end of the frequency range and the more powerful ones at the
    lower end.

    In Finland a station using old equipment can use the suffix /S after
    the station ID. If the device type has been already in service use
    during the Second World War, the additional code can be /SA. As
    opposite stations all radio amateur stations, regardless of equipment,
    are welcome to participate. Also, OI stations are expected to
    participate in large numbers.

    kari.syrjanen@gmail.com

    (irts)





    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

    TOWNSVILLE REGION

    NQORA have secured the first round of the Australian Off Road Racing
    Championships for the next 3 years, with the 2023 event happening
    from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th March.

    Gavin VK4ZZ says "There will probably be a need for most operators to
    be on the ground from Thursday 9th March to sort out checkpoints and
    communications.. We will need personnel to man at least 8 checkpoints
    and more to be competitor wranglers at the vehicle assembly area
    pre-staging for start"

    So get a hold of Gavin VK4ZZ to show your support.




    NQ Communications Support
    Co-ordinator : Gavin Reibelt VK4ZZ

    Cyclone Season Readiness

    Blue, VK4FBLU now Silent Key wrote this checklist some time ago
    and as Gavin said in BACKSCATTER magazine "(thanks Blue, still looking
    after us !)

    Give your generator some fresh fuel / oil and run it for a couple of
    hours this weekend. Have enough fuel to last at least 5 days.

    Keep your vehicle fuel tank topped up.

    Keep a ready supply of cash handy small and big denominations as
    ATMs EFTPOS and BANKS stop working when there is no power.

    Check the state of your shack and portable batteries, charge them up
    or replace them if you have to.

    Ensure you have at least the essentials:
    a couple of portable radios, torches, candles, spare batteries,
    water containers or bottled water, a BBQ or other self-contained
    cooking facility AND check your gas or heat beads, can opener,
    waterproof matches.

    Enough medicines and first aid assets to last a while, hospitals and
    emergency services will be extremely busy before, during and after a
    disaster, and

    at least FIVE days worth of non-perishable food for your Family and
    your pets

    Great advice for not only Cyclones but ANY emergency we front far to
    often here in the Sunburnt Country.

    (backscatter)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota

    Schools throughout the country have radio clubs to teach students
    about the music industry, the practice of communication, and the
    craft of engaging an audience, but for Loften High School in the USA
    its radio experience is a bit different.

    Loften has a fully functioning HAM radio station, K 4 WTL, that allows
    kids to communicate with people in about 45 different states and 20
    different countries.

    AND it's also a club that within itself is a little unique in that
    it is a feature of the Academy of Fire and Emergency Medical Services
    at the Professional Academies Magnet.

    Students who partake in the Academy of Fire and EMS go through
    two curriculum courses considered electives that count toward a
    students high school graduation requirements.

    In addition to the two curriculum tracks, students go through three
    firefighting courses. Once completed, the combination of curriculum
    and courses equates to a state of Florida Firefighter 1 certification.

    Loften High School ties in with the Academy of Fire because
    firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics are talking on the radio.
    So, communicating back and forth with the dispatch centre and other
    units.

    All in all this sounds a pretty "big deal."

    Alec VK2APC

    Next weekend, 26 and 27 November, please listen out for Alec VK2APC
    on 40 and 80 metres as Alec and his dad, VK2LP will be around the
    Hay area of NSW looking at activating a couple parks with the WWFF
    Australia program.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    THIS IS REWIND

    REWIND TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT TRANSISTORS AFTER 75 YEARS

    Unless you're a "COLLECTOR" pardon the transistor pun, of boat anchor
    equipment, chances are you owe a lot of your amateur radio success
    to the transistors that are the heart and soul of your rig and other
    station equipment.

    The IEEE's Electron Devices Society has set aside much of the coming
    23 year to mark the transistor's 75th anniversary.

    Kent Peterson KCDGY from Amateur Radio NewsLine tells us what's
    emitting next year.

    "Considered by many to be the foundation of the electronics industry,
    the transistor was created at Bell Labs in New Jersey in 1947,
    sidelining vacuum tubes for most users of electronics. Its development
    garnered the 1956 Nobel Prize in physics for the trio who created it
    and now, so many years later, its recognition is taking on new life,
    starting next month.

    The IEE's Electron Devices Society will be holding a series of meetings
    and conferences into 2023, devoted to the transistor and so many of
    the devices it inspired and made possible. The first program is the
    IEE International Electron Devices Meeting to be held on December 3rd
    through the 7th in San Francisco.

    There will also be plenty of written material to read about the
    transistor in the coming year. Society members are writing a book
    about how it was developed and the EDS newsletter and IEEE Spectrum
    will be publishing technical articles about the transistor in the
    months ahead.

    This is Kent Peterson KCDGY.

    AND THIS HAS BEEN REWIND


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2022 Social Scene


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest This Sunday November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)

    Next weekend, 26 and 27 November, please listen out for Alec VK2APC
    on 40 and 80 metres as Alec and his dad, VK2LP will be around the
    Hay area of NSW looking at activating a couple parks with the WWFF
    Australia program.

    VK4 - Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club Car Boot Sale
    Saturday 10th Dec. Macfarlane Park, Klingner Road Kippa-Ring.
    (vk4tn)

    Greetings from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC.
    Robert Thomson VK4TFN Here.

    Our Car Boot Sale will be held on Saturday 10th December 2022.

    You'll find us at our club house in the City of Redcliffe
    Macfarlane Park, Klingner Road Kippa-Ring 4021.

    Car Boot Sale opens at 9:00AM. Admission is free.
    Vendors $5.00.

    Mark Roberts VK4AN will be there.

    Go to: www.redclifferadioclub.org.au we're also on Facebook.

    Looking forward to seeing you there.

    It'll be a good day out.

    Thank you and 73 from the
    Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC."
    wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/RedcliffeAndDistrictRadioClub/


    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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)

    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Nov 24 16:10:25 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-11-27.mp3
    Text edition:

    2022 NOVEMBER 27 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 NOVEMBER 27 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    ( 1937 in a mention we've come across relating to weekly
    broadcasts of information prepared by VK4 was a plea to
    restart the weekly news service which was on air in the
    late 1920's )

    JOINING US THIS WEEK:-

    Peter VK4EA WIA Board member

    Chris VK3FY WIA Board member all the way from Doha QATAR.

    Roger VK2ZRH WIA AR Magazine Editor in Chief

    OH AND A HUGE THANKS TO WIA STRATEGY COMITTEE FOR WORK ON SUBMISSION
    TO ACMA

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS 30 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.


    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    Gidday, this is Peter VK4EA on behalf of the WIA Board, coming to
    you from Turubal and Jagera country surrounding Mein-jin thats the
    traditional name for the Brisbane region.

    The Board thank those who took the time to complete the A C M A
    consultation survey, the board is meeting this coming Monday evening
    to finalise the W I A submission based on your responses, well keep
    everybody apprised of the results.

    And while I have the mic, I really enjoyed my time in Hobart attending
    the conference and open day organised by REAST well done to the
    REAST Club and I look forward to the next soiree in Hobart.

    By now most members would have received their AR Magazine, another
    cracking issue thanks to PubCom. A significant inclusion this edition
    is the call for nominations for the WIA Board of Directors, page 9 if
    you havent seen it yet. This time 4 director spots are up for
    election, if no more than 4 nominations are received there will no
    elections, that is, the 4 nominees are automatically appointed. If
    you unhappy with how the W I A is being run and you think you can make
    a difference, please nominate. Nominations close December 15, 2022.

    Some decisions to announce, we have made the call to build a new
    website, we are currently talking to a provider that may be able to
    assist for a reasonable sum. If you, or somebody you know, has website
    skills, Id be keen to hear from you. It will not be a quick process
    as our current website has a huge amount of information, but, it is
    time to move on with a more modern look and feel.

    We also made the call to refresh our promotional materials, including
    the merch. The Board is appealing to anybody out that may be able to
    help with graphic design, we are thinking of forming a dedicated team
    to develop the materials we need to promote the hobby,

    Please contact me at vk4ea@wia.org if you can help or if you know
    somebody that may be available. The W I A survives on its volunteers.

    Thats all for now, I think I am on again next week as Chris will
    still be in Qatar watching a white round ball being kicked around a
    pitch, so talk to you then

    Cheers from Peter VK4EA





    This is Chris VK3FY for this week's WIA News Broadcast.

    I am bringing it you this all the way from Doha QATAR.

    I have been travelling the middle east these past few weeks with
    my sons Nik and Norm.

    I visited Muscat Oman and also visited A 47 RS the Royal Omani Amateur
    Radio Society. Both on a personal visit and taking the opportunity
    whilst there to represent the WIA.

    My host was Kahlid A 41 CK. Who introduced me the A47RS station. And
    what a station it is with antennas from 160-2m and satellite systems
    also.

    My sons Nik VK3FE and Norman VK3BB accompanied me. Nik VK3FE got on
    air on 10m SSB, whilst I was active on 15m CW.

    Later I was able to utilise their satellite facility and made a few
    contacts.

    Kahlid A41CK gave us the Grand Tour of the A47RS building and facilities.
    Including the station equipment of the late sultan of Oman. Who was
    also an Amateur Radio operator.

    An extremely impressive set up.

    If ever you are in Oman. I would certainly recommend a visit to the
    Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society.

    After leaving Oman, I visited Abu Dhabi for the Grand Prix, before
    arriving in Doha QATAR for the 2022 FIFA World Cup of Football.

    Having operated from the two previous FIFA World Cups of Football,
    2014 in Brazil and 2018 in Russia I was keen to get active from QATAR.

    An invitation from my good friend Ibrahim A 71 BI. I will be operating
    from the QATAR Amateur Radio Society soon and will be utilising the
    following special event callsigns A722FWC and A73FIFA, which you may
    have already heard on air recently.

    Listen out for us from QATAR.

    This is Chris VK3FY portable in A7 QATAR on behalf of the VK1WIA News.

    Chris Dimitrijevic de
    VK3FY / W3YM / T30T / 3D2FY / DU8FY / 4E8T / 5W0FY / HK7T





    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Before we get caught up in my massive missive about the latest issue,
    Id like to thank all those members and non-members who expressed
    concern about the state of the WIA website when we had an outage last
    weekend. Tracking down the source of the temporary disruption to
    service was quickly under way. From the opening of business hours on
    Monday 21st November, things moved quickly and the website was back
    online later that day. Everyones concern and understanding is most
    appreciated. Once again, Chicken Little was wrong and the world
    according to the Western Whine and the henhouse of malodorous
    misinformants was not correct about the sky and the WIA falling in.

    I just thought Id pop that in there and get it out of the way.

    Amateur Radio magazine is now in newsagents and should be in most
    members hands via Australia Post by now.

    Continuing my commentary on Issue 6 from last week, another feature of
    note is the Short-boom Yagi for FT8 on the six metre band by Greg VK4GRM.
    This antenna is a practical example of our article series on antenna
    modelling using the free as in cost-free software, 4nec2, for which
    Greg is one of the co-authors. Not just an example Greg has the beam
    on-air, using it making contacts.

    This issues Newcomers Notebook, written by Jules Perrin VK3JFP, one
    of our Publications Committee members covers resonant circuits.
    Deliberately, the article ties-in to the two articles on coils written
    by Dale VK1DSH, and Part 1 of his do-it-yourself project describing a
    Multi-Mode transmitter for the 2200 metre band.

    Turn the page from Newcomers Notebook and we have two pages of
    Over To You covering important issues raised by member Bernard Kates
    VK2 India Baker about why he renewed his membership. While not a
    happy member for various reasons for a start, hes unhappy that the
    WIA hasnt secured access to the 60 metre band from the ACMA Bernard
    remains a member. Exactly why we dont have use of 60 metres is set out
    by Dale VK1DSH our man on the spot in Geneva where and when it all
    happened in 2015 at the World Radio Conference. Dale was no bystander
    he led Australias delegation to WRC-15 and is also the WIAs ITU
    Conference and Study Group Coordinator.

    Always a good read. Never discounted on Black Friday.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 90, Issue Number 6 for 2022.

    Serving Australian radio amateurs since 1933.

    Available in print and online six times a year.

    Always published to a schedule, never random.

    This has been AR magazine Editor-in-Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH
    for VK1WIA News.



    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT


    The RSGB is hosting the Transatlantic Centenary Tests 2022 on the
    HF bands for the month of December. Unlike those of the 1920s, which
    consisted of one-way communication, this event will encourage worldwide
    two-way communication with UK and Crown Dependency stations.

    There will be a series of awards available for making QSOs with those
    who are activating historic RSGB callsigns.

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------


    WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAY
    SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND CONTEST IS ON THIS WEEKEND


    --------------

    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    December 2 - 4.

    Begins 2200 UTC Friday, ends 1559 UTC Sunday.

    This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.

    --------------


    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11).

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Special Event Stations

    QARS special events stations for Football World Cup goes QRT
    December on all HF bands and QO100 satellite for all modes:

    Listen for stations with FIFA as suffix


    A71FIFA (Albayt Stadium)
    A72FIFA (Lusail Stadium)
    A73FIFA (Education City Stadium)
    A74FIFA (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium)
    A75FIFA (974 Stadium)
    A76FIFA (Thumama Stadium)
    A77FIFA (Khalifa Stadium)

    --------------

    Hadrian's Wall Special Event Station

    There have been two special event stations, GB 1900 HA and GB 1900 HW
    running throughout the year commemorating 1900 years since the building
    of Hadrians Wall.

    QSL Via Logbook of the World and Club Log OQRS.

    See QRZ.com for more info on GB1900HA and GB1900HW

    Further info at:
    tinyurl.com/a78xy29x


    --------------

    Danish DX Group celebrates 50 years

    The Danish DX Group (DDXG) was founded May 27, 1972. To celebrate the
    50th anniversary special event station OZ 50 DDXG is on-the-air until
    December 31.

    Radio amateurs around the world can obtain the anniversary award by
    having contacts using CW, Phone or Digital modes with the anniversary
    station OZ 5 DDXG until years end.

    Full details on
    qrz.com/db/OZ50DDXG

    (SouthGate)

    --------------

    NETHERLANDS.

    Members of VERON's section of Mid and North Limburg are QRV with
    special call sign PI 75 LIM to celebrate their 75th anniversary.

    QSL via bureau.

    (arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    and the World Wide sources of the WIA.



    REGION ONE

    146/147MHz NoV extension in the UK

    Ofcom has agreed to the RSGB request to extend the 146/147MHz NoV for
    a further year.

    It is available on a non-interference basis and the NoV is subject to
    a 30-day notice period of change or withdrawal.

    Full licence holders can apply for the 146/147MHz NoV via the
    RSGB website




    IARU-MS

    Every month the IARU Monitoring System publishes an extensive newsletter.
    It contains, among other things, detailed information about intruders
    on the amateur bands.

    The October IARU-MS newsletter provides an overview of the most
    disruptive, unwanted transmissions on our bands: the 'over the horizon'
    radars. In addition to the Russian Contayner OTH radar, there were many
    transmissions from the Iranian OTH radar in the 10m band on 28.860
    occasionally sweeping the entire 10-meter band. Chinese OTH radars were
    received on 40, 20 and 15 meters.

    The British OTHR at the R.A.F Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus was
    received mostly on 15m, but also on 17 and 10m. The full report is
    available at iaru-r1.org





    REGION TWO

    GRANT SUBSIDIZES RFI-FIGHTING EFFORTS.

    The New England Division of the ARRL has just acquired the means to buy
    some powerful tools to help amateurs struggling to combat RFI.

    With the help of a $23,640 grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications,
    the division will be purchasing kits to be used by each of its seven
    sections throughout the New England states. The kits contain antennas
    along with equipment capable of RFI detection and spectrum capture and
    will be capable of helping on the VHF/UHF frequencies as well as on HF.

    Rob Leiden, K1UI, assistant director for Spectrum Protection and
    Utilization, expressed confidence that the section teams will be
    well-prepared and well-equipped. The division will be conducting
    on-site training for each section's RFI team and the ARDC grant is
    designed to cover these training costs as well.




    Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, appointed to Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of
    Fame

    ( rac.ca/bryan-rawlings-ve3qn-appointed-to-hall-of-fame/ )

    The Board of Trustees of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame is
    pleased to announce that Bryan, VE3QN, has been named to the Hall of
    Fame.

    Radio Amateurs of Canada recognizes deserving Amateurs by appointments
    to the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. The Constitution for the
    Hall specifies that the appointment as Member of the Hall is made for
    outstanding achievement and excellence of the highest degree, for
    serious and sustained service to Amateur Radio in Canada, or to
    Amateur Radio at large.

    The Trustees of the Hall have interpreted the Constitution to mean that
    the person has performed significant service over many years to
    enhance the well-being of Amateur Radio.

    Bryan Rawlings was first licensed as VE 2 AME in Montreal in 1959.

    Despite long absences from Amateur Radio while living overseas
    (Saudi Arabia and Russia), Bryan has again been an active Amateur
    since 2002 now signing VE 3 QN from Ottawa.

    From 2006 until 2020, Bryan represented Canadian Amateur interests as
    the main RAC contributor to the planning for and attendance at the
    International Telecommunications Union World Radio Conferences in 2012,
    15 and 19. This involved not only attendance at the Conferences
    themselves, but also at national and international meetings in
    preparation for the Conferences. He also played a key role in obtaining
    support, both nationally and internationally, for Amateur-related
    issues including successes in gaining Amateur access in many countries
    to frequencies at both 60 and 630 metres.




    Dayton Hamvention 2023 is just over 6 months away, and next year's
    Hamvention team has selected "Innovation!" as the event theme.

    The team reports that, in just one word, Innovation, the theme
    encompasses the world of amateur radio today. "There are so many
    exciting 'Innovations!' worldwide in amateur radio. Dayton want to
    capture the spirit, and expect to see many of these throughout the
    coming year and presented at Hamvention 2023, said Hamvention 2023
    spokesperson Michael Kalter, W8CI.

    Dayton Hamvention is the largest annual amateur radio gathering in
    the US, and among the largest in the world. With nearly 700 volunteers,
    next year's event boasts more than 500 indoor exhibits and more than
    2,500 outdoor exhibits. They will showcase the latest in amateur radio
    equipment, technology, and computer software and hardware, along with
    hard-to-find radio and computer accessories and equipment.





    REGION THREE

    MISSING IN INDIA? HELP IS AS CLOSE AS HAM RADIO AND WEST BENGAL RADIO
    CLUB

    An octogenarian, presumed killed in the super cyclone that lashed the
    Odisha coast 23 years ago, has been reunited with his family and WIA
    News Editor Graham VK4BB filed this story for Amateur Radio NewsLine.

    GRAHAM: After a super cyclone flattened the coast of Odisha in India
    in 1999, Kritichandra Baral lost his family and his memory - the latter
    possibly from some kind of trauma. Meanwhile, never learning for
    certain the fate of their patriarch, his sons presumed their father was
    one of the thousands who lost their lives in that natural disaster.

    The man survived, however, and lived as a vagrant on the streets of a
    city in Andhra Pradesh, existing for years on handouts and people's
    generosity. Ten years ago, he was taken in by a group known as the
    Missionaries of Charity after one of his benefactors discovered his
    health had deteriorated and asked that he be accepted into their care.

    The charity's ongoing efforts to locate his family failed until Nov. 19
    when they contacted the West Bengal Radio Club which has extensive
    experience in assisting with reunions of missing persons and their
    families. The hams had helped the charity before and the group was
    hopeful that the radio amateurs would succeed where the charity had not.
    Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, the club's secretary, said after some time
    the amateur radio club was able to locate the man's sons. He told
    various Indian news media outlets that two of the sons:

    [quote]
    "were dumbstruck when they saw their fathers photograph and then
    started weeping. They are a well-to-do family and said their father
    went missing after the cyclone and was presumed dead."
    [endquote]

    In videos shared with NewsLine by Ambarish Nag Biswas, the family can
    be seen with their father at the Missionaries of Charity residence.
    They are overcome by emotion, hugging one another for the first time in
    more than two decades.

    For Amateur Radio NewsLine and the WIA This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/

    You've heard of POTA right? BUT what about P T O T A

    OK you say potato we say PTOTA



    Public Transport On The Air

    Cant drive to a national park for WWFF or climb up a mountain summit
    for SOTA?

    Looking for an easy and more accessible Amateur Radio activation
    program?

    Just take your handheld radio with you the next time you travel on
    public transport.

    Call CQ PTOTA when walking to or from your home, on a train, tram,
    bus or ferry, even setup in a park nearby a station or stop, in fact
    anywhere you like while on your public transport journey.

    You can use any analogue or digital mode through any device or network,
    so long as your station operates on an amateur band.

    Simply log your contacts online and earn one point for every new
    callsign you work on each route.

    Logs are reset each year to keep the programme fresh.

    At the end of the year, you will even receive a nice participation
    certificate via email.

    This programme is for everyone: It promotes healthy exercise,
    public transport and Amateur Radio. For more information Google PTOTA
    or go to the SARCNET website ( sarcnet.org ).

    Remember:

    You say potato, I say PTOTA Public Transport On The Air!

    73 from Julie and Joe, for the School Amateur Radio Club Network,
    VK3SRC





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    Sydney ATV Group

    The Groups ATV repeater at Lawson in the Blue Mountains, transmits
    high☻definition TV on 445.50MHz, with analogue and digital inputs on
    23cm. Reception is possible over the Sydney Metro area, or via the
    British Amateur TV Club streaming web site; select VK2RTS Sydney.

    Regular nets are on Monday evenings starting at 7:30pm.

    They regularly have technical talks, show latest projects, general
    interest videos and much more.

    You can call in during the net on the Lawson repeater, 147.325 MHz
    with reports, questions or help with receiving Amateur Television.

    Why not join in and find out more about this fascinating and fast
    ☻growing aspect of digital amateur radio.

    (vk2wi news)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    CW-ops Award

    CWops is now accepting nominations for the prestigious 13th CWops
    Award for CW Art Development for 2023. The purpose of the award is
    to honour individuals, groups or organisations that have made the
    greatest contribution to the art or practice of Morse code radio
    communications.

    Candidates for the award may be authors of publications related to CW,
    CW recruiters, mentors, trainers and instructors, public advocates,
    activities organisers, designers and inventors who advance the art or
    practice of CW, and other contributors to the CW art or practice.

    The award is not limited to hams or their organisations.

    Nominations can be made by anyone, not just CWops members. The list of
    awardees will be presented at Dayton Hamvention 2023.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    OMOTENASHI is Struggling to Carry Amateur Radio to the Moon

    OMOTENASHI, a project of the JAXA Ham Radio Club, was a secondary
    payload aboard NASA's Artemis 1 mission, launched on November 16.
    It plans to land on the surface of the moon, and to transmit a beacon
    in the amateur 70cm band.

    Controllers have reported OMOTENASHI is tumbling, making it difficult
    for the spacecraft to charge its batteries and communicate with the
    ground. Of the ten CubeSats flown as secondary payloads, seven are
    operation, two have not been heard from, and OMOTENASHI is struggling.

    Controllers are continuing recovery attempts.



    AROW, the Artemis Real-Time Orbit Website, is a fun, interactive
    display of the Orion capsule and the Artemis 1 mission is provided by
    NASA.

    nasa.gov/specials/trackartemis/




    TJ-REVERB, a 2U CubeSat built by Thomas Jefferson High School for
    Science & Technology, has been frequency coordinated to operate as an
    APRS relay on 145.825 MHz. It is scheduled for launch on the SpaceX
    Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft set to deliver additional
    science, crew supplies, and hardware to the International Space
    Station then released from ISS at a later time.

    The first U.S. high school to send a CubeSat to space back in 2013,
    Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technologys Research and
    Education Vehicle for Evaluating Radio Broadcasts satellite aims to
    study the use of iridium as a primary radio communication method.
    Additionally, the satellite will demonstrate using a passive magnet
    on-board and the Earths magnetic field for stabilization rather than
    using an attitude determination and control system for pointing
    accuracy and stabilization for iridium.

    What makes this satellite even more notable is that students selected
    space-grade parts, wired the electronics for the satellite, wrote the
    drivers to control the different systems, and coded the flight
    software.

    [NA]





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- QRP and WEAK SIGNAL COMMUNICATION
    QRP day is always June 17.

    With a reminder that Melbourne QRP by the Bay is coming up soon
    Saturday 3 December at 3pm here is Peter Parker VK3YE


    Melbourne QRP by the Bay is an occasional gathering of homebrewers,
    QRPers and portable operators.

    Normally between about 15 and 30 people show up for a very convivial
    couple of hours.

    This will be our first after the COVID recess.

    Bring yourself, an idea and an interesting piece of equipment.

    Gather at Victory Park, Chelsea beach near the lifesaving club.

    Afterwards many of us go for tea at a local restaurant.

    That's 3pm Saturday December 3, 2022 for Melbourne QRP by the Bay at
    Chelsea beach.

    More details on the Facebook event page
    facebook.com/events/444042417828852

    (Peter Parker VK3YE)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Steve Grimsley ex VK2ZP, VK1VK, VK4VK, VK0VK and other callsigns
    recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

    He decided to stop operating on the air only a few years ago, but until
    then he was a keen CW operator, having held many callsigns over the
    years since being licenced. He is a former President of the Canberra
    Radio Society and was the manager of the electronics workshop at
    Mt Stromlo observatory at Canberra.

    Congratulations on making the ton, Steve!

    (Andrew VK1DA)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO

    MARITIME MOBILE NET AIDS DISTRESSED FISHING VESSEL

    The Maritime Mobile Service Network came to the aid recently of a
    fishing vessel with engine difficulties. Jack Parker W8ISH from
    Amateur Radio NewsLine has that story.

    On November 6th, engine trouble was plaguing the Captain Chad as
    the 80-foot commercial fishing vessel made its way through the water
    south of Jamaica with eight passengers aboard. The captain called for
    help over various frequencies on the commercial HF marine band but
    without luck. Fearing the calm waters would soon get rougher and more
    dangerous, he declared an emergency and called for help again -- this
    time, tuning to his radio's pre-set frequency of 14.300 MHz. Tom Yturri,
    W5TEY, who was on duty as Maritime Mobile Service Operator, heard the
    call and got the boat's location from the captain, Curtis Jackson. Tom
    telephoned the Jamaican Coast Guard but after getting no response, he
    reached out to the US Coast Guard in Virginia. The Maritime Mobile
    Service Network then lost contact. All it could do was leave information
    about the Captain Chad and ask all incoming net control stations to try
    to re-establish contact.

    Two days later, a much happier contact took place: Tom heard from the
    fishing vessel's owner. The boat and everyone on board were rescued
    without incident thanks to the vital information passed along by the
    Maritime Mobile Service Network. Tom said simply: [quote] "It's what we
    train to do." [endquote]

    This is Jack Parker W8ISH.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota


    Youth On The Air Comes to Canada in 2023:

    The next Youth on the Air Camp for the Americas has been scheduled for
    July 16-21 in Ottawa. This is an excellent opportunity for Amateur
    Radio clubs to help build the leadership of tomorrow.

    Youth On The Air (YOTA) is a program for and by young Amateur Radio
    operators in the Americas, closely modelled after the Youngsters On
    The Air program in other Regions.

    Youth On The Air Camp is for Amateur Radio operators between the ages
    of 15 to 25. A total of 30 campers will be accepted.




    ------------------------------------------------------------*





    2022/23 Social Scene

    VK3 - Melbourne QRP by the Bay Saturday 3 December 3pm (vk3ye)

    VK4 - Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club Car Boot Sale
    Saturday 10th Dec. Macfarlane Park, Klingner Road Kippa-Ring.
    (vk4tn)
    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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)

    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Dec 1 15:52:22 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-12-04.mp3
    Text edition:


    2022 DECEMBER 4 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 DECEMBER 4 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    JOINING US THIS WEEK:-

    WIA DIRECTOR PETER, VK4EA.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS 30 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.





    VK7 Centenary Celebration

    The centenary of organised Amateur Radio in Tasmania will be celebrated
    in June 2023. Justin, VK7TW has put out a call for anyone who would
    like to be involved in a group to plan, organise and deliver the
    Centenary activities.

    If you are interested then please email vk7tw@wia.org.au

    And from VK6, a bit short of a Century but as far as broadcasting this
    news service it's hats off to Phil VK6GX, broadcasting news since
    1984, ( Oh and Phils callsign was VK6ABL prior to 2008 ).

    Well done that man!





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hello again from Peter VK4EA coming to you again from
    Meinjin in Turrbul and Jagera country.

    This week has been busy for the WIA board, so lets get into it.

    YOTA Youngsters On The Air an initiative to get more young people
    on the air. This year the WIA have applied for VK 22 YOTA, a callsign
    available to any organisation running a YOTA event. The IARU
    encouraging individuals and organisations to participate in the
    December YOTA 2022 event. More information can be found by searching
    for YOTA link in the text edition.

    Youngsters On The Air Official website
    ham-yota.com

    More YOTA 2022 announcements are forthcoming, stay tuned.

    Class License and Higher Power
    A C M A consultation period closed Friday, the second of December.
    The WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee have put a massive, huge, ginormous
    effort into preparing the WIA response. Thank you to all those that
    submitted a response to the survey, the responses helped to formulate
    the submission. Last Monday the board received a briefing from
    Grant VK5GR and Peter VK3MV going through the submission in detail.
    The board overwhelmingly endorsed the submission, an impressive effort
    indeed. We will circulate a link to the submission soon, its most
    likely been advertised by the time this piece has been broadcast.
    All we can do now is to be responsive to any queries from the
    A C M A and, be patient, while the submission is being digested.

    Last week I spoke about the director vacancies coming up, reiterating
    nominations for board positions close 12th of December. And also, the
    2023 director elections will be electronic. For those listening that
    do NOT wish to, or are UNABLE to, cast their ballot electronically,
    there is an option to receive a paper ballot. The latest AR Magazine
    address label doubles as a request for a paper ballot.

    That is it from me for this year, I am looking forward to break over
    the Christmas/New Year period and hope to be active for the 2m tropo
    and 6m spadoric E season.

    This has been Peter VK4EA on behalf of the WIA board.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    Beware of Counterfeit ICOM Products

    Colin Butler writing in icqpodcast.com says "ICOM has reported seeing
    counterfeit copies of ICOM radios available online with some also
    arriving in the UK to unsuspecting buyers. These copies look like
    genuine ICOM radios but when examined more closely are not and are
    significantly inferior in both quality and performance.

    Several buyers have contacted ICOM believing they have purchased and
    thought they were receiving a genuine ICOM. On arrival the radios had
    an incorrect UK channel set, some channels missing and in some cases,
    buttons not functioning as expected.

    Most if not all of these counterfeit products are found online and
    compared to genuine are priced incredibly low. However, what might
    seem like a bargain or a great purchase will become a disappointment
    and could affect how you use your radio and also your and others'
    safety.

    If you are unsure, ask the seller for a serial number in advance of
    purchasing, call the ICOM customer service team who can confirm the
    origin of the radio as genuine or not.




    BIG PROMISE FROM ULTRA-TINY BATTERY

    Battery technology continues to change and the latest evolution
    announced recently is a super-small rechargeable "micro-battery"
    with a high tolerance for variations in temperature - and a lifespan of
    between one and two decades. Kent Peterson KC DGY from Amateur Radio
    NewsLine tells us about this new development and what scientists are
    saying about it.

    A company in France believes it has come up with the latest
    solution to provide battery power for micro-power devices. The company,
    ITEN, has developed an ultra-small rechargeable lithium battery. At
    first glance, the surface-mount solid-state battery might easily be
    mistaken for an SMD chip as its housing is only slightly larger than the
    battery's own dimensions of 3.2 by 2.5 mm. They are, of course, not
    chips: These batteries have a capacity of between 0.1 mAh and 0.5 mAh.
    They were found capable of tolerating temperatures between minus 40
    degrees Celsius, or minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, all the way to 85
    degrees Celsius, or 185 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Their ability to deliver peak currents make them especially useful for
    powering RF transmissions such as Bluetooth, Sigfox and LTE, to deliver
    packets of data via sensors. The website, CNX software, also sees the
    batteries as being useful for sensor data loggers, beacons and backup
    power supplies for microcontrollers.

    The solid-state technology is considered another plus contributing
    toward a usable lifespan of between 10 and 20 years. The company has
    said the batteries are also fast-charging.

    The website, Hackaday, poses the following challenge:

    [quote]

    "Wed be particularly interested to learn about their temperature
    sensitivity when it comes to soldering, as weve taken to heart the
    warnings about soldering to more traditional lithium cells."

    [endquote]

    The website noted that there are apparently some evaluation kits
    available directly from the company in France.

    This is Kent Peterson KCDGY.




    In-Car Radio Trends Revealed at WorldDAB Summit 2022

    JAMES CARELESS, writing in radioworld.com where he has covered this
    Radio Summit.

    How is radio actually doing in the car today, given growing competition
    from streaming services? What motivates people to choose radio over
    streaming while driving, and vice versa? And what role will voice
    control play in managing in-car entertainment systems?

    These points and others were covered by Diana Franganillo, Director of
    In-Vehicle UX Research at Strategy Analytics, during her presentation
    talk at the WorldDAB Summit 2022. It was organized by WorldDAB, the
    DAB global industry forum, on Nov. 17 at Londons King Place and
    online.

    Diana touched on the growing availability of DAB receivers in cars,
    the need for automobile manufacturers to provide drivers with easy
    to read, easy to navigate touch panels, and the emergence of
    Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and the Android Automotive operating system
    in this environment.

    The next trend I will mention is the ubiquity of voice interactions,
    she continued. If well implemented, they could be less distracting to
    drivers than manual visual interactions. And the last trend, of course,
    to be prepared for is autonomous vehicles.

    All this being said, there is still a clear and very specific need
    for broadcast radio in the car, she concluded. While it is true that
    the time spent listening to streaming sources has increased, these
    services are complementary to radio. This is why, in her view,
    radio is still royalty on vehicle dashboards.

    tinyurl.com/5n8sent6





    REGION TWO

    Nebraska's First Lady, Susanne Shore, recently presented the
    Disaster Volunteer Award to Dodge County Amateur Radio Emergency
    Services at a Luncheon in Omaha.

    Eleven Nebraskans / groups were honoured.

    The Serve-Nebraska Step Forward Awards recognize exemplary volunteers
    across that US state for their time and service aimed at making their
    communities better.

    The awards are the most prestigious awards given for volunteerism
    in the state of Nebraska.





    REGION THREE

    The SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre has announced an agreement to
    further develop new search and rescue beacon technologies in partnership
    with NASA. It is the latest in a long history of cooperation in the
    field of SAR between Australia and the United States.

    Similar to distress beacons on Earth, the system will provide miniature
    low-power radio beacons mounted on space suits and lunar rover vehicles
    and will support SOS and two-way messaging over a lunar orbiting
    satellite constellation. It will also allow the beacon location to be
    accurately determined, in the absence of GPS. This information will be
    provided securely and quickly to both the mission control centre on
    Earth and the response team on the moon, who are able to take immediate
    action.

    In an interview in criticalcomms.com.au SmartSat CEO Andy Koronios said
    This agreement signals Australias space sector is developing globally
    important technologies. NASA has been instrumental in the development
    journey for this essential safety technology and while it is early
    stages, we now have the further potential of this Australian-developed
    tech playing an important role in lunar and Martian exploration missions
    under the Artemis program.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    2021 WIA Contest Champion Results

    The WIA Contest Champion is awarded annually for the best combined
    effort in WIA sponsored contests. It recognises those who have
    participated in multiple WIA contests and submitted logs throughout the
    year. There were a total of 294 contestants during 2021.

    The winner of the Peter Brown VK4PJ trophy for 2021 is Lawrie Mew VK5LJ
    with a score of 520 points. Lawrie acquired WIA Contest Champion points
    in 7 of the 9 eligible contests. Congratulations to Lawrie, he has now
    won the WIA Contest Champion trophy 4 years in a row.

    wia.org.au/members/contests/contestchampion

    (vk7wi news)




    The RSGB is hosting the Transatlantic Centenary Tests 2022 on the
    HF bands this month. Unlike those of the 1920s, which consisted of
    one-way communication, this event will encourage worldwide
    two-way communication with UK and Crown Dependency stations.

    There will be a series of awards available for making QSOs with those
    who are activating historic RSGB callsigns.


    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------

    160 METER CW CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    Objective is for Amateurs worldwide to exchange information with
    W/VE amateurs on 160-meter CW.

    December 2 - 4. YES THIS WEEKEND

    --------------


    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday;
    runs through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11).

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    Ferdy, HB 9 DSP, is active from Zanzibar using the call sign 5 H 3 FM
    until December 13 mostly on 20, 15 and 10 metres using SSB and FT8.
    QSL to his home call HB9DSP

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    Be listening for Take (TAH-KAY), JS 6 RRR operating from Miyako-jima,
    IOTA number AS-079, until December 17th. Take will be on 80-6m, using
    SSB, CW, FM, RTTY and JT65.

    JS 6 RRR QSL information is on QRZ.com

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    BRAZIL;
    Special event station PV 22 CUP is until December 18 for the
    22nd FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    (vk2wi news)

    --------------

    POLAND:-
    Special event call signs 3Z 95 PRK, HF 95 PRK, SN 95 PRK, SO 95 PRK,
    SP 95 PRK, and SQ 95 PRK are QRV till December 11 celebrating the
    95th anniversary of Poland's largest regional radio broadcaster,
    Polskie Radio Katowice.
    QSL these various 95PRK stations via bureau

    (eham.net)


    --------------

    NEW SOUTH WALES:-

    During the month of December the Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club will
    be celebrating its 40th anniversary with members activating the special
    event callsign VI2FG40. Activity will be mainly on 40m SSB. A special
    event station from the club's radio shack at Cataract Activity Centre
    (QF55js) will be active for 40 hours on multiple bands using SSB and FT8
    from 20:00 Friday 9 December to 12:00 Sunday 11 December AEDT. More
    information can be found on the QRZ page for VI2FG40.

    (vk2pr)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/


    LIVING IN OR PLANNING TO VISIT VK7?

    In Launceston a Summits On The Air / World Wide Flora and Fauna parks
    group meets twice weekly Mondays and Fridays 10.30AM till 12.00 at
    the Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry Street, Launceston.

    Al VK7AN is the man to see if you want further info, contact details
    in the text edition of the news this week.

    0417 354 410.

    (vk7wi news)




    SOTA and the one to listen out for is CN 22 JIM from Morocco.

    Special station CN22JIM will be active on 5-18 December from Imlil
    in the High Atlas Mountain range of Morocco. The call sign's suffix
    stands for Journee Internationale de la Montagne or International
    Mountain Day which will be celebrated on 10 December.

    QSL via RW 6 HS.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    TM 35 FIST is the special call sign for Jean, F6JOE to celebrate the
    35th anniversary of the FISTS CW Club (International Morse Preservation
    Society) 5-11 December.

    The Club was founded in 1987 by the late George Longden G 3 ZQS, after
    recognising a need for a club in which veteran operators would help new
    comers and less experienced operators learn and improve CW proficiency.

    QSL via F 6 JOE.

    (sarl)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    FUNcube-1 (AO73) Now celebrating nine years in orbit!

    Another year has passed and FUNcube 1 has continued to operate from its
    orbit around 600km above the earth. To start with some statistics.

    The spacecraft creates and downlinks data in frames that run for
    two minute periods. It has now transmitted more that 16 million of
    these frames or Sequence Numbers. Another big statistic is more than
    10 million data packets have been received by stations that have
    forwarded them to FUNcube Data Warehouse.

    You can see the leading ground stations on
    warehouse.funcube.org.uk/ui/fc1-fm/satellite_ranking

    Special congratulations to those at the top, scorers, many of them have
    individually forwarded more than 1 million packets.

    Thanks to all contributors around the world. Having this network of
    ground stations has enabled the FUNcube team to easily monitor the
    status of the spacecraft easily.

    (na)




    NASA and the Government of Japan have announced further contributions
    by Japan to Gateway, a key component of the agencys Artemis missions
    for long-term lunar exploration.

    In addition to the Gateway arrangement, announced was Japans
    commitment to participate in the International Space Station Program
    through 2030, the first international partner to join the United States
    in formally committing to space station operations through 2030.
    NASA welcomed Japans announcement of its continuation of space station
    operations through 2030.

    NASA and its international partners conduct critical science, research,
    and technology demonstrations aboard the orbiting laboratory that make
    long-duration missions to the Gateway and the Moon possible.

    Read the full story at
    tinyurl.com/ANS-331-JAXA.

    [ANS]




    Today's last story in the Final Frontier comes from a great weekly
    publication from NASA called "Space Station Science Highlights".

    Crew members aboard the International Space Station conducted
    scientific investigations during the week of Nov. 21 that included
    radio contact between astronauts and science students on the ground and
    tracking how the human body adapts to microgravity.

    ISS Ham Radio sessions use ground-based amateur radio stations to
    connect students, teachers, parents, and other members of a community
    directly to astronauts on the space station. These radio experiences
    help inspire interest in science, technology, engineering, and maths.

    During the week, crew members spoke with students studying and
    monitoring natural hazards at 12 schools in nine Caribbean and
    Central American countries, hosted by St. Josephs Convent
    Secondary School in Saint Lucia.

    The crew also held a session with the community at Five Bridges
    Junior High School in Nova Scotia, Canada. Those students are
    learning about space exploration with activities that include
    constructing solar system models and growing tomato seeds that
    previously flew on the space station.

    Adapting to space

    For this investigation, crew members complete cognition tests and
    sleep questionnaires and collected blood, saliva, and urine samples
    for various analyses, including immune function and microbiome health.
    Other measures included artery ultrasounds and sensorimotor tests.
    This data, collected over the life of the space station, enable
    researchers to examine how crew members adapt to living and working
    in space and to monitor countermeasure effectiveness in support of
    future long-duration missions.

    tinyurl.com/2kh7rjbf

    (NASA)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    MADAGASCAR.
    Operators PA3EWP, DL2AWG, DK2AMM, PG5M, and PA5X are QRV as
    5R8WP, 5R8WG, 5R8MM, 5R8CG, and 5R8PA, respectively,
    from Nosy Be Island, IOTA AF-057, until today December 3.
    Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8
    QSL these iota stations via DL 2 AWG.

    (eham.net)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is the
    first Monday of month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of
    Australia's December bulletin to go to air.

    As per usual, there will be no January bulletin. The first RAOTC
    bulletin for 2023 will be on Monday, February 6th.

    VK6 Members and Friends are reminded that the Christmas lunch will be
    at the Woodbridge Hotel in Guildford on Tuesday, December 13th. The
    January lunchtime meeting will on Tuesday, January 10th at same venue.

    This month as well as the latest Club news we have:

    News of the latest Committee meeting;

    An item on the Ugly Duckling Liberty ships of World War 2;

    The story of a man who fell 18,000 feet and lived to tell the tale.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to listen
    to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on the
    RAOTC website at raotc.org.au or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.
    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the audio
    file at any time from today from the club website.

    On behalf of the Committee, I wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the December RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the
    program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota

    From Old Timers to Young Timers and The IARU Region 1 Youth Working
    Group has held its yearly meeting. Within this virtual gathering
    various things, as a roadmap, new structure, etc., were introduced and
    discussed and Alec VK2APC is here with more:-

    Due to its fast growth over the past few years the Youth Working Group
    gained lots of responsibilities and tasks. Thus, it was decided to
    appoint a second Vice Chair position to split those among the
    board members.

    Thus, Otava Tuomi OH 3 OT now serves as a second Vice Chair next to
    Markus Groer DL 8 GM within the Working Group. Otava has been a member
    since 2019 and is currently actively contributing to the well-known
    Train The Trainer program as its coordinator. He will remain within
    his TTT coordinator position and is further assisting with strategic
    planning tasks and decision making among the board.

    All present Youth Working Group members voted in favour, none against,
    no abstain.

    YOTA thanks OH 3 OT for his contribution and are looking forward to
    the future of YOTA in Region One.

    ( ham-yota.com)





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    SKYWARN Recognition Day Set for December 3, 2022:

    The annual SKYWARN on-the-air activity will take place from 0000 to
    2400 UTC.

    SKYWARN Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the US National
    Weather Service and ARRL to honour the contributions that SKYWARN
    volunteers make to the NWS mission, that is, the protection of
    life and property during threatening weather.

    During the SKYWARN special event, hams will operate from several NWS
    offices, as well as from their mobile, home, and club stations.
    "The relationship between amateur radio operators and the NWS is
    extremely important for relaying information during storms of any type"
    said ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV.
    "SKYWARN is a perfect example of the value of hams working together
    with government partners during times of disaster."

    ( weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition )




    A RADIO, A RESCUE AND A QSL CARD

    Sometimes a QSL card can confirm so much more than just a successful
    contact. Just ask one ham in Wyoming who recently got such a card with
    a special message.

    Here's Ralph Squilllace KK 6 ITB with that story.

    Nicholas Cashoili NASL recently sent a QSL card to Jim Shirey
    N7FC. The men had a QSO on Halloween night on the same frequency where
    members of the Buffalo Amateur Radio Club customarily check in and keep
    up-to-date on matters related to the club. The voice coming from Jim's
    HT, however, wasn't from a fellow club member: It was that of a motorist
    in distress. That motorist was Nicholas. According to a report on the
    Buffalo Bulletin website, Nicholas told Jim that he needed help: He'd
    been driving through a canyon in Johnson County in north central
    Wyoming, when his car slid off the road. His car was disabled and there
    was no cell service available in the area. Using his radio, Jim gathered
    what information he could get from Nicholas and then called 911. The
    story in the Buffalo Bulletin said that the fire and sheriff's
    departments were sent to assist at the scene.

    Jim however didn't learn of the happy ending until he received that QSL
    card from Nicholas this month. Only after its arrival from Nicholas'
    Nebraska QTH did Jim discover some of the details of what turned out to
    be a successful rescue. Nicholas was safe and had not been injured. The
    day it arrived, his QSL card did double duty -- as a thank-you card.

    This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

    (amateur radio NewsLine)





    SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VLF - LOW DOWN

    New 2200-metre band record
    Peter Hall (VK6HP), 25 September, 2022

    Heres a good-news story relating to our lowest spectrum allocation:
    the 2200-metre, or 136 kHz, band.

    Monday night, November 21, VK6MJM set a new Oceania to North America
    distance record for 1-way digital modes. VK6MJM transmissions, running
    at about 0.8 watt effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP), were
    received by Paul, KM5SW, in Jemez Springs New Mexico.

    The propagation distance was 16,164 km not bad for about 1 W on this
    notoriously challenging band! Transmissions used the relatively new
    WSJT-X FST4W-300 mode, which is a 5-minute key-down mode. Paul received
    the VK6MJM signals at a signal-to-noise ratio of -36 or -37 dB,
    relative to the standard 2.5 kHz WSJT-X reference bandwidth.

    VK6MJM is operated by the Western Australian Low Frequency
    Experimenters Group, or WALFEG, a group led by Professor Peter Hall,
    VK6HP, and affiliated with the WIA. The station is based around a
    de-commissioned aeronautical non-directional beacon (or NDB) facility
    at Manjimup, 300 km south of Perth. The morse ident of the NDB was
    MJM, and the new callsign is a nod to history. Peter was able to
    write a proposal to local and State authorities persuading them of the
    value of re-using the site and particularly the 22.5 m high live-mast
    antenna for amateur radio, scientific research, and educational
    activities. The great majority of the NDB electronics has been removed
    and much of the current VK6MJM equipment is homebrew. While its early
    days, several WALFEG members have made important contributions to
    re-furbishing the site, with the ultimate aim of having the station
    remotely controlled.

    More details are available on the VK6MJM QRZ web page.

    For the record-breaking transmissions the main VK6MJM electronics was
    a TS-590S exciter fitted with a TCXO, a homebrew HEXFET push-pull power
    amplifier, and a homebrew impedance matching transformer.

    KM5SW used an RSPdx SDR locked to a Leo Bodnar GPSDO, and a K9AY
    receiving loop at 25 m height in the pine trees at the remote Jemez
    Springs location.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    2022 Social Scene


    VK4 - Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club Car Boot Sale NEXT WEEKEND:-
    Saturday 10th Dec. Macfarlane Park, Klingner Road Kippa-Ring.
    (vk4tn)



    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)




    Submitting news items

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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    Oh... and to contact us with your news because
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*


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    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Dec 8 16:49:26 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-12-11.mp3
    Text edition:


    2022 DECEMBER 11 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 DECEMBER 11 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS


    JOINING US THIS WEEK:-

    WIA'S VK2TSG and VK2ZRH

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS 30 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.

    During this month the Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club in VK2 are
    celebrating its 40th anniversary with special event callsign
    VI 2 FG 40. Felix will have more during his operational spot.


    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH from the WIA Spectrum Strategy
    Committee with news on the WIAs response to the ACMAs proposal
    on amateur radio licensing.

    The response has been lodged with the ACMA. It is now online and can
    be downloaded from link:-

    tinyurl.com/WIAsubm

    You will recall that, at the end of September, the Australian
    Communications and Media Authority proposed that Australias
    radio amateurs move to a Class licensing scheme next July 2023,
    opening a consultation period that closed at the end of November 2022.

    The WIA has replied to the ACMA proposals with a forensically
    comprehensive evidence-based response.

    The ACMA proposes moving Australias radio amateurs from individual
    Apparatus licences to one licence for the amateur service as a
    whole, citing the principal reason being reducing the administrative
    burden for both the ACMA and the amateur radio community.

    The immediate benefit would be that licence and licence-renewal
    fees would disappear.

    The ACMAs proposal can be found online via link:-

    tinyurl.com/ACMAclasslic

    The WIAs response is important because the WIA is the one
    ITU-recognised peak body representing the amateur radio service
    in Australia and the sole member of the International Amateur Radio
    Union (IARU), an ITU sector body.

    The Institutes response to the proposals on Class licensing from
    the ACMA provides a detailed examination of the scheme and, while
    agreeing with some matters, provides considered recommendations for
    many matters found wanting and proposes working with the ACMA to
    address the issues to provide the best outcome for Australias radio
    amateurs, now and in future.

    Individual licensing of radio amateurs in Australia has been in place
    since the end of World War II. Hence, the WIA views the move as a
    quantum step in the evolution of amateur licensing in Australia,
    such as has not been seen previously.

    Responding in-kind to the ACMAs two-part consultation, firstly on
    . . operational arrangements to support the proposed amateur class
    licence, proposals such as granting 50-52 MHz access to Standard
    licensees were welcomed along with removal of other restrictions,
    while proposals on call sign management found many points of serious
    concern, plus a range of drafting issues with the Class licence
    scheme.

    Previously opposed to the ACMAs Class licensing proposal of 2021,
    this time, the WIA offers qualified support, provided a suite of
    issues are addressed so that the Class licence to be implemented
    aligns with or meets the operational practices and needs of
    Australian radio amateurs.

    On the ACMAs . . proposal for a staged implementation of higher
    power authorisation, for which the ACMA suggests using a Scientific
    Licence qualification, the WIA points out firstly, that Scientific
    licensing does not allow operators to make contacts, which is
    anathema to the ITU definition of the amateur radio service!

    In the amateur service definition, inter-communication making
    contacts is a basic purpose of the service and one of the prime
    drivers for higher power operation, the WIA points out. Secondly,
    the ACMAs Scientific licensing methodology is prohibitively costly
    and overly complex.

    If the purpose of Class licensing the amateur service was to reduce
    the administrative burden, Scientific licensing for higher power use
    is the opposite! The WIA suggests a cautious, phased approach over a
    period of one to three years to introduce high power privileges.

    The Institute advocates for a program based on education with new
    syllabus requirements, information campaigns, and an accompanying
    toolset to enable and support licensed amateurs to upskill.

    This will hopefully provide the ACMA with confidence that those
    amateurs operating higher power will be doing so with the knowledge,
    skill and experience to operate safely in relation to the public and
    themselves.

    To ensure the submission was on a sound footing, the WIA compiled an
    exposure draft, publishing it online in conjunction with a survey of
    the Australian radio amateur community, including non-members along
    with WIA members, which attracted 615 respondents.

    The WIAs response to the ACMA is thus evidence-based, being
    informed by radio amateur community feedback and suggestions,
    both from individuals and amateur radio clubs.

    The WIAs response provides qualified support for the ACMAs Class
    licensing proposal and has provided some suggestions on how to
    address particular concerns around:

    the loss of a public register of call signs and the publication
    of call signs;

    transition to a Class licence and associated documentation;

    a range of identified Class Licence drafting issues; and

    reconsideration of the approach to higher power authorisation.

    This has been Roger Harrison VK2ZRH from the
    WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee.





    Hello, this is Steven Green VK2TSG, one of your national board
    members.

    Well, the proverbial silly season of shopping and parties is now
    upon us, with some of us eying-off new transceivers and gadgets,
    while others are lamenting the thought of more ties and socks.

    New Year's resolutions come to mind; and if you're like me, it's
    often hard to stick to them. Perhaps consider taking up a role
    related to Amateur Radio, be it in your local club, the WIA, or even
    in WICEN. There are so many things to be done, with roles that suit
    many levels of availability, interest, experience level and so on.

    There are also great opportunities for learning and practicing skills
    that can be transferred into other workplaces too. By volunteering
    with groups, we are more likely to stick-with-it so-to-speak and
    really go places.

    Why not take a look at the national WIA website for available
    positions in committees and working groups, the WIA Amateur Radio
    body in your state regarding work with Broadcasts or other items, or
    discuss what your local club needs.

    Many clubs and other organisations have been holding end-of-year
    meetings and parties, with most closing for the rest of the month
    and January. Although there is a-lot to do at home, it's also a
    great opportunity to increase our on-air activity, perhaps during a
    commute, at a late hour, or similar moment.

    Particularly, try to share a conversation or QSO with those outside
    your regular circle who might not have many like-minded people to
    talk to. Perhaps you could share a small project at some point
    during the season; maybe an antenna, power supply, remote microphone,
    or perhaps talk someone through a technical problem or some other
    simple activity that people could share in, these open the doors for
    talking.

    No matter what our main interest in Amateur Radio is, at its core,
    alongside technology, is communication. Let's make that connection
    with each other; practice listening and kindly responding to the
    people on-air around us and far away.

    Most of you would be aware of the R-U-OK day earlier in the year,
    which is a terrific reminder about how to ask the question, but the
    truth is R-U-OK Day is every day; Let's try it!

    73 from Steven VK2TSG....


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION TWO

    When it opens for visitors in early 2023, the Museum of Information
    Explosion in Huntsville, Alabama, will feature a modern amateur radio
    station designed to educate visitors about our hobby. The station will
    present an interesting contrast between modern digital technology and
    the historic and classic gear found in the museums other exhibits.

    This juxtaposition of old and new will illustrate the accelerating
    evolution of amateur radio and will demonstrate that ham radio is
    not an archaic and dying activity.

    The Museum of Information Explosion will allow people to explore the
    history of communication and computing innovation and how these
    technologies have shaped our modern way of life. In addition to the
    ham radio station, exhibits include vintage telegraph sets, phonographs,
    radios, and televisions.

    Multimedia presentations will bring the stories of yesterday to life,
    and interactive, augmented, and virtual reality experiences will
    ignite the imagination of young adventurers. Every guest will leave
    with a deeper appreciation of the history of information technology.

    mie-hsv.org/




    Dr. Kristina Collins, KD 8 OXT, earned her PhD in Electrical Engineering
    from Case Western Reserve University on November 18. Dr. Collins'
    thesis, Development of a Low-Cost Meta-Instrument for Distributed
    Observations of Ionospheric Variability, focuses on the development of
    the HamSCI Grape Personal Space Weather Station Network.

    Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) serves as a means for
    fostering collaborations between professional researchers and amateur
    radio operators. Dr. Collins currently serves on the HamSCI advisory
    board, leads the HamSCI Eclipse and Frequency Measurement Festivals
    project and WWV/H Scientific Modulation team, and served as chair of
    the local organizing committee for the 2019 HamSCI Workshop.

    Dr. Collins, KD 8 OXT, was first licensed in 2010 and holds an
    Amateur Extra-class license.





    REGION THREE

    The Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) will induct
    Dr. Ulrich Rohde, N1UL, as a fellow during ceremonies in mid-December.
    Dr. Rohde is only the third foreign fellow elected by the INAE,
    preceded by Dr. Jeffrey Wineland, who won a Nobel Prize in Physics,
    and Dr. Philip H. Knight.

    In the formal announcement issued, the INAE thanked Dr. Rohde for
    "outstanding contributions to engineering and also your dynamic
    leadership in engineering domain, which have immensely contributed
    for the faster development of the country."

    The INAE was founded in 1987 and describes itself as including
    "India's most distinguished engineers, engineer-scientists, and
    technologists covering the entire spectrum of engineering disciplines."




    In January 2023, New Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) will
    farewell two of the longest serving members of their Radio Investigations
    team.

    Mike Baird and Grant Wheaton have both been working within Radio
    Spectrum Management since the early 1970s and collectively have over
    100 years of dedicated service.

    Mike and Grant have contributed greatly to the New Zealand radio
    industry and have been instrumental in ensuring that the RSM
    Investigations group has strong technical abilities and processes.




    Project to map Australia's telecommunications resilience

    A first-of-its-kind project, led by The Australian National University
    (ANU) and funded by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
    Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA), will
    holistically map the resilience of Australias telecommunications
    sector.

    ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt noted that
    telecommunications underpins every other sector in the Australian
    economy, stating, Telecommunications drives economic growth,
    national productivity and innovation and keeps Australians connected
    to each other and the world.

    When telecommunications and digital services go down, Australia and
    Australians grind to a halt.

    The 201920 bushfires, the pandemic, floods and cyber incidents are
    just a few examples of recent events that have tested the resilience
    of the sector, said project lead Professor Johanna Weaver, Director
    of the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre.

    The project will provide an independent evidence base to inform
    future Australian government decisions, he said. It will provide
    a valuable evidence base to increase the resilience of Australias
    telecommunications sector as a whole. It will be an invaluable tool
    for individual firms to prepare their own risk and resilience plans.

    Australias communications networks have stood up well to the
    unprecedented challenges thrown at them in recent years by natural
    and malevolent threats, he said.

    Telco carriers have strengthened key network infrastructure and
    backup capabilities and improved coordination with emergency
    authorities and key stakeholders such as the energy industry.

    The work being led by ANU experts will, we believe, add value to
    that vital ongoing mission.

    criticalcomms.com.au/content/industry/news/project-to-map-australia-s-telecommunications-resilience-1386986113


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2022
    --------------


    10 METER CONTEST - ARRL SPONSORED

    For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
    stations as possible on the 10 meter band.

    THIS WEEKEND FOLKS! (December 10-11).

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    --------------
    --------------

    NOW LETS LOOK THROUGH THE DX WINDOW, STARTING WITH THE RETURN OF
    "12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECIAL EVENT."

    If you're counting down the days until Christmas, here's a little
    help with counting things down. Just count to twelve - for the
    return of the popular 12 Days of Christmas Special Event.
    Mike Askins KE 5 CXP from ARNewsLine tells us how to get in on the
    action.


    "Is that a partridge in the pear tree, or did someone just hang a
    dipole in its place? And are those nine drummers really drumming....
    or are they actually DXing?

    With the return of the 12 Days of Christmas Special Event this year,
    you just can't be sure what those nine drummers, ten pipers or seven
    swans are up to, but we do know that hundreds of hams around the
    world will be listening for them. Their special-event call signs will
    be on the air for a fourth year starting on December 14th and ending
    on Christmas Day, December 25th.

    Operators will be using CW and SSB and making use of one satellite.
    As in previous years, they will be using 1 x 1 calls that begin with
    either a W or a K -- but this year things will be easier for those
    who wish to rotate their beams:

    The calls will also contain a stroke and the operator's numerical
    call area. So get ready to start listening for all those calling
    birds -- and earn a downloadable certificate to make the season as
    bright as those five golden rings.

    This is Mike Askins KE5CXP.

    -------------------

    Thanks Mike, now the Qatar Amateur Radio Society has been on air with
    nine special event callsigns but they go QRT 18 December after
    celebrating the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

    Look out for Head Quarters Station A 722FWC, as well as eight
    callsigns that contain sequential numbers, from A71FIFA to A78FIFA.
    The stations have been heard and worked on the HF bands and via the
    QO-100 Satellite.

    QSL via the bureau, Logbook of the World or directly.

    -------------------

    During this month the Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club in VK2 are
    celebrating its 40th anniversary with special event callsign VI 2 FG 40.

    Activity will be mainly on 40m SSB.

    A special event station from the club's radio shack at Cataract
    Activity Centre ( QF55js ) will be active for 40 hours on multiple
    bands using SSB and FT8 from 20:00 Friday 9 December to 12:00 Sunday 11
    December AEDT.

    More information can be found on the QRZ page for VI 2 FG 40.


    --------------

    The Special Event Station VI 100 MB will be active during 2023,
    celebrating the centenary of VK2's Manly & District Radio Club.

    (Richard Murnane)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    DEFENCE

    The National Association for Amateur Radio in the USA, (ARRL), the
    Federal Communications Commission granted a waiver allowing amateur
    radio operators to participate in a special event commemorating the
    81st anniversary of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day this week.

    December 6 and 7, ham radio operators made cross band contacts with the
    Battleship IOWA, now moored in the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro,
    California, using the call sign, N E P M.

    Because this was a cross band operation, ARRL reminded participating
    amateur stations to monitor their own transmit frequency, as well as
    the ship stations out-of-band frequency, to protect against
    inadvertently interfering with other amateur communications.

    The waiver included that in addition to the skills gained by amateur
    operators who participate in the event, this specific Remembrance Day
    carried particular importance given the ever-decreasing number of
    World War II veterans able to participate each year.

    National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is commemorated each year on
    December 7th. Iowa was decommissioned in October 1990 and currently
    serves as a museum battleship.

    (arrl)




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/

    The park-fest organising committee is pleased to announce the
    Pilliga park-fest which will be held in the Narrabri to Coonabarabran
    region of NSW on 29 & 30 April 2023.

    What is an Australian park-fest you may be asking?

    A weekend is selected where ham radio operators who enjoy portable
    operations in designated National and State parks come together at a
    regional location where there is a concentration of such parks.

    These parks are activated during the day and then tall stories are
    shared over dinner along with socialising into the evening, usually
    discussing equipment and plans for the next day. It is all about
    enjoying the activity and enjoying the company of like-minded friends.

    The Dorrigo park-fest held last May was a huge success, so we are very
    excited about Pilliaga and we have over 20 confirmed attending.

    The Pilliga pottery Barkala farm stay is the recommended accommodation
    and there are still rooms available along with van and tent sites.

    All ham radio operators are welcome to attend and if you want to get
    involved in park activation programs such as POTA and WWFF what a great
    opportunity to get your feet wet.

    There will be plenty of experienced portable operators who would be
    most happy to assist those who are new to this type of operating.

    For more information search out the Facebook group called
    Pilliga Park-Fest or email Marty VK4KC

    or Alan VK2MET whose emails are on our QRZ.com pages.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    SpaceMobile has reached a milestone in its mission to build the first
    and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly
    with standard mobile phones, having successfully completed deployment
    of its test satellite and communications array, BlueWalker 3 (BW3),
    in orbit.

    The goal of the network is to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by
    todays five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to
    the billions who remain unconnected.

    BW3 is being billed as the largest ever commercial communications array
    deployed in LEO, spanning 64.38 m2 in size a design feature critical
    to support a space-based cellular broadband network with an expected
    field of view of over 776,996 km2 on the surface of the Earth. It is
    designed to communicate directly with cellular devices via 3GPP
    standard frequencies at 5G speeds, testing the technologies that
    AST SpaceMobile will need for its planned commercial service.

    criticalcomms.com.au say the satellite comprises a large, flat, thin
    array built from identical components called Microns; solar cells
    collect energy on one side, and on the other side, many small antennas
    form a phased array. These antennas work together to form tight
    communications beams, which are an efficient way to push a strong
    signal from space to Earth. These beams of coverage are similar to
    those created by a terrestrial cell tower, and should help ordinary
    phones see BW3 without any modifications. The array can also hear
    mobile phone signals hundreds of kilometres away.

    (criticalcomms . com .au)




    Humans have left a lot of stuff in space.

    There is so much stuff that space junk has become a serious problem.

    Much of it is defunct satellites in orbits high enough that they can't
    simply fall back down to Earth. But just because a satellite has died,
    dont think it's all over. Six of them have demonstrated that,
    sometimes, satellites can spontaneously and unexpectedly come back to
    life.

    These revenant spacecraft orbiting our planet are known as
    zombie satellites.

    Among the record-holders for the longest gap between communications,
    there's AMSAT-OSCAR 7. Launched in 1974, this was an amateur radio
    satellite that operated for 7 years. In 1981, a battery failure put an
    end to its mission -- but 21 years later, 2002, the satellite started
    communicating again. Amateur radio operators have actually played a big
    role in all this, and one among them, Scott Tilley, in particular.

    He's responsible for receiving communications from the Lincoln
    Experimental Satellite, LES-5, originally launched in 1967 by the
    US Air Force, back in 2020. It only works when the solar panels are
    getting sunlight. A couple of years before that, he was able to find
    the IMAGE satellite, another zombie satellite that had been "lost" by
    NASA in 2005.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    HAPPY ENDING FOR PRODUCER OF HAM RADIO DOCUMENTARY

    Sometimes the best movies are the ones in which it's impossible to
    guess the ending. This report tells us about one such movie, a
    documentary, and the student filmmaker who created it.

    Amateur Radio NewsLine's Ralph Squillace KK 6 ITB brings us her
    story.

    The 30-minute documentary that made its TV premiere on Montana
    Public Broadcasting on Thanksgiving Day was a production by Grace
    Wolcott, a University of Montana student working with Media Arts
    students at the school. The film has a one-word title: "Ham."
    Grace told NewsLine it was inspired by a class assignment and in
    part by the small portable shortwave radio she listens to. It's the
    story of Montana's ham radio community and the reason for radio
    operators' devotion.

    She called the documentary a learning experience with everyone
    willing to work outside their comfort zones. Grace was producer,
    director and assistant editor. The production also offered moments of
    radio magic. In one of her favourite moments, the crew was interviewing
    a ham in his shack when another ham could be heard on the air -- and
    then there was yet another. A QSO got under way and each learned that
    they'd all been interviewed for Grace's film. Grace told NewsLine:

    [quote]

    "I felt in that moment, even if this documentary isn't a masterpiece
    or nobody sees it, I am glad that, just like amateur radio, we are
    bringing people together."

    [endquote]

    So can you guess the ending? Grace, who aspires to be an independent
    filmmaker, now has another goal. She wants to become a ham. She's
    already studying with the help of Lance Collister, W7GJ, the amateur
    seen in the opening scenes of the film. She said: "Everyone I met in
    the community is patiently waiting for me to get my license and I will
    not let them down!"

    She gets her diploma at the end of this semester and hopes to get on
    the air next year.

    This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.


    If you ]'d like to see Grace's documentary, it's available on the
    Montana PBS website. See the link in the text version of this week's
    News, wia.org.au

    montanapbs.org/programs/ham/





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FAITH.

    Using Ham Radio on The Farm

    Ham radio, a practical and useful tool for an intentional community.

    The folks at The Farm, as described on the back of the QSL card
    the Radio Crew sends out is a religious community of 800 people in
    southern Tennessee the largest and most successful beatnik community
    in the world and is self-supporting.

    motherearth.com reported way back in 1974 on Ham Radio and The Farm and
    noted The Farms members started their journey on and off air in 1971
    on their 1,700 acres in Summertown, and as Albert ( WB 4 BWR ) says
    It looks like were here to stay.

    The communitys first major use of radio was to keep in touch with its
    rock group, The Farm Band, which tours all over the USA. This is
    especially important for Ina May The Farms head midwife who travels
    with the band and uses its ham rig to talk with the other midwives
    back home. The Summertown gang also has a Windmill Crew working on the
    development of a low-cost, dependable home lighting system, and
    Albert is active in the Saturday morning Alternative Sources of Energy
    Net.

    Now this story , from the publication mother earth news dot com has
    a couple of frequencies and times for the net:-
    9:00 a.m. CDT on 7245 kHz
    8:30 a.m. EDT on 7233 kHz.

    The Tennessee community radio hams were/are:

    William (K4IAP), Gary (WA4ZDX), William (WN4GFE) and Patrick (WA4GFI).
    And the radio crew is growing theres two more who just took their
    tests two weeks ago. Thatll bring the total up to seven hams on
    The Farm. PLUS they are setting up an SSTV [slow-scan television] rig
    so maybe well be seeing them soon.

    ( motherearth.com and hamradiodaily.com )




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota

    Youth-operated stations around the world are part of a special event
    celebrating youth in amateur radio during the month of December.

    Amateur radio operators age 25 and younger are on the air as special
    event stations around the world throughout December in celebration of
    youth in amateur radio. YOTA Month stations are on all bands and modes
    at various times.

    QSL and award information is at the link we like in this weeks text edition of WIA National News , wia.org.au

    http://events.ham-yota.com.

    Over in the United States this year, callsigns on air now are
    once again K8Y, K8O, K8T, and K8A. Argentina has been heard active
    as LR 1 YOTA, Canada as VC 3 YOTA and VB 7 YOTA, El Salvador YS 1 YOTA,
    and Honduras as HQ 2 YOTA.

    In the UK, the RSGB will be hosting GB 22 YOTA on Saturday 17 December
    as part of YOTA Month.

    Now we may be here in VK Land, but, amateur radio operators here should
    be listening for and contacting these stations as well as all
    callsigns ending in the letters YOTA across the globe.

    Last year, we younger hams worldwide surpassed our goal of 100,000 QSOs
    in the month of December with a final tally of 119,516.

    Overlapping with YOTA month is round 3 of the YOTA Contest, which is
    on 30th December 2022 from 1200 to 2359 UTC.

    More information about YOTA Month, specifically in the Americas,
    can be found at YouthOnTheAir.org

    To find just active YOTA stations on DXSummit, use the following URL
    dxsummit.fi/#/?dx_calls=%25YOTA

    (icqpodcast)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    The Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) celebrated its
    75th anniversary last Monday, December 5.

    Founded in 1947, QCWA's mission includes promoting "friendship and
    cooperation among Amateur Radio (Wireless) operators who were licensed
    as such at least a quarter of a century ago."

    QCWA is hosting the members-only Worked 75/75 Members Contest from
    December 5, 22, through February 18, 23. The contest encourages
    QCWA members to contact a minimum of 75 QCWA members during the
    contest period. All contest entrants will receive a special certificate
    and additional information is available at the link we like in this
    weeks WIA National News.

    qcwa.org/1-worked-75-75-members-contest.htm

    (hamradiodaily.com)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*









    2023 Social Scene


    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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
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    callbacks@wia.org.au











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    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
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    Remember the sooner you submit material the more the
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    Each recorded item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple
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    Promote your local rebroadcast; details on
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    A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't
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    WIA will put your supporters 'goods' in this text edition
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want
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    unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au
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    Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Dec 15 15:31:56 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-12-18.mp3
    Text edition:


    2022 DECEMBER 18 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 DECEMBER 18 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    ( 1937 in a mention we've come across relating to weekly
    broadcasts of information prepared by VK4 was a plea to
    restart the weekly news service which was on air in the
    late 1920's )

    JOINING US THIS WEEK:-

    John Seamons, VK3JLS, from the National Inwards QSL Bureau.

    Scott Williams, VK3KJ, WIA President

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS 30 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.


    Although announcing as retiring from ARISS co-ordinator
    for Australia maybe 3 years ago Tony VK5ZAI remained an
    "Amateur Radio on the International Space Station volunteer.
    That is until this week when after some 62 years as a licensed
    ham Tony has retired -- officially from ARISS.

    Tony, VK5ZAI was awarded, back in 2020, the AM (Member of the Order
    of Australia.)

    Yes after 30 years being involved with manned space flight Tony
    VK5ZAI has retiried. He said It's with a lot of happy thoughts
    and some sadness that Im retiring from ARISS. I have had a
    wonderful life and a very supportive family but unfortunately at
    83 years old my health has been failing and I feel it's time now to
    go out on a high rather than continue and mess up a telebridge. I
    can't imagine a better group to ever work with than ARISS, over the
    years they have been like a big international family.

    Tony received his amateur license in 1960 and tracked his first
    satellite, Oscar 3 in 1965 then later the high altitude sats, AO-10,
    AO-13, AO-40 and many others over the years

    It's 30 years since his first voice contact with manned space flight,
    it took place on 15. Oct. 1992 and he did his first school linkup
    between Alex Serebrov on MIR and the Loxton High School on 27.Aug.
    1993 followed by several more school linkups and many more personal
    crew contacts between Andy Thomas and his father when he flew on Mir
    in 1998.

    MIR was de-commissioned in March 2001

    In 1999 Tony Hutchison was one of the founders of a new group called
    ARISS, Amateur Radio on International Space Station, formed to
    stimulate the minds of students in the fields of science and
    engineering and working in conjunction with NASA. This was achieved
    by students around the world being able to speak to the crews on the
    ISS via amateur radio and ask them questions.

    Tony was selected by NASA as one of 12 amateur stations world wide
    to achieve this. He held the positions of Telebridge operator,
    School engineering support, School mentor, Audio distribution Group
    and Radio contact Moderator.

    During the 30 years Tony has been involved with setting up radio
    contacts with many countries around the world totaling 1,504
    schools and educational groups including 77 Australian schools to
    date involving over 100,000 students

    In 2006 he received an Engineering Award from The Johnson Space
    Centre

    In 2009 he received the WIA Chris Jones Award for his work with
    ARISS

    In 2020 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) by the
    Queen for his services to education and space communications over
    thirty years.

    Tony has been given full privileges to the ARISS operations schedule
    for as long as he wants for his untiring work over the years.


    In a letter following the resignation, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO the
    ARISS International Chair wrote..


    Dear Tony,

    For over 30 years, you have been a rock. A solid, steady presence
    in human spaceflight amateur radio that is highly respected. The
    likable, go-to person to astronauts and cosmonauts. They might not
    know our ARISS name. But they do know and appreciate that Tony in
    Australia helped them during their stay in space. Several have
    commemorated your support to them with a personal visit.

    While we all hate to admit it, there comes a time when change is
    inevitable. I respect you for staying on longer when you stated you
    planned to retire several years ago. While I am super sad to see it
    happen, I respect you for ending your telebridge support on a high
    note.

    No question---we will keep you in all the ARISS systems. You are
    welcome to be involved in anything you wish. If you think of
    something new that you want to engage in, let me know. You might
    want to do something different and vitally important, like archiving
    your ARISS/Mir/SAREX achievements, audio clips and/or developing a
    personal oral history of your human spaceflight career. Or you might
    even want to help us do an oral/team history project with all your
    great ARISS friends. What ever your passion moving forward, the
    door is open. Or if you just want to quietly listen in, we will
    respect that too.

    Please, keep in touch.

    Your lifelong friend,

    Frank KA3HDO
    ARISS-USA Executive Director
    ARISS International Chair
    ISS Ham Radio Program Manager ________________________________________________________________________________

    Another letter came from Charlie, AJ9N, School technical support and
    ARISS Ops Webpage Manager

    Hi all,

    Tony is the absolute best and he has helped ARISS in ways that we
    will never know. His station is something that I know everyone
    would love to have. Tony, I know we are going to miss you from the
    daily ARISS operations. Please stay in touch.

    73,
    Charlie , AJ9N
    School technical support
    ARISS Ops Webpage Manager

    As I sometimes am able to say "Well Done That Man".. Graham
    VK4BB WIA News Editor


    ===================================================================

    In other news from Australia David Christmas VK4DC has a beacon
    operating from Mt Morgan and hopefully shortly David or someone
    he nanages to "arm twist" hihi will give National and QNEWS that
    story in detail.

    ===================================================================


    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hi there, this is WIA Director and President Scott WilliamsVK3KJ
    and its my pleasure to appear on todays broadcast on behalf of the
    WIA Board.

    Who can believe that Christmas is nearly upon us, and I dont know
    about you, but I am certainly looking forward to the Christmas / New
    Year break and what a year it has been.

    COVID continues to hamper us across the nation, we have the very sad
    geopolitical tensions with the Ukraine and Russia war, escalating
    cost of goods, inflation and interest rate pressures, skills and
    labour shortages, natural disasters which seem to be more frequent
    and all on the back of a change of government federally. In fact,
    its been a turbulent year on so many fronts and I cannot personally
    ever remember a time or period like this.

    At the WIA, it been a progressive year as of course we just completed
    the mammoth task of our detailed submission and response to the ACMA
    Class Licence and Considerations for Higher Power Operation. I once
    again want to thank the WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee for their
    tireless work, but I also want to thank the broader amateur radio
    community. With over 600 responses to the survey and a considerable
    number of non-members participating, it demonstrates the trust that
    is shown towards the WIA to advocate on behalf of the amateur radio
    community on these important matters.

    On another note, the WIA office will close shortly for the Christmas
    / New Year period and there are some important dates to remember.
    The office will close from Thursday 22 December and will not re-open
    to Monday 9th January 2023. It will then close again on Friday 13th
    January and will then re-open again on Monday 30th January. We will
    be back for a week to make sure we get all those orders out and
    attend to any matters.
    It is important to note that if you want to order anything at all
    from the WIA including our new updated foundation manual, the last
    day orders will be taken this year is next Wednesday. We will then
    despatch any orders the following day, Thursday 22nd December.

    On behalf of the Board, I want to thank all members of the WIA for
    your support throughout the year. A special call out to all the WIA
    Affiliated Clubs and volunteers that support the WIA. There are so
    many volunteers behind the scenes that there are just way too many
    people to mention, but I want to say to you Graham, thank you for
    bringing us this broadcast week after week.

    We will even be brining you a broadcast next Sunday on Christmas Day,
    presented by the Ladies of ALARA.

    To everyone listening, a Very Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and
    prosperous new year to one and all on behalf of the WIA Board.

    Thats it for me this year and make sure you get on air over the
    Christmas / New Year period, there is always someone to work on some
    band or mode.

    Best Wishes.

    WIA President
    Scott VK3KJ

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    OPERATIONAL NEWS

    --------------

    During this month the Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club in VK2 are
    celebrating its 40th anniversary with special event callsign VI 2 FG 40.

    Activity will be mainly on 40m SSB.

    More information can be found on the QRZ page for VI 2 FG 40.

    --------------

    WILLIS ISLAND, VK9/W.

    Sands, VU2WXW/VK4WXW, is working at the Meteorology Weather Station
    until April. He has been heard on 40, 20 and 15 meters and hopes to
    add 17, 12 and 10 meters as well.

    QSL via Club Log.

    (eHam)


    --------------


    ANTARCTICA, VP8 region.

    Seba, SQ 1 SGB will be operating as VP8/SQ1SGB/p during his spare
    time, until February 1, 2023.

    He is QRV on 40 and 20 meters using SSB and FT8.

    QSL via EB7DX.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    Look for Giorgio, 5UA99WS, who will be on the air from Niger until
    the 23rd of December.

    He will be on 15 and 20 metres using SSB when time permits.
    QSL via his LoTW manager, IK 5 SRF.


    ----------------------------------------


    Be listening for Joe, VE3BW, operating from Costa Rica as TI7/VE3BW
    between December 23rd and January 4th.

    He will be on the air on 160-6m, using CW, SSB and FT8.

    See his page on QRZ.com for details.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    Hi, this is John Seamons, VK3JLS, from the National Inwards QSL Bureau.

    Following a recent call for volunteers for the position of the VK4 QSL
    Manager, I am pleased to say that we received a number of expressions of
    interest for that role, with each applicant then being asked to provide a
    supporting statement addressing the duties and requirements of the position.

    After assessing each of the statements received, the WIA Board this week
    approved the recommendation that Laurie Pritchard, VK4BLE, be appointed as
    the VK4 QSL Manager.

    Laurie has been a licensed amateur for 40 years, is a life member of the
    Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club, and had previously held the position of
    the VK4 Inwards and Outwards QSL Manager for a period of 12 years. Laurie's
    past experience in this position will provide for an easy transition into
    the role once again.

    Laurie should hit the ground running, as the backlog of VK4 QSL cards
    currently held in the National Bureau will be in the mail to VK4 this week.

    On behalf of the WIA, I express my thanks to the number of individuals, and
    Radio Clubs, within VK4 who responded to my call for volunteers, and were
    prepared to put themselves forward to help keep the WIA QSL Bureau process
    flowing.





    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    RADIO - something that doesnt cease to seem indistinguishable from
    magic.. even if you do understand it!

    And now the magic of radio is to be immortalised.

    For years the Internet Archive has provided the online community
    with a breathtaking collection of resources, out of print books,
    magazines, recordings, software, and any other imaginable digital
    asset in easily retrievable form. Now with the help of a grant from
    the Amateur Radio Digital Communications Foundation they are seeking
    to create a collection that documents amateur radio from its earliest
    days to the present. Yes, Internet Archive has begun gathering
    content for the Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications
    (DLARC).

    tinyurl.com/26xkhh4a

    The work will be multi-faceted, and include the print and digital
    materials wed expect, as well as personal archives and oral
    histories from notable radio amateurs. For many of us this will
    provide a wealth of technical details and insights into taming the
    ionosphere, but for future historians it will be an invaluable
    reference on the first century of the hobby.

    Amateur radio is perhaps the oldest hardware hacking pursuit of the
    electronic age, because certainly at the start, radio was electronics
    thus amateur radios long history has indirectly given us many of the
    things we take for granted today. Sure it has its moribund aspects,
    but if it continues to follow the growth of new technology as it has
    for so many years it will continue to be an exciting pursuit.

    We look forward to browsing this archive, and we hope to see it grow
    over the years.





    REGION ONE

    RSGB CREATES SOCIAL DIVERSITY POST

    There's so much more to amateur radio than just the technical and
    scientific side of things. The Radio Society of Great Britain is
    looking for someone to help address an important social concern.

    Jeremy Boot G4NJH speaking on ARNewsLine said the RSGBritain is
    creating the volunteer position of social diversity officer to help
    the board address inclusion and diversity within the ranks of amateur
    radio and the society itself. Some of the new officer's tasks will
    include helping boost society membership but will also focus on
    encouraging hams of all ages and backgrounds to get their licence.

    The RSGB is hoping that through creation of this new position the
    society can complement the work of the RAIBC, the Radio Amateur
    Invalid and Blind Club, which serves radio amateurs and shortwave
    listeners with disabilities.




    The Alexanderson alternator transmitter is the only remaining example
    of early pre-electronic radio transmitter technology. The station,
    built 1922 - 1924, has been preserved as a historical site.

    From the 1920s through the 1940s, it was used to transmit telegram
    traffic by Morse code and during World War II was Sweden's only
    telecommunication link with the outside world.

    On Christmas Eve morning, December 24, this year the Alexander
    Grimeton Friendship Association, in southern Sweden will be on the
    air sending out a special Christmas message to the world.

    The event will begin at 07:30 UTC with the start-up and tuning of the
    Alexanderson alternator transmitter through Grimeton Radio Station,
    call sign SAQ. The transmission will begin 08:00 UTC with the
    98-year-old 200 kW Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz CW.

    Grimeton Ham Radio Station, SK 6 SAQ, will be QRV on the
    frequencies

    3.535 MHz CW
    7.035 MHz CW
    14.035 MHz CW

    and SSB

    3.755 MHz
    7.140 MHz

    The event will be live streamed on the Alexander SAQ Grimeton
    Friendship Association YouTube Channel.

    tinyurl.com/ek79mh9b

    More information about the December 24 Christmas Eve event and the
    transmitter can be found at the Grimeton Radio Station website.

    grimeton.org/





    REGION TWO

    STAMP COLLECTING GETS HOLIDAY SPIRIT FROM HAMS

    The charitable spirit of amateur radio has always extended past
    direct involvement with radio activity. Over in the US, one club in
    Pennsylvania is looking for amateurs' assistance in a project that
    members have been committed to for a number of years.

    Now if you're starting to receive Christmas cards from friends or
    eagerly awaiting the arrival of direct QSL cards from those treasured
    DX contacts Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club, WM3PEN, in Philadelphia
    are asking one more thing of you:

    Save those stamps.

    Hams in the Pennsylvania club support the "Stamps for the Wounded"
    program, which accepts donations of stamps from around the world for
    use in occupational therapy programs in convalescent centres and
    hospitals where veterans are receiving treatment.

    Stamps should have around a couple of centimetres margin around them
    and should not be removed from the original envelopes on which they
    are sent. The program, which was established in 1942 to encourage
    stamp collecting among the nation's military veterans who were at
    various stages of recovery.

    The program has more details on its website

    stampsforthewounded.org




    An influential lawmaker in the USA has joined the push to talk
    automakers out of eliminating broadcast AM radio in new cars.

    Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has asked the car companies to
    respond in writing about their intentions regarding AM and FM radio.

    He acknowledges electric vehicles can cause electromagnetic
    interference with AM signals but encouraged carmakers to pursue some
    of the remedies they have devised.

    The car companies include General Motors, Jaguar, Kia, BMW and
    American Honda.





    REGION THREE

    IARU R3 YOTA Camp is scheduled for October/November 2023 in Thailand.
    The Thailand host society, RAST, says it will issue invitations to
    participate in Region 3 YOTA Camp by the end of March next year!


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    MEDIA WATCH


    SHORTWAVE GIANT WTWW GOES OFF THE AIR

    Shortwave station WTWW has gone QRT. Andy Morrison K 9 AWM has details.

    "Shortwave fans worldwide were disappointed to hear the November
    9 broadcast announcement of WTWW radio that it was signing off the
    air for the last time, with plans to continue to provide programming
    instead over the internet. The station's operator Ted Randall, WB8PUM,
    cited difficulties in meeting the station's ongoing expenses.

    Based in Tennessee, WTWW provided a wide range of programming at
    5.83 MHz along with music and amateur-radio content at 5.085 MHz.

    The station was among many to broadcast programming directed toward
    Ukraine following the invasion by Russia earlier this year.

    The station went on the air in 2010 as the 100-kilowatt operation
    WBWW and could be heard first on what were testing frequencies of
    5.755 MHz and 9.48 MHz at different times. Over the years, WTWW gained
    an especially strong following among amateur radio operators for
    carrying ham-related content. The station also featured program hosts
    such as Art Bell, W6OBB, who presented a popular show on the
    paranormal.

    According to the SWListening Post, the station's final signoff
    included a farewell from Ted that urged listeners to make the move to
    web-streaming its content. The station's final song was "America the
    Beautiful."

    By virtue of its station call, WTWW was also known as "We Transmit
    World Wide."

    To continue hearing the station's streamed programs, follow the link
    in the text version of this week's script"

    [ wtww.us/pages/listen-live.php }

    ARNEWSLINE

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    BALLOONING

    A SOUTH POLE 'FIRST' FOR AMATEUR RADIO BALLOON

    When the high altitude balloon transmitting KM4ZIA, the amateur
    radio call sign of 15-year-old Jack McElroy, was launched recently
    in Antarctica, it became part of atmospheric work being done by
    University of Alabama researcher, Todd McKinney KN4TPG.

    Instead of just helping build mathematical models of the atmosphere,
    however, Jack's balloon soon embarked on an incredible journey.
    A little more than a week later, its navigational equipment began to
    spit out a series of error messages on 20 meters. One observer in
    the US, however, realized that nothing was REALLY wrong. He knew, in
    fact, that something remarkable was happening.

    Family friend and high-altitude balloon expert, Bill Brown, WB8ELK,
    knew Jack's solar-powered balloon was a short distance from the
    South Pole. Mapping systems could no longer determine its position
    from data being sent on 20 meters because of the densely spaced
    lines of longitude there at the end of the Earth.

    Jack's father, Tom McElroy, W4SDR, told NewsLine in a phone
    interview:

    [quote]

    "This is the closest any amateur radio balloon has come to the
    South Pole."

    [endquote]

    Tom said Bill phoned the family home in Georgia that morning from
    Huntsville, Alabama, on December 1st, and said Jack's balloon had
    literally gone off the map. Tom broke the news to an astonished Jack
    on the way to school. He said Jack had quite a story for his science
    teacher that day.

    (Amateur Radio NewsLine)


    You can track Jack's balloon at aprs.fi, using his call sign KM4ZIA.

    This isn't Jack's first balloon, either. He has launched several
    over the years, including two years at Youth on the Air Camp, in a
    team effort with his sister, Audrey McElroy, KM4BUN, who is this
    year's 2022 Amateur Radio NewsLine Young Ham of the Year.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- BEACONS

    A new improved 10 mtr beacon is operating on 28.285 from Mt MORGAN
    This is operated by VK4DC.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Amateur Radio Mission to the Moon not lost

    OMOTENASHI, the project of the JAXA Ham Radio Club, was a secondary
    payload aboard NASA's Artemis 1 mission. It was planned to land a
    70cm band beacon protected inside a soft pouch on the surface of the
    moon.

    The ham radio club's website for JAXA, Japan's Aerospace Exploration
    Agency, reports that orbital errors had resulted in an unstable radio
    signal for its communications.

    global.jaxa.jp/

    The website also reports that the solar cells face away from the sun,
    making it problematic to charge OMOTENASHI's batteries. Thus, as
    we've reported on WIA National News earlier, the lunar landing
    experiment could not be carried out.

    BUT, the opportunity to orbit beyond the moon is valuable. The axis
    of rotation appears stable and the spacecraft will get sunlight when
    the direction of the sun changes next March. Amateurs can receive
    the orbiting module 1 Watt beacon, transmitting
    PSK31 Sync Word C1 ASCII code
    with a medium to high gain linear polarisation antenna on 437.31 MHz.

    Pointing the antenna is simple: Aim for the Moon!

    (IRTS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    At the height of the Falklands war IN 1982, the unlikely friendship
    of two amateur radio enthusiasts 8,000 miles apart allowed more than
    50 soldiers the opportunity to get messages home to their loved ones.

    Bob McLeod, a ham radio operator, made history when he broke the
    news to the world that the Falklands had been invaded but, in doing
    so, he had also drawn the attention of the Argentines, who were quick
    to confiscate his equipment.

    On 29 May 1982, 2 PARA have just fought to take Goose Green, freeing
    more than 100 villagers who had been held captive in a hall for
    almost seven weeks.

    Alan Bullock was the Forward Observation Officer of D Company,
    2 PARA and, while walking through the main street of Goose Green,
    spotted an antenna on a house belonging to Bob.

    "So, I knock on the door and say 'hello... is there any chance you
    are a radio amateur?' "He said 'yes... but the Argentinians took my
    transmitter and smashed it up'." "All I have is an old 50W amplifier."

    As Forward Observation Officer, Alan had his state-of-the-art at the
    time, military clansman radio, which although only 20 watts for
    communicating over short distances, could be combined with the hams
    amp and large antenna system.

    In order to get messages back to the UK, Bob made contact with
    John Wright, a radio amateur in Oxford who he had been chatting to
    over the airwaves for many years. Together Bob and John devised a
    cryptic code for their conversation and each transmitted on
    different frequencies, in case anyone was listening.

    Word quickly got around the troops and soon it wasn't just D Company's
    families Bob and John were contacting. Before long, there was a
    queue outside Bob's door, with each message always the same

    'I am safe'.

    (eHam)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota

    December YOTA Month is rapidly coming to a close so I thought
    it may be time for Fun Fact Sunday

    Do you know where the term HAM comes from?

    Some believe that it comes from the first letters of the last names
    of well-known electricity/radio scientists, namely Hertz, Armstrong,
    and Marconi.

    Or that it originates from a little station called HAM at Harvard.

    Even to founder of ARRL, HirAM maxim percy

    However, the truth is that originally, HAM was used as a pejorative
    term by professional radio operators to describe amateur ones. This
    comes from the American saying ham-fisted, which means clumsy and
    incompetent.

    Thankfully, instead of getting discouraged by the professionals,
    many radio amateurs decided to embrace the name and started proudly
    calling themselves the HAMs.

    So, from one HAM to another, it's back to you Bruce.




    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

    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    HONK IF YOU LIKE MORSE.

    Recognizing a snippet of Morse code made all the difference when a
    delivery driver went above and beyond her duty.

    Sam Speechley sprang into action when she heard someone in distress
    tap out what sounded like SOS on their car horn. When she went to
    investigate she found 90-year-old Keith Turner who'd slipped on the
    driveway of his home and had broken his hip. He had managed to drag
    himself to the car so he could sound the alarm.

    Keith, who's now back home after spending three weeks in hospital,
    said: "Sam saved my life, she really did, and I can't thank her
    enough. I'd been laying there in the rain and cold for half an hour
    and if she hadn't come along when she did I don't think I'd have
    made it.

    She's a Godsend.

    (EHAM)




    View Royal is a town in Greater Victoria and a member municipality
    of the Capital Regional District of British Columbia, Canada.

    View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias has just made one of, he said, his easiest
    decision, that of approving the merger of emergency radio teams
    operating in both Royal View and neighbouring Colwood. He said his
    previous military background emphasized the importance of
    communication efficiency, hence the merger.

    Its a win-win for both municipalities, said View Royal
    Fire Rescue Chief Paul Hurst. Disasters dont have municipal
    boundaries, so if we need assistance, its better to have one team
    serving both municipalities.

    The merger means the emergency radio team will benefit from having a
    single leader while effectively doubling the number of volunteers and
    equipment available to each municipality, Hurst said.

    The fire service relies on the Capital Region Emergency Service
    Telecommunications network day to day, and the emergency radio
    operators use their own amateur radio systems, so if we lose our
    cell towers in a disaster and lose our CREST system with it, then
    this group of Radio Amateurs become our lifeline.

    In a disaster, the ham radio emergency teams staff radio rooms in
    both fire departments and become the main form of communication
    for the departments, both internally, between each other and even
    between other agencies and governments across the province.

    tinyurl.com/3vvbaet6

    (saanich news)







    2023

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)








    Submitting news items

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    We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 mts in
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    A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't
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    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

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    nationalnews@wia.org.au

    Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers
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    Who and where are they?
    wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
    Promote your local rebroadcast; details on
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    The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of
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    in Australia and the globe.

    We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
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    Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who
    submit material and do not necessarily reflect those of the
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    How do I join this National News List?
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    Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want
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    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Dec 22 14:22:03 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-12-25.mp3
    Text edition:



    2022 DECEMBER 25 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 DECEMBER 25 2022
    IN OUR 27th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    A HAPPY CHRISTMAS DAY FROM VK1WIA, the WIA and ALARA

    I'm Michelle VK2AYL President of ALARA and joining me on Christmas
    Day is Shirley VK5YL who will be covering the International Desk
    Marija VK5MAZ with the operational news covering contests
    and a look through the "DX Window"
    Linda VK7QP will handle special Interest Group news
    and let's welcome from the States and ARNewsLine Sal Embee KB 3 TZD.
    But joining us now WIA Immediate Past President Greg Kelly VK2GPK.



    Welcome everyone to an entirely ALARA produced edition of the
    WIA News Broadcast. ALARA being the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio
    Association, formed in 1975 with a mission to encourage womens
    interest and active participation in amateur radio.

    After another lap around the sun, we approach the end of another year.
    This year has been another of natural disasters affecting us here in
    the land of drought and flooding rains, this time with catastrophic
    flooding in the eastern states that are still impacting so many.
    These events do, however, highlight the great community spirit as
    volunteers rally to help those in need.

    Overseas, an illegal war demonstrates both the best and worst of
    humanity.

    This year the ACMA (Australian Communication and Media Authority)
    continued their march to Class Licences, with the release of another
    consultation seeking feedback on their intent to move the Amateur
    Service to a class licence, apparently based on a mantra of being
    concerned only with the what not the how. The consultation also
    sought feedback on the basis for a higher power operation, although
    I should note these two topics are quite unrelated apart being
    included in the same consultation. The WIA formed a working group to
    address the issues in this consultation which was due at the end of
    November. The WIA has a firm position on a move to a class licence
    of no disadvantage. I must congratulate the consultation working
    group, led by Peter Young, for a professional and comprehensive
    response that they have formulated which has now been submitted.
    The response addresses all of the identified gaps and disadvantages
    in moving to a class licence. However, the elimination of an
    individual government issued licence poses non-trivial challenges to
    offset - which have been raised by the working group in the WIA
    response. Whilst elimination of individual licences is intrinsic to
    moving to a class licence, it has many consequences that are not
    easily avoided and likely workarounds are far from perfect. Some of
    these are reciprocal licence impacts for Australian Amateurs; state
    based legislation that refers specifically to the possession of a
    licence (such as the 10 metre antenna provisions); issues with
    police stopping and querying mobile amateurs either in vehicles or in
    parks, etc.; transiting customs internationally when in possession
    of transmitting equipment. We have a culture of licensing in
    Australia, a plumber, mechanic or electrician needs to be licensed
    not just qualified. That license and its veracity is on a public
    government register as are Amateur Licences today.

    In discussions with fellow amateurs, there is some confusion as to
    what moving to a class licence entails. It is not, as many
    oversimplify, a free licence it is in fact NO LICENCE. Nor is it
    a pre-requisite to higher power options. Fundamentally, the
    USE CASE for a class licence for the Amateur Service is a poor fit,
    especially given we have a perfectly serviceable Non-assigned
    Apparatus Licence. Akin to putting a square peg in a round hole!

    Quoting directly from an ACMA published document Our approach to
    radiocommunications licensing and allocation Implementing the
    Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation)
    Act 2020 Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Communications and
    Media Authority) 2021.

    It states When class licensing is appropriate -

    Class licences provide for shared use of the spectrum, with minimal
    to no licensing hurdles and no associated regulatory fees for users.
    In other countries this kind of licence is sometimes referred to as
    unlicensed use or a general authorisation.

    Class licensing is useful in authorising the use of spectrum by
    unaware users (end- users who are not necessarily mindful of their
    use of the spectrum) and ubiquitous devices and technologies
    (for example, Wi-Fi), as the general authorisation provided means
    that users do not need to acquire individual licences to operate a
    device.

    Coexistence between devices authorised under a class licence is
    generally based on the device characteristics and is managed in the
    class licence conditions. Although a device operated under a class
    licence is generally not expected to suffer interference, we
    generally have a no protection policy regarding class licensing.

    It is uncommon for us (ed: the ACMA) to clear established users from
    class-licensed spectrum. However, we have previously varied class
    licences to reflect changes in the environment or developments in
    technology by providing additional uses or varied operating
    conditions.

    Finally, it must be understood that moving to Class Licence is a
    really big deal the biggest change in many decades. And if we,
    that is both the Amateur Service and the ACMA, get it wrong it will
    be difficult if not almost impossible to rectify. And as I mentioned
    early there is much confusion about the real-world impacts, so your
    help in making this a topic of discussion at your local club or on
    the air would be appreciated.

    So enough from me, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas,
    Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays and a great new year. And thanks
    again to ALARA for this broadcast maybe this could become a
    regular feature? What do you think?

    This Greg, VK2GPK.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    Welcome to the Christmas Day edition of WIA National News
    Presented by ALARA. Now Shirley VK5YL with
    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    We commence with news from REGION THREE, our own region.

    HAMS HELP RETURN LOST 5-YEAR-OLD TO FAMILY

    A children's game of hide-and-seek at a railway station went very
    wrong in August of 2020, when a 5-year-old girl chose an unfortunate
    spot to hide from her three brothers: a train that pulled out of the
    station shortly afterwards.

    She was eventually able to disembark farther down the line at the
    Kolkata Railway Station but because she spoke only Hindi and not
    Bengali, she could only explain her situation with her tears when
    police found her crying at the station.

    According to a report in the Millennium Post, a year passed in which
    the girl was sent by an NGO to a children's care home and enrolled in
    school. She gained fluency in Bengali and soon became an honours
    student in her class. Unable to track down her parents all this time,
    the administrators of the private home notified the West Bengal
    Radio Club of the girl's predicament, according to Ambarish Nag Biswas,
    VU2JFA. Club members utilised their network of contacts and were able
    to trace her family to a bordering state in eastern India.

    Photographs shared with the family on the WhatsApp mobile platform
    confirmed that this was indeed their missing daughter.

    The little girl went home on Saturday, December 10th.





    REGION TWO

    In the US recently, hams teamed up for a radio activation that turned
    out to be a living museum and a tribute to history.

    Visitors to the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of
    Connecticut were part of a celebration of history taking place, they
    watched and heard as Bob Allison, WB 1 GCM, got on the air using a
    repurposed Gates BC-1-T commercial transmitter using the callsign
    W1VCM/1BCG for AM operation on 75 meters.

    Bob was marking the 101st anniversary of amateur station 1BCG's
    contact with Scotland during the ARRL Transatlantic Test of 1921.
    Bob, president of the museum's amateur radio club, told our good
    friends at Amateur Radio NewsLine:

    [quote]

    "December 11 is a great day to celebrate Amateur Radio, as the day
    marks the many technological successes of the era: CW's efficiency
    and effectiveness over spark, the use of a superheterodyne radio
    receiver, and the directional Beverage Antenna."

    [endquote]

    This year, more modern equipment joined the refurbished Gates
    transmitter during Bob's three-hour activation, which also included
    time spent on 40M and 2M sideband.

    Before he left for the day, Bob made sure he logged one more
    important contact: Bob talked to the museum visitors who'd been
    observing him on the radio to share in the triumph of more than a
    century ago.




    The Question Pool Committee of the National Conference of Volunteer
    Examiner Coordinators has released updated questions for the US
    General Class license exam.

    Quite a few VK hams do sit the US exams from here at home in
    Australia thanks to the VEA ( Volunteer Examiners Australia )

    According to the ARRL, the new pool contains 432 questions to use in
    formulating the Element 3 exam for test sessions held between
    July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2027.

    The new pool has 22 fewer questions than the current one,
    representing 73 questions being dropped and 51 new ones being added.

    The ARRL says the level of difficulty of questions is more balanced,
    and the techniques and practices addressed have been updated.




    Colonel Jerry Wellman, W7SAR Receives Top Honours

    W7SAR served as the Utah Wing Civil Air Patrol commander from
    2009 to 13, served as the emergency services training officer
    for the Salt Lake Senior Squadron, and currently serves as the
    Phoenix Cadet Squadron's assistant officer for communication
    and for education and training.

    At the award ceremony, Colonel Wellman was cited for being
    "active in enhancing his own emergency management professional
    development, while relentlessly contributing to his community."

    He taught emergency management communications classes in Arizona,
    Utah, and Colorado, and chaired the Kearns, Utah, Metro Township
    Emergency Planning Commission.

    Wellman was licensed in 1972 and holds an Amateur Extra-class
    license. He is an ARRL Life Member and a Life Member of REACT
    International.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    Welcome to the Christmas Day edition of WIA National News Presented
    by ALARA. Now Marija VK5MAZ with HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS

    --------------
    CONTEST WISE:- 2023
    --------------

    1 - 31 January Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF DX Contest ( Marathon )

    The contest was established in 1950 to honour the memory of
    the late Ross A. Hull and his pioneering achievements in the
    study of tropospheric propagation and the development of new
    equipment techniques for the higher bands.

    Entrants may operate on every contest day, but the final score
    is based on the best seven days nominated by the entrant.

    For amateurs with limited operating time, there is also a
    "Best 2 Days" section.

    LOGS DUE IN 14th FEBRUARY

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------

    14 - 15 January Summer VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT in VK6 add 3 hours
    onto start and end times.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    26th of January Australia Day Contest

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio Activity around the world
    and is designed to encourage friendly participation and help improve
    the operating skills of participants.

    Amateurs in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs around the
    world. VK operators can use the AX prefix as they celebrate Australia
    Day.

    Scoring is distance based, calculated using 4-character grid squares.

    Contest is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26 January.

    Contest Manager is Alan Shannon VK4SN

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest ( sgars.org )

    --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    BOUVET ISLAND HAMS LAUNCH PROPAGATION POLL

    Few of us need reminders that the Bouvet Island DXpeditioners who'll
    be activating 3 Y J from the remote island are setting sail in
    less than a month.

    The 22-day on-air operation will be trying to log more than 200,000
    QSOs.

    With Bouvet in the number two spot on the DXCC Most Wanted List, this
    is not an impossible goal. While others have activated Bouvet over
    the years, none have approached logging that many QSOs.

    The team is committed to making contacts.

    If you visit the DXpedition website, 3YJ.no you will find a
    propagation poll under the tab labelled "Latest News." This will
    enable interested DXpedition chasers to provide the team with details
    about their station setup, including power and antenna, so that the
    operators can approximate propagation to a certain region based on
    the stations calling them from there.

    (ARNewsLine)

    -------------------

    During this month the Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club in VK2 are
    celebrating its 40th anniversary with special event callsign VI 2 FG 40.

    Activity will be mainly on 40m SSB.

    More information can be found on the QRZ page for VI 2 FG 40.

    --------------

    Be listening for Earl, WA 3 DX operating from Senegal until January
    20th, mainly using FT8.

    He will use his home call with a prefix.

    In Dakar, he will use the prefix 6W1;
    in Mbao, he will use 6W7
    on Kaolack and Saloum Islands (IOTA number AF-045), his prefix will
    be 6W6.

    Send QSL direct to WA3DX or via LoTW.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    Listen for the callsign TN 8 K from the Republic of Congo, activated
    by the C-D-X-P Group.

    The team from the Czech Republic expects to operate between Jan 7 and
    19 on the HF bands from 160m to 6m using CW, SSB, RTTY , FT8, FT4
    and PSK.

    They will also make use of the QO-100 satellite.

    QSL via OK6DJ, OQRS or LOTW.

    (ARNewsLine)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    Welcome to the Christmas Day edition of WIA National News
    Presented by ALARA. Joining us again their President
    Michelle VK2AYL with Wireless Weather and Media Watch


    MEDIA WATCH

    From January 2023, Amateur Radio NSW will be making some changes to
    VK2WI News frequencies starting with 6 metre and 80 metre
    transmissions.

    The 6 metre news bulletins will move to the VK2RWI repeater 53.85MHz,
    and 80 metre transmissions will move up to 3695kHz.

    (vk2wi)




    WIRELESS WEATHER

    The Propagation Horoscope

    Solar Cycle 25 is expected to peak around July 2025, about 32 months
    from now. Looking at current numbers and predictions, it's worth taking
    into account reports from Solar Cycle 19, around 1958, when intense
    solar radiation produced long lasting, worldwide openings on 10m.

    Solar Cycle 19 had by far the highest sunspot number on record.

    HF propagation improves at higher frequencies when X-rays from the Sun
    are more intense, and this is tied to the sunspot numbers, together
    with the Sun's radiation, measured at 28 GHz. This radiation charges
    the ionosphere, increasing density.

    The Australian Space Weather Forecast Centre currently predicts that a
    large mid-latitude coronal hole, helped by some glancing interaction
    of recent CMEs, will cause geomagnetic disturbance. It's too early to
    predict if the expected G1 storm will put a temporary halt to the
    excellent propagation conditions of late, VK/ZL, Asia and Africa
    can be heard on all bands in most of Europe at the moment.

    (Sourced to IRTS)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - SUMMITS ON THE AIR,
    WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM, PARKS ON THE AIR and other
    ADVENTURE GROUPS on CHRISTMAS DAY our presenter from ALARA is
    Linda VK7QP.


    ROMANIAN EVENT MARKS HIKING TRAIL'S INAUGURAL YEAR

    From now through the first half of the new year, amateurs in Romania
    will be celebrating that nation's newest natural resource: a hiking
    trail. No doubt plenty of opportunity to activate summits, parks
    what have you.

    The journey of discovery that comes with hiking along Romania's
    "Via Transilvanica" is an adventure for hikers cyclists and horseback
    riders. It's a 1,400-km trail which had taken four years of
    preparation.

    The journey which marks the trail's inauguration is also one for
    amateur radio operators. Radio Club YO 6 KGS is activating special
    event station YR 1400 VT on the HF bands from now 'til the 30th of
    June 2023. It's a celebration of the long-distance trail that
    Romania sees as its counterpart to the El Camio de Santiago in
    Western Europe. While hikers hope to gain insights into their own
    lives in a natural setting, amateur radio operators and shortwave
    listeners around the world can work towards diplomas at different
    levels according to the number of contacts with other operators, many
    of whom will be young amateurs and members of the YO 6 KGS
    School Radio Club.

    Listen for their call sign on SSB and CW.

    CW speeds will not exceed 14 wpm.

    For details about the rules and awards visit the QRZ.COM page
    and wherever you are, enjoy the journey.

    (ARNewsLine)



    From Romania to France and celebrating the 15th anniversary of
    Summits On The Air France, special callsign TM 15 SOTA is active
    until Friday the 30th of December UTC .
    QSL via eQSL.

    (RSGB)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Cas-5A OSCAR-118

    On December 9th, the CAS-5A satellite was launched on a vehicle from
    the Chinese sea launch platform in the Yellow Sea.

    The Chinese Amateur Satellite Group CAMSAT build is an unusual
    satellite in that it has transponders with a down-link in the
    70cm band and up-links on the 2m VHF and the 15m HF band.

    The novel HF to UHF linear transponder listens between 21.4275 MHz
    and 21.4425 MHz, and that slice of HF spectrum is retransmitted
    between 435.4975 MHz and 435.5125 MHz.

    A CW Beacon transmits 22 wpm on 435.570 MHz.

    At moderate power levels, an HF transmitter and a 21 MHz dipole,
    combined with an outdoor low-gain UHF antenna should be sufficient
    to work OSCAR-118.

    (sourced to IRTS)




    FalconSat-3 is being made available for use for 24 hour periods
    most weekends.

    FalconSAT-3 was built in 2005 and 6 by cadets and faculty in the
    Space Systems Research Centre at the US Air Force Academy in
    Colorado Springs and launched 2007.

    The satellite is decaying, and near re-entry so
    use it while you can!

    Downlink is 435.103 MHz, uplink is at 145.840 MHz.

    The ARS VHF receiver is very sensitive. Modulation is 9600 bps GMSK
    for the uplink and downlink. The broadcast callsign is PFS3-11 and
    BBS callsign is PFS3-12, Unproto APRS via PFS3-1.

    Again we direct all listeners to become readers to get all details
    of all stories brought to you each week in WIA National News.
    Best read at wia.org.au

    (ANS - AMSAT)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org


    A team will be on the air from Lampedusa Island, IOTA number AF-019
    as IG9/S59A from January 23rd to the 31st.

    The operation will focus on the CQWW 160 metre CW contest during the
    last full weekend of January.

    Outside of the contest, be listening on all bands and all modes for
    the prefix IG9 (Eye G Nine) before home calls.

    (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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    DMR RADIO AIDS RESCUERS SEARCHING FOR LOST HIKER

    The lifesaving capabilities of DMR proved useful to a hiker in
    New Hampshire recently. Sel Embee KB3TZD from our sister service in
    the USA has that story.

    SEL: A relaxing day with his dog turned into a dangerous trek for a
    ham who was hiking the trails of central New Hampshire. He had
    become lost -- and the coming sunset and forecast of snow put him in
    even greater danger, especially after the battery in his cell phone
    died. He had been carrying his DMR HT, however, and placed a call for
    help on the state-wide talkgroup using a local repeater.

    Bill Barber, NE 1 B, heard the call and was able to contact the man's
    wife. She notified police who joined firefighters in starting a
    search. Bill also contacted Rick Zach, K 1-RJZ, who knows the area's
    trails. Rick stayed in touch with the lost amateur on the state-wide
    talk group while communicating with the search team.

    At one point, the amateur unintentionally changed channels on his HT
    but another amateur, K 1-MIZ, noticed this and was able to restore
    communications. The ham found his way to a road and was picked up by
    the searchers.

    Skip's story did not identify the ham but wrote that thanks to the
    three amateurs who heard his call on DMR "the wayward ham is going
    to be able to enjoy another Christmas holiday with his family."

    This is Sel Embee, KB 3TZD.

    (ARNewsLine)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota

    An observation:

    When you are an amateur radio operator, it's easy to make someone
    else happy. That's what a retiree in Oregon and a youngster in
    Wisconsin both recently discovered.

    A late November day found Chris Billings, WA7RAR, activating a local
    park near his Oregon home. It was Thanksgiving Day and in a fitting
    mood for the US holiday, Chris was grateful to find 10 meters open.
    He decided to call CQ on that small portion of the band where
    Technician class operators can legally operate SSB on HF, hoping to
    give newcomers a chance to work him.

    A young voice emerged from the pileup:

    It was Bennett Bachman, KD9WCG, age 10.

    Chris learned that this was an especially happy moment for the new
    ham. This was only his second QSO on 10 meters.

    Chris mailed Bennett a QSL card along with a note that he wasn't
    expecting Bennett to respond, especially if he had no QSL cards of
    his own yet.

    On December 8th, it was Chris' turn to have a happy moment: something
    from Bennett arrived - a handmade QSL card. Bennett designed the
    cards himself, sending one to Chris and the other to his first 10m
    contact, Gordon West, WB6NOA.

    His first contact was a joyful moment too because Bennett had
    studied for his license using Gordon's Technician guide.

    Bennett is now trying to start a ham radio club at school and is
    studying for his General class license so he can be less dependent
    on 10m band openings.

    Chris, however, is glad Bennett found him on that 10m opening on
    Thanksgiving Day. Posting on Facebook, he publicly thanked Bennett
    for the handcrafted card, adding

    [quote]

    "I love to find cards in my mailbox and this is certainly one of the
    special ones!"

    [endquote]

    (ARNewsLine)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    Social Scene 2023

    VK2 - Central Coast Amateur Radio Club will NOT run "Mayham" in 2023;
    the event group are refocusing and re-aligning the direction of
    the event, and hope to return it in 2024. (vk2wi)



    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)




    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)

    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
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    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
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Dec 29 14:31:21 2022
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-01-01.mp3
    Text edition:




    2023 JANUARY 1 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 JANUARY 01 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    JOINING US THIS WEEK WILL BE WIA DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY PETER CLEE:-

    PLUS MANY MORE IN THIS 30 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

    AND IN BREAKING NEWS:-


    YAESU BOWS OUT

    Yaesu have informed that the production of the FT-818ND and
    FTM-400XDR will be discontinued. They are forced to make this
    decision due to difficulty with availability of some components.

    (ARNewsLine)



    Won't you fly with me?

    The Ham Radio payloaded balloon callsign W5KUB-112 has been in flight
    for 202 days. Keep on the lookout for it. The 32 inch clear balloon
    was manufactured by Japanese speacalist balloon company ' Yokohama'.

    If you are aiming at tracking make sure you have correct call
    IT ENDS WITH -112. It is just one of 4 different balloons callsign
    W5KUB in flight. Including the 2 we mentioned in the last couple of
    weeks launched from Antartica (-114 and -115)

    http://ham-tv.com/balloon/




    WE HAVE TO 'HARP' ON THIS

    "Ping" Wait 2 seconds.
    "Ping" Wait 2 seconds
    "Ping".

    That's what ham radio operators heard mid week when they received
    HAARP's radar transmission to asteroid 2010 XC15. The unusual pulsing
    signal at 9.6 MHz. was HAARP, pinging the asteroid.

    "The signal was heard from New Mexico to here in Australia, 9.600 MHz
    and 9.585 MHz pulsing every 2 seconds."

    This recording, received by Aub McKibben of Adelaide VK5.

    "Ping" Wait 2 seconds.
    "Ping" Wait 2 seconds
    "Ping".

    (spaceweather.com)



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    Peter VK8ZZ reports:-

    Broadcast listeners will recall that WIA President Scott Williams
    VK3KJ in the WIA Board Comment on December 18 noted that the WIA had
    recently completed our very detailed submission and response to the
    Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Class Licence
    consultation including the matter of consideration for Higher Power
    Operation by Radio Amateurs in Australia.

    Scott thanked the WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee for their hard work
    and also thanked the broader amateur radio community for their
    participation in the survey which provided the direction that our
    response was to take.

    The entire submission to the ACMA consultation has now been published
    and I commend it to you to read.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2022/20221206-1/

    So, on this first day of the New Year of 2023 we continue the
    important work of representing the Amateur Radio Service as we make
    final preparations to attend the International Telecommunications
    Union's (ITU) World Radio Conference (WRC-23). This year we will
    once again send a representative as part of the official Australian
    Delegation to attend this very important event to be held in DUBAI,
    United Arab Emirates from 20 November to 15 December 2023.

    World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) are held every three to
    four years to review, and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations

    itu.int/en/myitu/Publications/2020/09/02/14/23/Radio-Regulations-2020

    that is the international treaty governing the use of the radio
    frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary
    satellite orbits. Revisions are made on the basis of an agenda
    determined by the ITU Council

    itu.int/en/council

    which takes into account recommendations made by previous world radio
    communication conferences. The general scope of the agenda of world
    radiocommunication conferences is established four to six years in
    advance, with the final agenda set by the ITU Council two years before
    the conference, with the concurrence of a majority of Member States.

    The WIA have been actively participating in the lead up to WRC-23,
    noting that the WRC-23 agenda item of direct concern to amateurs is
    AI 9.1b which is likely to result in restrictions to amateur usage of
    the 1240 - 1300 MHz frequency band. WRC-23 will look at issues to
    determine if additional measures are required to ensure protection of
    the radionavigation-satellite service (space-to-Earth) operating in
    the same band.

    As The National Association for Amateur Radio in Australia and the
    official representative member society of the International Amateur
    Radio Union (IARU) the Wireless Institute of Australia represents all
    amateurs in Australia and seeks to protect the frequency allocations
    that we are fortunate to currently have.

    On another note, the election of Directors of the WIA is underway and
    more news on that matter from John Marshall the WIA Returning Officer
    in next week's broadcast.

    This has been Peter Clee VK8ZZ from Darwin, WIA Director and
    Secretary, Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2023.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT


    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------

    1 - 31 January Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF DX Contest ( Marathon )

    The contest was established in 1950 to honour the memory of
    the late Ross A. Hull and his pioneering achievements in the
    study of tropospheric propagation and the development of new
    equipment techniques for the higher bands.

    Entrants may operate on every contest day, but the final score
    is based on the best seven days nominated by the entrant.

    For amateurs with limited operating time, there is also a
    "Best 2 Days" section.

    LOGS DUE IN 14th FEBRUARY

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------

    14 - 15 January Summer VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT in VK6 add 3 hours
    onto start and end times.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    26th of January Australia Day Contest

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio Activity around the world
    and is designed to encourage friendly participation and help improve
    the operating skills of participants.

    Amateurs in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs around the
    world. VK operators can use the AX prefix as they celebrate Australia
    Day.

    Scoring is distance based, calculated using 4-character grid squares.

    Contest is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26 January.

    Contest Manager is Alan Shannon VK4SN

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au) --------------

    MAY 1st Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life. (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June is VK SHIRES

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    Held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage
    Low Band activity between VK and ZL
    160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (RTTY OR PSK)

    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN

    --------------




    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest

    This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly
    participation and help improve the operating skills
    of participants. It is held on the weekend closest to
    the 15th August, the date on which hostilities ceased
    with Japan in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the
    Australian state or territory with the best performance.
    The name of the winning State or Territory is
    inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning
    State or Territory is also given a certificate, as
    are leading entrants.
    (wia.org.au) --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web site)


    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT in VK6 add
    3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    The Special Event Station VI 100 MB is active during 2023,
    celebrating the centenary of VK2's Manly & District Radio Club.

    (Richard Murnane)

    --------------

    PHILIPPINES Pete is active as VK4CCV/DU7 from Cebu on all bands and
    modes.

    (vk2wi)

    --------------

    Listen for the callsign TN 8 K from the Republic of Congo, activated
    by the C-D-X-P Group.

    The team from the Czech Republic expects to operate between Jan 7 and
    19 on the HF bands from 160m to 6m using CW, SSB, RTTY , FT8, FT4
    and PSK.

    They will also make use of the QO-100 satellite.

    QSL via OK6DJ, OQRS or Logbook Of The World.


    (ARNewsLine)






    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    Jumping in where normally Bruce VK3FFF would tread in his special
    interest group news, this news, from "out of space" could have far
    reaching effects here on the green planet.

    Possibly due to a micrometeoroid or debris strike, the Soyuz MS-22
    capsule currently docked to the ISS has suffered an external
    radiator coolant leak.

    If it is determined to be unsafe for a crewed return trip, cosmonauts
    Sergey Prokopyev and Dimitri Petelin along with NASA astronaut Frank
    Rubio would be effectively trapped until a replacement could be
    launched.

    That replacement, the Soyuz MS-23 capsule, is apparently being
    accelerated for a potential uncrewed launch and would be remotely
    piloted to the ISS.

    This is possibly the most significant "emergency" situation in the
    20 plus year history of the ISS.



    So to :-

    REGION ONE

    GREAT BRITAIN

    The RSGB is making plans to celebrate the coronation of King Charles
    III and the Queen Consort in May 2023.

    The Coronation theme is looking towards the future while being
    rooted in our traditions, which the Society would like to
    incorporate in its celebrations.

    The UK has an ancient chain of fire-based beacons and the RSGB is
    considering ways that these might be used in the plans. As well as
    organising events for radio amateurs, this will be is a great
    opportunity to demonstrate amateur radio to the public and to gain
    publicity in the media.

    The RSGB has asked hams for their thoughts about how to use the
    fire beacon chain, or any other ideas for activities on the
    Coronation theme that could be used as outreach to the public.

    ( special.projects@rsgb.org.uk )



    The Radio Club of Pusula, OH9W, and Northern Radio Arcala, OH8X,
    today cease activating the station they say belongs to the
    "genuine Santa from Northern Finland, next to the North Pole."

    You can expect Santa's work to continue until December 31st UTC date
    and this year's special theme has been to focus on children in
    troubled areas of the world and has taken take the form of a puzzle
    to be solved by letters the operators have been handing out to their
    contacts.

    QRZ.com details how to submit the puzzle results for an award

    You can also see a list of hams who have already contacted Santa
    and his elves.




    GERMANY

    The national telecommunications authority Bundesnetzagentur
    (BNetzA) has extended all temporary permits for the amateur radio
    service whose validity would have expired on 31 December 2022.

    This means that German radio amateurs may continue to use the
    frequency ranges 18501890 kHz and 18902000 kHz with 750 W
    or 100 W on weekends and contest operation on weekends is also
    permitted.



    SWITZERLAND

    the Swiss Amateur Radio Association USKA reports, it was possible to
    obtain clearance for the 4m band after lengthy negotiations with the
    national telecommunications authority BAKOM.

    The authorisation is valid from today, 1 January 2023.

    Only radio amateurs with HB9 licences are permitted to use the band.

    Frequency range: 70.0000 to 70.0375 MHz and 70.1125 to 70.5000 MHz.
    In the range from 70.0375 to 70.1125 MHz any transmission is
    prohibited. The maximum power is 25 watts ERP. All common
    modulation types are permitted in accordance with the IARU band plan
    is encouraged.

    Unmanned stations such as relays and EchoLink gateways are NOT allowed.






    REGION TWO

    USA

    Congressman Bill Johnson has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of
    Representatives to eliminate private land use restrictions that
    prohibit, restrict, or impair the ability of an Amateur Radio
    Operator from operating and installing amateur station antennas on
    property subject to the control of the Amateur Radio Operator.

    The exponential growth of communities subject to private land use
    restrictions that prohibit both the operation of Amateur Radio and
    the installation of amateur station antennas has significantly
    restricted the growth of the Amateur Radio Service. These restrictions
    are pervasive in private common interest residential communities such
    as single-family subdivisions, condominiums, cooperatives, gated
    communities, master-planned communities, planned unit developments,
    and communities governed by community associations.

    The restrictions have particularly impacted the ability of Amateur
    Radio to fulfil its statutorily mandated duty of serving as a
    voluntary non-commercial emergency communications service.




    Administration Drafting Executive Order To Simplify Space Rules

    U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is drafting an executive
    order intended to streamline approval for private rocket launches
    amid a broader effort to bring legal and regulatory clarity for
    American companies on everything from space travel to private space
    stations, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the effort.

    The order would be part of a push by the White House's National
    Space Council to modernize U.S. space regulation, which has failed
    to keep up with the increasingly ambitious pace of private-sector
    investment and development.

    The order, slated to be ready for Biden to sign early this year, is
    meant to simplify licensing procedures under existing laws for more
    routine space activities like launching rockets and deploying
    satellites





    CANADA

    The amateur radio community on Prince Edward Island is growing,
    thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and post-tropical storm
    Fiona.

    Stratford resident Brent Taylor VY2HF has been a ham radio operator
    for 38 years, in both New Brunswick and P.E.I. Prince Edward Island
    is one of eastern Canada's maritime provinces, off New Brunswick and
    Nova Scotia in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

    Brent said a dozen people started a 12-week training program last year
    and by 2022's end eight passed their exams and are now licensed
    operators.

    "The most diverse I've ever seen. And I've been teaching off and on
    this course for 35-plus years. To see the number of women in the
    course, for one thing, is just tremendous, also, cultural diversity
    and a wide range of ages from as young as 12 years old."


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    SSTV Unit on ISS is Inoperable

    The SSTV card that interfaces with the ISS computer was damaged and
    cannot be reliably used. Also, ISS has recently switched to a new
    complement of laptops, which requires the ARISS Russia team to
    develop a new computer interface to support SSTV. ARISS Russia has
    been actively working this new development and is consulting with the
    ARISS International hardware/software team on these efforts.

    Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, ARISS Russia leader, has stated that they
    expect to complete the SSTV development effort early this year and
    launch the hardware on a future Progress flight later in 2023.

    Until then, SSTV operations will be down.

    The ARISS International team will keep all informed about SSTV status
    through its web site.

    ariss.org

    (NA)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1st

    In March 2022, the AMSAT community lost one of our pioneers when Ray
    Soifer, W2RS, became a silent key. In addition to his numerous
    contributions to AMSAT and the worldwide amateur satellite community, Ray
    was also the long-time organizer of AMSAT's CW Activity Day - previously
    AMSAT Straight Key Night - held in conjunction with the ARRL's event on New
    Year's Day. In recognition of Ray's long time service to AMSAT and his keen
    interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSAT is pleased to announce that
    AMSAT's CW Activity Day will now be known as the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW
    Activity Day in Ray's honour.

    The rules are simple - operate CW through any amateur satellite between
    0000 UTC and 2359 UTC on January 1, 2023. Straight keys and bugs are
    encouraged, but not required. Logs are not required, but operators are
    encouraged to submit a report of their activity to the AMSAT-BB. Photos and
    video clips of activity are also encouraged - post them on Twitter and tag
    @AMSAT.

    Remember to use the minimum power required for communication as constant
    carrier modes, including CW, can disrupt transponder operation for other
    users.

    [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    China has released a small test satellite into orbit from its
    recently completed Tiangong space station.

    The satellite was released from a deployer on the Tianzhou 5 cargo
    ship, which is currently docked at Tiangong. Tianzhou 5's primary
    mission is delivering supplies to the space station to support the
    three Shenzhou 15 mission astronauts but also carried a number of
    CubeSats. The 12 kilograms satellite is designated CAS-10. The small
    spacecraft, also known as the Macao Student Science Satellite 1,
    carries both optical camera and radio payloads. These will be
    available for amateur radio operators on the ground to use for
    two-way communications and to send instructions for taking images.

    (eHam)




    NASA has a long history of hiding secret messages in its spacecraft
    and that tradition continued with the launch of the Orion crew
    capsule in November on top of the Artemis I rocket.

    Five hidden messages were placed in the Orion capsule ranging from
    Morse Code to musical notes.

    In the middle of the capsule, above the cockpit control console, was
    a Morse Code message that spelled out the name "Charlie" in
    remembrance of former Orion Deputy Program Manager Charlie Lundquist,
    who died in 2020.

    [ANS]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    Last month, Communication Officers at the Marine Corps Communication
    Electronics School (MCCES) in California, became amateur radio
    operators.

    W6BA, the Morongo Basin Amateur Radio Club administered the exams
    and 21 candidates passed their Technician exam, and one passed their
    General exam.

    Retired Marine Corps Warrant Officer 4 Robert Cloutier, WO4ROB, and
    MARC President says it was a great event and he is excited to see so
    many new amateur radio operators. So, what drove the officers to want
    amateur radio licenses?

    Cloutier pointed out that all of the candidates already have a
    background in radio administration but not operating experience.




    Vietnam Vet, Radio Amateur Granted Dying Wish to Get on the Air
    One More Time

    Vietnam War veteran John Nugent, WA2EQJ, got on the air for what
    likely will be his final time, thanks to help from the Amateur Radio
    community. The 75-year old US Army Signal Corps veteran lives at the
    James A Lovell Federal Health Care Centre in North Chicago.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone. This is Clive VK6CSW. Happy New Year! On behalf of
    the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia, I wish you all a
    happy, safe, healthy and prosperous 2023.

    A reminder that, as per usual, there is no January bulletin, the
    first one for 2023 will be on Monday, February 6th. However, in VK6
    there will be a January lunchtime gathering for Members and Friends
    of the RAOTC in the Perth area on Tuesday, January 10th. This will be
    at the new venue, the Woodbridge Hotel, 50 East Street, East
    Guildford, starting about midday. Everyone is welcome to come along
    and have an eyeball QSO and the well-priced menu can be viewed on
    line by Googling Woodbridge Hotel, Guildford WA.

    Limited car parking is available, but if travelling to the Woodbridge
    Hotel by train, remember to alight at Guildford East station. The
    Hotel is located close to the intersection of Swan Street East and
    the Great Eastern Highway, just a short walk south-east of the
    station.

    For more details, visit the RAOTC website at
    raotc.org.au

    or

    contact Luncheon coordinator Phil VK6ZKO
    pbcasper@bigpond.com

    73, Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota


    YOTA CONTESTS

    1st round 22nd April 2023 0800 1959 UTC

    2nd round 22nd July 1000 2159 UTC

    3rd round 30th December 2023 1200 2359 UTC

    So, are you ready to compete within the next YOTA Contest?

    Everyone in the ham radio community can take part, it takes place
    three times per year and only lasts 12 hours. Its aim is to increase
    we youngsters activity on the air, strengthening the reputation of
    the YOTA program and demonstrate the support for youngsters across
    the world.

    8 different categories which also include special ones for youngsters
    under 25 years only.

    Covering the 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m and 10m bands the competition will
    take place in CW and SSB modes.

    The contest exchange used will be the age of the participating
    operators. Different ages also serve as multipliers during the
    contest.

    Contacts between the own continent are worth 1 point, working DX is
    worth 3 points but the most points will be achieved by working
    youngsters. The younger the operator the more points one will get
    for the QSO.

    (iaru r1)




    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

    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    Return to Reliable Technology!

    A group of towns in Northern New South Wales have reverted back to
    what they call reliable technology namely UHF CB radio!

    This area has been hit by successive bushfires and now floods and
    the telecommunications infrastructure has failed every time!

    Almost 70 people now have UHF CB radios who tune into The Channons
    base station that relays important information.

    Radio Expert - John Miller has helped over 20 communities set up
    their own radio networks.

    Want to know more - take a look at the ABC News story at the email
    link in this WIA News broadcast.

    tinyurl.com/36pe65dm


    Does this story sound familiar?

    The ARRL emergency network has a great catch-phrase they use,
    when all else fails to demonstrate that amateur radio can provide
    a radio and data network with far superior coverage to UHF CB radio
    in emergency situations along with the highly skilled personnel to
    operate and keep the network running.

    In Australia WICEN or the Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network
    has groups in all States that train and specialise in providing
    reliable portable and mobile communications locally, nationally and
    internationally.

    If you are interested in becoming involved in WICEN activities then
    take a look at the relevant website at the link on the text edition
    of this WIA National NewsService.

    wicen.org.au/

    (VK7W Justin)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    2023 Social Scene



    VK2 - Central Coast Amateur Radio Club will NOT run "MayHam" in 2023;
    the event group are refocusing and re-aligning the direction of
    the event, and hope to return it in 2024. (vk2wi)



    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)






    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)

    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jan 5 13:57:10 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-01-08.mp3
    Text edition:

    2023 JANUARY 8 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 JANUARY 08 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    ( 1937 in a mention we've come across relating to weekly
    broadcasts of information prepared by VK4 was a plea to
    restart the weekly news service which was on air in the
    late 1920's )

    THIS WEEK:-

    INCREASE IN AUSTRALIAN MARITIME COLLGE AMATEUR RADIO FEES
    APPLY FROM MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2023. -


    WIA VICE PRESIDENT VK3GK LEE MOYLE.


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS 29 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

    PROGRAM RECORDED IN BRISBANE, OLYMPIC CITY 2032.



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    On behalf of the WIA board of directors, I wish everyone a very
    Happy New Year for 2023. This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK.

    Hot off the press is the recent announcement earlier this week from
    ACMA that AMC, the Australian Maritime College will be having a
    price increase of 5% on Amateur qualification and callsign services
    from February 6th 2023.

    Find out more from the AMC
    amc.edu.au/industry/amateur-radio

    Another important announcement comes from Sion Chow 9M2CQC, MARTS
    VHF+ Bandplan Committee Chairman, IARU R3, is that from January 1st
    2023 the whole structure of Amateur Radio in Malaysia is changing.
    For the very first time after nearly 6 years of work since MARPC was
    established, and after 22 years since WRC-2000, Malaysia is dropping
    its Morse Code testing requirements for those wishing to upgrade to a
    Malaysian Class-A license.

    Among other significant changes are:
    1. Class-B license holders now get to operate from 80m (3.5 MHz)
    - 70cm (430 MHz) with 50w of TX power.

    2. Class-A and B license holders now get to operate the new 60m band
    with 15w EIRP of TX power and all HF bands and Class-A with 1000w
    of TX power.

    Closer to home, Kevin Johnston VK4UH VHF-UHF Records Manager for WIA
    reports that Several new VK VHF-microwave records have been approved
    and added to the WIA website for 2022. These covering record claims
    from 6m through 134GHz.

    Important to note is that with the approval of the WIA board, record
    claims will now be accepted for new digital contacts on all VHF and
    Up bands on both a National and State (Call-Area) level. This change
    should promote activity, experimentation and development on the
    higher bands .

    January is Ross Hull and for the full month of January each year is
    the Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest and its on now. Some logging
    software generates a Ross Hull log from the summer VHF/UHF contest
    logs too, so easy to enter both contests from one log. The Ross Hull
    Contest is a VHF/UHF and higher DX contest, with points awarded for
    distances worked. There are also band multipliers to encourage
    activity on the higher bands. The aim of the contest is to encourage
    and to reward achievement in working the greatest possible distances
    on the VHF, UHF and microwave bands. Currently we have some magical
    6m openings to North, Central and South America, the Pacific, Japan,
    the Middle East and even Europe. Full rules and sections to be
    entered can be found on the WIA website.

    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    LOGS DUE IN 14th FEBRUARY 23:59 UTC
    Logs email to: rosshull@wia.org.au

    The Australia Day Contest is back on again this year given the huge
    participation last year with some new distance rules being implemented
    and the inclusion of FT8 and FT4. The aim of the contest is to
    encourage Amateurs in VK to contact other amateurs around the world.
    Some VK operators will be using the AX prefix to celebrate Australia
    day, some will be using the special VJ and VL prefixes which are
    sought after around the world. Others may just use the traditional
    and well known VK prefix.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares. It will be held on Australia Day being 26th January
    (2200 UTC 25th January to 1000 UTC 26th January.)

    For full rules and sections to enter see the WIA website.

    wia.org.au/members/contests/australiaday/

    Thanks goes to Alan Shannon VK4SN for his continued support of the
    WIA contests. Submitted logs and results can be viewed on
    vklogchecker.com

    The WIA Buy/Sell/Swap facility Hamads is online at
    www.hamads.com.au
    where you can register. It was established for the use of both
    WIA Members and non members. It will grow as more users come online
    and use it as a confident safe trading environment.

    The WIA board reconvenes with the first board meeting of 2023 on
    January 10th via online video.

    If you have any questions, ideas or wish to volunteer and join a
    working group or committee, send an email to
    nationaloffice@wia.org.au
    with a brief description of your skills on offer.

    Thats all for this week, for now 73 From Lee VK3GK


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    UNITED KINGDOM

    BBC Plans for Future Without Broadcasting

    What happens if the British Broadcasting Corporation stops broadcasting?

    According to BBC Director-General Tim Davie that question isnt
    rhetorical, and instead points toward the future of one of the worlds
    most storied broadcasters. For the BBC, internet-only distribution
    is an opportunity to connect more deeply with our audiences and to
    provide them with better services and choice than broadcast allows.
    It provides a significant editorial opportunities. A switch off of
    broadcast will and should happen over time, and we should be active
    in planning for it, Tim Davie said.

    Davies speech before the Royal Television Society came 100 years and
    23 days after the BBCs first broadcast, but it focused on the
    challenges and opportunities the broadcaster faces today.

    In Davies vision, the United Kingdom and the BBC must begin work
    today to prepare for an internet-only future. This will involve
    ensuring every British household is connected via fixed-line
    broadband and full national 4G/5G wireless coverage.

    tinyurl.com/2s3uh3md




    REGION TWO

    USA

    The Southwest Ohio DX Association has launched a program that
    recognizes the hams who help other hams achieve their first 100
    confirmed DX entities.

    The amateur receiving the assistance must be under the age of 30 and
    the DX association has specifically designed the award this way to
    target those who help younger amateurs and ensure they continue to be
    encouraged and active in the hobby even after receiving their ARRL
    run DXCC certificate.

    The intent of targeting this audience of younger amateurs is to
    attract and retain those operators who are most likely to remain
    engaged in the hobby after achieving DXCC. The DX Mentor Recognition
    Program has the support of the Northern California DX Foundation and
    the International DX Association.

    Both groups are providing representatives on the judging committee.
    The award will be presented during Dayton Hamvention in May.




    REGION THREE

    MALAYSIA

    The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have
    introduced changes to the amateur radio operation structure
    effective January One, 2023 to ensure the certification in Malaysia
    is in line with the practice in other countries.

    MCMC said the changes include examination format, examination syllabus,
    qualification requirements to sit for the examinations and the
    introduction of Class C.

    It also involves the Morse Code examination to upgrade to Class A
    which is now replaced by a computerised multiple-choice exam and the
    use of frequency and beam power limits for each class.

    MCMC said the changes were also aimed at encouraging students
    interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and
    Mathematics (STEM) through amateur radio which would lead to the
    rise of amateur radio operators who can help during disasters.

    The Malaysian regulator, MCMC, also announced that it had published
    a Handbook on Amateur Radio (1st Edition) as an additional reference
    to those interested to sit for the amateur radio examinations.
    A question bank was also created by MCMC for all three amateur radio
    classes to provide exposure to the public on examples of examination
    questions as well as to assist candidates to prepare in advance.

    All three documents can be found on the MCMC official website
    mcmc.gov.my/en/amateur-radio-operatorcertification.



    SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC

    Well to be precise it's to the Republic of Palau, an island country
    and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately
    340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caroline Islands
    with parts of the Federated States of Micronesia.

    Construction of a new shortwave radar for the US Air Force is
    currently underway on Palau. This was announced by the US Ministry
    of Defence at the end of December 2022. Over The Horizon Radars
    already top the list of reported intruders on our exclusive HF
    amateur radio bands so looks ( or listens) like by the end of 2026
    no more QRM !

    This long-range radar, called Tactical Mobile Over-the-Horizon Radar
    will play a special role in monitoring Chinese activities in the
    Pacific and the South China Sea.

    According to the publication The War Zone, the Palau OTHR will
    consist of a remote-controlled transmitting site and a separate
    receiving site consisting of 128 dual-monopole antenna elements.



    INDIA

    Good bye Bluetooth - the most common short-range wireless data
    exchange technology as its now set to face the threat of extinction
    unleashed by a scientist from Bankura with his newer micro device
    thats set to serve the digital gadgets soon.

    The scientist has been offered the patent for a revolutionary
    wireless antenna that can help data transfer 100 times faster than
    Bluetooth. Super compact ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna, the micro
    device is developed by professor Srikanta Pal, FINALLY in October
    he was awarded the patent right by Centres Patent Office, for which
    professor Pal had applied in July, 2013.

    Professor Pal said, This is the worlds smallest antenna, it's
    sized 14mm X 11mm with about a 10:1 bandwidth. It has almost a
    constant impedance bandwidth, gain and omni-directional radiation
    pattern.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    2022 ended with the highest monthly sunspot number in 7 years.
    For the 35th month in a row, Solar Cycle 25 is outperforming the
    official forecast so NO excuse NOT to get "on the air."


    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------

    1 - 31 January Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF DX Contest ( Marathon )

    The contest was established in 1950 to honour the memory of
    the late Ross A. Hull and his pioneering achievements in the
    study of tropospheric propagation and the development of new
    equipment techniques for the higher bands.

    Entrants may operate on every contest day, but the final score
    is based on the best seven days nominated by the entrant.

    For amateurs with limited operating time, there is also a
    "Best 2 Days" section.

    LOGS DUE IN 14th FEBRUARY

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------

    14 - 15 January Summer VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT in VK6 add 3 hours
    onto start and end times.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    26th of January Australia Day Contest

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio Activity around the world
    and is designed to encourage friendly participation and help improve
    the operating skills of participants.

    Amateurs in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs around the
    world. VK operators can use the AX prefix as they celebrate Australia
    Day.

    Scoring is distance based, calculated using 4-character grid squares.

    Contest is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26 January.

    Contest Manager is Alan Shannon VK4SN

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au)


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    BONAIRE

    PJ4 / DD 0 VR is on air until next Friday, January 13.
    QSL via DD 0 VR.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    Special stations SP 9 ENIGMA and SP 9 ENG are active until NEXT
    Sunday the 15th January to mark the 90th anniversary since Polish
    cryptologists first broke the Enigma cipher.

    For SP 90 ENIGMA, QSL via SP 3 PGR.
    For SP 9 ENG, QSL via SP 3 PDO.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------------

    Be listening for Earl, WA 3 DX operating from Senegal until January
    20th, mainly using FT8.

    He will use his home call with a prefix.

    In Dakar, he will use the prefix 6W1;
    in Mbao, he will use 6W7
    on Kaolack and Saloum Islands (IOTA number AF-045), his prefix will
    be 6W6.

    Send QSL direct to WA3DX or via Logbook Of The World.

    --------------

    In the Gamba operating is C 5 YK until February 24th.

    Listen on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m, mostly using the digital modes.

    QSL via LoTW and eQSL, or to home call ON 7 YK
    direct or via the bureau.

    (ARNewsLine)


    --------------



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    MEDIA WATCH

    Spotify Player Brings Back Physical Media

    Keeping all your tunes with you these days is a lot more convenient,
    but have we lost something with dematerialization?

    Jordi Parra, no NOT the Spanish Basketball player but Freelance
    Principal Designer at Spotify felt that there was something lacking
    with the digital music experience and has designed a Spotify player
    with a tactile interface.

    Hackaday are reporting specific playlists are selected via small
    RFID tags that look like a cross between the old audio formats
    Minidisc and vinyl records.

    As this is a prototype, an Arduino reads the RFID tag, but needs a
    computer to actually play the Spotify playlist. Future iterations
    could include an integrated speaker and run libspotify to create a
    self-contained device. While there is still work to do for a fully
    seamless experience, we love the details in the industrial design of
    this project. Clean simple lines and a combination of wood and more
    modern materials make this feel like a timeless piece of tech.

    hackaday.com/2022/12/24/spotify-player-brings-back-physical-media/

    (twiar)




    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DEFENCE

    TARC does the 2023 Defence Welcome to Townsville Expo

    theTARCinc will yet again be involved with the Defence Welcome and
    Information Expo run by the Townsville office of the Defence Member
    and Family Support Section Saturday 11th February at Murray Stadium
    from 10am to 1pm.

    The Club will be drawing on expertise gained from participation in
    previous Expos to show Defence members and their families currently
    residing or new to the region some of the aspects of the wonderful
    world of Amateur Radio.

    It is hoped to demonstrate the hobby through a mixture of static,
    dynamic and interactive displays, with members experienced in many
    facets of the hobby able to provide meaningful answers and guidance
    for those attending the Expo.

    (tarc)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    SpaceX closed out 2022 successfully launching its 61st Falcon-class
    mission of the year. The flight-seasoned B1061 core, which becomes
    only the sixth Falcon 9 to log an 11th launchtook flight from
    Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base laden
    with the EROS-C3 electro-optical reconnaissance satellite for
    Israels Ministry of Defence.

    B1061 first took flight from the East Coast, back in November 2020,
    lifting Dragon Resilience and Crew-1 astronauts Mike Hopkins,
    Victor Glover and Shannon Walker of NASA, plus Japans Soichi
    Noguchi, to the International Space Station.

    tinyurl.com/5ezxkez5

    (americaspace.com)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    ANTARCTICA
    AN-016

    QRV is RI 1 ANC from Vostok Station, IOTA AN-016, until March 2024,
    yes 2024 and also on air RI 30 ANT January to March 31, 2023, THIS
    year.

    Activity is in their spare time on various bands using CW, SSB, and
    various digital modes.

    QSL RI 1 ANC via RN 1 ON and
    RI 30 ANT via RZ 3 EC.

    (arrl)



    INDIA
    IOTA AS-153

    Members of the West Bengal Radio Club are QRV as AT 2 WBRC from
    Sagar Island, IOTA AS-153, until Tuesday January 17.
    QSL via VU 2 JFA.

    (arrl)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone. This is Clive VK6CSW. Just a reminder that there is no Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australias bulletin this month. The first RAOTC bulletin for this year will be on Monday February 6th.

    However, in VK6 there will be the usual monthly lunchtime gathering for Members and
    Friends of the RAOTC in the Perth area in two days' time on Tuesday, January 10th.
    This will be at the new venue, the Woodbridge Hotel, 50 East Street, East Guildford,
    starting about midday. Everyone is welcome to come along and have an eyeball QSO and
    the well-priced menu including Seniors specials can be viewed on line by Googling
    Woodbridge Hotel, Guildford WA

    Limited car parking is available, but if travelling to the Woodbridge Hotel by train, remember to alight at Guildford East station. The Hotel is located close to
    the intersection of Swan Street East and the Great Eastern Highway, just a short
    walk south-east of the station.

    For more details, visit the RAOTC website at www.raotc.org.au<http://www.raotc.org.au/> or contact Luncheon coordinator Phil VK6ZKO at pbcasper@bigpond.com<mailto:pbcasper@bigpond.com>.

    73, Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota

    768 teams enter The Astro Pi Mission Space Lab 2022/23

    Last year, 768 teams made up of 3086 young people from 23 countries
    sent Raspberry Pi their ideas for experiments to run on board the
    International Space Station for Astro Pi Mission Space Lab.

    Mission Space Lab is part of the European Astro Pi Challenge, an E.S.A.
    Education programme run in collaboration with Raspberry Pi Foundation.
    Mission Space Lab teams could choose between Life on Earth and
    Life in space for their experiment idea.

    A panel of 25 judges from the Raspberry Pi Foundation and ESA
    Education assessed the submitted ideas. They were restricted in how
    many teams could be accommodated, as time to run experiments on-board
    the ISS is limited, especially for Life on Earth experiments which
    need time in a nadir window. The standard of the submitted ideas
    was higher than ever, making this the toughest judging yet.

    The judges were delighted to announce that 486 teams will move on to
    Phase 2 of Mission Space Lab: writing the code for their experiments.

    All the teams whose experiment ideas were selected will receive a
    special Astro Pi hardware kit, customised to their idea, to help them
    write and test the Python programs to execute their experiments.
    Once the teams of young people have received their kits, they can
    familiarise themselves with the Astro Pi hardware and then create and
    test (and re-test!) their programs.

    [ANS]






    JUST REPEATING

    The VK2RCN 2-metre repeater is back on air, operating from the new
    Telegraph Point site.

    Telegraph Point is a small village on the North Coast of New South Wales
    located on the Pacific Highway north of Port Macquarie.

    Those who have seen more solar cycles than most will no doubt recall
    the old Hacks Vehicular ferry.

    BUT:-

    Back to the repeater VK2RCN.

    Its on 147.0MHz with the usual -600 kHz offset, BUT, no tone is
    required for access. It has been very active and is providing
    excellent coverage. On 70cm, 438.525MHz temporarily is running in
    the FM mode, to enable UHF coverage to be assessed.
    It is operating with minus 5Mhz offset and 123 Hz CTCSS required for
    access. This will be replaced by the RadNet DMR repeater early in
    the Year.

    The site will be formally commissioned later in the month once fitout
    of the equipment shelter has been completed and all the VK2RCN
    repeaters have been permanently installed and tested.

    (vk2wi)




    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section

    VK2 - Central Coast Amateur Radio Club will NOT run "MayHam" in 2023;
    the event group are refocusing and re-aligning the direction of
    the event, and hope to return it in 2024. (vk2wi)



    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)






    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)

    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jan 12 23:18:29 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-01-15.mp3
    Text edition:




    2023 JANUARY 15 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 JANUARY 15 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS


    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA DIRECTOR CHRIS DIMITRIJEVIC VK3FY

    WIA RETURNING OFFICER JOHN MARSHALL

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS 30 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M NEWS EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y



    DECLARATION of ELECTION OF WIA DIRECTORS

    Clause 14 of the Constitution of the WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    specifies the way in which Directors of the WIA are to be elected to
    that position.

    Four directors retire at the conclusion of the next Annual General
    Meeting which will be held in May 2023, namely Scott Williams VK3KJ,
    Peter Clee VK8ZZ, Greg Kelly VK2GPK and Peter Schrader VK4EA. Each
    retiring director was eligible for re-nomination.

    A call for nominations for the position of Director of the WIA was
    made in the WIA National News Broadcast and in Amateur Radio Magazine
    in accordance with the Election Regulations.

    I advise that I have received Four (4) valid nominations from
    WIA members for the position as director of the WIA by the
    advertised closing date for nominations, as follows:-

    Scott Williams VK3KJ
    Peter Schrader VK4EA
    Peter Clee VK8ZZ
    Giles Kirby VK5GK

    As advised in the Call for Nominations there will be four vacancies
    at the conclusion of the AGM to be held in May 2023 and therefore no
    election will be necessary. I therefore formally declare these 4
    nominees as having been elected to the position of Director of the
    Wireless Institute of Australia. These Directors elect will take up
    their role at the conclusion of the Annual General meeting in May 2023.
    They will remain in that role for a period of two (2) years.

    Continuing Directors are:-
    Lee Moyle VK3GK
    Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY
    Steve Green VK2TSG

    These continuing directors will retire at the conclusion of the
    Annual General Meeting in 2024.

    I John Marshall, the duly appointed returning Officer of the
    Wireless Institute of Australia confirm that these results
    are valid and in accordance with the Constitution of the
    Wireless Institute of Australia and the Election Regulations.

    This is notice is authorised by
    John Marshall, WIA Returning Officer
    1st January 2023





    Good morning, everyone this is WIA Board Director Chris Dimitrijevic
    VK3FY with this weeks WIA Board report for VK1WIA News Broadcast
    for 15th January 2023.

    As we have just heard/seen, John Marshal the WIA Returning Officer
    has now declared results of who will make up the next Board.

    Congratulations all and your WIA Board welcome them and thank the
    retiring board member and past president of the WIA Greg Kelly VK2GPK
    for his services to the WIA. Greg will be retiring his position on
    the conclusion of the 2023 Annual General Meeting.

    The Annual General Meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia
    will be held on Saturday 13th of May in Canberra. The venue has yet
    to be confirmed. Keep this date clear and see you all in our nations
    capital for the 2023 AGM. Keep an eye on the WIA website and the
    VK1WIA Weekly news for further updates on the AGM.

    The Contest Committee has advised there is a current vacancy for the
    Russ Hull Contest and they are seeking a volunteer who will be able
    to take up the role as RUSS HULL CONTEST MANAGER. Should you be
    interested in taking up this role please contact the WIA head-office
    via nationaloffice@wia.org.au

    This has been WIA Director Chris VK3FY wishing you a great weekend
    on behalf of your WIA Board for the VK1WIA weekly news broadcast


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    W.R.T.C. 2023 AWARD : January 2023 headset on!

    WRTC Organizing Committee is running a 2023 edition of WRTC 2023
    AWARD!

    This is NOT the WRTC 2022 Contest that will be held in Bologna in
    July this year but is a WRTC 2023 AWARD for anybody who wants to
    have fun in radio chasing and looking for WRTC Special event stations
    all over the world and promoting the real WRTC 2022 event (to be
    held as I said in July 2023)

    Here in region 3 listen out for event station 8 B 0 RARI QRV during
    the January 2023 WRTC 2023 special event that one from Indonesia and
    ZL 6 WRTC is QRV during the January 2023 WRTC 2023 special event
    from New Zealand. From up in China listen for BY 1 CRA / WRTC

    wrtc2022.it/en/news-11.asp?idnews=52


    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------

    1 - 31 January Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF DX Contest ( Marathon )

    The contest was established in 1950 to honour the memory of
    the late Ross A. Hull and his pioneering achievements in the
    study of tropospheric propagation and the development of new
    equipment techniques for the higher bands.

    Entrants may operate on every contest day, but the final score
    is based on the best seven days nominated by the entrant.

    For amateurs with limited operating time, there is also a
    "Best 2 Days" section.

    LOGS DUE IN 14th FEBRUARY

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------

    14 - 15 January Summer VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT in VK6 add 3 hours
    onto start and end times.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    26th of January Australia Day Contest

    After last years successful running of the Australia Day contest,
    comments were in favour of making the contest a global event. There
    was a strong indication for distance-based scoring and the inclusion
    of FT8/4.

    A suggested rule set was forwarded to the contest committee for their
    input. On agreement with the new rules, we now have the following
    outcome.

    1. The contest is open to all amateurs worldwide on 160, 80, 40, 20,
    15 and 10 meters.

    2. Scoring is based on distance, calculated on 4-character grid
    squares exchange.

    3. Phone, CW and Mixed categories with a separate digital category
    for FT8/FT4. a. A log can contain all modes and on submission,
    digital contacts will be pulled from the log and
    put into the digital category while also keeping
    an operator in the phone and CW sections.

    4. WSJT-X users can operate as normal as the .adi file can be
    imported into N1MM logger for scoring and log creation. Make sure
    a new .adi file is used for the contest. As no serial number is
    needed, the standard 4 character grid square used during normal
    operation is all that'?''?'s required.

    5. VKCL will not cater for this contest, so make sure N1MM logger is
    ready to go.

    6. The User Defined Contest required to be loaded with N1MM is
    available from vk4sn.com under contests.

    7. It is evident that a lot of operators are migrating over to N1MM.
    For new users a N1MM help file for this contest is available at
    the end of the rules. Download it from the WIA contest pages.

    tinyurl.com/5n88j3fn


    The contest is the first Australian distance based scored and
    digital contest.

    Best 73 Alan VK4SN

    (TEXT EDITION ONLY)



    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au)


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------



    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    ITU WRC-23 Booklet

    The International Telecommunication Union WRC-23 booklet can now be
    downloaded in all six languages of the ITU from itu.int
    The booklet provides easy access to the WRC-23 agenda as well as to
    the pertinent resolutions referenced therein.




    NEW SMARTPHONE MODELS GAIN SATELLITE ACCESS

    In this new year, sat-phone users and amateur radio operators won't
    be the only ones who can bounce radio signals off satellites.

    ARNewsLine say some smartphones are gaining a new capability this
    year: direct satellite access. Text-messaging that uses satellite
    communications will be possible for some consumers using Huawei and
    Apple devices. While Apple and Huawei expect to use older satellites
    that are already in orbit by putting new chips in their flagship
    handsets, new low-Earth-orbit satellite networks are also being built.

    Those are in the works from start-up companies Lynk Global and
    AST SpaceMobile, which hope to provide service to 5G phones in areas
    without terrestrial coverage.

    Observers note that this satellite functionality on smartphones will
    not include the ability to make phone calls or to stream data but its
    added capacity of texting will provide another means of calling for
    help in an emergency in regions where the caller has a clear view to
    the sky.

    Working in partnership with Globalstar, Apple devices have offered a
    service called Emergency SOS via satellite since last November.
    Huawei however has not yet announced the date of its rollout.




    REGION ONE

    ITALY

    Marconi Was Here! is an international amateur radio award organised
    by ARI Fidenza Radio Club with the main objective of the award being
    to commemorate, historically, some of the most important and
    significant Italian cities where Marconi performed scientific
    experiments in radio engineering, long distance communications,
    radio direction-finding and others; experiments that, in the
    following periods, revealed themselves to be crucial for technical
    and scientific advancement and the progress of wireless
    communications.

    The award period lasts the whole of this year.

    Each month is being dedicated to a specific Italian city connected
    to the story of Guglielmo Marconi and is paired to a different
    special callsign. January II 4 TRN is the station call, from the city
    of TURIN and celebrates Marconis air ground radio communication
    experiments of 1915.

    Further details, special callsigns and award rules can be found on
    the ARI Fidenza Radio Club website.

    arifidenza.it/




    REGION TWO

    HOLLYWOOD USA

    Audio Engineering Society to Receive Technical GRAMMY Award.

    The Recording Academy, announcing its Special Merit Awards recipients
    has said the Audio Engineering Society is to receive a Technical
    Grammy Award during its Grammy Week celebration this February.

    Special Merit Awards are presented to individuals and/or companies,
    organizations and institutions who have made contributions of
    outstanding technical significance to the recording field.

    In receiving this award, AES joins an elite list of previous
    recipients, which includes well-known names such as Apple Computer,
    JBL Professional, Shure, Sony/Philips, among others.

    The Audio Engineering Society is the only professional society
    devoted exclusively to advancing audio technology. Founded in 1948
    with the key goals of collecting, collating and disseminating
    knowledge of audio science and its application, AES facilitates
    communication and collaboration that unites audio engineers,
    creative artists, scientists, and students, with hundreds of local
    sections worldwide.

    Seventy-five years on, AESs members continue to set precedents and
    standards wherever sound and technology meet, from recording and
    entertainment to scientific research in emerging fields such as
    Spatial and Game Audio, Networking and Streaming, and Audio for
    Virtual and Augmented Reality.




    CUBA

    Cuban radio broadcaster, journalist and DX-er Arnaldo de Jess Coro
    Antich, known to listeners as Arnie Coro, passed away early Jan. 8
    aged 80. He was well-known for his twice-weekly program DXers
    Unlimited on Radio Havana Cuba, Cubas English-language shortwave
    service.

    His amateur callsign was CO 2 KK.

    Arnie became interested in radio at the age of 12, and joined the
    Radio Club de Cuba amateur radio association. In 1957, he began
    working as a journalist at CMBF-TV. During the Cuban Revolution,
    he was one of the founders of Radio Havana Cuba in 1961, working to
    help set up the stations first transmitter ahead of the Bay of Pigs
    Invasion.

    In 2017, Coro was honoured with the National Radio Award by state
    broadcaster Radio Cubana.

    Over the years, Coro produced a number of science and technology
    radio programs. He also authored the 1984 book " The United States
    Radio War Against Cuba.

    tinyurl.com/2fhjz5sc




    REGION THREE

    THAILAND

    ICOM Inc. presents letter of appreciation to the Department of
    Special Investigation in Thailand.

    Now astute readers/listeners will recall this story on counterfeit
    ICOMS some 2 years or so ago but it's still a work in progress

    It was January 2021, and the Department of Special Investigation had
    carried out the clampdown to counterfeit suppliers for Icom products
    and other radio manufacturers, seizing 37,694 pieces of counterfeit
    products valued at over 50 million Thai Baht (about AUD 2.2 million).
    At this time, the judgement on the lawsuit against these counterfeit
    suppliers was made and ICOM Inc. expressed deep appreciation for
    efforts of the Department of Special Investigation and presented the
    letter of appreciation on 2 months ago, Nov 2022.

    ICOM will continue to work on countermeasures against counterfeit
    products and suppliers and try to supply high-quality and safe
    products.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WIRELESS WEATHER

    X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE:

    Earth-orbiting satellites detected an X1.9-class solar flare last
    Monday, it's source? hyperactive sunspot AR3184, now emerging over
    the sun's south-eastern limb.

    NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the flare's extreme
    ultraviolet flash:

    Radiation ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a shortwave
    radio blackout cantered on the Pacific side of South America:
    Mariners, aviators and ham radio operators have noticed fadeouts and
    other unusual propagation effects at frequencies below 25 MHz.

    This was an impulsive solar flare -- intense but probably too brief
    to lift a coronal mass ejection out of the sun's atmosphere. It is
    too soon, however, to rule out the possibility of debris heading our
    way.

    (spaceweather.com)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/


    Now we do have to start this segment with a call to VK1 Amateurs.

    In news from Amateur Radio NewsLine we see a story relating to our
    very own call area VK1 yet no one from the SOTA community or
    local ham thought it news worthy enough to pass onto you via WIA
    National News, so -- with thanks to ARNewsLine here are the details
    they have received.

    "In the World of DX, be listening for VI10SOTA (VEE EYE TEN SOTA)
    which is on the air in Australia to celebrate the 10th year of
    Summits on the Air in the VK1 region. The station will be active
    through to the end of the year and any amateur with an Australian
    licence who is activating a VK1 SOTA peak may use it."




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Three of the four new astronauts on February's planned launch of the
    SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station are amateur
    radio operators.

    Pilot Warren "Woody" Hoburg, KB 3 HTZ
    Commander Stephen Bowen, KI 5 BKB
    Mission Specialist Sultan Al Neyadi, KI 5 VTV, will join Mission
    Specialist Andrey Fedyaev on board the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
    Endeavour. The earliest date would be mid-February.

    All crew members have learned about Amateur Radio on the
    International Space Station

    ariss.org/

    Have received guidance on studying and testing, and learned how to
    operate the ARISS radios and the basics of on-the-air protocol from
    ARISS team members at NASA's Johnson Space Centre. The crew will be
    able to participate in ARISS, using the ham radio station on the ISS
    to contact schools and other educational institutions.

    (eHam)




    China's 1st Mars rover and Tianwen 1 orbiter may have gone silent:

    Something may have gone very wrong for China's first-ever Mars
    mission.

    China launched Tianwen 1 in July 2020 and the mission's rover, named
    Zhurong, touched down on the Red Planet in May 2021. The duo explored
    Mars smoothly until May 2022, when Zhurong was put into hibernation,
    hunkering down for the harsh winter.

    But the rover may not have exited hibernation as expected, according
    to reports from Space News, which cite reporting from the South China
    Morning Post in Hong Kong, that Zhurong was expected to wake up in
    December and hasn't called home yet. And simultaneously, the
    Tianwen 1 Mars orbiter appears to be experiencing a communications
    glitch.

    It's unknown what the issues might be, but "most likely the
    sandstorms have seriously weakened Zhurong's capacity to use its
    solar panels to generate power"

    Tianwen 1 orbiter serves as a communications relay for the rover.
    "A Beijing-based source said ground control had encountered
    difficulty when downloading the latest data from the orbiting probe,
    Amateur radio operators have even observed that Tianwen 1 ground
    stations appear to have stopped attempting to make contact with the
    orbiter.

    China's space agency has yet to comment on the issues with Zhurong
    and Tianwen 1.

    (space.com)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FIVE MHz
    rsgb.org/main/operating/band-plans/hf/5mhz/

    The 5 MHz Newsletter

    A map of 'The World of 5 MHz' shows that 85 countries now have 60m
    band allocations, a success story chronicled by the 5 MHz Newsletter
    since its first publication in Autumn 2011. The latest newsletter has
    articles about activities on the 60m band in Malaysia, South Africa,
    United States, Samoa and a new allocation in Ireland.

    The archived and the latest issue of the '5 MHz Newsletter' can be
    found on wikipedia.org/wiki/60-meter_band

    (irts)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    AF-008 CROZET ISLAND

    Thierry, F6CUK has start his activity as FT 8 WW from Crozet Islands,
    IOTA AF - 008 and is heard on 80 - 6m and possibly 160m also on
    QO - 100 Satellite. And Great News : FT 8 WW has been validated for
    DXCC credit

    ( dxnews.com )




    AN-016

    ANTARCTICA

    George KJ 4 CHT is the overwintering doctor at AmundsenScott South
    Pole Station, Antarctica AN-016. Hes a newcomer to the ham radio
    hobby, however is becoming familiar with remote set up, using Ham
    Radio Deluxe logbook, and is looking forward to trying HF bands soon.

    QSL manager, Bill K7MT, suggests George will be on air soon if not
    soonest and most likely 20 SSB.

    Callsign to listen look out for KC 4 AAA

    ( dx-world.net/kc4aaa-south-pole-antarctica/ )




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    The Service Academies Radio Group (SARG) was recently formed for
    alumni and amateur radio operators who are interested in the five
    U.S.A. military academies.

    William Curry, W5CQ, founder and net control operator for the SARG
    Net, said two months ago there was a new interest in forming a group
    and net. He noticed that only one military academy, West Point,
    W 2 KGY, was still operating a club station. At one time, every
    military academy in the United States had an operating club station.

    The SARG net meets every Thursday at 2200 UTC on 7.280 MHz, and
    every Saturday at 1600 UTC on 14.338 MHz. All amateur radio operators
    whether they are veterans, or just have an interest in the military
    or history of the academies, are invited.

    (arrl)





    I will wrap up this weeks edition of special interest group news
    with a thought - yes not everyone involved in ham radio has one
    particular interest , so strong, they have joined a club or forum
    delving into its cause.

    Some of us just like a good old fashioned rag chew.

    This story, which involves a VK5, like the first story of SOTA
    I brought you today only came to light because it was passed to
    ARNewsLine.. so we'll cross to ARNEWSLINE who in turn swing over to
    John VK4JJW with the story to "tie (thai/.. ) the ribbons.

    Here is Paul Brown WD 9 GCO

    SAYING 73 TO THE OLD YEAR AROUND THE WORLD

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Our final story has a little bit of magic in it. Some
    of it is amateur radio magic and the rest is simply New Year's magic
    -- because we can't put a final ribbon on the holiday season without
    this story of a QSO that happened in two countries across the change
    of the year. John Williams VK4JJW explains.

    JOHN: With poor conditions on the bands, the 10-minute QSO between
    one ham in Australia and another in Thailand might have felt more
    like it lasted for a year. Well....in a way, it actually did.

    Supoj E25JRP was on 20 metres at 2130 local time in Bangkok in the
    final hours of the old year, but very few CW operators responded to
    his call in that first half-hour. At 2200 local time, someone more
    distant came back to him - like the others, his call began with a
    V - perhaps it was VR, from Hong Kong, or VU, from India. Battling
    serious QSB, Supoj asked for a repeat - and then another.

    He told NewsLine: [quote] "After a couple of question marks and
    'again,' I got all of his callsign." [endquote] It was VK5PL, Dave,
    a colleague from the Long Island CW Club in the United States. Dave
    was at home in Australia and recognised Supoj's callsign when he
    heard it on the air. Two thousand twenty-three was already well
    underway at his QTH. The year-change had started two hours earlier.

    Riding the fickle QSB, the two had just enough time to exchange new
    year's wishes - and for Dave to log his first QSO of the new year and
    Supoj to log one of his final ones of the old year.

    Dave wrote on the club's forum on groups.io: [quote] "I had a great
    start to the year." [endquote]

    Supoj told NewsLine: [quote] "I turned off my rig with a big smile."
    [endquote]

    Now, of course, with everyone properly settled into 2023, the only
    thing that needs to get in sync are those band conditions.

    This is John Williams VK4JJW.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section and just
    in case we or someone makes an error in dates times events etc.
    we will NOT pass on 3rd hand information, ONLY what you, your
    WIA affiliated club sends National news.

    We have seen a date for a HamFest in WERRIBE and have asked that
    club, via email, for their audio and text so we can let all know..



    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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)

    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
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    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
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/100 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jan 19 14:18:24 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-01-22.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 JANUARY 22 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 JANUARY 22 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:- VK4EA Director Peter joins us
    Aussie ham becomes Silent Key 2 months after turning 100
    "Mystery" Antennas popping up in remote areas of USA



    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS 30 MINUTE EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M NEWS EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y



    Hello again from Turrbal and Jagera country, this is Peter VK4EA
    on behalf of the W I A board.

    No board meeting this week however a few things to chat about.

    World Radio Conference 2023

    WRC 2023 is being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November this
    year. We got some good news from the International Amateur Radio
    Union I A R U region 3. They have decided to fund half of our
    one of our delegates cost, hence, we now have the budget to send two
    delegates for the entire length of the conference. This is an
    example of your membership money giving Australia amateurs a seat
    at the table on the world stage. Agendas are being set at the
    moment, keep an eye on the A R Magazine for further news.


    VHF/UHF Field Day

    I had the rare opportunity to operate home station for this contest
    and had a pretty damm good time. A brief but intense sporadic E
    opening on 6 metres provided a hectic 60 mins of exchanges with VK3,
    VK7 with VK5 coming on just as the contest finishes. It was fun,
    but strangely, my K4 band-scope went very quiet right on the contest
    close strange how this Sporadic E works .. Well done to those
    who went to the significant effort to operate portable. Stay tuned
    for an innovative contest idea being brewed up by a prominent
    6 metre operator in VK4.

    The W I A Education committee has been reformed and the first
    meeting happening soon, we look forward to seeing some good work
    done by some very capable people.

    The board has decided to meet monthly from now on so the frequency
    of this board comment may reduce on this news bulletin. As always
    keep an eye on our Twitter feed, Insta, BookFace and the website.

    Cheers for now, this has been Peter VK4EA for the W I A board.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    IARU Monitoring System

    The latest issue of the IARU-MS newsletter reads almost like a
    DX propagation report.

    Apart from detailing the recurring problems caused by the
    over-the-horizon radars of various origins, mainly from Russia,
    China, Iran and Cyprus, there are unusual reports about taxi radios
    and fishermen on 10m, and village radios in Indonesia heard on the
    40m band.

    The IARU-MS reports can be downloaded from
    tinyurl.com/bdf6dsba
    iaru-r1.org





    HAARP Thanks Amateur Radio Operators for Help with Latest
    Experiment

    In December, the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program
    (HAARP) conducted its latest ionospheric experiment of bouncing
    radio signals off an asteroid passing near Earth's orbit

    Amateur radio operators and radio astronomy enthusiasts were invited
    to monitor the test and send their results to HAARP for analysis.
    While the results of the experiment will take several weeks,
    Jessica Matthews, HAARP Program Manager, said the help was greatly
    appreciated. "So far we have received over 300 reception reports
    from the amateur radio and radio astronomy communities from
    six continents who confirmed the HAARP transmission."

    "We will be analysing the data over the next weeks and hope to
    publish the results in the coming months," said Mark Haynes,
    lead investigator on the project and a radar systems engineer at
    NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. "This experiment was
    the first time an asteroid observation was attempted at such
    low frequencies," he said. "This shows the value of HAARP as a
    potential future research tool for the study of near-Earth objects."





    REGION ONE

    IRELAND

    Reopening of Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum.

    Planning a trip to the Emerald Isle? No trip is complete until you
    visit the 'Hurdy Gurdy'

    Last Sunday 15th saw the reopening of Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of
    Vintage radio at the Martello Tower in Howth. The museum had been
    closed for the past two months for repairs. For now, the museum will
    open at weekends from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

    The late Pat Herbert founded the museum in 2003 to display his vast
    collection of vintage radios, gramophones and related paraphernalia.

    The museum also houses amateur station EI0MAR.

    The museum's website has a link to book a visit online,

    sites.google.com/site/hurdygurdymuseum




    SPAIN

    Authorisation for radio operation in the range from 2400.050 to
    2410 MHz has been extended by one year in Spain.

    The permit operation is enabling radio amateurs in Spanish territory
    to make QSOs via the geostationary satellite QO-100.

    The maximum EIRP permitted is 1500 W and is valid until 26 December
    2023.





    REGION TWO

    USA - Pittsburgh.

    K.D.K.A. receives 2023 World Radio Day Award

    The World Radio Day Award honours a station that exemplifies the
    best attributes of the radio industry. This is the fourth annual
    award. The Pittsburgh news/talk station is at 100.1 FM and 1020 AM.

    World Radio Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 13 in commemoration
    of the birth of United Nations Radio in 1946. This official
    international day was adopted by the 67th United Nations General
    Assembly in 2012. This year, the theme for the 12th edition of
    World Radio Day is Radio and Peace.

    KDKA, recognized as the oldest licensed radio station in America,
    was preceded in winning the award by sister station 1010 WINS
    New York, which received it last year.




    USA - UTAH

    UTAHS MYSTERY ANTENNAS

    In an odd series of events that have been making news in recent days
    authorities near Salt Lake City, Utah, have been reporting the
    discovery of unusual antenna arrays along mountaintops and ridges.

    Officials in Utah say the first antennas actually began appearing
    more than a year ago. However, an increasing number of the devices
    have appeared within the last few months, according to Salt Lake
    recreational trails manager Tyler Fonarow in a statement given to
    KSL-TV 5 earlier this month.

    With little information about who placed the devices on public lands
    and for what purpose, officials have faced the cumbersome task of
    having to hike into Utahs snowy foothills to remove the devices.

    Presently, the reason for the sudden strange appearance of these
    antennas remains a mystery, although at least a few ideas about the
    devices have been put forward.

    Based on images posted to social media, the primary components of
    the devices consist of an antenna, a router, a solar panel, and a
    sealed battery container. Although Salt Lake Citys Department of
    Public Lands has been tasked with the removal of many of the devices
    some have also appeared on U.S. Forest Service property, as well as
    land owned by the University of Utah.

    So what are the devices, and what are they actually being used for?

    A number of ideas have been put forward ranging from amateur radio
    emergency data network units, to regional deployments of Motus
    wildlife tracking systems. However, in either case, permits should
    be able to be easily located to confirm this, in addition to
    available information online that would indicate the deployment of
    things like wildlife tracking systems, none of which have been found.

    Another possibility involves the potential use of the antennas as
    Wi-Fi repeaters, although with the availability of satellite internet
    for customers in such remote areas, the illegal placement of antennas
    on public lands for such purposes again seems less likely.

    Presently, none of these theories have been confirmed, although in
    his email to The Debrief, Luke Allen with Salt Lake Citys
    Department of Public Lands was clear about what his agency plans to
    do with them.

    Our main priority right now is to get them off the mountain,
    Allen said.

    tinyurl.com/mrys63v7




    COVIDs Continuing Toll - Mourning Two Radio Amateurs.

    COVID-19 continues to exact a toll, including the recent passing of
    two hams who may be familiar to you. Both succumbed to complications
    of the COVID virus.

    Long-time CQ Magazines technical illustrator Hal Keith passed away
    in late December at age 88. You probably never saw his face in the
    magazine, but his work graced their pages for nearly 50 years!

    CQ Contest Hall of Famer and long-time member of the CQWW Contest
    Committee Alfred Fred Laun, III, K3ZO, became a Silent Key in
    early January at age 85. He was also a director of the YASME
    Foundation. Fred served for many years in the U.S. Foreign Service
    at posts around the world, at one time being kidnapped and shot by
    rebels in Argentina while serving as director of the US-AID
    (Agency for International Development) program there.



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------

    1 - 31 January Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF DX Contest ( Marathon )

    The contest was established in 1950 to honour the memory of
    the late Ross A. Hull and his pioneering achievements in the
    study of tropospheric propagation and the development of new
    equipment techniques for the higher bands.

    Entrants may operate on every contest day, but the final score
    is based on the best seven days nominated by the entrant.

    For amateurs with limited operating time, there is also a
    "Best 2 Days" section.

    LOGS DUE IN 14th FEBRUARY

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------

    26th of January Australia Day Contest

    After last years successful running of the Australia Day contest,
    comments were in favour of making the contest a global event. There
    was a strong indication for distance-based scoring and the inclusion
    of FT8/4.

    A suggested rule set was forwarded to the contest committee for their
    input. On agreement with the new rules, we now have the following
    outcome.

    1. The contest is open to all amateurs worldwide on 160, 80, 40, 20,
    15 and 10 meters.

    2. Scoring is based on distance, calculated on 4-character grid
    squares exchange.

    3. Phone, CW and Mixed categories with a separate digital category
    for FT8/FT4. a. A log can contain all modes and on submission,
    digital contacts will be pulled from the log and
    put into the digital category while also keeping
    an operator in the phone and CW sections.

    4. WSJT-X users can operate as normal as the .adi file can be
    imported into N1MM logger for scoring and log creation. Make sure
    anew .adi file is used for the contest. As no serial number is
    needed, the standard 4 character grid square used during normal
    operation is all that'?''?'s required.

    5. VKCL will not cater for this contest, so make sure N1MM logger is
    ready to go.

    6. The User Defined Contest required to be loaded with N1MM is
    available from vk4sn.com under contests.

    7. It is evident that a lot of operators are migrating over to N1MM.
    For new users a N1MM help file for this contest is available at
    the end of the rules. Download it from the WIA contest pages.

    tinyurl.com/5n88j3fn


    The contest is the first Australian distance based scored and
    digital contest.

    Best 73 Alan VK4SN


    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au)


    --------------



    KING'S CORONATION INSPIRES OPERATOR AWARD IN BRITAIN

    Amateur radio operators in the UK have become very involved in
    planning for the coronation of the next king. Jeremy Boot G4NJH
    told Amateur Radio NewsLine about one award group that has launched
    an event that continues right through to the end of the year.

    "The Coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey in May has
    inspired the Worked All Britain awards group to create a year-long
    event honouring the new monarch of the United Kingdom and her
    Commonwealth realms. The King Charles III Coronation Award is open
    to any amateur radio operator who is able to log contacts within the
    various geographical squares inside the UK throughout 2023.

    Hams may operate on all licenced frequencies and modes, to qualify.

    According to the group's website, the initial certificate will be
    awarded for 10 points. There are endorsements for each 10 after that
    finally, each multiple of 100 points earns the operator a new
    certificate and a trophy.

    Details about the scoring methods are available on the website
    wab.intermip.net/Coronation%20Award.php

    (WORKED ALL BRITAIN)


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    Be listening for special callsign 7 U 7 C being used by operators
    who belong to the Great Desert Djelfa Radio Amateur Club 7 X 2 VFK.

    The club is on the air marking the seventh African Nations
    Championship (football) taking place in Algeria until the 4th of
    February.

    This biennial football tournament is organized by the Confederation
    of African Football. See QRZ.com for details.

    (arnewsline)

    --------------

    In central Africa, Roland is operating TR 8 CR from Gabon
    until March 15 using CW on 30 to 10 meters.

    QSL via F 6 AJA.

    (arnewsline)

    -------------------

    Going QRT this Sunday, UTC Sunday time, is HC 1 FIT who has been
    on air from a mountaintop near the city of Otavalo
    [pronounced OTA-VALO] in the Imbabura [pronounced IM-BAB-URA]
    Province of Ecuador. He has been worked on SSB and CW on the
    40 to 10m bands.

    QSL directly to N 9 EAJ.

    Speaking of Mountain Tops we'll have more on SOTA when Col joins
    us here on VK1WIA during Special Interest Group News.

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY.

    Special event station DR 100 XRAY is QRV until June 30 to
    commemorate the 100th anniversary since the death of
    Wilhelm Roentgen, the physicist whose discovery of X-rays
    revolutionized diagnostic medicine. QSL DR 100 XRAY via bureau.

    (ARRL)



    ----------------------------------------


    JUST REPEATING

    Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club, where Sydney-siders meet
    has swapped out their repeater on 147.250.

    Rob VK2DIO and Steve VK2AAV have replaced the VK2RNS 2-metre
    repeater with a Tait transceiver and so far feedback has been
    excellent and the club would welcome Amateurs across Sydney trying
    the repeater to provide feedback via the HADARC web site.

    VK2RNS is on 147.25MHz; again, please let the club know signal
    strength at your QTH.

    (vk2wi news)





    WIRELESS WEATHER

    Sunspot numbers up, geomagnetic disturbances down.

    What could be better? Okay, maybe Solar Cycle 19, but that was
    66 years ago and by far the all-time largest. But this is now,
    we are in Solar Cycle 25, and this sunspot cycle is emerging better
    than the consensus forecast.

    It is predicted to peak about 30 months from now. Solar cycles tend
    to ramp up faster than they decline, so we look forward to great
    HF propagation for years to come.

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/

    Parks on the Air administrators have spent the past few days tallying
    up activator totals for 2022.

    Over 6.26 million QSOs in 2022. That's a 220 percent increase,
    more than double what was logged in 2021.

    In IARU Region 1 some 5,940 activations. That's a 418 percent
    increase over 2021.

    Fantastic numbers for Region 2 outside of the Continental US
    as well. Eleven thousand six hundred thirty activations represents
    a 267 percent increase.

    Last, but by no means least, our own Region 3 had 8,780 QSOs
    represents a 283 percent increase over 2021.

    (sourced to arnewsline)




    CLIMBS EVERY MOUNTAIN

    Robert, M 0 RWX activated every single SOTA summit in England,
    within the calendar year of 2022.

    This is an unprecedented achievement, but it doesnt end there.

    Robert also activated extensively in France, Scotland and Wales and
    a little in Benelux, recording a total of 326 activations, and a
    mammoth 1,476 activator points in the year almost 1.5 Mountain
    Goats.

    Robert is now targeting an activator completion of Wales during 2023
    andthereafterspending longer on each summit, experimenting with
    more bands and modes





    A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

    How does a radio operator pursue 3 SOTA summits, 6 island activations
    and 2 lake activations in the space of seven days?

    Answer: he goes with the flow - in this case, the flow of a river
    in New Zealand. Thanks to Amateur Radio NewsLine Jim Meachen ZL2BHF
    takes us on that ride.

    "It was a seven-day journey along the length of the Clutha River in
    New Zealand and Matt ZL 4 NVW was more than up to the challenge.

    He had his pack raft, his kayak, his radio and his game plan.

    Writing on the SOTA reflector later, Matt shared the details of how
    he collected peaks and some summit-to-summit contacts along the way.

    He battled band conditions as well as scrub from the wild landscape.

    Entering the river south of Alberttown with his gear safely packed
    and waterproofed, he braced for the river equivalent of a solar
    storm: rapids, whirlpools and boils. The trip afterward was marked
    by alternating moments of extreme peace and temperamental waters
    -- though he suffered a wrist injury at one point.

    He advised readers to file his story

    "under the lengths someone will go to activate a 1-point summit."
    That would be one of the stops he made to climb Tyrwhitt Peak on
    Mou Waho island in Otago, the summit designated ZL3/OT-493. Perhaps
    just a single point earned here, but the total adventure points for
    this trip were off the charts."

    This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.





    India Joins Beaches On The Air

    A two-member team of amateurs from West Bengal VU3IBL & VU3IZV
    activated Indias first beach on the air. The activations were
    from Mousumi Island Beach (Grid NL41).

    Mousuni Island is located towards the Southern end of West Bengal
    and is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal on three sides and a river
    on the other side.

    The team also made use of the special callsign AU2SOA for this
    beach activation.

    Beaches On The Air is a global award scheme for radio amateurs that
    promotes portable operation from beaches. Rolls of honour and awards
    exist for activators and chasers (those who contact them from home).

    You can participate from any beach, country or region around the
    world.

    beachesontheair.com

    (icq podcast)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Don't Call CQ on FM Birds

    Please, it is not necessary and takes up valuable air time.

    If there are no QSOs ongoing, AND there is no station you heard that
    you want to call, you can key up and give your call and grid ONLY
    and unkey.

    But, please, do this sparingly!

    Instead of doing it over and over, listen and wait for another
    station you might want to work. In other words, you have to give
    others a chance to get in there.

    If you add up all the seconds spent by people CQing, or continually
    announcing themselves you'll see what a significant percentage of a
    pass is wasted. They say, 'Well no one else was on.' Right...
    because they couldn't get through due to all the CQing!

    Satellites is like HF DXing... listen, listen and when in doubt,
    LISTEN.

    (NA)




    Congratulations to the students of Surya University in Indonesia
    following the deployment of their first satellite from the
    International Space Station.

    Known as SS-1, for Surya Satellite 1, the CubeSat is also
    Indonesia's first student-built satellite. The university
    undergraduates undertook the project with the support of the
    United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, which recognised
    it in a design competition in 2018. That achievement awarded it the
    chance to be deployed from the ISS.

    The CubeSat's mission is to test communication between an Automatic
    Package Reporting System payload and the ground using the amateur
    radio frequency 145.825 MHz. The university students were inspired
    to undertake the project after seeing a presentation on amateur
    radio by the Indonesian Radio Amateurs Organization, ORARI.

    (arnewsline)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    AS-053 THAILAND

    Jack, F5LIT has been active as HS 0 ZPU from January 17 and will
    remain on AS-053 til today January 20 from Krabi Island.

    The call HS 0 ZPU however will remain on air until February 6.

    (vk2wi news TEXT EDITION ONLY)






    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    WHAT IS THE JAMBOREE-ON-THE-AIR (JOTA)?

    JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the
    world connect with each other by means of amateur radio.
    Short-wave radio signals carry our voices to virtually any corner
    of the world. Its the shear excitement of having a live
    conversation with a fellow Scout or Guide at some other place in the
    world that attracts so many young people to this event.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    JOTA is a real Jamboree during which Scouting experiences are
    exchanged and ideas shared - BUT -the use of amateur radio techniques
    offers an extra educational dimension for Scouts. Many grasp the
    opportunity to discover the world of wireless radio techniques and
    electronics. Thousands of volunteer radio amateurs assist the Scouts
    over the JOTA weekend with their knowledge, equipment and enthusiasm.

    Scout Frequencies are specially chosen where low-power,
    simple stations are transmitting. This allows Scouts to operate
    such stations from camp sites and still be able to communicate
    with others.

    For the complete list of Scout frequencies read the text edition of
    this WIA National News Cast, best read at wia.org.au

    jota

    (ham-yota.com)





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    12,000 RESPOND TO EMERGENCY ALERT TEST

    Sheridan County Emergency Management in partnership with the
    Federal Communications Commission conducted a test of the
    Wireless Emergency Alert System.

    Sheridan is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming

    A test alert was sent to all wireless devices within 1.5 square miles
    of the courthouse and the test included a link to a survey to help
    measure the effectiveness of the WEA System.

    Emergency Management staff had 78 people participate as a part of
    the control group. The control group included County and city staff,
    courthouse staff and volunteer amateur radio operators from the
    Cloud Peak Radio and Electronics Group. More than 400 citizens from
    Sheridan County responded to the survey when they received the test
    message. Nationally, 37 test messages were sent and more than 12,000
    people responded to the survey.

    The Wireless Emergency Alert System is an alerting network in the
    United States designed to disseminate emergency alerts to mobile
    devices such as cell phones and pagers.

    The government issues three types of alerts through this system:

    1/ Those issued by the President of the United States or the
    Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

    2/ Alerts involving imminent threats to safety of life, issued in two
    different categories: extreme threats and severe threats

    3/ AMBER Alerts i.e. Child Abduction messages.

    When the alert is received, a sound is played even if the ringer is
    off.

    tinyurl.com/6zash9n5

    (The Sheridan Press)





    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February BARG clubrooms
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK6 - Peel Amateur Radio Group - PARGFEST Feb 11 (vk2ki/vk6qi)

    The event celebrates PARGs 40th Anniversary and promises to
    be bigger and better than before - a huge swap-meet attracting
    people from all over Western Australia, short talks by
    invited presenters, demonstrations by various commercial
    organisations and Clubs and a coffee cart to feed the hungries

    To be held at Mandurah Bowling Club, 89 Allnutt Street,
    Mandurah - an easy walk from the Mandurah Light Rail station.

    PARG, with support of TET Emtron and DX Radio Systems, are
    running a huge raffle to be drawn on the day.


    First Prize: An Icom IC-7300 HF Transceiver plus a $100 TET Emtron Gift Voucher.
    Total Value: $1550.00
    Second Prize: An Icom IC2730A Dual Band VHF/UHF Transceiver plus a $50 TET Emtron
    Gift Voucher. Total Value: $459.09
    Third Prize: A Hustler 5BTV 5-Band HF Trap Vertical plus a $50 TET Emtron Gift Voucher. Total Value: $459.09
    Forth Prize: An Icom IC-T10 Dual Band Handheld Transceiver plus a $50 TET Emtron
    Gift Voucher. Total Value: $385.45
    Fifth Prize: A 4O3A Remotely Operated Coaxial Relay plus a $50 TET Emtron Gift Voucher. Total Value: $250.00
    Sixth Prize: A $100 TET Emtron Gift Voucher.
    Seventh Prize: A $50 TET Emtron Gift Voucher.
    Eighth Prize: A $50 TET Emtron Gift Voucher.

    Tickets are on sale right now - from RaffleLink. Head to https://www.rafflelink.com.au/pargfest2023 <https://www.rafflelink.com.au/pargfest2023> and youll be able to buy on-line. Youll also be able to buy tickets at PARGFEST.

    Doors open at 8am for exhibitors and sellers, and 9am for visitors
    - $5 per person for entry and $5 per table for exhibitors.
    And if youd like a chat on the South West AllStar network on your
    way to and from, call CQ PARG on the VK6RMH repeater on 146.850 MHz.

    To book tables or for more information, email
    parg.secretary@gmail.com

    Check parg.org.au for details, links to the Raffle and for COVID
    updates on the day.

    PARGFEST - WAs Best.




    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)




    FINAL FINAL

    Passing and becoming SKey is Steve Grimsley, of Harden NSW, who
    previously held many callsigns including VK 2 ZP, VK 1 VK, VK 0 VK
    during his long amateur radio career. Steve passed away on 16th of
    January at the age of 100 years 2 months.

    Steve is a former President of the Canberra Radio Society and for
    many years was an active operator on HF bands, mainly on CW. His
    enthusiasm for whatever he was engaged in was infectious.

    He is survived by his two sons, Paul and Peter, many grandchildren
    and great grandchildren.

    (Andrew VK1DA/VK2DA)








    Submitting news items

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    Remember the sooner you submit material the more the
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    Promote your local rebroadcast; details on
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    A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't
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    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.

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    wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
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    The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of
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    We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
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  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Wed Jan 25 18:57:14 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-01-29.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 JANUARY 29 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 JANUARY 29 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS


    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA DX Awards Manager Graham Alston VK3GA
    WIA Director Steven Green VK2TSG

    and joining our regular team of VK2LAW, 3FFF and 4FUQ this week are:-

    VK6QI Mark
    VK4TFN Robert
    VK4FJRK John Knox
    VK3ARM Robert
    VK3HJ Luke
    VK3GTV Col
    VK2APC Alec
    VK1MIC Wade


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    WITH THE SHARP RAZOR BLADES AND SISSORS I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB


    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y



    Hello, this is your WIA Director, Steven Green VK2TSG, with this
    Weeks Board Comment.

    [for the listeners] I apologise for my Voice right now, as it
    appears to be my turn for the dreaded virus.

    Today, I'd like to bring to your attention, the WIA awards programme.
    There is an annual call for nominations ahead of the AGM, with the
    decision of the Board made on the basis of contribution or
    achievement; with not all awards made yearly.

    Your nominations for awards help promote not just the awardees
    achievements, but also Amateur Radio as a whole within Australia
    and its territories.

    At this time we have received only a few nominations, and to be
    truthful, we would like to see a good deal more.

    Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution to
    Amateur Radio, the WIA, or affiliated groups? Why not nominate
    them today?

    Please take a look at the WIA website for more information and the
    nomination form, under the "For Members" menu.

    wia.org.au/members/wiaawards/about/

    This year we would like to close nominations on the 31st of March,
    and while that is not exactly tomorrow, it's better to get in early
    or before items more pressing overtake us.


    In other matters, for WIA Affiliated clubs, it is very important to
    ensure you have a base level of WIA members as part of your club to
    maintain affiliation with the Wireless Institute and therefore
    access to insurance and other benefits. We encourage clubs and their
    members to consider this with the beginning of club activities for
    2023.

    That's all from myself for now; , so 73's... Steven VK2TSG
    [
    VK2TSG@wia.org.au





    Graham Alston VK3GA - WIA DX Awards Manager

    The WIA DX Awards Committee would like to congratulate Bunbury Radio
    Club for winning the inaugural WIA DX Awards "VK Clubs Competition".
    This award recognises the WIA-affiliated club that scores the most
    number of DXCC slots in the calendar year. In 2022, this number was
    a remarkable 7336. The North East Radio Group were second on 3859,
    with Amateur Radio NSW third on 1360.

    In total, 12 radio clubs participated in 2022.

    The winning members of Bunbury Radio Club were VK6APK, VK6DW, VK6IR,
    VK6OZ and VK6RZ.

    Thank you to our sponsor, DX Radio Systems, for providing the medals
    for these members.

    The competition is open for 2023, again sponsored by DX Radio Systems
    and we encourage all WIA-affiliated radio clubs to get their members
    to enrol in the DX Awards and create their own Club Group.

    See the following link:-
    wiaawards.com/view/GroupStandings.php



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    I'M JOHN KNOX VK4FJRK AND THIS IS REWIND

    At the age of 12 he built his first amateur radio transmitter with
    pieces of broken toys and at 15 his first TV camera.

    A whole life has passed since a Mexican became the best known
    scientist of the time, some 60 years ago.

    It was Mexican inventor Guillermo Gonzlez Camarena who came up with
    the concept of Colour TV. His knowledge transcended so much that
    Mexicos' Channel 5 carries the call XHGC, in honour of Gonzlez
    Camarena, his initials engraved forever.

    In the early 1940's Camarena developed his first colour television
    system, known as the Colour Television System Number 1, which was
    patented in 1942. This system used three colour lenses to separate
    the television signal into red, green and blue, which allowed the
    transmission of colour images.

    Despite its innovation, Camarenas system was not adopted commercially
    due to competition from other colour television systems under
    development at the time, including the NTSC standard, which was
    adopted as the official colour television standard in both the
    United States and Mexico.

    Still, Camarenas work was recognized by the industry and he was
    honoured with several awards and recognitions, including Mexicos
    Medal of Technological Merit and Mexicos Order of the Aztec Eagle.
    His legacy continues to be remembered as one of the pioneers in the
    history of television in Mexico.

    MY TIME IS UP - I'M JOHN KNOX VK4FJRK AND THIS HAS BEEN REWIND


    tinyurl.com/mtbewfev ( the yukatan times newspaper )


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    CEPT Short Range Device project team SE24 meeting #108 took place
    911 January.

    The IARU participated in the work of the group on several work items
    associated with Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) and Ultra-Wide Band
    (UWB) automotive radars.

    The impact and standardisation of WPT technologies is being
    carefully assessed across the lowest HF bands and the impact of the
    UWB technologies is relevant in the amateur service allocations in
    the mm-wave bands at 76 GHz, 122 GHz and 134 GHz.

    IARU R1 continues to fully engage in the ongoing studies associated
    with WPT to ensure minimal impact to our lowest HF bands.

    iaru-r1.org/2023/lowest-and-highest-bands-under-the-spotlight-in-cept-se24/




    The SARL 100 project is progressing very well.

    From the smallest newspaper clipping to the handwritten notes of
    amateurs from the early 1900s. It is amazing what has been preserved
    donated, or made available to the project so far.

    Since so much information had already been gathered, the author
    started compiling and editing the first chapters of the book from
    the beginning of Wireless Telegraphy in South Africa to the beginning
    of the Second World War, a period of over 40 years, where among
    other achievements the foundation for broadcasting in South Africa
    was also laid by the amateur radio pioneers.

    In the next weeks, Anette, ZR 6 D will travel to Cape Town and back
    via the Garden Route and Port Elizabeth to visit some senior amateur
    operators to record their stories and collect memorabilia they want
    to donate to the project. Where the items are valuable and or cannot
    be donated, they will be photographed to have a record of the items

    No matter where you are in the world if you have ZS memorabilia
    Anette can be contacted on archives@sarl.org.za




    REGION TWO

    USA

    North Carolina Station Loses Two Towers to Vandalism

    "These recent incidents coincide with a dramatic increase in metal
    thefts," said the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters

    Police are investigating after vandals brought down two local radio
    towers belonging to WSJS (AM), according to station officials.

    According to WFMY News, a TV station based in Greensboro, the North
    Carolina Association of Broadcasters issued a message to member
    stations about the vandalism, writing in part, NCAB has recently
    heard reports from several association members of perpetrators
    intentionally damaging communications towers and stealing copper
    from broadcast facilities/tower sites. As has been reported to us,
    at least three radio sites in the Triad area have been vandalized;
    in one instance, a towers guy wires were cut, leading to a tower
    collapsing. These recent incidents coincide with a dramatic increase
    in metal thefts, with copper, bronze, brass and aluminium all being
    targeted, according to law enforcement.

    The FBI is also involved in this case since its a federal crime.

    tinyurl.com/49n36ar9




    CURACAO

    The Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure group is returning to
    Curacao this year and is inviting young amateurs to be part of the
    operation between July 13th and 18th with the goal of forming a
    DX team of amateurs between the ages of 12 and 17.

    This year, the timing of the trip has an added bonus: Because this
    year's DX adventure overlaps somewhat with the Youth on the Air Camp
    taking place in Canada in July, the young hams in Curacao can
    expect to have some scheduled contacts with the YOTA campers as well.




    REGION THREE

    NEW ZEALAND

    NZART the ZL equivalent of our WIA will hold their 2023 Conference
    and AGM in Palmerston North over the King's Birthday Weekend, being
    3 and 4 June in ZL. Location is the Millennium Copthorne Hotel,
    Palmerston North.




    INDIA

    A massive religious pilgrimage in India has just concluded and as
    always the safety of the thousands attending was assured with the
    help of amateur radio.

    This Pilgrimage is the largest religious gathering in India, the
    Gangasagar Mela, and the West Bengal Radio Club was there as always
    to assist with public safety, communications and coordination for
    individuals who fell ill and needed airlifting from the island to
    area hospitals.

    More than a dozen people were reported missing at the massive
    gathering and the hams assisted in reuniting them with their
    families on the island.

    Officials told the Hindu newspaper that they had the support of
    about 42 amateur radio operators.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF DX Contest ( Marathon )

    The contest finishes Tuesday 31st

    LOGS DUE IN 14th FEBRUARY

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------

    FEBRUARY 25 - 26

    New Zealands Jock White Memorial Field Day

    This annual ZL contest is named to honour Jock White ZL2GX,
    NZART Contest and Awards Manager for over 40 years, for the
    service that he gave to NZART during that time

    The Jock White is always held the last full weekend in February
    Saturday 1500-2400 NZDT
    Sunday 0600-1500 NZDT
    and on 40 and 80 meters.

    Overseas stations in the South Pacific area are welcome and a
    special category exists for "us".

    (nzart)

    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au)



    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on the pointy end
    of a DXpedition pileup?

    Would you like to visit a beautiful South Pacific Island and
    combine some radio activity?

    Maybe you've always wanted to do a DXpedition but couldnt pull
    together the resources for such a venture'?'

    VK3HJ Luke has the info:-

    "Well, the VK9NT DXpedition Bootcamp might be just what you're
    looking for. A small group of experienced Australian DXpeditioners
    is inviting members to join them this year on Norfolk Island in the
    second half of March. All you need to do is book and pay for a
    holiday on the island and then come along to the radio station and
    have a go, the team has done the rest.

    Whether you're an experienced op looking for some time behind the
    microphone, morse paddle or keyboard, or a relative newcomer looking
    to learn about DXing and being in the thick of it, this Bootcamp
    might just be suitable for you."

    For more information visit this website
    dxpeditionbootcamp.net


    --------------

    EASTER ISLAND

    Mario is QRV as CE3WB/CE0 from Isla de Pascua until the end of
    January. Activity is holiday style on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters
    using SSB. QSL to home call CE3WB

    (arrl)


    -------------------

    TIMOR-LESTE

    Again active from Timor-Leste (OC-148) is 4W / JH 2 EUV until
    March 3rd. Activity 10-12-15-17-20m FT8.
    QTH is the Palm Beach Hotel, Dili.
    QSL via LoTW, buro.

    (dx-world)

    --------------

    GUAM.

    QRV is N 7 JVJ until April 28 on 40 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8.
    QSL via operator's instructions.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    TURKEY

    Many Special event stations with prefix and numeral TC 100 are on air
    all year long.

    TC100TC, TC100TA, TC100TR, and TC100YEAR are celebrating the
    centenary of the Turkish Republic.

    QSL via bureau.

    (eHam)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    A group of University of Arizona students are putting the final
    touches on a CubeSat set to be launched into space this year.

    CubeSats are about the size of a small microwave oven. The UA
    "CatSat" will give students hands-on experience developing and
    running a space mission. UA astronomy professor Chris Walker says
    the students took their proposal to NASA four years ago.

    Around 40 students over the years have been working on it and our
    current cadre of students is about ten," Prof. Walker explained.
    "They are very motivated students, excellent students, from all
    different departments of the University, different levels.

    Walker notes graduating students mentor newcomers to the program
    semester-by-semester. They put the finishing touches on the
    satellite last month.

    The CatSat will ride into space aboard a privately-owned rocket.
    Its launch date has yet to be finalized.

    (azpm.org)




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/

    Wade VK1MIC joins us with news of that special SOTA call VI 10 SOTA
    which will be used from February to years end.

    The callsign will be used by anyone activating a VK1 summit during
    the year. An online reservation system has been implemented.
    Details via the VK1 SOTA mailing group on groups.io

    While the callsign has been allocated for the entire year, the
    official launch of the callsign is planned for the 1st of February,
    which is the date from which the VK1 SOTA summits were officially
    registered with the SOTA summits database in the UK.

    Its worth noting that SOTA was first kicked off in Australia with
    the registration of VK3 summits in February 2012. Vk5 followed
    later that year and VK1 joined a year later, then VK2 and VK4 SOTA
    were registered on the 1st September 2013. VK6, VK7 and VK8 were
    registered in the next few years. Since then, amateurs around
    Australia have been trudging up hills with radio equipment in their
    backpacks, to make at least 4 contacts from the summits activation
    zone, which is the zone that includes the summit itself and the
    surrounding land that is within 25m of the peak.

    SOTA summits require 150m of prominence over surrounding land, so
    not all peaks are eligible. However many summits are located
    within parks registered under the WWFF scheme, and anyone listening
    on the HF bands will have heard activations of summits and parks
    under way almost every day of the week.

    A summit in a park gives those working the summit on the air credit
    for both the SOTA and the WWFF awards.

    For more information about SOTA, please look at SOTA.ORG.UK
    sota.org.uk

    73 from Wade VK1MIC on behalf of the VK1 management team




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Mayday:

    It's the international signal for an emergency made by planes and
    boats which use radio communications, which was recently used on
    Qantas flight QF144 from Auckland to Sydney, which ended up landing
    safely, be it on only one working engine.

    But the history of the mayday call dates back to the 1920s
    and while SOS had been used to signal an emergency via morse code,
    with the increase in air travel it was less practical to use over
    radio. Frederick Stanley Mockford came up with a new word for
    signalling an emergency: "mayday".

    Fredrick was in charge of radio at Croydon Airport near London but as
    planes flew to Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France, just across the
    channel Mockford proposed the word as it was the phonetic equivalent
    of "m'aidez" which means "help me" or "m'aider" which means
    "come help me" in French.

    It is repeated three times to avoid confusion and was approved in
    February 1923.

    (9news.com.au)





    South Africa

    Sunday 15 January, the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre
    requested SARL HAMNET Gauteng to deploy a team to assist with
    scene management of a light aircraft accident.

    SARL HAMNET is the ZS version of WIA's WICEN.

    They responded to the accident scene at NASREC in Johannesburg South
    to assist with various duties from managing the scene, keeping
    unauthorized persons from the site to assisting various rescue and
    law enforcement agencies and providing water to all personnel on
    site. The team provided much needed support and collaboration to
    the management of the incident scene alongside other emergency
    agencies.

    The volunteers were thanked for responding and although the
    outcome was a tragic one, it demonstrated that Amateur Radio
    Operators (SARL HAMNET members in particular) are always ready to
    respond in a time of need.

    (sarl news)





    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
    vkdmr.info/
    brandmeister.network/?page=repeaters

    Radio Relay International, an independent amateur radio messaging
    organization, has expanded its Digital Traffic Network infrastructure
    to Puerto Rico. Col VK3GTV has the story.


    According to the organization, the DTN is a hybrid mesh network
    utilizing HF for long-haul traffic and VHF/UHF gateways for
    local emergency communications activities.

    CQ magazine says "Over the past year, according to RRI, the group
    has been providing training to volunteers in Puerto Rico as well as
    technical support and one-on-one assistance."

    During Hurricane Maria, it says, one RRI volunteer alone handled
    over 2000 welfare messages out of the stricken area. The system
    also makes use of WinLink and says it is fully interoperable and
    integrated with other emergency communications resources. RRI also
    sponsors the National SOS Radio Network and Neighbourhood Radio
    Watch programs.

    (cq newsroom)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Short Wave Listener wins Young Scientists of the Year in Ireland

    SWL Shane O'Connor from Kildysart, County Clare, along with his
    teammate Liam Carew were announced as the winners of this year's
    BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS in Dublin.

    Back in 1963 the USA Science Fair idea was brought to Ireland
    and has gone on to bigger and better things every year since
    reaching an all-time high this year when over 2000 projects were
    submitted. All entries were screened to select just 550 projects to
    go through to compete in the RDS. The event attracts over 40,000
    people making it one of the largest events of its kind in Europe,
    if not the world!

    Shane and Liam, both aged 18 and in sixth year in the Abbey School
    in Tipperary won with their project Assessing the impact of
    second-level education on key aspects of adolescents' life and
    development. The pair will also represent Ireland at the European
    Union Contest for Young Scientists in Brussels in September, and
    at the 64th Annual London International Youth Science Forum this
    summer.

    (btyoungscientist.com)




    2023 Social Scene



    VK3 - BARG HamFest 5th of February
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    Weve been telling you every week since well before December 2022
    that BARG HamFest will be held at their clubrooms.
    Well this week news in at late notice the club has had to change
    Venue. VK3ARM Robert has the late breaking news:-


    Dont forget to put next Sunday, 5th February in your phone or diary
    Do it now. Why? Ballarat Amateur Radio Groups Hamvention is on
    again!

    New venue at the Airport. Doors open at 10am, Traders from 8am.

    Excellent place for reunions, to look for bargains or to offload
    items redundant to your needs.

    Great facilities, food and drinks available. How could you possibly
    miss it? Go to the BARG website and click on the Hamvention link for
    details. We look forward to seeing you there

    barg.org.au





    VK6 - PARGFEST - FEBRUARY 11 (vk6qi)

    The Peel Amateur Radio Group in Mandurah Western Australia is running PARGFEST on
    Saturday morning February 11th.

    Were celebrating PARGs 40th Anniversary and the event promises to be bigger and better than before:
    a huge swap-meet attracting people from all over Western Australia,
    short talks by invited presenters,
    demonstrations by various commercial organisations and Clubs,
    and even a coffee cart to feed the hungries
    plus were running a huge raffle which will be drawn on the day.

    Just think - you could share in $3,300 worth of prizes and could walk away as the
    proud owner of an Icom IC-7300 HF Transceiver and other great prizes. Tickets are on
    sale on right now - head to www.parg.org.au <http://www.parg.org.au/> and youll be
    able to buy on-line from RaffleLink. Youll also be able to buy tickets at PARGFEST.

    So as usual, the event will be held at the Mandurah Bowling Club, 89 Allnutt Street,
    Mandurah - just a short walk from the light rail station. Doors open at 8am for
    exhibitors and sellers, and 9am for visitors - $5 per person for entry and $5 per
    table for exhibitors. Call CQ PARG on the VK6RMH repeater (146.850MHz with a 91.5Hz
    sub-tone) on the way and chat to some terrific people on the South West AllStar net.

    To book tables or for more information, email our Secretary Jenny VK6JEN parg.secretary@gmail.com

    Please check www.parg.org.au for details, links to the Raffle and for COVID updates
    on the day.

    PARGFEST - WAs Best. See you there amongst the raffles and bargains - Saturday morning February 11th at 89 Allnutt Street Mandurah.

    This is Mark VK6QI for the Peel Amateur Radio Group.




    VK4 - SUNSHINE COAST CAR BOOT SALE FEBRUARY 12
    This includes a deceased estate sale and it happens
    at the club house, 85 Godfreys Rd Pacific Paradise, QLD.
    10 AM. (vk4an)



    VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE (vk4tfn)

    REDFEST 2023
    Saturday 1st April 2023.
    No, It's not a joke we're fair dinkum.

    Greetings from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club
    VK4RC. Right here in South East Queensland!

    Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.

    The Redcliffe Club will hold our HamFest on:
    Saturday the 1st April 2023 at 9:00am
    at St. Michael's College, Caboolture.

    Please mark the date in the calendar on your mobile
    phone.

    BREAKFAST is served from 8:00am.
    REDFEST opens at 9:00am. $5 Admission.
    Vendors: Order your tables in March. $10.00 per table.
    Vendors are admitted free.

    For Table Bookings Email:
    redfest@redclifferadioclub.org.au

    Go to: www.redclifferadioclub.org.au We're also on Facebook.
    It'll be a good day out. We look forward to seeing you.

    Thank you and 73's from
    the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC.


    VK4 - SUNFEST - NOVEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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)

    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Feb 3 01:53:18 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-02-05.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 FEBRUARY 05 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 FEBRUARY 5 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    ( 1937 in a mention we've come across relating to weekly
    broadcasts of information prepared by VK4 was a plea to
    restart the weekly news service which was on air in the
    late 1920's )

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA's Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK. -
    President Scott Williams VK3KJ. -
    Editor-in-Chief Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH. - -
    From Amateur Radio Victoria, Peter Cossins VK3BFG.-

    Also our weekly reminder that all points of contact and more
    information including links to our stories sources are best
    read in the text edition of this news service on wia.org.au

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    WITH THE SHARP RAZOR BLADES AND SISSORS I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hi there, this is WIA Director and President Scott WilliamsVK3KJ
    and nice to be appearing on the broadcast for the first time in 2023.

    After a few weeks break over the Christmas / New Year holiday period,
    the board is now fully back on deck and already has held two Board
    meetings in January and a special meeting last Tuesday night, which
    I will talk about a little more shortly.

    The board throughout 2022 met generally twice a month, Board meetings
    are split in two halves, with 2 hours set aside each fortnight to
    cover various items of business.sometimes a little longer. In
    addition to Board meetings, the Board will also meet informally
    from time to time with various committees and individuals to
    workshop and discuss items which need a little more focus or
    attention.

    From February, the Board has resolved to meet once a month and we
    will continue to hold others special meetings as necessary, however
    frequent they need to be to ensure we address all items that need
    attention.

    In regard to our special meeting last Tuesday night, this was with
    John Seamons (VK3JLS) who is the National and Inwards QSL Manager.
    John had tabled an excellent report to the Board covering all
    aspects of the QSL bureau for last year, including sharing some
    observations and insights to some of the issues that are being
    experienced.

    In no particular order the observations are:

    1. The bureau distributed 64820 cards for 2022 with NSW 15730,
    Victoria 13500, QLD 11,801, WA 9000, SA 6540, TAS 3870, ACT 2830
    and NT 1540.

    2. There were 1234 cards for VK9s, VK0s and special event calls.

    3. The amount of cards distributed in 2022 was just ahead of the
    63270 cards distributed in 2019. (Due to Covid, number in 2020
    and 2021 were significantly less).

    4. The amount of misdirected cards in 2022 was 680. These are cards
    sent to Australia by mistake from other overseas bureaus.

    5. Disappointingly, there were 960 cards that were binned in 2022.
    This is mainly due to individuals not been a member of the WIA,
    not having an arrangement with one the State / Territory QSL
    bureaus, not informing the National & Inwards QSL Manager of
    special event calls and where cards should be directed.

    John reported that he had a database of over 78 special event
    callsigns and needed to continually search QRZ and other callsign
    databases to try and identity where to direct cards. Generally, any
    card that cannot be identified where to send it or that there is no
    arrangement in place, is held up to 12 months and then is destroyed.

    Other issues highlighted included the escalation of bureau postage
    costs with cards generally being bulk packaged and distributed every
    3 months to help minimise cost.

    The recent meeting also discussed the amount of expected QSL cards
    over the next few years given the additional activity on the bands
    due to Solar Cycle 25 and the amount of special event callsigns,
    contest callsigns (2x1s) and cards received under the AX prefix.

    Discussion occurred around callsigns for life where of course today
    a VK2 call sign could be used in VK4, therefore a VK2 QSL card will
    always end up in the VK2 QSL Bureau, which of course means on some
    occasions could be incorrect.

    In summary, there is no doubt we are facing a few challenges with
    the Bureau, and I know there is consultation occurring with all
    bureaus around Australia to gain feedback and look at ways to create
    efficiencies.

    A couple of little reminders are:

    Make sure you are a member of the WIA and help support this
    wonderful service

    Make sure if you are not a member you have an alternative
    arrangement in place.

    Make sure if you are using special event callsigns you notify the
    National Bureau (this is the first-place cards arrive).

    Make sure special event callsigns and contest callsigns are listed
    on the QRZ database with any special instructions just in case.

    And finally, if you are using a VK9 or VK0 callsign, make sure you
    notify the National Bureau. We have had several DX operations of
    recent time which have not notified the Bureau and we have hundreds
    of cards just waiting for distribution.

    That old saying rings true, sometimes you have to help yourself
    before you expect others to help you.

    Finally, thank you to all the wonderful volunteers that assist with
    the Bureaus around the country. I dont think people realise the
    effort and amount of work that goes into sorting and distributing
    cards, both at the national Bureau and each state / Territory Bureau.

    I would also like to make a special mention of long standing
    VK4 QSL Manager Mrs June Sim who has decided to retire. Thank you,
    June, for your tireless work over the years and years and making
    sure cards are sorted and distributed in QLD. Also, thank you to
    Laurie Pritchard (VK4BLE) who has been appointed the new VK4
    QSL Manager.

    On behalf of the Board, thank you for supporting the WIA and best
    wishes to you all.

    WIA President
    Scott Williams VK3KJ





    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine,
    Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Last Tuesday, the files for the latest edition of A R Issue Number
    1 for 2023 were uploaded to the printer's server in Bairnsdale,
    Victoria.

    Look out for the issue landing in your letterbox, your Post Office
    Box, or your local newsagency, late next week.

    The theme for this issue is Antennas and Propagation.
    Never mind, Ill get back to that shortly.

    Here is the BIG news this year, marks 90 years of continuous
    publication for Amateur Radio magazine. Were going to make a bit
    of a song and dance about it. 90 years serving Australias radio
    amateurs in the guise of The Journal of the Wireless Institute of
    Australia.

    Matters were rather volatile in the lead-up to the WIAs magazine
    venture in 1933.

    The youthful WIA had survived 20 years, the Great War, the Roaring 20s
    and global depression, during which many commercial magazines
    catering to audiences interested in the new wireless and radio
    technologies came and went, it is indeed a wonder the WIAs magazine
    venture got any sort of start.

    Well how DID Amateur Radio magazine come into being?
    WIA Historian, Peter Wolfenden VK3 R V, kicks off Part 1 of a
    two-part feature article written in his trademark thoroughgoing
    style.

    Justin Giles-Clark VK7 T W gets down and dirty or, maybe that
    should be up and dirty with building a multi-band portable linked
    dipole. Talking about antennas always raises the subject of antenna
    tuners. This issue, Lou Destefano VK3 A Q Z returns with a cunningly
    conceived and constructed homebrew ATU rated to handle 400 watts.
    Not to be missed.

    Poignantly, this issue we have a feature article from a well-known
    author who is now a silent key. Titled How Radio Australia reached
    the world, a concise historical overview of the life and service of
    Radio Australia from 1944 through 2017 it was written by
    Rodney Champness VK3 U G, who died in late October last year.
    We also include a comprehensive obituary on him, compiled by his
    friend and colleague, Vic Pleuger VK2 V P.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 1 for 2023.
    Serving Australian radio amateurs since 1933. Available in print
    and online. Always published to a schedule, never random.

    This has been AR magazine Editor-in-Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH
    for VK1WIA News.





    EDUCATION

    Amateur Radio Victoria is about to run two different on line
    Tutorials.

    The first is for Foundation level and commences Monday 13th February
    7 9 PM for 3 nights. The recommended text is Your Entry to
    Amateur Radio available on line from the Wireless Institute of
    Australia or Amateur Radio Victoria websites.
    The charge for the Tutorial is $60 and enrolments via the Amateur
    Radio Victoria website are now open.


    An Advanced Tutorial commences Wednesday 1st March 7 9 PM for
    12 nights. The charge for this is $150.00 and enrolments are also
    open via the Amateur Radio Victoria website.
    Recommended texts are Radio Theory Handbook for Amateurs by
    Fred Swainston or Radio Theory Handbook Beginner to Advanced by
    Ron Bertrand.

    Enrolment numbers are limited due to the fact that an assessment
    service is offered at the end of each Tutorial.

    The Tutorials are conducted via Zoom from the Ham Shack of
    myself, Peter Cossins VK3BFG and includes various live presentations
    and short videos.

    73 Peter VK3BFG

    tinyurl.com/ytmmtvhx
    arv@amateurradio.com.au
    pcossins@bigpond.com


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    IRELAND

    Resignation of the President of the IRTS

    The IRTS Committee have received a letter of resignation from the
    President of the IRTS, Larry EI9CN. The Committee thanked Larry for
    his hard work and offered him best wishes for the future.

    Further information will be provided when it becomes available.




    UNITED KINGDOM

    As part of the Charles 3 Coronation celebration activities, Ofcom
    has approved R as the optional Coronation regional secondary
    locator prefix for all UK radio amateurs.

    They will be able to use this for the whole of May and June 2023.

    More information will be reported closer to the date of the
    Coronation.



    HUNGARY

    YOTA Summer Camp 2023.

    This is the 11th year and this year it's in Hungary.

    The event itself will be held from 5th to 12th August.

    100 ambitious youngsters from around IARU Region 1 including guest
    teams from Regions 2 and 3 have been invited.





    REGION TWO

    CANADA

    An amateur astronomer from southwestern Nova Scotia has captured a
    dazzling time-lapse of the green comet that's making a rare pass
    near Earth.

    The last time the comet was this close to our planet was
    50,000 years ago. Many Canadians are looking up at the stars
    this week.

    Tim Doucette with the Deep Sky Eye Observatory near Yarmouth, N.S.,
    is among them. He took a two-hour time-lapse of the comet during
    the early-morning hours of Jan. 28.

    "If you've got a telescope, are in Canada and you look closely at
    the comet and the background stars, it's travelling relative in our
    sky about one-quarter degrees per hour," he told CBC Radio's
    Mainstreet Halifax. "So within a few minutes you can see that the
    comet's actually making motion in the night sky."

    tinyurl.com/3d5p95wt




    CHILE - ARGENTINA

    A truck-sized asteroid that suddenly loomed out of the darkness
    with the Earth in its sights then sailed harmlessly past us on
    Thursday 26th.

    Asteroid 2023 BU whizzed past without incident and back out into
    the blackness of space.

    The rock, which was spotted by an amateur stargazer in Crimea, came
    closest to the southern tip of South America at around 0029 GMT
    Friday, according to scientists who were tracking it.

    bit.ly/3HiVtTQ


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    REWIND

    Morse Code is making a comeback!

    Children as young as FIVE are learning the once ground-breaking form
    of communication - spurred on by K-Pop bands who use it to leak
    hints about upcoming songs to fans

    Now whist the youngsters are learning CW do you need to learn what
    K-PPOP is?

    K-pop or Korean Pop is the internationally popular, aesthetic-driven,
    style-bending, trendsetting, music genre of the 21st century.
    Originating in South Korea, K-pop draws influence from a range of
    genres like pop, experimental, rock, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and
    dance

    South Korean boy bands NU'EST and TXT have both used Morse Code
    within their music videos, and even communicate hints about
    upcoming songs to fans.

    At the start of TXT's song Crown, Morse Code is used to spell out
    the title before the song gets underway.

    Similarly, NU'EST's song Help Me spells out its title at the start
    of the song. NU'EST even had flashing lights, communicating in
    Morse on their website to reveal the titles of their upcoming songs.

    This prompted young fans of the bands to scour the internet trying
    to find out the hidden meaning of the beeps - and morse was
    rediscovered

    BUT even the Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever has at the beginning
    of the song right after Lennon sings "Let me take you down,
    cause I'm going to" (0:16) a sequence of very faint beeps that
    spell out the initials J.L.

    The B-52s - Planet Claire: -Pretty much the first 30 seconds is
    morse code, which can be translated to

    "NAWS DE CFH II ZKR F1 3394 4156.66238......".

    One theory is that it is a transmission from a Canadian Naval base
    in Nova Scotia signalling to ships. NAWS was the name when signalling
    out to "any or all allied warships", DE means "this is", CFH is the
    call sign of CFS Mill Cove, II signals a hyphen or dash, ZKR means
    "I am listening in and guarding this frequency" and F1 refers to
    radio teletype mode. The numbers that follow are the different
    frequencies. So it would be "To any or all allied warships this is
    Canadian Forces Station Mill Cove - I am guarding the transmission,
    in Radio teletype mode frequencies 3394, 4156, 66238". Or something
    like that.

    Morse does appear inadvertently on a pop track from the early 70's

    Forever immortalized on Tubular Bells: Coastal Radio Station, GBR

    VK3GK Lee Moyle continues our morse in music story:-


    YOU CAN HEAR GBR TRANSMITTING, ON THE "TUBULAR BELLS" RECORDING BY
    MIKE OLDFIELD.

    The morse signal from GBR inadvertently entered the Tubular Bells
    recording and can be heard on the CD and decoded today.

    This great story features a radio station called Rugby Radio Station
    (GBR) that was in Warwickshire, in the heart of England, and the
    famous mansion / studio The Manor that Richard Branson of Virgin
    made available to Mike Oldfield for whom he worked at Tubular Bells
    between 1972 and 1973.

    Located 60 kilometres from The Manor, where Mike Oldfield spent long
    months producing his great album, was Rugby Radio, where it was
    built at the end of the Great War and during the Second World War
    it was used as a very low frequency radio station for communication
    with submarines in the North Atlantic and for telephone service
    between England and the United States.

    This station stopped broadcasting in 2003 and closed in 2007.

    See the decoding process on YouTube
    youtube.com/watch?v=b1g_wJQKihc

    And we couldn't possibly go QRT with this segment without mentioning
    THE TOP TRACK on the Billboard top 100 for the past 6 weeks.

    That's number one with a "bullet" as we old jocks used to say.

    The song? SOS by SZA)

    I'm John VK4JJW


    (WIA - DAILYMAIL)

    tinyurl.com/36bm9t4p

    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    FEBRUARY 25 - 26

    New Zealands Jock White Memorial Field Day

    This annual ZL contest is named to honour Jock White ZL2GX,
    NZART Contest and Awards Manager for over 40 years, for the
    service that he gave to NZART during that time

    The Jock White is always held the last full weekend in February
    Saturday 1500-2400 NZDT
    Sunday 0600-1500 NZDT
    and on 40 and 80 meters.

    Overseas stations in the South Pacific area are welcome and a
    special category exists for "us".

    (nzart)



    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au) --------------



    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------



    MAY 1st Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life. (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------



    The Special Event Station VI 100 MB is active during 2023,
    celebrating the centenary of VK2's Manly & District Radio Club.

    (Richard Murnane)

    --------------

    VI 10 SOTA all year from summits in VK1

    --------------

    In the Gamba operating is C 5 YK until February 24th.

    Listen on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m, mostly using the digital modes.

    QSL via Logbook Of The World and eQSL, or to home call ON 7 YK
    direct or via the bureau.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    TIMOR-LESTE

    Again active from Timor-Leste (OC-148) is 4W / JH 2 EUV until
    March 3rd. Activity 10-12-15-17-20m FT8.
    QTH is the Palm Beach Hotel, Dili.
    QSL via LoTW, buro.

    (dx-world)

    --------------

    GUAM.

    QRV is N 7 JVJ until April 28 on 40 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8.
    QSL via operator's instructions.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    TURKEY

    Many Special event stations with prefix and numeral TC 100 are on air
    all year long.

    TC100TC, TC100TA, TC100TR, and TC100YEAR are celebrating the
    centenary of the Turkish Republic.

    QSL via bureau.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS.

    Jean-Gabriel, F4CIX, signing FW 1 JG until January 2024.
    He is active on 40 to 6 meters using SSB and FT8.
    QSL via LoTW.

    (arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF
    WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www@wia.org.au
    users.mackay.net.au/~ron/
    homingin.com
    ardf.org.au


    Kraken Direction Finding SDR

    If youre in the Hobart region save the date of 1st March 7:30pm
    for Ollie VK7NFI who will be presenting and demonstrating the
    crowdsupplied (funded ) Kraken Software Defined Radio that is built
    specifically for direction finding.

    He will be in the REAST club grounds

    Five antennas are placed into a circle and used to direction find
    using a notebook or the smart phone application which integrates
    nicely with Google Maps to let you know what the closest driven
    path to the radio (FOX) is.

    Ollie will be showing REAST the hardware and demonstrating the
    software and if lucky, there may be some Amateur Radio Direction
    Finding around the Queens Domains Clubrooms.

    crowdsupply.com/krakenrf/krakensdr

    (vk7wi news)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    FADE TO BLACK

    The IRTS (Irish Radio Transmitting Society) are reporting the SSTV
    unit aboard the ISS has completely failed.

    The interface card connecting the radios with the computer suffered
    damage beyond repair. New laptops are also being used, which
    require a new interface components from the ARISS-Russia team.
    ARISS-Russia is developing this new interface and is consulting
    the ARISS-International hardware and software team.

    Sergey Samburov, RV3DR stated that they don't expect to complete
    the SSTV development efforts until early 2024 and the hardware will
    be transported to the ISS on a Progress flight later in 2024.

    Until then there will be no more SSTV broadcasts.

    (irts)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    SWISS STUDENTS' SATELLITE PREPARES FOR LAUNCH

    An educational satellite built by Swiss students is being prepared
    for an important launch in February

    With the help of a ham radio antenna donated by the Vaudois Amateur
    Radio Club, HB 9 MM, high school students in Switzerland will be
    learning how to download telemetry data and photos from a satellite
    they have helped build in a laboratory at Orbital Solutions in
    Monaco.

    They will be able to send commands to the CubeSat to select
    telemetry and picture download or to switch it into its VU
    transponder mode so that amateurs around the world will be able to
    communicate over the small satellite. The downlink using BPSK and
    AX25 is on 436.825 MHz and when the transponder is enabled, its
    uplink will be on 145.850 MHz.

    The launch is expected to take place on the 14th February at the
    Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

    RoseyCubesat-1 is the first educational satellite of its kind to be
    created through the companys STEMSAT programme. Le Rosey is the
    name of the Swiss learning institute that the students attend.

    (ARNewsLine)




    SpaceX successfully performed the first WDR of Starship Booster 7
    and Ship 24 on Monday. This is a major milestone in any rockets
    march towards a first launch, especially for a super heavy lift
    monster like Starship, which will have more than twice the thrust of
    the Saturn V.

    SpaceX loaded 4.5 million kg of cryogenic propellant into the fully
    reusable, two-stage rocket (causing it to shrink noticeably) and
    performed a countdown as it would on launch day.

    A 33-engine static fire is now the next dramatic step toward an
    orbital launch

    (ANS)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is
    the first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers
    Club of Australia's monthly bulletin to go to air.

    This month as well as the latest Club news

    * I'll be talking about The Super regenerative receiver,

    * This will be followed by Bill, VK3BR who tells us about the almost forgotten inventor of radio', Canadian born Reginald Fessendon.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on the RAOTC website
    at www.raotc.org.au or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the audio file at any
    time from today from the club website.

    Members and Friends of the RAOTC in Perth are reminded that the next lunchtime meeting at the new venue, the Woodbridge Hotel,

    East Guildford, will be on Tuesday February 14th. All are welcome; further details
    are published on the RAOTC website, under

    subheading Luncheons.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the February RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the program and
    please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    Troubridge Island IOTA number OC-139.

    Troubridge Island is an island located in the south west corner
    of Gulf St Vincent in South Australia near the eastern edge of the
    Troubridge Shoals.

    Adam, VK2YK, Chris, VK5FR, Ivan, VK5HS and a team of other VK hams
    will be using the callsign VK5TIL from Troubridge Island on the
    7th, 8th and 9th of February.

    They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on various bands.
    QSL via MOXO's OQRS, LoTW and eQSL.

    (ARNewsLine WIA)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    The RCA CR-88 was a radio receiver made to work in top-secret
    government eavesdropping stations.

    As you might expect, these radios are top-of-the-line, performance
    wise, at least when they are working correctly. Hackaday have a
    story where a Mr. Carlson has one on his bench, and they and now us
    get to watch the show on his recent video that you can see in
    the link we like best read at wia.org.au and click the current news
    text.

    Interestingly, Mr. Carlson uses some Sherlock Holmes-like deductive
    reasoning to guess some things about the radios secret history.
    The radios design is decidedly heavy-duty, with a giant power
    transformer and many valves, IF transformers, and large filter
    capacitors. The underside of the radio reveals neat wiring and some
    big metal shields. The metal shields and filters have a very
    specific purpose. The radio was probably in a bank of radios, and
    you dont want them interfering with each other. In addition, you
    might not want someone tracking your super-secret listening post by
    its RF emission.

    hackaday.com/2023/01/30/inside-a-1940s-spy-radio/


    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.

    vk2wi)


    VK6 - PARGFEST in Mandurah Western Australia February 11th. (vk6qi)

    Peel Amateur Radio Group - PARGFEST and Raffle.

    Last call for PARGFEST. Come and join in the fun next
    Saturday morning when the Peel Amateur Radio Group in Mandurah
    Western Australia celebrates PARGs 40th Anniversary.

    This year the event will be bigger and better than ever before
    - the huge swap-meet, tech talks by invited presenters, club
    displays and WAs amateur radio vendors will be there. And by
    popular demand, if you get the hungries or need a cuppa, well
    be able to help with that too.

    Plus were running a huge raffle which will be drawn on the
    day. Just think - you could share in $3,300 worth of prizes
    and could walk away as the proud owner of an Icom IC-7300
    HF Transceiver, an IC-2730A, a Hustler 5 Band HF Trap Vertical
    an IC-T10 and other great prizes.

    So as usual, the event will be held at the Mandurah Bowling
    Club, 89 Allnutt Street, Mandurah - just a short walk from the
    light rail station. Doors open at 8am for exhibitors and
    sellers, and 9am for visitors - $5 per person for entry and
    theres no table charge.

    PARGs emergency Comms trailer PARG1 will be set up - so call
    CQ PARG on the VK6RMH repeater on 146.850MHz with a 91.5Hz
    sub-tone on the way in or on your way home and chat to VK6ARG
    on the South West AllStar net.

    And what about taking the opportunity to sell some of your
    treasures by booking a swap-meet table or three? For more
    information, email our Secretary Jenny VK6JEN
    parg.secretary@gmail.com

    Check parg.org.au for details, links to the Raffle and for
    COVID updates on the day.

    PARGFEST - WAs Best. See you there amongst the raffles and
    bargains - Saturday morning February 11th at 89 Allnutt Street
    in Mandurah.





    VK4 - SUNSHINE COAST CAR BOOT SALE FEBRUARY 12


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.


    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)

    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/100 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Feb 9 16:27:24 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-02-12.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 FEBRUARY 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

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING FEBRUARY 12 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    ( 1937 in a mention we've come across relating to weekly
    broadcasts of information prepared by VK4 was a plea to
    restart the weekly news service which was on air in the
    late 1920's )

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT VK2GPK GREG

    WIA's ARMAGAZINE EDITOR IN-CHIEF VK2ZRH ROGER


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M NATIONAL NEWS EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is Greg VK2GPK with this weeks comment.

    Unless you were a hermit living in a cave, you would be aware that
    the spectrum regulator, the ACMA has canvassed submissions over
    the last year or so on its proposed elimination of the current
    Amateur Service licence defined as a non-assigned (meaning not
    restricted to a fixed location) apparatus licence. In an earlier
    board comment , based on the ACMAs own description of a class
    licence, I postulated that the Amateur Service is not an appropriate
    USE CASE for a class licence. In other words, a class licence has
    dubious fitness for purpose for the Amateur Service. There are
    unavoidable collateral impacts in various legal contexts outside of
    the regulators jurisdiction, with local and international legislation
    that create exposure for amateur operators.

    Importantly amateur operators would transition from being clients
    of the ACMA to being at best tenuous stakeholders as unlicensed
    spectrum users with no real rights of representation with the
    regulator. This has potentially ominous long term implications for
    the future, especially in regard to retention of the GHz spectrum.

    Well, as was widely anticipated as the only likely outcome, the
    ACMAs 2022-2027 Five year spectrum outlook (FYSO) and 2022 -2023
    work program published only a few weeks ago contains the following
    sentence.., <begin quote> We (Ed The ACMA) recently reviewed
    non-assigned amateur and outpost licensing arrangements and
    concluded that a transition from apparatus to class licensing was
    suitable. end quote

    Quote for the 2022 2027 ACMA FYSO

    We recently reviewed non-assigned amateur and outpost licensing
    arrangements and concluded that a transition from apparatus to
    class licensing was suitable. The amateur service is a longstanding
    and valued user of the radiofrequency spectrum and is designed
    primarily to facilitate hobby radiocommunications and technical
    experimentation. Given that there are over 15,000 licensed amateurs
    in Australia, the transition to class licensing is expected to be a
    substantial reduction in regulatory burden. End quote

    Interestingly, in their definition the word hobby has never been
    part of the official definition of the Australian Amateur Service
    and it silent in regards that experimentation has contributed to
    continual technical innovation for the benefit of society over many
    decades. And the last sentence is quite telling what is the
    regulatory burden? There is no real business case to support such a
    statement. Why are they eliminating a perfectly serviceable class
    licence? A class licence for the Amateur service makes Australia a
    global outlier.

    Begin Quote

    A change to a class licence is non trivial, as the ACMA has stated.

    Activities planned for 202223

    ..The implementation of class-licensing arrangements will be a
    large and complex body of work, involving administrative and
    operational changes to how amateur qualifications and certificates
    are issued and recognised under the Act, how call signs are managed,
    and consequential changes to Deed arrangements for the delivery of
    amateur radio services.

    We do not expect this body of work to cause interruptions to the
    amateur radio service for licensees. We will focus on communicating
    the changes and timeframes to the amateur community and making the
    transition as smooth as possible. We encourage amateur licensees to
    subscribe to our Amateur update newsletter to ensure that they are
    kept up-to-date.

    End Quote

    Because of time constraints, I have included in the text version of
    this comment an extract from ACMAs response to submissions 2022.
    It is worth reading, especially in regard to committees which is
    almost nonsensical.

    I hope WIA affiliated clubs discuss the impending class licence
    particularly the ACMA planned activities for 2022 -2023. in their
    meetings as it is not quite yet set in concrete. It is worth
    remembering that the IARU is the ITU sector owner for the Amateur
    service and the WIA is the sole Australian member and also Region 3
    founding member.

    Until next time, this is Greg VK2GPK.


    The following was not included in the audio, but is useful
    background

    Begin quote from ACMA Response to Submissions 2022

    Amateur radio
    An amateur radio representative body expressed its concerns that
    the transition to class-licensing arrangements for the amateur
    service would lead to a reduction in protection from interference,
    and a reduction of future privileges, updates and support to the
    service. The submitter recommended that a service level agreement
    be established under the class licence that would define the
    responsibilities and expectations of all parties. The submitter was
    also of the view that the amateur service would benefit from an
    independent committee made up of amateur community representatives,
    and that operated on a consensus-based model akin to a self- or
    co regulatory arrangement. Additionally, it requested that standard
    amateur operators be allowed to access the 5052 MHz band.

    Submitters supported further investigations into higher power limits
    for foundation and standard operators, in addition to advanced
    amateur operators.

    Our response (ed The ACMA)
    We consulted on non-assigned amateur licensing arrangements,
    including a draft class licence, in Q1 2021. In our response to
    submissions to that consultation, we addressed concerns raised
    about interference protection and the perceived dilution of amateur
    operator privileges under a class licence. Specifically, we
    explained that the level of interference protection for
    non-assigned amateur stations will remain the same under a
    class licence, and regulatory conditions that apply to amateur
    operations, including operating privileges afforded to operators at
    each level of qualification, will not be changed.

    We expect to consult in Q3 2022 on the specific implementation
    issues for amateur class licensing. We continue to consider the
    best ways to engage with the amateur community through various
    channels. It is our view that amateur class-licencing arrangements,
    which will encompass the class licence and any operational procedures,
    are adequate for the regulation of the amateur service. We do not
    consider it is necessary or possible to establish a service-level
    agreement for the service.

    It is open to members of the amateur community, including
    amateur representative bodies, to form one or more amateur
    radio committees, and to do so without the involvement or
    endorsement of the ACMA.

    We have made some updates to the FYSO to clarify the scope of
    implementation activities we will conduct in the 202223 period.

    End quote.





    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine,
    Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Amateur Radio magazine is now in newsagents and should be in most
    members hands via Australia Post by now.

    If not, a little patience and it soon will be.

    As I said last week, the theme for Issue 1 is on Antennas and
    Propagation.

    Accordingly, our lead item in WIA News covers how Solar Cycle 25 is
    confounding forecasts of the timing and size of the peak.
    DXers may be in for a surprise.

    Another item of note is WestNews, a new column covering happenings
    in our largest state Western Australia. Our correspondent,
    Will McGhie VK6 U U, details the operation of Perths International
    Propagation Beacon VK6 R B P, one of the 18 five-band HF beacons
    at locations across the world, transmitting on all the bands from
    20 metres through 10 metres.

    The two authors of our Antenna Modelling feature series that ran
    over last year, complete it by detailing the design of a
    five-element Yagi for two metres.

    Meanwhile, Dale Hughes VK1 D S H completes the description of his
    multi-mode transmitter for the 2200 metre band, and Phil Fitzherbert
    VK3 F F expands on his journey of conserving a Collins S-line setup,
    this time covering the 75S-3 communications receiver.

    To round-out the technical content, Eric VK3 E A C reveals all about
    a simple controller for bipolar stepper motors.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 1 for 2023.
    Published continuously for 90 years!
    Always published to a schedule, never random.
    Available in print and online.

    This has been AR magazine Editor-in-Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH
    for VK1WIA National News.





    EDUCATION

    Redcliffe and Districts radio club.
    http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/RedcliffeAndDistrictRadioClub/

    Gday to my name is Steve VK4SJH

    THIS IS A PRINT ONLY STORY:- AUDIO IS ON THIS WEEKS QNEWS from VK4

    vk7ax.id.au/wianews/


    The Redcliffe Radio Club is commencing and Advanced/Standard course
    using Microsoft Teams from Sunday 12th Feb 19:30 hrs QLD time.
    The course will run for several months or until you are ready to
    have a go at either the Standard or Advanced Theory exam.

    Course notes and plenty of practice exams will be provided to you
    electronically.

    If you would like to be part of that training then send an email to
    education@redclifferadioclub.org.au and one of the education team
    will send you details for the advanced/standard training course and
    cost being run via Microsoft Teams. You will find an extremely
    friendly bunch of Amateurs who will help you with any theory
    question you may have.

    Hope to hear from you 73s Steve VK4SJH

    AUDIO ON
    vk7ax.id.au/wianews/



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    TURKEY and SYRIA

    A 7.8 Magnitude earthquake hit Trkiye and Syria 6th February
    leading to well over 20,000 deaths and many many casualties.
    Aftershocks continued in the area with another large 7.5 magnitude
    event happening soon after affecting the response.

    The emergency communications group of TRAC will be involved in the
    response activities, primarily expected to be on VHF/UHF but they do
    also use 3.777 and 7.092MHz as needed. Transmissions in Turkish have
    been heard on the frequency of 28.540 MHz. Radio Amateurs are
    requested to give way to any emergency traffic around those
    frequencies.

    Aziz Sasa TA 1 E President of TRAC has stated in a report on IARU
    Region One website that Turkey has asked for assistance from the
    international community and notes that if SAR Groups intend to come
    for assistance they should contact the Embassies of Turkey in their
    countries. He also says that SAR groups should be advised to have
    at least one Ham Radio operator in their team and / or the facilities
    to program their radios.

    This is a devastating event for the area but please remember that
    it is easy for ports and airports to be blocked with unrequested
    supplies so only materials formally requested by the relief agencies
    should be dispatched and only to named destinations or they are
    likely to be blocked from import.




    SWEDEN

    In honour of World Radio Day, tomorrow Monday February 13,
    radio station SAQ in Grimeton, Sweden, and amateur radio station
    SK 6 SAQ, are scheduled to be on the air to send out a peace message
    to the world, using the unique 1924 200 kW Alexanderson alternator
    on 17.2 kHz CW.

    Test and tuning transmissions will begin approximately at 12:00 UTC
    and SAQ will be on the air for 20 - 30 minutes. Start-up and tuning
    of the Alexanderson alternator will begin at 14:30 UTC and
    transmission of the peace message from SAQ will start at 15:00 UTC.

    SK6SAQ has picked a set of unique frequencies with a "connection"
    to SAQ's transmission frequency on 17.2 kHz, and will be QRV between
    09:00 UTC and 16:00 UTC on the following frequencies:

    - 3517.2 kHz CW
    - 7017.2 kHz CW
    - 14017.2 kHz CW
    - 3755 kHz SSB
    - 7140 kHz SSB

    QSL cards will be available and there will be live coverage on
    YouTube.

    youtube.com/channel/UC-83S-l9JKD1iuhsXx3XQ3g

    For more information about the World Radio Day event and SAQ
    Grimeton visit their website

    alexander.n.se

    (eHam)




    GREAT BRITAIN

    March 10-19 is British Science Week, an annual event celebrating
    science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

    It provides a platform to support teachers, STEM professionals and
    the public in delivering STEM activities and events across the UK.

    This years theme is Connections, which lends itself perfectly to
    wireless communication and amateur radio-related activities!
    The RSGB has put together a set of activities suitable for children
    in early years, primary and secondary school. The RSGB hopes its
    resources will inspire all to get involved too.

    Find out more on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bsw




    GERMANY

    The 46th HAM RADIO exhibition and the 72nd Lake Constance Convention,
    both organised by DARC, will take place from Friday, June 23rd
    until Sunday, June 25th, 2023 in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance.

    Thomas Wrede DF 2 OO from the DARC International Affairs Committee
    says an informal international meeting for representatives of all
    IARU member societies will be held on Friday, June 23rd followed
    by an International Reception on Friday evening -





    REGION TWO

    KENTUCKY

    FCC HELPS UNDERWRITE EXAM COST FOR YOUNG AMATEURS

    One amateur radio club in Kentucky is making full use of an FCC
    measure that helps cover costs for amateur radio candidates under
    the age of 18.

    Alec VK2APC is following the thread:-

    The Paducah Amateur Radio Association is encouraging local youngsters
    between 8 and 13 to join the club's program, which it calls
    "Pre-teen Talkers." The goal is to help them take the FCC licensing
    exam and get on the air. Last April, the FCC and the ARRL announced
    a negotiated agreement permitting Volunteer Examiners at amateur
    radio clubs to waive the $35 license fee for applicants under the
    age of 18 and to reduce the $15 ham radio testing fee to $5.

    Nice touch by the USA Regulator!

    JASON PICKS UP HERE =

    BUT the good news doesn't stop there, Ham Club secretary
    Michael Durr, KN4 TIP, told local TV WPSD that those who pass
    the entry level Technician Exam will become eligible for a free
    handheld radio to be given to them by
    the Paducah Amateur Radio


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    FEBRUARY 25 - 26

    New Zealands Jock White Memorial Field Day

    This annual ZL contest is named to honour Jock White ZL2GX,
    NZART Contest and Awards Manager for over 40 years, for the
    service that he gave to NZART during that time

    The Jock White is always held the last full weekend in February
    Saturday 1500-2400 NZDT
    Sunday 0600-1500 NZDT
    and on 40 and 80 meters.

    Overseas stations in the South Pacific area are welcome and a
    special category exists for "us".

    (nzart)

    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au) --------------


    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    EAGLE EYED PETER PARKER

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    BRAZIL

    Listen and work ZX 89 L until February 15 to celebrate the 89th
    anniversary of the founding of the Brazilian Amateur Society LABRE.

    QSL via LoTW.

    (arrl)

    -------------------

    Peter, G4HSO is active holiday style as S79 / G4HSO from the
    Seychelles until the 21st of February, concentrating on CW and
    VarAC. QSL via LoTW, note Peter has asked for NO paper QSLs.

    Now those not up on the mode VarAC, during Special Interest Group
    news I'm sure Bruce will have something on it this week

    --------------

    SAMOA.

    Pista, HA5AO, George, HA5UK and Paul, W7IV are QRV as 5 W 0 DX
    from Savai'i Island, IOTA OC-097, until February 28 on 80 to 10 mtrs
    using CW, SSB, RTTY.

    QSL via operators' instructions.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    KUWAIT

    Special event station 9 K 9 NLD is active until February 28 to
    commemorate Kuwait's National Liberation Day.

    (vk2wi)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    MEDIA WATCH


    The RSGB was delighted to see the feature in The Times on Saturday
    the 28th of January about amateur radio. It was a great opportunity
    to highlight both amateur radio and the Society in the mainstream
    media.

    Heather Parsons, the RSGB Comms Manager, spent a week liaising with
    Rhys Blakely, the Science Correspondent, and coordinating the
    interviewees. She put forward a whole range of ideas and possible
    interviewees. An external media monitoring agency has confirmed that
    the potential online audience for this feature was over 42 million.

    The feature is called Ham radio tunes in to a new generation and
    you can still read it online. Go to thetimes.co.uk and search for
    amateur radio.



    From the UK to Australia:-


    Hi, Im Bob VK4BOB in Cairns.

    Three members of the Cairns Amateur Radio Club, Steve VK4SJB,
    Mark VK4JU and I, operated the clubs contest station VK4HM for
    the Australia Day Contest.

    While we were setting up a field station on The Esplanade in Cairns,
    a promo SMS I sent earlier to the local ABC Radio station was read
    out by the breakfast announcer. Then we got a surprise visit from
    the shows producer with his recorder, and the following morning an
    interview of about 8 minutes was broadcast during the popular
    breakfast program. This was broadcast by ABC Local Radio all over
    Cape York and Far North Queensland

    This is Bob, VK4BOB, signing off for the Cairns Amateur Radio Club.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    LETS GO TO THE MOVIES

    SuitSat-1 (AMSAT-OSCAR 54) deployed from the ISS 17 years ago
    February 3rd. It played voice messages in languages recorded by
    ARISS partners and students from around the globe. It also sent
    telemetry data.

    It was lost 15 days later.

    Suit Sat came back to life in a 2021 short horror film!

    If you'd like to watch the Sci-Fi Horror short film "Decommissioned"
    based on the ARISS Suit Sat, it can be found on YouTube at
    the link we like in the text edition of this newscast best read at
    wia.org.au

    youtube.com/watch?v=TNtpdvfbTjA

    (ARISS)




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - AND - 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/
    wwffaustralia.com/


    SOTA EAST MALAYSIA

    On air on a mountain top is 9 M 8 SOTA from the mountains in
    Sarawak, 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
    9M8SOTA's length of stay is unknown. QSL via LoTW.

    (arrl)


    SOTA SOUTH AFRICA

    Be listening February 18, a Saturday for many activations from South
    Africa as that's the day they will be celebrating their 20th
    anniversary of SOTA in that country.

    (sarl)



    Closer to home, it takes all types to make up a park-fest!
    Marty VK4KC 'speaks up'

    While most will be driving from their home QTH to Pilliga in the
    comfort of their motor vehicle, spare a thought for Stuart VK3UAO
    who is incorporating the Pilliga Park-fest weekend as part of his
    long bicycle journey in which he will depart his home QTH at
    Niddrie, a suburb of Melbourne on around April 8th and ride for
    3 weeks to Pilliga and then following Pilliga will ride for another
    week to Port Macquarie. A total of 1550 KM.

    Stuart will try and activate one park per day and will report his
    position via aprs using some custom made equipment and a flowerpot
    antenna for his bike.

    His QRZ page will have a map showing his daily progress.

    For the weekend he is at Pilliga he will pair up with another park
    activator and be driven between parks in a motor vehicle to give his
    legs a break.

    What an adventure!

    I'm sure the ham radio community joins with me in wishing Stuart all
    the best as he prepares his gear and his body for this gruelling
    adventure.

    All are welcome to attend the Pilliga park fest on the 29th & 30th
    April.

    For more information Contact Alan VK1AO or Marty VK4KC whose details
    are on their QRZ pages.

    Pilliga Park-Fest, the place to be in 2023!

    Im Marty VK4KC on behalf of the Pilliga Park-fest organising
    committee.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF
    WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www@wia.org.au
    users.mackay.net.au/~ron/
    homingin.com
    ardf.org.au

    WHAT'S IN A NAME?

    USA Radio Orienteering Championships Set for April 19 - 23, 2023.

    This is the 22nd USA Radio Orienteering Championships and this year
    will be held at Cooper Lake State Park in Texas, and is hosted by
    the New Mexico Orienteers

    nm-orienteers.org

    The White Rock Lake Amateur Radio Club will provide communications
    support and the new name Radio Orienteering has been transitioning
    to this new name but it is actually the same radio navigation sport
    we know as Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF).

    The sport involves using special radio receivers to find hidden
    transmitters in timed events.

    (arrl)








    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
    vkdmr.info/
    brandmeister.network/?page=repeaters

    VarAC

    Felix mentioned that DX station in the Seychelles using CW and
    Varac.

    Gaining in popularity, some who were FT8 devotees have swung to
    VarAC. They say you get the best of both worlds, a quick connection
    for the log using the Ping function where it exchanges signal report
    and location, or you can have a proper chat by calling or answering
    a CQ call. If you nip out, someone can leave you a message in your
    mailbox and likewise, if you see someone on and connect to them, you
    can leave them a message if they don't answer.

    And one of the best features it's been suggested is the beacon
    function where stations will leave their beacon running once every
    15 mins, so you can see exactly what the propagation is doing
    as well as who is online.

    Its still quite new, so give it a go and be an early(ish) adopter!

    youtube.com/watch?v=Dw12-MguZd4

    varac-hamradio.com

    (VarAC)





    ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BUT REAL RAGCHEW

    ChatGPT is the intensely popular chatbot launched late last year by
    Open AI. It has quite literally become the talk of more than quite a
    few towns, if not the world.

    Now, it seems, it is also the talk of amateur radio.

    Ralph Squillace KK6ITB from ARNewsLine explains.

    An enterprising ham in Manitoba, Canada, has found a way to use a
    voice recognition engine and a text-to-speech engine to give
    ChatGPT its own voice -- via a transmission that occurs over D-STAR.

    William Franzin, VE4VR, has been a ham since the 1990s, long before
    the age of today's modern digital modes, but he has almost always
    tinkered with voice repeater controllers. He told NewsLine that
    those early projects really didn't take off for him. It was only
    after Amazon released its Alexa voice assistant that the project
    gained real traction.

    Five years ago he successfully integrated voice-assistant products
    with popular ham radio platforms. His recent addition of ChatGPT
    simply meant including it as one more platform.

    An article on the Hackaday website describes the process:

    A DSTAR digital voice transmission is received and transcoded to
    regular digital audio. A voice recognition engine delivers the
    question for ChatGPT's AI. The AIs output then enters a
    text-to-speech engine which delivers the question's reply over
    D-STAR. William has registered the VE 4 AVS callsign just for these
    applications. He stressed that all of this is still in the experimental
    phase.

    However, he posed one question that might prove too tough even for
    ChatGPT itself to tackle: Could the AI answer enough questions to
    qualify for a license and an upgrade on its own?

    We're listening for that answer.

    This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    AO-95 QRT

    After a lingering illness of the battery, AO-95 passed away
    peacefully on December 23rd. While a miraculous return is always
    possible, it is not expected.

    AO-95, known prior to launch as Fox-1Cliff to commemorate amateur
    satellite pioneer Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR, who became a silent key
    himself in 2007, launched in 2018.

    Shortly after deployment, it was discovered that the receiver had
    failed for unknown reasons. Still, the satellite provided an easy
    to receive beacon and telemetry data for over four years before the
    NiCad batteries failed.

    (ans)




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Now to Allan VK4HIT with news from Ipswich and District Radio Club.

    Robert VK4KHW highlighted this years WICEN events with the first
    being the Pinnacles Classic on April 2. This will be followed by
    the Brisbane Trail Marathon on April 30, Guzzler Ultra Marathon
    July 22 and 23, Lake Manchester Trail August 20 and Mt Glorious
    Trail November 12.

    Ipswich will join with Brisbane WICEN for the Cooyar Horse Ride on
    March 18 and 19.

    Additional volunteers are always needed and welcome to help bolster
    numbers at check points.

    Contact ipswichwicen@gmail.com if you can help at any of these
    events throughout the year.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    CWVox Converts "Dah" and "Dit" Speech Into Morse Code with an
    Arduino.

    Every project these days that involves detecting speech seems built
    around complicated algorithms: machine learning, pattern matching,
    and spectrum analysis to name a few. However, amateur radio
    operator Kevin Loughin KB 9 RLW created CWVox, a voiced-activated
    keyer that converts the spoken "dits" and "dahs" into morse code
    using only an Arduino Nano's ADC!

    The Nano has a simple eight-bit microcontroller. That board,
    a couple of transistors, and a few passive components are all you
    need to convert verbal morse code into electronic tones

    KB 9 RLW provides a real-time demonstration of CWVox in action
    in this weeks national news script, wia.org.au

    youtube.com/watch?v=GpDYJO81-LE

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.


    VK4 - SUNFEST - NOTE THE DATE SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)






    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)

    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
    SEEN-BY: 1/100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 SEEN-BY: 1/117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 130 132 133 134 135 SEEN-BY: 1/136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 147 148 151 154 155 156 157 SEEN-BY: 1/158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Feb 16 14:52:53 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-02-19.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 FEBRUARY 19 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 FEBRUARY 19 2023

    THIS WEEK:-

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST MANAGER ALAN SHANNON VK4SN. -

    WIA Director and WIA Company Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB


    Goodbye-Bouvet Island.

    Goodbye from the DXpedition team 3Y0J, which departed last Tuesday,
    February 14th after striking down camp.

    Goodbye too to the chasers who, whether they were disappointed or not,
    have turned to other pursuits.

    This story, written by ARNewsLine and I voiced for them, also for lead
    item in their news, as going to production, team leader Ken LA7GIA
    announced that with all equipment and team members on board,
    the sail would commence onwards to Cape Town, South Africa, where they
    expected to arrive on or about the 23rd of February. There was a
    possibility of /MM operation while enroute.

    Team members do not have access to the log, which will be handled by
    QSL Manager MOXO.

    Now I wonder how many VK's managed to work 3 Y 0 J.




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Peter VK8ZZ

    Thanks Graham and good morning listeners

    First up I want to remind members that the Annual General Meeting of
    members will be held as a hybrid event on 13th May 2023. That is both
    in person in Canberra and online. The corporations legislation
    allows meetings to be held as virtual or hybrid meetings. That is
    utilising electronic means as we have done so in the past. A Hybrid
    meeting is both in person and by electronic means. During COVID we
    have held our AGM by electronic means allowing people to join from
    afar. This allowed members to join in on the AGM without the costs of
    airfares and accommodation to do so, and with less risk associated
    with Covid.

    Members are invited to ask questions of the Board and to vote on
    motions that are put forward to that meeting.

    The downside of that is that we no longer always have a field day or
    conference in association with the Annual General Meeting, something
    members have mentioned to me and something I definitely miss as well.
    However, with COVID infection rates still rather high it was felt that
    this was the best option for members at this time.

    We are yet to discuss with our members in Canberra if there are any
    opportunities to hold any events in conjunction with the AGM so more
    on that closer to the event itself.

    The Constitution of the WIA has been around for a number of years and
    has only ever had a few changes. A change to the constitution can only
    be achieved by a special resolution put to a General Meeting such as
    the AGM.

    So far there is only one special resolution that has been proposed
    and endorsed by the Board, and that was to rectify a typo error that
    was brought to our attention at last years AGM.

    Lastly , a reminder that nominations for WIA awards to be considered
    by the Board and notified at this years AGM close at the end of
    March. Nominations received after that date will be held over for next
    year. So, get in soon and nominate a person that has contributed to
    Amateur Radio in your area and that you feel needs to be recognised
    for their achievements.

    Cheers for now, this has been Peter Clee VK8ZZ WIA Director and the
    WIA Company Secretary signing off for now from a sunny Darwin.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    Registration Open for the 2023 QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo:

    The 2023 QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will be held on March 25 - 26,
    and registration is now open. The event is a fully interactive
    virtual ham radio convention offering new content, networking
    opportunities and more than 50 amateur radio presentations on a
    wide variety of subjects.

    Tickets are $15 US and registration information can be found at the
    QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Website.

    qsotodayhamexpo.com/?mc_cid=cfa50a6bb8&mc_eid=d3e32f2624




    REGION ONE

    TURKEY

    Heavily involved in the relief operations after the devastating
    earthquake in that region word in that Scouts are heavily involved
    with relief operations including amateur radio operations.

    Alec VK2APC will have more later in this newscast.




    RSGB Presidential Election

    There was only one nomination received so John McCullagh MBE, GI4BWM
    is elected unopposed for a two-year term.

    Regional Elections

    There were Regional Representative vacancies for five Regions. The only candidate for Region 8 was Michael Na bPiob, MI0HOZ so he is duly
    elected unopposed for a three-year term.

    The terms of office for both roles above will commence at the RSGB AGM
    April.




    IRELAND

    St Patrick's Day Award

    There is just under a month to register to participate in the annual
    St Patrick's Day Award.

    The event takes place over a 48 hour period from 12 noon UTC
    on the 16th of March to 12 noon UTC on the 18th of March, this in
    order to allow worldwide participation in all time zones.

    The St Patrick's Day Award is 48 hours of non-competitive fun for
    licensees and SWL. Anyone can participate, but also register to be a
    participating station for the St Patrick's Day award by completing
    short registration form online

    stpatricksaward.com





    REGION THREE

    NEW ZEALAND

    Auckland AREC was all geared up supporting Auckland Emergency
    Management (AEM) during the onslaught of Cyclone Gabrielle.

    They had been asked to prepare to support field teams throughout
    Auckland with radio communications to the Auckland Emergency
    Coordination Centre (ECC). The communications team was relaying
    traffic between ECC and the teams in the field via VHF radio.
    There was great response from local AREC members to the call for
    volunteers

    Multiple roles were filled including

    Communicators i.e. talking on the radio
    Log keepers - recording, forwarding messages.
    Even supporters / gophers - Handling phone calls, logistics, making
    coffee etc.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    Australia Day 2023 Report by Alan Shannon VK4SN

    To keep things simple, an operator can use the AX or VK prefixes for
    all of Australia Day and submit a log for the 12 hours that the
    contest runs. This is good for FT8 users as the log can be made up
    from the adi file generated by normal use of WSJT-X. Very few pickings
    were heard on CW or SSB as most were on FT8 going for distance points
    with a never-ending flow of QSOs.

    22 logs from VK and 5 DX logs were received. Feedback over log
    submission seemed to indicate that some are finding it hard to use
    or setup N1MM logger. A comprehensive set of notes shows the whole
    procedure complete with pictures. All this and more can be downloaded
    from the WIA contest pages. Remembering that half the world is
    sleeping during our contest time slot, if not at work during a
    weekday, but more overseas advertising for next year is needed to
    boost DX participation. Failure to read the new rules for this year
    was most evident resulting in a few problems for some, but were
    eventually overcome and logs were eventually accepted via
    vklogchecker.com

    This contest is all about having a bit of fun on your day off and does
    not gain points for the WIA Contest champion.

    Results are as follows:

    Single Op Phone

    Place Callsign Operators Score

    1st AX5PAS VK5PAS 826,294
    2nd VK7IAN VK7IAN 97,192
    3rd VK5Y VK5JAK 30,623
    4th VK1O VK1AO 12,568
    5th VK3W VK3TIN 8,215
    6th AX4OTZ AX4OTZ 7,727
    7th VK4HRE VK4HRE 7,660
    8th AX4ADC AX4ADC 3,139
    9th VK3AMO VK3AMO 2,766
    10th VK4SN VK4SN 1,,860
    11th VK4ER VK4ER 1,474
    12th AX2TTL AX2TTL 1,471
    13th VK4O VK4MUD 1

    Single Op CW

    1st W7VC W7VC 11,667

    Single Op Digital

    1st AX4ADC AX4ADC 3,292,694
    2nd VK4O VK4MUD 2,713,094
    3rd VK4SN VK4SN 2,319,194
    4th VK2EHQ VK2EHQ 2,262,338
    5th VK1O VK1AO 1,783,561
    6th AX5BD AX5BD 749,789
    7th WH6EY WH6EY 739,096
    8th KH6RDO KH6RDO 440,063
    9th VL5F VK5AJQ 256,395
    10th AX7STO AX7STO 243,465
    11th VK5WU VK5WU 197,732
    12th AX2EY VK2EY 153,919
    13th NH6O NH6O 73,964
    14th HS0ZOY HS0ZOY 67,497
    15th AX4OTZ AX4OTZ 30,639

    Multi-Single:

    1st VK4HM VK4BOB VK4SJB VK4JU 257,432
    2nd VL4A VK4BLE VK4FOMP 251,162

    Multi-Multi

    1st AX5ARA VK5STU VK5NIG 304,691

    DX Winners:

    1st CW W7VC W7VC 11,667
    1ST DG WH6EY WH6EY 739,096
    2ND DG KH6RDO KH6RDO 440,063
    3RD DG NH6O NH6O 73,964
    4th DG HS0ZOY HS0ZOY 67,497


    Thanks for your participation.
    Best 73
    Alan Shannon
    VK4SN.com


    --------------



    ON NOW - KEYS AT THE READY

    The ARRL International DX Contest runs from 0000 UTC Saturday and ends
    at 2359 UTC on Sunday using CW on the 160 to 10m contests segments,
    the exchange is signal report and transmission power.

    American stations also send their State, Canadians stations send their
    province.

    (irts)


    --------------


    FEBRUARY 25 - 26

    New Zealands Jock White Memorial Field Day

    This annual ZL contest is named to honour Jock White ZL2GX,
    NZART Contest and Awards Manager for over 40 years, for the
    service that he gave to NZART during that time

    The Jock White is always held the last full weekend in February
    Saturday 1500-2400 NZDT
    Sunday 0600-1500 NZDT
    and on 40 and 80 meters.

    Overseas stations in the South Pacific area are welcome and a
    special category exists for "us".

    (nzart)



    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au) --------------



    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------
    (wia.org.au)

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    And First up news of an Aussie Special event, Richard VK2SKY from
    Sydney's Manly-Warringah Radio Society


    The 26th of February this year is a big day for us That date marks
    100 years since the first meeting of the Manly and District Radio
    Club, n 1923. That club eventually became the Manly-Warringah Radio
    Society.

    To celebrate, we'll be activating the Special Event Station V I 100 MB,
    on the day, Next Sunday and throughout 2023.

    To find out more, check out Victor India One Hundred Mike Bravo on
    qrz.com and visit the Society's web site on mwrs.org.au

    Hope to catch you on the bands!

    For WIA National News and the Manly-Warringah Radio Society,
    I'm Richard VK2SKY


    --------------


    On air is TM 2 AAW until the 24th of February participating
    in the 20th Antarctic Activity Week which takes place from
    today for a week, i.e. it ends the 26th of the month.

    TM2011W is operating from France.

    QSL via LoTW, or via F8DVD home call, direct or by the bureau.


    (ARNewsLine)


    --------------

    DENMARK

    Special event station OZ 625 E is on azir until 28th commemorating
    the opening of the new Enigma Museum of Communications in Copenhagen.

    The museum itself opens Saturday 25th and has items dating back to
    1624. At Enigma you'll see from history and historical objects that
    people have always been challenged in the areas of communication

    For more than 80 years, the Danish national treasure Miss Klokken
    had faithfully provided the Danes with precise times. But mobile
    phones, the Internet and radio-controlled clocks have made the
    service virtually redundant. There was a time when Miss Klokken was
    a technical revolution that thousands of people contacted daily.

    But back to the Ham Scene:-
    Look for other OZ625E/xx stations to be active as well.

    QSL OZ 625 E via operators' instructions.

    ( arrl / wia )

    --------------

    UN Global Service Centre Amateur Radio club, 4 U 1 GSC, using the
    call sign 4U 13 FEB is on for this month, February.
    4U 13FEB special call is on the air to promote World Radio Day,
    which WAS marked Monday the 13th.

    4U 13FEB is based in Brindisi, Italy.

    QSL via 9 A 2 AA, either direct or by the bureau.

    (ARNewsLine)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WIRELESS WEATHER

    In a continued sign of strength for Solar Cycle 25, sunspot counts
    just hit a 9-year high. NOAA says the monthly sunspot number
    skyrocketed in January 2023.

    The monthly sunspot number of 144 in January was only percentage
    points away from topping the previous solar cycle, Solar Cycle 24,
    which peaked in Feb. 2014 with a monthly value of 146.

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
    ARDF

    WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www@wia.org.au
    users.mackay.net.au/~ron/
    homingin.com
    ardf.org.au

    WHAT'S IN A NAME?

    USA Radio Orienteering Championships Set for April 19 - 23, 2023.

    This is the 22nd USA Radio Orienteering Championships and this year
    will be held at Cooper Lake State Park in Texas, and is hosted by
    the New Mexico Orienteers

    nm-orienteers.org

    The White Rock Lake Amateur Radio Club will provide communications
    support and the new name Radio Orienteering has been transitioning
    to this new name but it is actually the same radio navigation sport
    we know as Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF).

    The sport involves using special radio receivers to find hidden
    transmitters in timed events.

    (arrl)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - ASTRONOMICAL

    Two amateur radio events are scheduled in mid-February to celebrate
    an astronomer who mapped the universe and an astronomer who
    discovered a planet.

    The Northern Arizona DX Association ( nadxa.com/ ) has been
    conducting a 10-year special event countdown to the 100-year
    anniversary of Pluto's discovery. The planet was spotted in 1930
    by Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
    This is the third year of the special event, which is running until
    until February 20 from the Lowell Observatory using the call sign
    W7P on most bands and modes.

    In Poland, from last Friday February 17 until March 5 the Polish
    Amateur Radio Union ( 550mk.pzk.org.pl/ ) will operate nine special
    event stations honouring the 550th anniversary of the birth of
    Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus mapped the universe and formulated
    a model that placed the sun, rather than Earth, at its centre.

    The nine special event stations using SN 550 and various suffixes.

    (eHam)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Australia's School Amateur Radio Club can be mightily proud that their
    satellite antenna rotator has been featured for the world to see in
    AMSAT NEWS SERVICE edition ANS-043

    The SARCTRAC Mk3b, a $290 satellite antenna rotator from Australia
    comes with all its components enclosed in a waterproof IP65 rated
    enclosure. It makes use of a 3D position sensor with magnetometer,
    allowing the unit to know its orientation at all times, meaning that
    it should be able to automatically position itself from start-up.

    More information available at
    sarcnet.org/sarctrac.html

    [ANS]





    Cosmos 2499 was speculated to be a spy satellite, or an experimental
    weapon test when launched almost 10 years ago, but, now its
    disintegrating.

    A mysterious Russian satellite of unknown purpose is breaking up in
    low-Earth orbit, US officials confirmed this week.

    Back in 2013 and 2014, Russia launched several satellites into space.
    One of these was an object that space watchers designated as
    Cosmos 2499. No one knows exactly what Cosmos 2499 is, but it was
    launched along with communication satellites. It wasnt on the launch
    manifest and was thought to be debris until it started manoeuvring in
    orbit.

    Speculation at the time proposed that it was possibly a spy satellite,
    or an experimental anti-satellite weapon.

    On Monday, the 18th Space Defence Squadron, a part of the
    U.S. Space Force, confirmed that Cosmos 2499 broke apart January 4
    into 85 chunks of debris almost 700 miles above the Earth.

    Americas Guardians now are tracking the dozens of debris chunks
    hurtling through space. The debris will live in the atmosphere for
    years to come.

    http://bit.ly/3DZZQTb

    (this week in amateur radio)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
    iota-world.org

    OC-047 Solomon Islands until the 8th of May.

    Call sign is H 44 MS and is operating from Malaita,
    IOTA number OC-047, until late April on 80-6 metres
    SSB and some FT8.

    QSL to his home call, DLGAC direct or via the bureau.
    He will upload his log to Club Log and LoTW when he returns home.

    (ARNewsLine)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    Manly-Warringah Radio Society

    Through the week a lecture was held at the Society.

    Former club president and author, Rod VK 2 ZZM, talked about his book,
    The Lost Women of Rabaul, the true story of a group of Australian
    nurses who were captured by Japanese forces during the Second World
    War.

    An early draft of Rod's book became the basis for the award-winning
    ABC TV production, Sisters of War, which can be seen on ABC iView.

    iview.abc.net.au/show/sisters-of-war

    (arnsw news)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    Scouts and amateur radio activities in Trkiye

    As you are aware, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Eastern Trkiye
    and Syria on February 6th, 2023.

    Scouts from all over Trkiye have gone to the region to take part in
    search and rescue operations. The Scouts are also supporting the
    Red Crescent by helping with humanitarian aid activities to assist
    the earthquake victims.

    The Turkish Scouting Federation has transported many of their scouts,
    leaders and volunteers to the region with its own resources, mostly in
    their personal vehicles.

    Due to difficult communication conditions in the field, they
    communicate via amateur radio with each other, as well as between the
    camps.

    Their President of the Turkish Scouting Federation, Hasan Subasi,
    TA1GE is also involved in amateur radio operations to support the
    rescue and relief operations.

    Our thoughts go out to all that have been affected by this earthquake.

    (Alec VK2APC)




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    March is shaping up to be a busy month for WICEN NSW.

    WICEN will be providing comms support for True Grit at Lower Portland
    on the 4th and 5th.

    Then there are five Memory Walk events:

    Western Sydney on the 5th,
    Illawarra on the 12th,
    Canberra on the 19th,
    and events in Cronulla and the Hunter on the 26th.

    WICEN NSW is seeking operators for all these events. The Memory Walks
    last just a few hours, so they are good starter events for
    newer WICEN members to get some experience.

    If you would like to participate, or just find out more, email
    wicen.ops@vrarescue.org.

    (arnsw news)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    I'M JOHN KNOX VK4FJRK AND THIS IS REWIND

    This year, electromagnetism will be 200 years old.

    The Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted proved in 1820 that
    electricity and magnetism really belong together. He immediately
    recognized the significance of the connection between the two
    phenomena and triggered the development of electricity theory and
    electrical engineering with the publication of his findings.

    Without Oersted's discovery, there would be no radio, no television,
    electronics, computers, amateur or mobile communications today.

    Almost everyone knows Volt, Ampere, Watt and Hertz also as terms
    from the theory of electricity. But who and what is Oersted?
    In 1820, the Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted (1777 1851)
    observed the deflection of a compass needle by a current-carrying
    wire during a lecture and thus discovered the magnetic effect of
    electric current.

    On July 21, 1820, Oersted demonstrated his observation to a
    high-ranking society of scientists in Paris and wrote down his
    findings.

    From his research results on electromagnetism, electricity theory
    and electrical engineering as well as numerous applications based
    on them (radio and television, electronics, computers, amateur and
    mobile communications, etc.) developed, which have fundamentally
    changed our society in the course of time. Until 1970, the physical
    unit of magnetic field strength (abbreviated with the unit symbol
    Oe) was named after Oersted.

    Technically generated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields are
    also referred to as "radiofrequency radiation". This fundamental
    physical property is the basis of all high-frequency radiation.
    All applications in wireless communications technology as well as
    the operation of radio amateurs are based on this principle.

    MY TIME IS UP - I'M JOHN KNOX VK4FJRK AND THIS HAS BEEN REWIND




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.


    VK4 - SUNFEST - NOTE THE DATE SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    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.

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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Feb 23 18:13:30 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-02-26.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 FEBRUARY 26 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 FEBRUARY 26 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA's formal representation under the umbrella of Standards Australia. -

    WIA seeks operators to host VK7WIA and VK8WIA. -

    WIA seeks a new Ross Hull Contest manager. -

    WIA Education Working Group reconvened. -

    WIA calls on YOU to nominate fellow amateurs for the annual awards.



    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    The WIA has formal representation in RC006 and RC004 committees to
    develop standards for the Australian Wireless industry which where
    possible reference or adopt existing international standards.
    These radio communication standards are managed under the umbrella of
    Standards Australia. Historically ACMA takes up these standards
    within the RadCom Act. The working groups make recommendations for any
    changes required to existing standards.

    Noel Higgins VK3NH is retiring as the WIA representative on the
    RC004 Standards Committee and will now continue as chair of the
    RC006 Committee.

    Peter Porkony VK2EMR has now been appointed as new WIA representative
    on the RC004 committee. Peter previously worked for AMSA and has a
    wealth of experience that he can bring to the RC004 committee which he
    once chaired as the AMSA representative.

    The WIA board thanks Noel Higgins VK3NH for his time as the WIA
    representative on RC004.


    The BERU, short for British Empire Radio Union, CW Contest is also
    known as the Commonwealth Contest and in 2023 is in its 86th year.
    This year the WIA has again approved the use of the WIA suffix
    callsigns for use in the contest.

    The following Australian HQ Stations will be operating in the
    2023 RSGB Commonwealth Contest.

    VK1WIA by Andrew VK1DA
    VK2WIA by David VK2WQ
    VK3WIA by Lee VK3GK
    VK4WIA by Keith VK4TT
    VK5WIA by Grant VK5GR
    VK6WIA by Peter VK6RZ

    We are still looking for operators for VK7WIA and VK8WIA. Please
    contact Alan VK2GR if interested. Felix will, later in the bulletin.
    give the dates and times for the contest operation.

    The Ross Hull contest has been and gone. The cut off time for log
    entries for the Ross Hull contest has closed and all received logs
    will be scored shortly. The callsigns of entrants will soon be posted
    on the WIA website and listed in AR Magazine.

    The WIA is still looking for a new Ross Hull Contest manager.
    Interested? Please contact the WIA office.

    The WIA AGM will soon be upon us and its where awards are given to
    deserving recipients that have gone above and beyond for Amateur Radio.
    If you consider someone as worthy, then please nominate them for a
    WIA award highlighting their contribution to amateur radio in a
    short brief and submit to secretary@wia.org.au
    Nominations must be received no later than March 31st 2023 to be
    considered.

    Recently the WIA Education Working Group reconvened and has
    highlighted several areas that need consideration for the benefit
    of new and existing Amateurs studying for their respective licences
    including review of existing study and examination preparation
    materials, along with WIA information and advertising brochures.

    Thats all for this week, for now, 73 From Lee VK3GK



    BOLOGNA

    The worlds very first Ham Radio operator was born here.

    Who was that I hear you say.

    Well, Guglielmo Marconi was born at Bologna, Italy, on April 25, 1874,
    the second son of Giuseppe Marconi, an Italian country gentleman and
    Annie Jameson, daughter of Andrew Jameson of Daphne Castle in the
    County Wexford, Ireland.

    Now putting BOLOGNA back on the map, a major world radio event,
    postponed from last year, suddenly got more real with the start of
    hotel bookings.

    John Williams VK4JJW tells us and ARNewsLine about it.

    Competitors and referees received the earliest access to hotel bookings
    for the World Radiosport Team Championship which is to be held this
    July in Bologna, Italy. The online booking system opened on February 1st.
    The next round of reservations began on February 7th for visitors and
    others.

    According to details on the WRTC Reflector message list hotels
    throughout the surrounding area will be providing support for
    competitors, referees, judges, sponsors and the contest committee.

    Organizers said on their website that the Emilia Romagna region of
    Italy has worked closely with the ham radio community to ensure that
    the logistics of the event run smoothly and that all technical
    requirements are met. They credited regional authorities' commitment
    to providing a welcoming environment for WRTC participants in this
    well-known region, which is the home of Ferrari, Lamborghini and
    Ducati factories.

    To see details about the WRTC and who its competitors are, visit
    wrtc2022.it

    The World Radiosport Team Championship is held every four years in a
    different host country. This year's event is a postponement from last
    year when health concerns during the pandemic caused it to be called
    off. Two-member teams whose members have qualified for the event will
    arrive from every continent to compete in this 24-hour nonstop
    competition, which is often referred to as the Olympics of amateur
    radio.

    This is John Williams VK4JJW.
    (arnline)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    The International Amateur Radio Union announces that Human Security
    for All, HS4A, will be the theme of World Amateur Radio Day on 18 April
    2023. For the first time, the United Nations Trust Fund for Human
    Security and the World Academy of Art and Science are partnering with
    IARU in a campaign to highlight the role that amateur radio plays in
    addressing the worlds most pressing needs.



    REGION ONE

    RSGB Board Chair and Company Secretary

    Richard Horton, G4AOJ has tendered his resignation as an RSGB Board
    Director and Board Chair, and Stan Lee, G4XXI has tendered his
    resignation as RSGB Company Secretary.

    Only last week we reported here that as of The RSGB AGM, John
    McCullagh MBE, GI 4 BWM will commence a two year term after being
    successful in their RSGB Presidential Election

    The 2 new resignations are independent of each other and for personal
    reasons.

    Stewart Bryant, G3YSX RSGB President Chair the Board until the AGM
    and, in view of the important role of the Company Secretary in the
    AGM which is just a few weeks away, the Board will agree the
    appointment of a temporary Company Secretary pending advertisement
    of the position and selection through the normal process.

    In a news release from the RSGB. "The workload of the Board and the
    number of remaining members is such that we thought it prudent to ask
    Ian Shepherd, G4EVK to re-join the Board as a co-opted Director until
    the AGM. After the AGM and the elections the Board will look at its
    membership and will likely make further co-options. Company Secretary
    fulfils an important role in the AGM proceedings and it was decided to
    ask Stephen Purser, GW4SHF to return to this role until the AGM,
    whilst we appoint a new Company Secretary though the usual process."


    BACK TO BOUVET

    Well back in time anyhow after the 3Y0J DXpedition left. The team
    concluded operations at 3:00 UTC on February 14, 2023, with around
    19,000 contacts logged.

    Bouvet Island always well up the charts as a DXCC entity has been
    a rare entity since November 15 1945, Norwegian territory.

    The first amateur radio activity dates back to a telephony QSO on
    14.395 MHz between GM2DBX and LN7B operating from Bouvet in July 1951.

    Well worth a read, and we'll give you the URL to download
    "Bouvet Isl. compilation by F5JYD" in the text edition on wia.org.au

    Bouvet Island is one of the Subantarctic Islands, an uninhabited
    ice-clad place 2600 km south-southwest of Cape Town. It has good
    claim to be the world's most remote island as ANYWHERE within 2000 km
    is similarly desolate, such as mainland Antarctica.

    In 1927, Bouvet became a Norwegian island, in fact, until '27 no one
    had stayed there yet but that year a Norwegian crew lived there for a
    month. They were Norwegian whalers.

    In 1971, Norway declared Bouvet Island and the surrounding waters
    a nature reserve. and in 1977, the country installed an automated
    weather station there.

    The next Ham Radio operation reported was claimed by LH4C Gus Browning
    also his 2nd call was W4BPD this in November 1962, a controversial
    operation nowadays as it's said Gus would have transmitted from the
    South African icebreaker which would have taken him to the area,
    making some 5000 QSOs in 4 days.

    As I said well worth a read and details links etc. are in this weeks
    text edition of the news you can trust - WIA NATIONAL NEWS.

    dx-world.net/bouvet-island-and-ham-radio/





    REGION TWO

    Anatel, The Brazilian Telecommunications Agency, recently published
    the Resolution 759/2023 with their new PDFF (Plan for Allocation,
    Distribution and Destination of Radio Frequencies) carrying positive
    outputs to Amateur Radio Service.

    The final portion of the 4 mm band, 8181.5 MHz was recognized to
    Amateur Radio according ITU Radio Regulations Footnote 5.561A, while
    the 70 cm band was elevated to primary service according the RR
    Footnote 5.278.

    The improvement was possible due to changes promoted during the
    World Radio Conference of 2019 for Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.

    This work was supported by IARU and member-societies like LABRE, the
    Brazilian Amateur Radio Society, in cooperation with their respective
    national administrations and delegations.




    Members of the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) will
    be making radio contacts during the 2023 and 2024 North American
    eclipses, probing the Earths ionosphere.

    It will be a fun, friendly event with a competitive element.

    Both amateur and professional broadcasters have been sending and
    receiving radio signals around the Earth for over a century. Such
    communication is possible due to interactions between our Sun and the
    ionosphere, the ionized region of the Earths atmosphere located
    roughly 80 to 1000 km overhead.

    The upcoming eclipses (October 14, 2023, and April 8, 2024) provide
    unique opportunities to study these interactions. Hams and other
    HamSCI members transmit, receive, and record signals across the radio
    spectrum during the eclipse gathering valuable data to test computer
    models of the ionosphere.

    For more information, go to
    hamsci.org/festivals-eclipse-ionospheric-science




    Speaking of HamSCI, their 6th Annual Amateur Radio Science Citizen
    Investigation (HamSCI) Workshop will be held March 17 - 18, in person
    at The University of Scranton and virtually via Zoom.

    The workshop is open to students and citizen scientists, and all
    amateur radio operators are invited to attend.

    The theme of the 2023 HamSCI workshop is "Forging Amateur-Professional
    Bonds."

    The primary objective is to bring together the amateur radio community
    and professional scientists.

    This year, the workshop will feature a working special event amateur
    radio station using the call sign W 3 USR.

    Virtual participation is free of charge.
    For more registration information visit HamSCI

    hamsci.org/hamsci2023





    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    FEBRUARY 25 - 26

    New Zealands Jock White Memorial Field Day is on NOW

    Saturday 1500-2400 NZDT
    Sunday 0600-1500 NZDT
    and on 40 and 80 meters.

    Overseas stations in the South Pacific area are welcome and a
    special category exists for "us".

    (nzart)

    ------------

    The Commonwealth Contest BERU HAPPENS 11-12 March - CW only.

    (NZART BREAKIN)

    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au) --------------

    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, duration is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    It is held the first Saturday in May 10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC

    (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    AUSTRIA

    Members of the 4U1A Radio Club are QRV as 4UNR until the end of February
    to commemorate World Radio Day.

    QSL via UA3DX.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    TOGO.

    QRV is 5 V 23 LE until today only.

    Activity is holiday style on the HF bands. QSL to home call F 5 LCX

    (arrl)

    ----------------------------------------

    Throughout 2023, one of Sweden's oldest and largest radio clubs
    celebrates 80 years.

    To mark the occasion, Vasteras Radio Klubb (in Sweden known as VRK)
    will use a unique callsign and a never before assigned prefix -

    8 S 80 AA

    (nzart)

    --------------

    The Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society will be operating the club callsign
    GT 3 FLH from the Isle of Man Sea Terminal building in Douglas this weekend.

    The callsign will be active to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Douglas being
    the first radar-controlled harbour in the world.

    FT8, CW and SSB modes will be used on the HF bands from 40m and upwards.

    iomars.im

    (rsgb)


    ----------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/

    SOTA Goats

    Congratulations to Declan Craig EI 6 FR who became a SOTA Mountain
    Goat February 11th after activating Scarr, in County Wicklow with
    Summit EI/IE-012 for his 1000th point.

    Declan is one of only three amateurs in all of Ireland to achieve
    Mountain Goat status, it involved 163 SOTA activations over 5 years.

    He was accompanied on the activation by John Holland EI 3 ISB who
    clocked up his 500th point on Scarr where they shared a bottle of
    champagne.

    Well done to John on his "half Goat".




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    48 years ago, on the 1st of March 1975, Australia officially launched
    colour television with the slogan March first into colour.

    Move on and to celebrate, St George Amateur Radio Society in VK2 are
    having their next gathering Wednesday the 1st of March, at Kyle Bay.
    This gathering will feature a presentation by the Sydney ATV Group,
    tracing the development of amateur television from the early days of
    low definition black and white, to high-definition digital.

    Truly a presentation not to be missed if you are in the Sydney region.

    (vk2wi news)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- BALLOONING

    AMATEUR BALLOON'S FATE A MYSTERY
    Balloon Experimenters Worry About Reactions

    Balloon hobbyists are also worried that the small balloons they launch
    into the sky could be shot down or that the focus on balloons could
    lead to tight restrictions on their little-known hobby.

    Speculation has grown about whether one of the unidentified objects
    taken down by a U.S. F-22 on Feb. 11 over Canadas Yukon Territory was
    a small party-style balloon launched by a hobby group whose name is a
    whimsical reference to the childrens film Up. The Northern
    Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade recently said one of its balloons
    went missing in action on Feb. 11, near an island off the coast of
    Alaska.

    This amateur radio carrying balloon had callsign K9YO-15 and was
    launched last October. A 32-inch sphere carried a 10-gram payload
    with a solar panel package and a tracker in the middle, transmitted
    APRS telemetry on HF at very low power.

    People launch balloons for radio experiments, or as part of projects
    to learn more about technology, balloons, and the sky as well as for
    fun, according to Dave Akerman, a member of the U.K. High Altitude
    Society who has launched nearly 100 larger latex balloons and has just
    been interviewed by the Washington Post Newspaper. Now enthusiasts are
    concerned there will be a knee-jerk reaction to whats happened,
    he said during the interview.

    He said he hoped that authorities and hobbyists could coordinate on
    reasonable guidelines or rules if needed. Its also in the interests
    of authorities not to be shooting down party balloons with missiles.

    [ANS]


    Here in Australia today, Sunday is a special day in VK5 for ballooning.

    AREG's High-Altitude Ballooning sub-group, Project Horus, is planning
    their next launch for today the 26th with a planned launch time of
    10 AM ACDT.

    This launch will most likely be performed from the Auburn Community
    Oval, with the launch team arriving on site from around 9:15 AM.

    Spectators are welcome!

    There is a possibility this launch will be moved to the Mt Barker High
    School Oval, if weather conditions and flight paths are better from
    that location..

    Safe Flight HORUS 59





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Local students have had their hands full at Los Angeles Schofield
    Middle School during the past few days, taking part in a competition
    run by American Radio Relay League.

    Activities were after school and the idea was to "work" (make
    certified contact with) radio operators in as many countries as
    possible.

    The Schofield Amateur Radio and Technology Club, founded by Kent
    Hufford and Mike Newland, has a reputation of being among the top
    such clubs in the USA, by way of its success in reaching around the
    world via the airwaves. The competition is open to students from
    elementary school through college.

    The past week's connections were to more than a dozen countries,
    including South Africa, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Costa Rica and
    Switzerland. Teams also get credit for reaching other states in the
    USA and the final contact count was above 550.

    Hufford KQ 4KK and Newland NC 8 N had plenty in common before they
    pooled their resources to establish the Schofield group. Both Army
    veterans flew helicopters in Vietnam Army Signal Corps aviators.
    Another volunteer, David Kjellquist WB 5 NHL, is also a vet with a
    Signal Corps background.

    The Schofield club meets once a week and focuses on a variety of
    topics.

    "They learn about the electronic components, but then they also work
    on communication and the history of communication. They've been doing
    it here for nine years now," Mr Matson said.

    "They learn something about technology, and it expands their horizons,"
    Hufford added. "Every year, the students pick up knowledge about the
    ionosphere and satellites and electronics and soldering and
    communication. They figure out what's inside a cell phone, so instead
    of just playing with a mobile, they get an understanding of ...
    what's inside of it, how it works and why it works."

    schofieldms.com/
    news.yahoo.com/schofield-club-excels-international-radio-005300387.html





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    VK5QI Wins FS3 Award

    The Mauritius Amateur Radio Society (MARS) has announced a special
    Award for the last formal reported signals from FalconSat3.
    (AMSAT Leader board/Satnogs)

    An MO-112 postal first day cover was to be sent to the winner with the
    certificate.

    Mark Jessop, VK5QI, was declared to be the winner for the MARS FS3
    Award. The certificate and MO-112 first day cover were sent last week
    in an envelope with MO-112 stamps.

    Congratulations!

    FS3 was a great adventure for many thanks again to Mark N 8 MH for
    his dedication to keep the bird alive for so many years.

    [ANS]



    SpaceX Dragon Will Carry More Hams to the ISS and NASA will again
    provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities
    for the agencys SpaceX Crew-6 mission with astronauts to the
    Space Station.

    Launch is targeted for 07:07 UTC, Sunday, Feb. 26, from Launch Complex
    39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft
    is scheduled to dock to the space-facing port of the stations
    Harmony module at 07:54 UTC, Monday, Feb. 27.

    The Crew-6 launch will carry two NASA astronauts, Mission Commander
    Stephen Bowen, KI5BKB, and Pilot Warren Woody Hoburg, KB3HTZ,
    along with United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, KI5VTV
    and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who will serve as mission
    specialists to the space station for a science expedition mission.
    This Dragon is named Endeavour.

    NASA TV launch coverage can be accessed here in VK via YouTube and
    on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 03:30 UTC.

    [ANS]



    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK3 - Melbournes Wyndham Amateur Radio Club HamFest the 5th of March.
    (vk2zrh)

    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Melbournes Wyndham Amateur Radio Club has organised a humungous HamFest
    for Sunday the 5th of March.

    John Forrest VK3J N F says the event is styled as the ONLY one in the western
    suburbs, but the W A R C 2023 HamFest will welcome happy hams from all over the
    place.

    Head over to the Italian Sports Club of Werribee at 601 Heaths Road, Werribee.
    Thats the same location as previous events.
    Happily, its a huge under-cover indoor venue with heaps of free parking.

    Entry is just $7. Doors are open from 10am until 1pm with tickets on sale from
    9am.

    Major and minor door prize draws are included free with each ticket, and
    extra tickets can be purchased. Well-known sponsors are offering attractive
    door prizes.

    Naturally, a sausage sizzle can be bought from 10am, and therell be free
    coffee and tea.

    Yes folks, the W A R C 2023 humungous HamFest will all be on for young and old
    on the 5th of March at the Italian Sports Club of Werribee at 601 Heaths Road,
    Werribee.

    If you have two metres mobile, call in on VK3RGL on 147 MHz with 91.5 CTCSS tone.

    Be there, buy a ticket and dont miss out.

    Youll find WARC on Facebook as well as on the web, at www.warc.asn.au/

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.



    VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE (vk4tfn)


    VK3 - Antennapalooza at Drouin West April 15 & 16 (vk3kj)

    The weekend after Easter
    Some visitors come to set up late on the Friday beforehand.

    The theme for 2023 will be Station Efficiency.
    It will include talks and demos on different ways that
    Amateurs can improve the way they operate.

    antennapalooza.net.au/

    Set in a 6 acre field, 50km due East of Dandenong, visitors can bring their tent
    or caravan for the weekend, or just stay for the day. Set up an antenna and have
    a play on-air, or take in the demonstrations. Entry is Free. Bookings are not
    essential, but please email a registration with your name and callsign to
    plan logistics.



    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.

    VK5 - CONVENTION and FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS June 10 - 11 (vk5dj)

    This is John VK5DJ for the South East Radio Group.

    Great news, the Australian Fox Hunting Championships are on for
    2023 in Mt Gambier. The fox hunting will be over the usual two
    days 10th and 11th of June on the Kings Birthday weekend in SA.

    The Hall convention will be one day only on the 11th with tables
    filled with goodies, home brew and the traditional dinner etc.
    Now would be a good time to book accommodation.

    See you there, John VK5DJ.


    VK4 - SUNFEST - NOTE THE DATE SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)




    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
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    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
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    Remember the sooner you submit material the more the
    likelihood of it being broadcast in the very next edition of
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    Each recorded item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple
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    A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't
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    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)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


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    Who and where are they?
    wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
    Promote your local rebroadcast; details on
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    The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of
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    We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
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    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
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    How do I join this National News List?
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    Email to vk1wia-news-join@lists.wia.org.au
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    Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want
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    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Mar 3 03:22:46 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-03-05.mp3
    Text edition:




    2023 MARCH 05 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 5 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    Chris VK3FY on behalf of the WIA Board

    PLUS MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS
    FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hello everyone this is Chris VK3FY on behalf of the WIA Board
    for VK1WIA Weekly News.

    The WIA AGM will be held on 13 May 2023. Details will be provided to
    enable registrations closer to the event.

    The WIA Merit Award

    The WIA Merit Award program identifies and recognises sustained
    outstanding achievement in the diverse field of Amateur Radio
    that furthers the science of radio, and/or service to the WIA.

    Nominations are called for using a special form located on the
    WIA Web Site.

    tinyurl.com/5n8uedzp

    If the nomination is successful, these are usually announced at the
    WIA annual general meeting, and where possible presented at that
    gathering of members. All WIA Merit Awards are not necessarily awarded
    every year.

    Awards for this years AGM close at the end of March.

    FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS.

    The WIA is currently reviewing the rules for Frequency allocations for
    Repeaters and Beacons. This review is being conducted by the WIA
    Spectrum Strategy Committee


    DAYTON 2023

    This year there will be a number of Hams going to The DAYTON Hamvention
    to be held on the third weekend of May.

    Myself, Chris VK3FY along with Lee VK3GK will be once again attending
    this years Contest University and the DX and Contest Dinners.

    The WIA is arranging a meeting with the current President of the ARRL
    and WIA Board members Chris and Lee whilst they are there.

    Any VK Hams intending to visit the Dayton Hamvention can communicate
    through the Facebook Page VKs going to Dayton, to arrange catch-ups
    etc.

    tinyurl.com/p9n4nvzc

    Those wishing to attend the DX and Contest Dinners will need to book
    in advance as these activities are usually sold out prior to the event.

    This has been Chris VK3FY on behalf of the WIA Board and
    VK1WIA Weekly News.





    DISCUSSION POINT

    Equipment Trading News

    Beware of radio selling scammers here is Justin VK7TW.


    Someone else got scammed by our regular scammer, selling an Icom 7300
    from an alleged deceased estate in Turners Beach. The scammer took the
    money and ran, thankfully Bank of Queensland have frozen the bank
    account, pending further investigation.

    The buyer said the seller was very confident on the phone, even sending
    a photo of his Tasmanian drivers licence indicating he lived in
    Rocherlea but it expired in 2021.

    The seller usually lists the item as deceased estate, says he doesnt
    know much about it, and has claimed to live in Bicheno, Launceston,
    Ulverstone and other suburbs, but doesnt want to meet up in person.

    If you are fairly confident its a scam, you can google the bank account
    bsb number to see what bank it belongs to and contact the bank, they
    really appreciate the intel, and froze a bank a/c from a scammer I rang
    them about.

    Copy and paste photos of the image they supply into google image search,
    as they steal most images off the web to entice you to buy it, so you
    can soon see if its fraudulent.

    SK Jason VK7ZJA and some other friends would notify Facebook Market
    Place, Gumtree and eBay re the dodgy listings, and usually got them removed.

    All I can say is buyer beware, don't send any money, ask to see the
    goods in person and then pay. And be very wary of using some of the
    money transfer sites

    (vk7wi news)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    The overview of the national 160 m allocations within IARU Region 1
    has been updated. The new document is available at
    IARU R1 HF Committee.

    tinyurl.com/2p9bmfwv




    At 7pm on 6 March 1923, BBC broadcasting in Scotland officially
    began from a studio housed in a small attic apartment at Rex House
    in Glasgow, and transmitter at Port Dundas.

    Using 1.5kW on 722kHz, the station was allocated the callsign 5SC.

    This year, 100 years on, the BBC Amateur Radio Group will be
    celebrating the anniversary with special event callsign GB 5SC
    on the 4, 5 and 6 March from the present BBC Pacific Quay
    headquarters, using HF, VHF, UHF and QO-100.





    REGION TWO

    St. Vincent and the Grenadines

    The Rainbow Radio League / Youlou Radio Movement ( RRL / YRM ),
    is now one step closer to developing an island-wide HF emergency
    communications network, thanks to another donation of radios and
    antennas from Barrett Communications, Australia.

    The equipment which arrived on February 14, 2023, according to
    RRL/YRM Director, Donald De Riggs J88CD, can be viewed as a
    gift of love, not only from Barrett, but from all the agencies
    and government departments that assisted with the transport and
    clearance of this vital equipment.

    The equipment is normally powered by a 12 volt DC source which makes
    this ideal in times of natural or man-made emergencies. It allows
    radio operators to communicate locally, regionally and worldwide
    in the absence of a phone service and it is possible to send emails
    wirelessly through a programme called WINLINK and CLOVER MAIL,
    as well as sending/receiving texts via other digital modes like
    PSK31 and RTTY.

    Pictures can also be transmitted wirelessly via SSTV, and, with an
    increasing number of Ham radio satellites and balloons, one of which
    is believed to have been mistakenly shot down recently, hams can
    monitor the weather on a real time basis as well as communicating
    via these birds.




    The National Science Foundation awarded a nearly 50,000 US dollar
    grant to Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., assistant professor physics
    and electrical engineering at The University of Scranton, to support
    "The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) Workshop 2023."

    He also received a grant of just over 25,000 dollars from
    Amateur Radio Digital Communications to support the workshop.

    The HamSCI Workshop 2023 will take place Mar. 17 and 18 at The
    University of Scranton and the historic Radisson at Lackawanna
    Station.

    On line registration to join from the comfort of your own home
    via ZOOM is also available

    tinyurl.com/5xc3zh3s




    Ahead of Region 3 news, for our final story from Region 2 this week,
    we visit with a group of hams in Minnesota USA on a wintertime
    fishing expedition. Kent Peterson KCDGY from ARNewsLine tells us
    what they caught while at the lake. Here's a hint: It wasn't fish.

    "In Minnesota, it's considered a winter tradition for some people
    to go out on the frozen lakes for fishing. One group that took to the
    frozen waters in the Twin Cities region of the state were hoping for
    a very different kind of catch: They set up their equipment on
    White Bear Lake at Mahtomedi Beach in the hopes of reeling in some
    QSOs while operating portable.

    This was the February 11th "Hams on the Ice" event where antennas took
    the place of fishing rods and the waves being plumbed were radio waves

    The four-hour event drew 20 or so amateurs. Some brought portable
    heaters. Others simply were warmed by the idea of working some DX
    -- and many did. This was the amateurs' winter equivalent of a monthly
    group gathering known as Hams in the Park held during warmer months.

    According to a video on the YouTube channel of Matthew, KLWC, the
    hams were also there to provide an opportunity for some of the regions
    youngest licensees: With a little help, some of the newer hams got
    their first contacts on HF radio.

    With mic fright being a big concern for a lot of newcomers, you might
    even say they broke the ice.




    REGION THREE

    INDIA

    Ham radio could be one of the most useful technologies whose
    potential is evergreen, said the founder of the National Institute
    of Amateur Radio S. Suri VU2MY.

    In an effort to create awareness about the same, his book
    The Untapped Potential of Amateur Radio serves as a guide to all
    who wish to learn the workings of ham radio.

    The book was launched on the occasion of World Science Day at the
    NIAR campus by V. Sivakumar, IGP Intelligence, Telangana Police,
    T. Hari Babu, IRRS, Deputy Director, Ministry of Communications,
    and G.L. Rao, Chairman, NIAR, all of whom are avid ham enthusiasts
    themselves. The event had not just regular hams in attendance, but
    also doctors, engineers, advocates and journalists who have over the
    years nurtured their interest in the workings of radio.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    ARRL DX PHONE CONTEST THIS WEEKEND

    This contest sees us, VK, as DX stations and we contact W/VE
    stations only. 0000 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday.

    (ARRL)

    --------------

    The 86th Commonwealth Contest BERU HAPPENS 11-12 March - CW only.
    between 1000utc and 1000utc

    (NZART BREAKIN and RSGB)

    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au) --------------


    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    VI 10 SOTA all year from summits in VK1

    --------------

    The Special Event Station VI 100 MB is active all year,
    celebrating the centenary of VK2's Manly & District Radio Club.

    (Richard Murnane)

    --------------

    A group of amateurs, including Dan VK6NAD, and Michael, VK6TU will
    activate the yet to be confirmed call sign of VI 6 CRO in recognition
    of the NASA Carnarvon and Overseas Telecommunications Commission
    historic location April 17 to 23 to coincide with the massive surge
    of visitors as a result of the April 20 Eclipse event in the area.

    The Station will be set up in the middle of the historic OTC buildings
    between the Casgrain Horn used during Apollo 11 and the large
    30m Dish.

    Also near the station site is the Carnarvon Space and Technology
    Museum which Moon Astronaut Buzz Aldrin opened in 2012.

    (hamradiodaily)

    --------------

    GUAM.

    QRV is N 7 JVJ until April 28 on 40 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8.
    QSL via operator's instructions.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    Hackaday has published an entertaining YouTube video,
    Searching for Space Pirates on Old Military Satellites.

    The video explains how U.S. Fleet SATCOM UHF transponders,
    still in space from the 1970s, are being used illegally,
    often for criminal purposes. It also describes using a simple
    RTL receiver to listen in on these pirate transmissions.

    The video is available on
    hackaday.com/2023/02/24/hunting-for-space-pirates/

    (ans)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    Nervous Novices CW Net on 80m

    A new weekly CW net has been recently started in Ireland and could
    be the formation of maybe similar here in VK?

    It is a friendly place for inexperienced operators, for anyone still
    learning Morse, and for those who would like to have a chat using CW
    without feeling the pressure of a traditional QSO. This new Nervous
    Novices Net takes place every Wednesday at 2030 Irish local time,
    somewhere between 3.5503.555 MHz.

    Good operating practices and quality sending are highly encouraged
    but are not required. There is no maximum speed, however, the net
    requires that all operators QRS to the slowest participant so that
    everyone can copy.

    For those still new to CW, this sure sounds an enjoyable way to
    improve your skills.

    (irts)



    In South Africa another CW idea is to create some space for the
    new amateur radio CW operator, without feeling intimidated trying
    to break into a conversation at normal speeds. The first SARL CW QRS
    week runs from Wednesday 3 March to Tuesday 9 March with activity
    from 15:30 to 16:30 UTC each day. The exchange is a RST report
    and your name. Nothing more!

    (SARL)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    The USA's Federal Communications Commission has approved Amazons
    plan to deploy and operate 3,236 broadband satellites, subject to
    conditions that include measures for avoiding collisions in
    low Earth orbit.

    Amazon got initial FCC clearance for its Ka-band Project Kuiper
    constellation in 2020 on the condition that it secured regulatory
    approval for an updated orbital debris mitigation plan.
    The FCC said its conditional approval of this mitigation plan allows
    Kuiper to begin deployment of its constellation in order to bring
    high-speed broadband connectivity to customers around the world.

    The conditions include semi-annual reports that Kuiper must give the
    FCC to detail the collision avoidance manoeuvres its satellites have
    made, whether any have lost the ability to steer away from objects,
    and other debris risk indicators.

    In the order, the FCC also requires Kuiper to ensure plans to de-orbit
    satellites after their seven-year mission keeping inhabitable
    space stations in addition to the International Space Station in mind.

    twiar.net/?p=14524

    (TWIAR)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW. Unfortunately, there will be
    no RAOTC bulletin tomorrow. Due to personal circumstances, producer
    Bill VK3BR has had to resign immediately from this position. A
    volunteer to take Bills place is urgently sought. However, the
    April news should appear on schedule.

    Some good news. Chris VK6JI has volunteered to assist webmaster
    Andrew VK3CAH. Chris is well qualified in this area and the website
    has been brought up to date. Have a look by typing www.raotc.org.au
    or just Google RAOTC broadcasts and follow the links.

    The March issue of the RAOTC journal OTN was posted on February 19th,
    so keep an eye open for your copy.

    VK6 Members and Friends of the RAOTC are reminded that the monthly
    lunch will be held on Tuesday, March 14th at the Woodbridge Hotel in
    East Guildford. All are welcome.

    Once again, no RAOTC bulletin this month; the next one will be on
    Monday, April 3rd.

    73, Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Freshman Katie Campbell represented Columbiana High School at a
    national Amateur Radio Club Convention in Orlando last month
    (HamCation 2023). She was selected to give a presentation in the
    Youth Forum entitled The ABCs of a YL in STEM, School Amateur Radio
    Clubs and Code Coaching.

    In the presentation, Katie explores gender disparity in STEM and
    asserts the early introduction of Amateur Radio is a potential
    solution to that issue.

    Katie has an extra-class-level license (the highest US level available), a process she began when she was in fifth grade as a result
    of being a founding student-member of Columbianas Amateur Radio Club.
    Katie hopes to encourage other young women in STEM to put themselves
    out there and learn more about the field as well as teach others; its
    important to get young women in leadership positions to provide
    diverse views.

    Katie will next travel to Dayton to present Young Ladies in
    Morse Code in May and will be teaching a morse code class in
    Ottawa, Canada at the YOTA Camp in July. She hopes to continue
    participating in presentations and teaching Youth Amateur Radio.

    tinyurl.com/yc75jbbc





    Space Station Contact With Students In Malta

    An ARISS contact between students at Stella Maris College, Gzira,
    Malta, callsign 9 H 1 MRL and the International Space Station took
    place successfully February 15. It was the first ever ARISS contact
    from the European island nation of Malta.

    ISS crew member, astronaut Josh Cassada, KI5CRH, used the ISS
    callsign OR 4 ISS on the downlink frequency of 145.800 MHz.
    The ARISS team Malta made use of the callsign 9H1MRL, the club call
    of the Malta Amateur Radio League, MARL.

    The downlink signal was receivable in the British Isles and across
    Europe and the contact was conducted by five local radio amateurs;
    Dominic 9H1M, Manuel 9H1GW, Andrew 9H2AV, Trevor, 9H5TS and
    Anthony 9H2AS from the station set up in the schools auditorium
    with a 10 element crossed Yagi and rotator on the roof.

    Stella Maris College is part of a network of Lasallian Colleges
    that include De La Salle College and the Mellieha Retreat Centre.
    The schools take their inspiration from their founder, John Baptist
    de la Salle. In the Christian faith, John De La Salle is Patron
    Saint of Teachers.

    (amsat.org)

    "Thanks Michelle and Alec

    Speaking of Alec, he, along with his dad, Pete VK2LP took a detour
    from a recent trip to Melbourne to catch up with Bruce VK3FFF and
    myself in Bendigo. It was a great opportunity for three WIA News
    presenters to get together. A photo of us can be seen on Bevan VK5BDs
    video version of the broadcast.

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS

    Cheers, Col


    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    One month in and the rescue and recovery operations continue after
    those earthquakes struck Syria and Turkey with casualties reaching
    nearly close on 50,000.

    Please note these frequency's, 28.540 MHz, 3.777 and 7.092 hams
    are asked to keep these frequencies clear for emergency traffic.

    Amateur radio continues to be the major link for communication for
    the entire area. Turkish amateur radio operator Aziz Sasa, TA1E, has
    been at the disaster areas coordinating frequencies for the teams
    and carrying out search and rescue operations. Sasa was interviewed
    on the BBC Digital Planet program, where he talked about the
    continued amateur radio help during the disaster.

    An audio link to the program is available here.
    bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct31zr

    While the entire program lasts 46 minutes, the interview with Sasa
    is within the first 6 minutes.

    (arrl letter)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK3 - Melbournes Wyndham Amateur Radio Club HamFest today 5 of March.
    (vk2zrh)

    VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE (vk4tfn)

    VK3 - Antennapalooza at Drouin West April 15 & 16 (vk3kj)

    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.

    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION and FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS June 10 - 11 (vk5dj)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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)

    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
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    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Mar 9 18:24:51 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-03-12.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 MARCH 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

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING MARCH 12 2023

    THIS WEEK:-

    PETER, VK4EA WIA DIRECTOR WITH GOINGS ON AT BOARD LEVEL,
    FELIX WITH OPERATIONAL NEWS, SIG NEWS WITH BRUCE VK3FFF AND
    VK2LAW JASON AT THE INTERNATIONAL DESK.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB


    FreeDV

    Back some 10 plus years ago, 2012, FreeDV was coded from scratch
    by David Witten who handled the GUI, architecture and David Rowe
    VK5DGR the Codec 2, modem implementation, integration.

    FreeDV is a Digital Voice mode for HF radio.

    You can run FreeDV using a free GUI application for Windows,
    Linux and OSX that allows any SSB radio to be used for
    low-bit-rate digital voice.

    FreeDV is being developed by an international team of radio amateurs
    working together on coding, design, user interface and testing. It
    is open source software and modems and Codec 2 speech codec used in
    FreeDV are also open source. In January 2023 FreeDV 1.8.7 was
    released giving an Easy Setup to simplify first-time setup

    Now Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) has announced the
    award of a grant to the FreeDV Project as part of an effort to
    improve the state of the art in HF digital voice.

    ARDC grants are far from light weight, last year over %2.1 million
    US dollars was given to Amateur Radio by the ARDC.

    (vk4bb Ed.)





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Gidday, this is Peter V K 4 E A on behalf of the W I A board

    Greetings from Turrbal and Jagera country.

    The education committee has been reformed, the first meeting has
    been held, and we observe that the committee is keen get into the
    meaty topic of syllabus reform. The board are very grateful for
    their combined expertise and experience.

    The W I A website is starting to show its age and we are in the process of getting it revamped into something a little more modern looking, with a better integration into our underutilised social media accounts.

    We had a great meeting with the new management of Memnet and they have undertaken to make the system work better for the members.

    Ill be attending the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club RedFest 1st of April not a joke by the way. Drop by the W I A table for
    a chat, happy to take questions and sell you a shirt, H I.

    Cheers for now from Peter V K 4 E A WIA director.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    WRC23 agenda item 9.1b

    The IARU maintains the view that the likelihood of widespread and
    persistent interference from amateur radio activities to RNSS
    example Galileo receivers in the 23cm band is minimal.

    IARU volunteers have carried out a Monte Carlo style study
    simulating scenarios assuming a fixed and mobile population of
    RNSS receivers deployed around an amateur station.
    A 100W amateur home station and a 25W eirp repeater station
    have been assumed.

    The simulation results suggest that at most only around 1% of a
    population of fixed and mobile RNSS receivers randomly situated
    around a transmitting amateur station location would have a small
    chance of receiving a signal level above the RNSS protection
    threshold identified in the relevant ITUR Recommendations.




    REGION ONE

    RSGB in the UK have released two more 2022 Convention presentations
    for radio amateurs to enjoy.

    In Antennas for an effective contest station Lee Volante,
    G 0 MTN reviews many of the options available to the HF contester
    when making antenna choices. He considers how antenna type, height,
    location and available resources have to be balanced with the type
    of contest and a contesters personal goals.

    The Further exploration of SDR by Gordon Lean, G 3 WJG covers the
    design and performance of Software Defined Radio systems from direct
    carrier generation to the use of units incorporating the GNU-Radio
    design software. It also focuses on experience and actual use of
    equipment on all bands from 80M to 10 GHz and some of the benefits
    and difficulties associated with SDR operation.

    You can watch them both on the RSGB YouTube channel
    youtube.com/@TheRSGB

    or in the RSGB members portal
    tinyurl.com/275epxkd




    REGION TWO

    The IARU Region 2 Executive Committee met in mid-February.
    The meeting included Officers and Directors that were elected
    during the 2022 General Assembly back in November.

    During this meeting, the Executive Committee took, among many points
    raised actions and heard reports on such topics as:-


    Adopted revised Terms of Reference for the R2 Youth Liaison Team.

    An update on IARU matters was presented by IARU Secretary
    Joel Harrison W5ZN.

    Region 2 Director Dino Besomi CE3PG gave an update on efforts to
    establish an effective WinLink system within Chile for emergency
    communications.

    The next meeting of the Executive Committee will take place
    May 24, 2023.

    For further information, the full minutes of the meeting can be
    found on the IARU Region 2 web site.

    tinyurl.com/2hx87vuv




    The 2023 Hamvention Awards committee for Dayton Hamvention has
    announced this year's award winners and the Special Achievement
    Award recipient is Dr. Jason McDonald, N 2 TPA.

    N2TPA, Dr. McDonald, began a career as a radio frequency engineer
    before becoming a trauma surgeon. He brings amateur radio to the
    world through youth projects and Scouting, particularly through
    Radio Scouting and he has helped form Scouting clubs around the
    world.

    To date, more than 500 youths in these clubs he has formed have
    become licensed and are on the air.

    We'll have more on Radio Scouting in todays Special Interest Group
    news.




    Calling it the biggest advance in Citizens Band radios since the CB
    spectrum was expanded from 23 to 40 channels in 1977, Cobra
    Electronics has launched a line of CB radios that can use FM as well
    as AM in the USA.

    The company says the ability to use FM in the CB radio spectrum
    26.965 to 27.405 MHz assigned by the FCC is a boon to truckers,
    off-road vehicle operators and anyone else who uses this license
    free two-way radio technology.

    It says the FM transmission CB radio mode provides users with the
    ability to enjoy high-quality clear audio during radio conversations
    with nearby/strong CB radio transceivers. Meanwhile, in those
    instances where distance is a priority and/or the signal from the
    other party is weak, AM can be used in either full AM and Single
    Sideband modes, consisting of Upper and Lower Sideband. Of course,
    the audio quality wont be as good, but thats the trade-off for
    distance.

    cobra.com/





    REGION THREE

    MAJOR INDIAN BROADCASTER HONORS WEST BENGAL HAM

    Congratulations to Ambarish Nag Biswas VU2JFA, secretary of
    the West Bengal Radio Club in India. At a recent ceremony in
    Kolkata, he was given the Ananya Samman award from Zee News, a Hindi
    broadcast channel that is part of one of India's largest media
    companies.

    Speaking with our Sister publication, he told NewsLine this was a
    special honour for him as the first amateur radio recipient.
    The award is in recognition of the club's life-saving work during
    cyclones, the pandemic and in other areas of public concern.



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/


    PARKS ON THE AIR INTRODUCES 48-HOUR CONTEST

    Operating portable in the park just gained a little more of
    a competitive edge. Amateur Radio NewsLines "parks man"
    Dave Parks WB8ODF explains.

    A new activity being introduced this June by the Parks on the Air
    organizers is going to be different from the casual portable outdoor
    operating experience activators and hunters enjoy. This is a contest
    For 48 hours, hams will collect contacts and points as part of the
    new Parks on the Air Plaque Event, which is intended to become an
    annual competition.

    In a YouTube interview with Kevin Thomas W1DED, POTA president
    Jason Johnston, W3AAX, explained the different categories available
    to both hunters and activators and explained that anyone who made
    their first POTA contact after June 2, 2022, is eligible for the
    additional category of rookie. Participants must be registered with
    POTA and can use CW, SSB and the digital modes. Hams will not be
    permitted to use the WARC bands.

    As for multipliers, there are none. This keeps the playing field
    level so that everything - even multiple reference areas - will be
    worth a single point.

    This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.

    Theres "Parksie" with the Parks story.

    The contest will be held on HF, VHF, UHF and SHF. For a look at the
    rules and other details for the event, see the link in the
    text version of this week's WIA NATIONAL NEWS

    docs.pota.app/docs/award_events/plaque_event/plaque_event.html

    (ARNewsLine)




    THE HEIGHT OF GRATITUDE FOR A SUMMIT RESCUE

    For this story, we visit, thanks to ARNewsLine, with a SOTA
    activator who is recovering from serious injuries after a fall
    on a summit. While he is healing, he plans to active a campaign
    of gratitude for his rescuers.

    Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH with that story.


    It was just a few weeks ago that Alan 2EJWA had hopes of
    scoring 4 points plus a 3-point winter bonus for activating
    the largest summit in his immediate area, G/SP-001 Kinder Scout
    in the Peak District National Park in the UK.

    His goal on that day in January came crashing down with him when he
    fell on a piece of black ice on the well-marked summit path,
    shattering his left leg. He expects that after two surgeries, he
    will be back on his feet by mid-May - perhaps even back on the air
    for a summit by summer.

    As he tells colleagues on the SOTA Reflector, however, he might not
    be making those plans at all were it not for the kind souls who
    first rushed to his aid on the trail to stabilise him -- and then
    for the welcome arrival of the volunteer team he describes in his
    blog as "angels in red coats," the Glossop Mountain Rescue Team.

    It was a complicated rescue but they moved him safely off the hill
    just as snow showers were threatening to arrive.

    Alan is now asking others on the SOTA Reflector and the ham
    community to help inspire some kind of special event or thank-you
    gesture for helping to keep this SOTA activator alive. To Alan, the
    winter bonus for that summit truly belongs to the angels in
    red coats.

    This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    On March 1st the St. George Amateur Radio Society Sydney hosted a
    talk by Gary VK2CRJ, assisted by John VK2ATU on digital amateur
    television.

    Gary covered setting up ATV repeaters in the UK and later moving to
    France then emigrating to Australia. Going through the early
    analogue days, the different TV systems then onto digital TV theory,
    the latest trends in ATV such as the recent narrow band digital
    transatlantic contact, upgrading the Lawson ATV repeater
    controller and converting it to high definition digital.

    A video of the talk will be available on demand from ATV repeater
    VK2RTS by using DTMF tones on 2 meters. Details see

    qsl.net/vk2jpl/Information.htm

    Video will be uploaded to my YouTube channel, Jonny10001

    youtube.com/@Jonny10001

    (John VK2ATU)





    ST LOUIS - GATEWAY TO THE WEST

    Tongue in cheek many a post on social media comes under the heading
    "Antenna Porn".

    Some great structures, transmitting halls etc. from around
    the globe.

    The one today is called "Exploring a 1 Million Watt Broadcast Tower"
    and Joe and Jeff Geerling are a friendly pair of YouTube hosts

    tinyurl.com/3xzydxah

    radioworld.com has a great written article about the tower and the
    YouTube story itself.

    youtu.be/6_u8x8V4YYs

    The 1,030-foot Stainless G-74 model tower has three faces, each
    7 feet in width.

    Ten Class C FM signals are served by an eight-bay Dielectric
    antenna. Nine of the 10 FM stations also run separate HD Radio
    signals through the antenna.

    Five additional FMs full-power use a side-mounted antenna on
    the tower, and there are five TV stations, two cellular companies
    and several public safety and two-way communication entities up
    there.

    All told, just under 1 Megawatt of effective radiated power emanates
    from the tower.






    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    IO-117 continues to provide a lot of DX fun for amateur satellite
    operators. Numerous operators have reported receiving the ARRL's
    Worked All States and DX Century Club Satellite awards lately as
    well as CQ Magazine's Worked All Zones Satellite award where
    25 of 40 zones are required for the satellite award).

    For an example about the distances that can be worked via this
    satellite in Medium Earth Orbit two QSOs got very near the 13,000 km
    mark recently.

    On February 11 Dave KG0D, worked Lucky, VU2LBW.
    The distance between them being 12,939 km.

    Unfortunately for this claim, Hector, W5CBF, worked Oleg A65BR,
    on January 29, the distance between them 57kms more than
    Dave and Lucky's, i.e. 12,996 km.

    Note that only real-time QSOs will be considered for distance
    records.

    (ANS)





    MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    Hi, I'm Graeme, VK3GRK in sunny Bendigo.

    Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club invites you to our
    March meeting in Castlemaine the 17th.

    BAREC president, Neil Patton VK3ZVX, will provide an interesting
    presentation on the restoration of WWII Radios. Some of the key
    discussion points will include the history, heritage, safety and
    use of WWII radios.

    The evening starts at 7.30 pm, Friday March 17th at the
    1st Castlemaine Scout Hall, 16 Reckleben St, Castlemaine and a gold
    coin donation would be appreciated and a light supper will be
    provided.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070

    This story from the USA.

    According to a Scouting magazine study of Merit Badges earned
    last year, Radio had the biggest jump.

    It is now the 81st most popular Merit Badge, up from being 98th
    in 2021. Trailing just behind it on the biggest gains list is the
    Electronics Merit Badge, which jumped 15 spots, from 80th to 65th.

    To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, members must earn 21 badges,
    14 of which are standard. The Scout gets to choose the remaining
    badges based on personal interests.

    Many Scouts take part in Jamboree on the Air, not only in the USA,
    which is being held October 20 - 23, 2023.

    (arrl)




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    Scam Alert VK2

    WICEN NSW is a member squad of VRA Rescue NSW. Unfortunately,
    someone has been fraudulently claiming to fundraise on behalf of
    VRA Rescue NSW.

    Please be advised that no such external body has been authorised
    to do this, and any such request for payment or donation should be
    referred to the NSW Police Assistance Line: 131 444.

    VK2WI News says VRA Rescue NSW has been cooperating with NSW Police
    Force to investigate these matters, and will continue to work to
    protect the good name and reputation of the organisation and
    members.

    If you have been contacted or impacted, please contact your
    financial institution, NSW Police, and inform VRA Rescue NSW.

    Remember WICEN NSW is a communications support squad of VRA Rescue
    NSW, providing skilled radio communicators, in times of emergency.
    WICEN also supports local community events; providing practical
    training in tactical field communications, and to build other
    radio skills.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    ARRL DX PHONE CONTEST THIS WEEKEND

    This contest sees us, VK, as DX stations and we contact W/VE
    stations only. 0000 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday.

    (ARRL)

    --------------

    The 86th Commonwealth Contest BERU HAPPENS 11-12 March - CW only.
    between 1000utc and 1000utc

    (NZART BREAKIN and RSGB)

    --------------

    MARCH 18 - 19 (the 3rd Weekend) John Moyle Field Day
    UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 Sunday.
    (wia.org.au)


    This is Denis VK4AE, contest manager for the John Moyle 2023.

    This years contest will be held between 0100 GMT Saturday 18th
    March to 0059GMT 19th March.

    COVID seems to have abated taking with it all of the limitations
    we have had for the last couple years gathering groups in the same
    place at the same time. This year we have the problem of even
    getting together in the same place due to recent fires or even
    earlier flood damage. As the purpose of the Field Day is to provide
    training and experience in emergency operation I hope that besides
    a little inconvenience that all will go smoothly when operating
    the station in the field.

    Amateurs are a mighty resourceful lot and no doubt many may have
    operated with WICEN and SES over the last few months, so this
    contest provides just more practice.

    As the contest nears for this year, I can only hope that the dreary
    weather in many parts of Australia has not been too cruel and that
    good activity on the bands and the propagation will be rewarding as
    even the sun is cooperating this year.

    Dont forget that once the dismantling and packing up of all
    equipment has been completed there is still a most important
    part of the contest to be finished. Yes! You must submit your
    stations log. This has two major purposes;

    1. It informs me of your ACTIVITIES on air and enables me to score
    your entry.

    2. As importantly it confirms the contacts you had with other
    stations and verifies their logs. So even if your log is only
    small it does verify the contacts you made and those of other
    stations.

    Best of luck for the contest and do not forget to submit your log.

    Denis Johnstone (VK4AE)

    --------------


    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    In the World of DX, Phil, VA3QR, is operating from Panama throughout
    March, using various call signs depending upon his location.

    Those call signs include

    HP1/VA3QR

    HP3/VA3QR and

    HP8/VA3QR

    He will be using SSB and the digital modes. QSL to his home call
    which in case you missed it is VA 3 QR.

    (ARNewsLine)


    --------------


    Doug VK2DCR/VK2EY joins me now with a seafaring yarn.

    The following is my translation, from the French original, of a news item in Les Nouvelles DX from Jean-Michel F6AJA dated 2nd March 2023.

    The boat Magnet, owned by George AA7JV, accompanied by Michael KN4EEI left for a voyage of two years across the Pacific. They have left Costa Rica and are using a 6m rig setup for FT8 throughout the trip. If they stop at a rare or semi-rare DXCC entity the radio equipment will be operated onshore to enable DXCC credit. They have another station on board so that they can be active on other bands.

    At sea, the callsign being used is KH7Z/MM or a personal callsign followed by /MM. If they land the callsign will be appropriate to the DXCC entity visited. The passed Cocos (TI9) without landing.

    They are on the way to the Marquises Islands (FO/M) and as soon as they find a suitable place to land, they will be FO/AA7JV either from Nuku Hiva or Hiva Oa (IOTA OC027) probably from the 18th to 25th March and will be mostly active on 160 and 80m as well as 6m on FT8
    The will continue their voyage by going to the Tuamotu Islands (OC 067) from 28th March to 5th April. (Dates are approximate) Next, the plan is to go to various of the Society Islands between 10th April and 10th July.

    More information is available at lesnouvellesdx@free.fr

    73
    Doug VK2DCR/VK2EY
    doug@rosser.id.au

    --------------

    WILLIS ISLAND

    Sands, ( another great name for a ham on an island HiHi) his
    call is VK 9 WX is there until April and has been worked from
    80 to 10 meters.

    QSL via M 0 OXO.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    The annual St Patrick's Day Award takes place over a 48 hour period
    from 12 noon on the 16th of March to 12 noon on the 18th of March,
    to allow worldwide participation in all time zones.

    The St Patrick's Day Award is 48 hours of non-competitive fun.

    Anyone worldwide can participate, licensed or SWL.

    Also to help celebrate St. Patricks day, the second E.I. Flora and
    Fauna St. Patricks Activity Weekend is on from the 17th to the 19th
    of this month with many parks in Ireland to be activated.

    (IRTS)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE (vk4tfn)

    Greetings from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC right here
    in South East Queensland! Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.

    The Redcliffe Club will hold our HamFest on Saturday the 1st April
    9:00am at St. Michael's College, Caboolture. Please mark the date
    in the calendar on your mobile phone.

    There will be raffle prizes.
    BREAKFAST is served from 8:00am.
    REDFEST opens at 9:00am. $5 Admission.
    Vendors: Order your tables in March. $10.00 per table.
    Vendors are admitted free.

    For Table Bookings Email:
    redfest@redclifferadioclub.org.au

    go to: redclifferadioclub.org.au We're also on Facebook.

    It'll be a good day out. We look forward to seeing you.

    Thank you and 73's from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC


    VK3 - Antennapalooza at Drouin West April 15 & 16 (vk3kj)

    VK3 - MOORABBIN HAMFEST - May 6 (vk3gl)

    The Moorabbin and District Amateur Radio club is pleased
    to announce the 2023 HamFest will be on Saturday 6th May,
    2023 with doors opening at 10am.

    This year's event will be held at The Kingston City Hall
    located at the corner of Nepean Highway and South Rd,
    Moorabbin.

    The Moorabbin Radio Club's annual HamFest is proud to be
    Victoria's biggest with displays and sales of new and preloved
    equipment. This event is supported by commercial traders with
    specials on offer, as well as the many second hand traders,
    and is an event not to be missed for anyone interested in
    Radio Communications and Electronics.

    As well as many bargains available on the day, there will be
    major and minor door prizes, light refreshments will be
    available.

    Trader table bookings online at www.mdrc.org.au/hamfest

    General enquires can be made by emailing Graeme Lewis
    vk3gl@wia.org.au
    or by phoning mobile 0418 171601.

    Proudly Victoria's biggest HamFest -
    A Must see, must come event!!

    73 Graeme VK3GL


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.

    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION/FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS June 10-11 (vk5dj)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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)

    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!

    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Mar 17 02:03:54 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-03-19.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 MARCH 19 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 19 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA President and Director, Scott Williams VK3KJ - Insurance.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    Welcome to all that have tuned into the WIA Broadcast this week.
    This is WIA President and Director, Scott Williams VK3KJ.

    This week, the WIA wrote to all Affiliated Clubs, and we were
    delighted to announce that the WIA has formally entered into a
    new insurance arrangement with our preferred insurance partner,
    GippsInsure, to provide insurance products and services to Clubs.
    GippsInsure is a Victorian based insurance Broker and is part of
    the large Steadfast insurance network throughout Australia.

    Over the past 3 months, the WIA has reviewed the insurance needs of
    clubs and the way the arrangement has been previously administered
    through the WIA. What became clear is WIA Affiliated Clubs had a
    broad range of insurance needs that extended from Public & Product
    Liability insurance, Association Liability insurance incorporating
    Professional Indemnity, Management Liability insurance, Volunteer
    Workers insurance, General Property insurance also covering
    equipment taken away from club rooms and a range of other insurance
    requirements.

    Overall, the new arrangement that has been put in place is price
    attractive and enables clubs to consolidate their insurance needs,
    making the administration of insurance far simpler.

    Affiliated Clubs will now to be able to liaise directly with
    GippsInsure and under our group buying arrangement, supported
    by our 136 Affiliated Clubs, have access to a comprehensive range
    of insurance products and services.

    All WIA Affiliated Clubs who have previously pursued insurance
    through the old arrangement, will find generally their policy
    expires at the end of this month, so clubs will need to act promptly
    if you wish to ensure continuity of insurance.

    All Clubs are encouraged to carefully consider your insurance
    requirements and ensure adequate insurance is in place commensurate
    with your activities.

    The contact details for GippsInsure, is published on the WIA website
    at wia.org.au under a recent posted news article.

    I will now pass you back to Graham to continue with this weeks
    broadcast.

    Stay safe and well.

    Best Regards

    Scott VK3KJ


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    Hams in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Northern Asia are being
    asked to take the challenge of seeing into the future.

    Region 1 of the International Amateur Radio Union is inviting teams
    and individuals to engage in two types of brainstorming as part of
    the region's HamChallenge competition. Both challenges are designed
    to inspire projects that increase awareness of amateur radio's
    vitality and relevance today.

    The first challenge asks hams to create projects that reach out to
    people who do not have a radio licence. The project could be a
    social media campaign, a video, a storyboard or some other creative
    venture that showcases the power ham radio has in building
    friendships and expanding scientific knowledge.

    The second challenge focuses on a project that reaches out to other
    hams showing the way amateur radio might look in 10 years.
    Entries in this part of the challenge can be a technology project,
    an experiment or something else.

    All ideas should be sent to the IARU Region 1 by July.




    Hackers Disrupt Russian Radio

    Writing in the ICQPODACST, Colin Butler says radio stations in
    several Russian cities were disrupted on 22nd February by the
    sound of air raid sirens and a warning of imminent missile strikes.

    Recordings of the broadcast were shared on the social media network
    'Telegram' and reported on by Meduza. Meduza, an independent news
    agency now based in Latvia, was forced to move its operations out of
    Russia during the media crackdown that followed Russias February
    22 invasion of Ukraine.

    EMERCOM, the Russian Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergency
    Situations and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters,
    confirmed the broadcasts in a statement on its Telegram channel,
    blaming an unspecified hacker attack on servers of a number of
    commercial radio stations in some regions of the country.

    According to a post by AvtoRadio, the hack was focused on the
    satellite signals used to distribute programming.




    IMD at the Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth

    It is twenty years since the late Pat Herbert founded Ye Olde Hurdy
    Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth. EI 0 MAR was established
    there that same year.

    In conjunction with IMD, International Marconi Day, which takes
    place on the 22nd of April, Pat's son Simon plans a day of
    celebration at the museum. The Mayor of Howth will be also be in
    attendance. EI0MAR has always taken part in IMD.

    Martello tower, in which the museum is located, is where Lee
    De Forest, the inventor of the triode valve, demonstrated his
    wireless telegraphy system to engineers of the British Post Office
    in 1903. Two years later The Marconi Company set up an experimental
    wireless receiving station in the tower to monitor transmissions
    from a vessel sailing to different locations in the Irish Sea.





    REGION TWO

    Automakers have replied to U.S. Sen. Ed Markeys letter urging them
    to maintain broadcast AM radio as a feature in electric vehicles and
    other future vehicles. But the auto industrys response by no means
    offers any guarantees that the senior band will remain in the
    dashboard going forward.

    Senator Markey wrote in December to all the big automakers: Ford,
    General Motors, BMW and Kia among them. He asked for a thorough
    accounting of where AM radio receivers stand in the view of
    automakers and to inform him of any plans to discontinue access to
    AM in new cars.

    The auto industry response comes from the Alliance for Automotive
    Innovation and appears to be a resounding NON-endorsement of
    AM radio. In fact, the letter makes no mention of the industrys
    intentions of keeping AM radio intact in the dashboard.




    March 13th, 2023, astronomers around the world marked the 10th
    anniversary of the inauguration of the Atacama Large Millimeter /
    submillimeter Array (ALMA), the worlds largest radio telescope.

    Over the past decade, ALMA has revolutionized our understanding
    of the Universe and unveiled its secrets, from the formation of
    planets, stars, and galaxies to deciphering the chemistry of the
    cosmos, and even taking part in capturing the first images of
    black holes.

    ALMA consists of 66 antennas, spread over up to 16 kilometres
    on a plateau of the Chilean Andes at 5,000 meters above sea level.
    The technology that makes the telescope special is borne of an
    international collaboration of 21 countries from across
    North America, Europe, and East Asia.

    public.nrao.edu/news/alma-10-year-anniversary-inauguration/





    REGION THREE

    A very quiet month for intruders observed in our region 3 last
    December, just 61 observations. Still, that is a couple per day.

    Reports for December 2022 were contributed by ARSI, NZART and JARL
    with 45 observations from ARSI, 12 Observations from NZART and 4
    from Japan, the JARL.

    The most prominent intruder in the 40 meter band was a broadcast
    radio station from Ethiopia and in our 15 meter band the over the
    horizon radar setups in China and Cyprus.

    A link in our text edition of WIA National News will take you
    directly to the IARU Monitory Service reports this week.

    tinyurl.com/v73z2v6y


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    While you are at plugging along with the John Moyle Field Day contest
    this weekend many stations to our west are active in the Africa All
    Mode International DX Contest.

    Their Activity is on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 metres with CW, RTTY
    and SSB all wrapped up in the one 'test'.

    BUT

    joining me again this week is Denis VK4AE contest Manager for the John Moyle Field Day 2023.

    "Yes As this news goes to air the contest is nearing completion, and as many stations will still be active I wish them well in the remainder of the contest,

    Logs have been arriving steadily. There does not seem to be not as many as the number received at this point after the contest last year.

    It is highly recommended that once you have submitted your log you should check a bit later that your callsign has been added to the list of logs received. If your call is not on the list, then it might not have been received.

    A couple of logs have been submitted as a PDF which is just a picture and contains no more useful information to the contest than a picture of a flower as the data is not accessible electronically and hence usable to me.

    In the same way a couple of logs were submitted using a Cabrillo format that does not contain all of the information required by the JMMFD VHF/UHF rules and requires much extra work for the Contest Manager to attempt to fix those logs.

    It is timely to remind you all that while there is not a lot of time left to submit the log and it will pass quickly and the final date is the 7th April 2023. This is required by the very long lead times now for the AR Magazine.

    Following this date all of the logs will be processed and the results prepared and made available soon after. The results will be shown on the WIA contest page as soon as they are ready.

    So, check that your call is on the list, resend the log if it isnt. It might also be a good idea to submit your log now as you never know what can happen to delay you in the next few days".


    --------------


    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    Also make a mental note that the 2023 QRP Day happens June 17

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.

    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this
    contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as
    possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the
    world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

    (sourced to iaru r3)


    --------------
    --------------
    NOW LET'S OPEN THE DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    GB1PAT and GB2PAT are the special callsigns for members of the
    Bush valley Amateur Radio Club in use all of March as they
    celebrate Saint Patricks Day.

    Three certificates are available for making contact with both
    callsigns on different bands.

    QSL via Logbook of the World only.

    (rsgb)

    --------------


    Luca, HB9OBD is active holiday style as D44KIT from Sal Island, IOTA number AF-086, Cape Verde until the 5th of April. Listen for him on SSB and FT8 on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. QSL via LoTW, eQSL, or via EB7DX.

    --------------

    Hiro, JF1OCQ, is in the Comoro Islands, IOTA number AF-007, where he is on the air as D67AA until the 22nd of March. He is using CW, SSB, and the digital modes on 160 - 10 metres. QSL via LoTW or direct to his home call. He will upload his log to Club Log and other platforms.

    (DX-WORLD.NET)


    --------------

    INDIA

    Special event station AT2 G20 is QRV until June 2 to promote greater
    international cooperation through amateur radio in conjunction with
    the G20 summit to be held in New Delhi September 9 and 10.

    QSL via operator's instructions.

    (arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    QNEWS WORK BENCH
    Measure twice cut once.

    Balun Buildathon

    After a long absence, they are coming back Sunday the 11th of
    June at VK2WI Quarry Road Dural. Youll have your choice of
    constructing a 1:1 or a 4:1 balun from a kit. You can also order
    high quality Kevlar antenna wire.

    All items must be pre☻ordered and paid for on the day.

    For enquiries or bookings, you can email balun@arnsw.org.au or
    leave a phone message on 02 9444 0123.

    (vk2wi news)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    JUST AHEAD OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - WIRELESS WEATHER

    The current solar cycle 25 far exceeds the predictions of the
    international panel convened for this purpose in 2019.

    The solar cycle is important in determining the lifetime of
    satellites in low-Earth orbit because satellite drag correlates
    with the solar cycle. In addition, the forecast gives a rough idea
    of the frequency of space weather storms of all kinds, from radio
    blackouts to geomagnetic storms to radiation storms, and is
    used by many to estimate the expected impact of space weather in
    the coming years. Including we radio amateurs.

    (iaru region 1)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/


    There are adventures and ADVENTURES !

    In Locator Square IO37DO, Rockall, IOTA EU-189 has been visited by
    110 people only during the past two centuries, and only 5 of them
    are known to have spent the night on the rock.

    Led by Cam Cameron, using the call-sign MM 0 UKI intrepid serial
    activators Nobby Styles G0VJG on SSB, and Emil Bergmann DL8JJ/LZ2EN
    on CW will take a pair of FT857's, a spare KX2, Spiderbeams,
    verticals and a generator atop the 784 square meter rock, barely
    17 meters above the water at its highest point.

    Nobby and Emil will leave from Scotland for Rockall on the 26th of
    May, and plan to operate on 40m and up, also on 2m SSB and CW from
    the platform the size of a balcony while secured with climbing gear.

    Full details can be found on rockallexped.com

    (irts)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY

    Visible light is just one part of the electromagnetic spectrum that
    astronomers use to study the universe.

    Bruce VK3FFF joins us


    The James Webb Space Telescope was built to see infrared light,
    other space telescopes capture X-ray images, and observatories like
    the Green Bank Telescope, the Very Large Array, the Atacama Large
    Millimetre Array and dozens of other observatories around the world
    work at radio wavelengths.

    On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into orbit.
    As the small satellite circled the globe, amateur radio enthusiasts
    all over the world were able to pick up the radio signals it was
    beaming back to Earth. Since that historic flight, wireless signals
    have become part of almost every aspect of modern life --
    from aircraft navigation to Wi-Fi -- and the number of satellites
    has grown exponentially. The more radio transmissions there are, the
    more challenging it becomes to deal with interference in radio quiet
    zones. Existing laws do not protect these zones from satellite
    transmitters, which can have devastating effects. In one example,
    transmissions, said to be from an Iridium satellite, completely
    obscured the observations of a faint star made in a protected band
    allocated to radio astronomy.

    tinyurl.com/vkdaz8w9

    A solar eclipse visible in much of Australia will occur on 20 April.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    Last week, our Editor Graham told us of the substantial grant to
    the FreeDV team by ARDC. FreeDV you'll recall is that project
    where VK5DGR is a leading light in its development.

    To advance the state of the art in HF digital voice and to promote
    its use, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) award is over
    some $630,000 Australian Dollars!

    With these dollars, the FreeDV Project team will, among other
    things :

    HIRE experienced digital signal processing developers to work with
    the volunteer staff to improve speech quality and improve low
    signal-to-noise ratio operation, making FreeDV performance superior
    to single-sideband over poor high-frequency channels.

    AND

    Work with commercial HF radio companies to embed FreeDV into at
    least two commercial radios, greatly reducing set up effort and
    reducing latency.

    (pr.com / eHam)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Dubai:

    The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre has revealed how the UAEs
    second astronaut, Sultan Al Neyadi, KI 5 VTV, will bring the wonder
    of outer space to classrooms and communities in that country during
    his six-month long, historic longest space expedition by an Arab.

    Over the course of 20 weeks, students will follow KI 5 VTV
    Al Neyadi on his ground-breaking space journey aboard the ISS.
    They will also hear from authors, space experts, and fellow
    astronauts Hazzaa Al Mansoori and Nora Al Matrooshi as they discuss
    the various challenges of working in space and the innovations that
    help overcome them.

    Alec, vk2apc has more.

    " Yes a new website, along with some 13 live calls and
    10 ham radio calls have been announced as part of the community
    outreach programme of Al Neyadis space expedition.

    The website, titled ELF in Space, will be the platform through
    which he will interact with students.

    M.B.R.S.C. said episodes will be released weekly, with each episode
    focusing on a different topic to help students connect the dots
    between what they learn in class and its impact on their lives and
    the world around them. Extra activities and resources will also be
    available for download each week to keep students engaged and
    propel their own explorations of the subject. "

    (gulfnews.com)

    Now we have had many a volunteer here on VK1WIA News but even today
    Alex has not let us down with this story.. and today of all days
    he may have had an excuse. You see today is Alec's 13th Birthday.

    Congrats you OT to be.




    The International Space Station has had another 'regular' cargo
    delivery, essential for keeping the Stations seven-person crew
    supplied with experiments, consumables, and equipment during its
    operation in low Earth orbit. This mission, CRS-27, lifted off
    from the Kennedy Space Centre.

    A notable payload on this flight is a ball clamp monopod
    manufactured by students that can simplify filming in space.

    However, this is not the only payload on CRS-27 that students
    have been involved in with experiments from Canadian and German
    universities on-board.

    NASAs ELaNa (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites) 50 mission flew
    a pair of CubeSats aboard this CRS-27.

    ARKSAT-1, developed by the University of Arkansas, is a CubeSat that
    is equipped with an LED light. This light will be activated, and a
    spectrometer on the ground will conduct orbit-to-ground atmospheric
    measurements by tracking the light.

    ARKSAT-1 will also attempt to deorbit itself at the end of its
    mission with a Solid State Inflation Balloon. Inflating the SSIB
    should increase the atmospheric drag on the satellite, causing it to
    deorbit sooner than it otherwise would. If this technology works, it
    can be used to deorbit CubeSats at the end of their useful lives,
    preventing additional space junk from cluttering low Earth orbit.

    Another 1U CubeSat that is part of ELaNa 50 is LightCube, a
    cooperative effort between Arizona State University, CETYS
    Universidad in Mexico, and Vega Space Systems. Like ARKSAT-1,
    LightCube will have a powerful light as its main payload. In this
    case, LightCube is equipped with a flashbulb that can be controlled
    by amateur radio operators.

    (various NASA sauces)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)




    IN VK3 2 GATHERINGS OF NOTE:-

    VK3 - Antennapalooza at Drouin West April 15 & 16 (vk3kj)

    VK3 - MOORABBIN HAMFEST - May 6 (vk3gl)





    TO VK4 WHERE THE 2 GATHERINGS TO TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR ARE

    FIRST -

    VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE

    Greetings from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC right
    here in South East Queensland! Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.

    The Redcliffe Club will hold our Hamfest on Saturday the 1st April
    9:00am at St. Michael's College, Caboolture. Please mark the date
    in the calendar on your mobile phone.

    There will be raffle prizes.
    BREAKFAST is served from 8:00am.
    REDFEST opens at 9:00am. $5 Admission.
    Vendors: Order your tables in March. $10.00 per table.
    Vendors are admitted free.

    For Table Bookings Email:
    redfest@redclifferadioclub.org.au

    go to: redclifferadioclub.org.au We're also on Facebook.

    It'll be a good day out. We look forward to seeing you.

    Thank you and 73 from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC


    FROM REDCLIFFE TO THE SUNNY COAST" -



    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba





    FINALY TO VK5


    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION/FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS June 10-11 (vk5dj)

    GRAHAM WALK SOFTLY









    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)

    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
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    WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on
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    BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!! thanks to Tony VK7AX
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    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.

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    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Mar 23 16:26:49 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-03-26.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 MARCH 26 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 269 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK TAKING PRIDE OF PLACE IS VK2ZRH ROGER HARRISON AS HE LOOKS
    AT HIS PREVIEW COPY OF THE WIA'S LATEST AMATEUR RADIO MAGAZINE.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB



    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"

    (above in text version only)




    Hey, Dudes! This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Last Monday, the files for Issue Number 2 of AR magazine for this year were uploaded to the printer's server in Bairnsdale, Victoria.

    Look out for the issue landing in your letterbox, your Post Office Box, or your local newsagency, late next week.

    The theme for this soon-to-arrive issue is Hacks and Hints. Dude! There are 16 pages filled with articles long and short crafty and colourful, fanciful and fulsome dedicated solely to the hackers and homebrewers among us.

    And isnt that everyone?

    Well, maybe at one time or another, perhaps. If youre not currently part of the homebrewer brigade, then maybe this issue will stimulate your essential bodily juices to return!

    The section kicks-off with a curious little rig and amp testing circuit to build. Dudes. No more whistling into the mike! The crafty little circuit generates an audio signal that mimics speech.

    Its brought to us by the indefatigable Jim Tregellas VK5JST.

    For antenna builders, theres a super feature from Peter Sumner VK5PJ a-k-a Pedro on how to set up for and put together a proper Yagi having elements that end up all straight and parallel especially for round booms! With copious photographic illustration, its metalwork porn.

    Moving on theres a line in a song from yesteryear that I recall goes
    A good joint is hard to find, I always seem to get the other kind.

    So, how to solder to other metals like aluminium and stainless steel is revealed in graphic detail . . . including the secret bits! Apparently, working up a gob full of spit is not necessary, providing you hold your tongue the right way when making the joint.

    Oh, yes. A good joint might be hard to find, but is a joy to behold.

    WIA historian Peter Wolfenden VK3RV completes his rundown on how Amateur Radio magazine came into being in 1933.

    Over the decade beforehand (the roaring twenties) there were many intrigues, twists and turns among publishers and Institute divisions to carry the line quote Official Organ of the Wireless Institute of Australia end quote on the masthead of their magazine, newspaper or newsletter. An unlikely Murdoch tale, writ small.

    Yep. A-R mag this year clocks up 90 years on the trot!

    Not to be missed are other features that are all about on-air operations at notable locations.

    Stephen Warrillow VK3SN recounts his experience of holidaying with his wife on Christmas Island in the tropical Indian Ocean northwest of Australia, adding a bit of DXing on the side.

    Meanwhile, Victorias wind-swept Cape Nelson lighthouse on the southwest coast was the scene for a weekend of fun and frolics for Glenn Alford VK3CAM, on-the-air for last years International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.

    Glenn furnished a dramatic photo of the Cape Nelson lighthouse for this issues front cover. Unmissable!

    If youre looking for the magazine in the newsagents, and you cant see it in the tech magazines section, check to see if its in the sailing and boating section. Dear, oh dear.

    And now for the news youve been waiting for Newcomers Notebook returns this issue and Lou Destefano VK3 A Q Z completes the article on his 400 watt T-network antenna tuner.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 2 for 2023. Serving Australian radio amateurs for 90 years on the trot. Available in print and online. Always published to a schedule, never random.

    Dudes! This is AR magazine Editor-in-Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WIRELESS WEATHER

    Eruption on the Far Side of the Sun was so Powerful
    its Shockwave Hit Earth

    The Sun has been spitting out some pretty powerful eruptions in
    the last few weeks, but one that took place is a real doozy.

    Back around March 12, Sun-monitoring spacecraft recorded a huge
    amount of material blasting away from the far side of the Sun
    from a coronal mass ejection. Detected as an expanding cloud, or
    halo, of solar debris, it raced away from the Sun at exceptionally
    high speeds of 2,127 kilometres per second.

    The Sun spitting out flares and coronal mass ejections is nothing
    new, but this one was something special. Usually, eruptions on the
    far side don't tend to hit Earth, since they're facing the opposite
    direction; but this one was so intense that satellites orbiting our
    home planet picked up the signal of particles from the eruption
    accelerated by the eruption's shockwave right into our corner of
    space.

    sciencealert.com/

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    Our first story, sourced to Region 2 is actually a little out of
    that area, in fact out of International news even.

    Have you ever wondered " What time is it on the moon?"

    A new era of lunar exploration is on the rise, with dozens of
    Moon Missions planned for the coming decade and Europe, IARU Region
    2 is in the forefront here, contributing to building the Gateway
    lunar station and the Orion spacecraft which is set to return humans
    to our natural satellite, as well as developing its large logistic
    lunar lander, known as Argonaut.

    As dozens of missions will be operating on and around the Moon and
    needing to communicate together and fix their positions
    independently from Earth, this new era will require its own time.

    Timing is a crucial element, adds ESA navigation system engineer
    Pietro Giordano who said "During a meeting recently we agreed on the
    importance and urgency of defining a common lunar reference time,
    which is internationally accepted and towards which all lunar
    systems and users may refer to. A joint international effort is now
    being launched towards achieving this.

    tinyurl.com/ANS-078-Lunar-Time




    REGION ONE

    BROADCASTER SHUTS LONGWAVE RADIO TRANSMITTER IN ICELAND

    A longwave radio transmitter in Iceland has been shut down and
    demolished, as Iceland phases out that form of broadcast.
    A team of police stood nearby to oversee safety concerns.

    Destruction of the mast, standing 218 metres, Iceland's third
    tallest structure, took place because of a decline in the number
    of listeners to longwave radio broadcasts. The transmitter had
    been operated on 207 kHz by the Icelandic broadcaster RUV, which is
    now giving priority to FM.

    Another RUV transmitter will continue operating for a little longer
    in West Iceland on 189 kHz. This is Iceland's tallest structure at
    412 metres. There are plans also for that transmitter to close,
    once FM broadcasts replace all of its functions.

    The impetus for the change is being driven in part by Iceland's
    Civil Defence and other organisations looking to improve emergency
    notification capabilities. That role is going to be transferred to
    FM, which is slowly being upgraded throughout Iceland.




    Austria restricts 23cm band operation

    Austria has become the latest country to impose restrictions on
    Amateur Radio operation in the 23 cm band (1240-1300 MHz) to protect
    to protect ground-based receivers for the Galileo RNSS satellite
    constellation.




    The UK National HamFest, the well-known rally previously held
    annually at the Newark Showground in the UK, has been cancelled.

    A statement on the HamFest website said that at such short notice,
    organisers cannot find a replacement venue or a new date. Directors
    considered a July event but ultimately it was decided that there
    were too many obstacles for the attendees, traders and to financial
    benefits.

    The directors wrote:

    "We can assure you, we haven't made this decision lightly."

    They committed to what they called "a bigger and better event" in
    September 2024 at the Newark Showground.





    REGION TWO

    RECORD FINES FOR STATIONS CHARGED WITH PIRACY

    A New York City broadcaster charged with piracy has become the first
    of two stations to be targeted under a law passed three years ago
    enabling larger and, until now, unprecedented penalties. The FCC has
    proposed a record fine of more than $2.3-million against
    Radio Impacto 2, which the agency said was still on the air at the
    time the commission made its announcement Wednesday, March 15th.

    According to a report in ARNewsLine, the radio signals are being
    transmitted from the New York City borough of Queens.

    Radio Impacto's website calls it "The Official Radio of Ecuadorians
    in New York.

    The FCC issued a $20,000 forfeiture against the station in 2015 and
    a year later its broadcast equipment was seized by US Marshals.

    The second station was identified in a Radio World report as
    "Pirate Radio Eastern Oregon," and its operator faces an $80,000
    forfeiture.




    Congratulations to CQ magazine, where a new associate editor has
    been hired. Amateur Radio NewsLine are reporting 'Sabrina Herman,
    KB 3 UJW, has joined the staff, succeeding long-time managing editor
    Jason Feldman, KD 2 IWM.

    Sabrina had previously been managing editor and promotional
    coordinator for Hermes Press, a small publisher of books in
    Pennsylvania. She has been a ham for 13 years.





    REGION THREE

    And I'm going to pinch Bruce VK3FFF's thunder and announce this
    story hear instead of Bruce's Special Interest Group news

    "First-time summit activator Emile, VK5WWW, has now earned one point
    in the SOTA awards scheme for each year of his life:

    The 10-year-old successfully activated Mount Wellington in Tasmania
    with a hand held and a lot of hope on Tuesday, March 21st shortly
    before 9:30 am local Tassie time.

    The summit is 1,270-metres high, not that we are suggesting he
    walked all the way!

    Operating at VK5WWW/7 he logged six contacts across the Hobart area
    on 2m. One-half hour later, it was a done deal. Emile's first solo
    act was a success.

    His proud father, John VK5HAA, who is also an activator, reported
    his son's SOTA success on the Australian SOTA activators'
    groups.io email list.

    Congratulations on reaching new heights, Emile. Good on ya!


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    On now is this years CQ Worldwide WPX SSB Contest and it concludes
    at 2359 UTC the 26th of March. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands,
    where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and
    serial number.

    (rsgb)

    --------------


    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    Also make a mental note that the 2023 QRP Day happens June 17

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.

    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this
    contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as
    possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the
    world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

    (sourced to iaru r3)


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    Active is FR / F 5 UOW from Reunion Island, AF-016, until tomorrow,
    Monday the 27th of March using CW.

    QSL via Logbook of the World.

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    Until April 2nd, the EI DX Group will be QRV from Antigua Island,
    IOTA Ref NA-100, using the call V 26 EI.

    They hoped to be setup in time to participate in this weekends
    CQ WW WPX SSB Contest.

    Operating over nine days on CW, SSB, RTTY and a little FT8.

    Details of the trip can be followed on their blog page.

    v26ei.eidxg.com

    The group look forward to seeing many of you in the logs.

    QSL is via Charles M 0 OXO

    m0oxo.com

    All logs will be uploaded to LoTW after the trip.

    (irts)

    --------------

    The Russian DXpedition Team is using the callsign 9 X 5 RU in
    Rwanda until April 7th on 160 - 6m and they will also be using
    the QO-100 satellite.

    They operate CW, SSB and FT8 and QSL via Club Log's OQRS and LoTW.

    (arnewsline)

    --------------

    Listen for the special event callsign A 60 AP, which is on the air
    until the 31st of August.

    The suffix stands for the Emirates "Astronaut Program," which
    prepares crews of UAE astronauts for missions that include the
    International Space Station. QSL via EA7FTR.

    (arnewsline)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/

    VK7WI News have reported on 70 new Worldwide Flora and Fauna
    park/reserve reference areas have been added to the VK7 directory
    list including areas on King and Flinders Islands.

    All new WWFF reference areas must fall within the International
    Union for Conservation of Nature protected area category system.

    The list of the new VK7 park / reserves can be found in the WWFF
    online directory or the WWFFAustralia website and will be added
    to the ParksnPeaks website.

    wwff.co/

    parksnpeaks.org/

    Speaking of parks Carmel VK2CAR, Colin VK2JCC, Stuart VK2BMX
    and others, have been activating various parks in northern Sydney.

    Parks such as Wahroonga Park and Rofe Park in Hornsby Heights.

    Their portable station is a real 'magnet' for passers-by, the hams
    hand out club business cards, and talk about the hobby with these
    curious passers-by.

    Well done for not only "parking" but in promoting our great hobby.

    (vk7wi and vk2wi)




    VI 10 VKFF


    Paul VK5PAS, the National Co-Ordinator for the World Wide Flora and
    Fauna program, abbreviated as WWFF joins us now:-

    "WWFF is an international park activation program and is extremely
    popular here in VK. The Australian chapter of the WWFF program is
    known as VKFF.

    This month, March 2023, we celebrate 10 years of the WWFF program in
    Australia and a special event callsign of VI 10 VKFF has been
    granted by the ACMA to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of VKFF.
    The callsign is available for use by amateurs who are activating an
    Australian park as part of the VKFF program.

    If you are interested in using VI10VKFF whilst activating a VKFF
    park, please send an email to:

    vkffaustralia@gmail.com

    If you do hear a VKFF park activator using the callsign, please give
    them a call. You are not required to submit a log or do anything
    formal following the QSO but the park activator would be very
    pleased to hear from you.

    More information on VI10VKFF (which runs all of 2023) and the
    VKFF program can be found on the WWFF Australia website at:

    wwffaustralia.com

    73,
    Paul VK5PAS.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    Following on from a recent release of a Morse practice YouTube
    Shorts video for the letters of the alphabet, Electronics Notes
    has now launched another video in the series but for
    numbers one to zero.

    The video counts through the numbers one to zero in turn and
    this sequence is repeated again.

    If you are interested in learning Morse code, like quite a few I
    know, it might be worth checking out. It is less than a minute long,
    so you won't waste much time if you don't like it and if you do,
    then it can repeat to help with the learning process.

    youtube.com/shorts/J5psORD0iLY?feature=share

    (eHam)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    NASA is awarding more than $3.8 million to 21 museums, science
    centres, and other informal education institutions for projects
    designed to bring the excitement of space science to communities
    across the USA and broaden student participation in STEM

    STEM is the acronym for science, technology, engineering, and
    mathematics. Projects were selected for NASAs Teams Engaging
    Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions program and their
    Community Anchor Awards. The selected projects will engage their
    communities in a wide variety of STEM topics, from aeronautics and
    Earth science to human space exploration.

    (NA)




    COPY THAT - or should that be - PRINT THAT

    Looking for a fun project for that 3D printer sitting in your
    shack?

    Look no further than Relativity Space in California for inspiration.
    Their Terran 1 will try to become the first 3D-printed,
    methane-fuelled rocket to reach orbit.

    There are a number of firsts here potentially on this rocket,
    said Josh Brost, vice president of revenue operations at
    Relativity Space. It has the chance of being the first liquid
    natural gas / liquid oxygen rocket to make it to orbit. It has, by
    far, the highest 3D-printed content of any rocket in history.
    Were sitting at about 85% by mass, where I dont think any other
    rocket has gone past maybe 4%. Compared to a traditional rocket
    that has more than 100,000 parts, this 3D-printed rocket has less
    than 1,000 parts.

    More information at
    spaceflightnow.com/2023/03/11/relativity-space-terran-1-glhf/

    [ANS]





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/


    And for this segment it's to Alec VK2APC

    Thank you Bruce

    And hello everyone, did you have a good John Moyle Memorial contest last weekend?

    What a great weekend it was for a small group of scouts and leaders at Cataract Scout Activity Centre, south west of Sydney.

    Brett Nicolas, V K 2 B N N organised a weekend camp to stay at a campground in Cataract, participate in John Moyle and for those on the camp to learn a bit more about radio activities.

    They operated under the callsign Victor Kilo 2 Sierra Romeo Alpha portable.

    We now have a scout who is keen to get his amateur radio licence after calling CQ for the contest, logging some contacts for another scout and making a contact with Lauro Zanoli, India Kilo 4 Golf Romeo Oscar in Italy!

    The Scouts also learned about and participated in a foxhunt as a side activity.

    The group even had a visit from a goanna who was curious about amateur radio!

    Alan, my brother who is a Cub, took some photos of the camp and you can see a couple on Bevans video version of this weeks news.

    The group would like to thank the many amateurs who demonstrated patience plus offered words of encouragement and support over the air to the inexperienced youth that participated in the contest.

    On another note, a very sincere thank you to you Col, Bruce, Graham, Bevan and to everyone else who wished me a happy birthday. I really appreciated the birthday wishes from you.

    For VK1WIA National News, I am Alec VK2APC in Sydney.

    Now back over to you Bruce





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Allan VK4HIT from the Ipswich and District Radio Club joins in now
    with some WICEN News.

    "Just a reminder for members who expressed an interest in learning how to set up and operate the WICEN portable repeater, that Saturday morning April 22, at 0900Hrs has been set aside for this event. Bob VK4EK will show how it is all done so that for future events members can start to take some of the burden off Bob and Sylvia and thus not having to rely on them 100 per cent.

    Please attend if you can and contact Robert VK4KHW or Greg VK4GJW beforehand."

    Thanks ALAN and a reminder Ipswich Wicen is always on the lookout
    for extra help for these events, so if you can, please email ipswichwicen@gmail.com




    WHEN "LINE OF SIGHT" SERVES AS A LIFELINE

    Most of us have heard the phrase "when all else fails, ham radio."
    Well, our story here carries an alternative thought:

    "when all else fails, aerial drones."

    From ARNewsLine here's Ralph Squillace KK 6 ITB.

    Deep snow in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon left two motorists
    trapped in the Willamette National Forest. One of them was a woman
    who had become stranded in her minivan. The other was a man
    traveling not far from there. There was rarely any traffic or even
    maintenance workers on this little-travelled road but they were able
    to spot one another and try to find a way out of their predicament.
    However, the road's remote location put it out of range for
    cellphone service.

    The snow grew higher and the temperatures dropped lower.

    As the two tried to find a way to get word out that they were in
    danger, the man realized he might in fact have a way out for the
    both of them, after all. He would use line-of-sight communications,
    the same principle employed by we ham radio operators on VHF/UHF and
    microwave frequencies, as well as those using satellites.
    He realized that if he could get his cellphone up high enough - say,
    several hundred feet above the thick treetops - its signal would
    reach a cell tower, enabling it to send a text message that could
    carry the details of his distress to a friend.

    He had the cellphone and, as luck would have it, he happened to have
    an aerial drone in his car and the drone had enough power to make
    that successful flight.

    It worked. The man's friend received the text with his location and
    the details of what had happened and the sheriff's search and rescue
    team did the rest. The two motorists - and the drone - were brought
    to safety.

    This is Ralph Squilllace KK6ITB.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE (vk4tfn)

    VK3 - Antennapalooza at Drouin West April 15 & 16 (vk3kj)

    VK3 - MOORABBIN HAMFEST - May 6 (vk3gl)


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST (vk8zz)

    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION/FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS June 10-11 (vk5dj)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)






    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Mar 30 23:36:36 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-04-02.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 APRIL 2 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 APRIL 2 2023

    THIS WEEK:-

    Peter Clee VK8ZZ, WIA Director and Company Secretary:-

    Steven Green VK2TSG, WIA board member.


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB


    Last week here on WIA National News, the news you CAN trust,
    VK2LAW Jason told us of the plan to develop a Moon Wide time zone
    on the moon for future explorers.

    This week we are telling you of OUR TIME.

    If You are listening to this bulletin You already know that the
    clocks in several Australian states went backwards by an hour
    Sunday morning:

    BUT REMEMBER:-
    The UTC clock in the shack is the only one that does not need
    adjustment

    And talking of time -

    ISS TIME TRAVELLER

    The International Space Station raised its orbit a couple of weeks
    back to avoid a close approach by an Argentinian imaging satellite.
    A Progress MS-22 spacecraft docked to the station fired its
    thrusters for over six minutes.

    This changed the stations velocity by 0.7 meters per second.

    This means each orbit takes a bit longer.

    Amateurs using the ARISS repeaters will want to be sure to have
    updated Keplerian elements for prediction and tracking software.

    (irts wia)




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    VK8ZZ PETER

    Thanks Graham and hello listeners.

    As I have previously advised the WIA Annual General meeting will be
    held on 13 May 2023 at 1030 Canberra time and be held at the
    ANNE HARDING CONFERENCE CENTRE, Building 24 on the campus in
    BRUCE ACT.

    The event will be a hybrid event held both online and in person on
    the day. The event will also be streamed live on YouTube.

    Registrations for the event will open in the next few weeks.

    Dont forget to nominate amateurs who have contributed significantly
    to the Institute or to Amateur radio, for a WIA award Nominations
    for award to be considered at this years AGM close today so get them
    in by email to Secretary@wia.org.au

    Late nominations will be held over for the following year.

    The ACMA has issued a newsletter about Class Licensing and the
    5 year spectrum outlook, more details later in this broadcast.

    Committees are reminded that the reports to be presented to the
    Forum on 13 May need to be in by tonight. Please have your reports
    submitted to Secretary@wia.org.au

    Just a reminder that your club insurance expired yesterday.
    Applications for Club insurance need to be in and being processed
    to continue your coverage.

    This has been Peter Clee VK8ZZ, WIA Director and Company Secretary,
    have a great weekend.




    Hey, Dudes! Im back. Again.

    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine,
    Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Some of you will have your print copy of the magazine already. I
    must remind those doughty denizens among you that prefer the
    digital edition your PDF is now available for download.

    Some members swing both ways. Yours truly included.

    Well, what else is in Issue 2?

    Peter Sumner VK5 P J has been hard at work putting together his new
    shack. He shares with us a novel shack earthing hack that ties his
    rigs and other gear together. Youve all done that, havent you?
    Well, at least youve thought about it. Take a decko at Peters
    solution in Earthing and bonding at Trig Point Hill. With plenty
    of photos, of course.

    Still on the Hacks and Hints theme, Peter Forbes VK3 Q I relates how
    he added Anderson Power pole connectors to a popular switch mode power
    supply. The secret is in a 3-D printed shell that holds a triple set
    of those Oh-So-convenient power pole connectors. A must see.

    Dudes!

    Did you know that, from 2035, leap seconds will be abandoned for
    100 years or so and will probably never return. Its an inconvenient
    fact that days are not exactly 86,400 standard seconds long.
    Earths rotation is a little erratic. The length of a day actually
    varies and cant be predicted far in advance. The solution arrived
    at by the timekeeping community was to introduce leap seconds: a
    one-second correction applied at the end of December and/or June, as
    and when it was thought required. Hands up those who think daylight
    saving is inconvenient. I dont. We dont allow it in VK4. Get the
    skinny on ditching leap seconds, dudes.

    But thats not all!

    The ALARA column reveals a touch of history and details on ALARAmeet
    for 2023, scheduled for 4th and 5th November.

    While the WIA DX Awards listings are included, the VHF/UHF column
    now known as Spectrum Horizons is missing in action while our
    columnist, David Minchin VK5 K K, reclines in bed recovering from
    recent medical attention. Hell be back, he assures me.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 2 for 2023. Serving
    Australian radio amateur dudes for 90 years on the trot. Available
    in print and online. Always published to a schedule, never random.

    This is Editor-in-Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News




    Hello, this is Steven Green VK2TSG, one of your WIA national board
    members.

    Some of you may know about WIA Honorary Life memberships, one thing
    I can tell you, is that they are quite rare...

    Although anyone can nominate, honorary life memberships can only be
    bestowed on an individual when approved by a resolution at a General
    Meeting of the Institute. At the WIA Board meeting this month it was
    proposed that Peter Young VK3MV be awarded Honorary Life Membership
    for services to the WIA and to Amateur Radio.

    His contribution has been well and truly above and beyond that
    expected. Full details will be provided in AGM papers.

    It is therefore proposed to present the following resolution to the
    AGM to be held in Canberra on May 13. The wording is as follows....
    "That this Meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia approve
    that Peter Young VK3MV be elected as an Honorary Life Member of
    this Institute"

    As mentioned, the AGM will be held on May 13 at the Canberra
    University. Registrations will open on 10 April 2023. More
    information will be included in future broadcasts and sent by email
    to all members shortly.

    73's from Steven VK2TSG
    VK2TSG@wia.org.au





    ACMA Class License Update

    In September 2022, the ACMA published a consultation paper seeking
    views on an updated proposed amateur class licence and supporting
    operational arrangements. The paper also consulted on a proposal for
    a staged implementation of higher power authorisation.

    The ACMA has received many responses to the proposals for call sign
    administration and operational arrangements to support the class
    licence. The Wireless Institute of Australia made a significant
    submission in relation to these and the need to maintain the online
    Register of Radio Licenses, CERT and HEPT compliance as well as an
    authoritative license that is evidence of licensing.

    The ACMA have indicated that they are receptive to our submission
    and in light of this, the ACMA are considering how to best deliver
    these arrangements under the class licence. The ACMA have now
    indicated that this means the class licence will NOT commence on
    1 July 2023 as previously indicated.

    They will provide an update on the commencement date for the class
    licence, as well as next steps for qualification and call sign
    services, later in 2023.

    (wia secretary)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    Human Security Theme for World Amateur Radio Day

    The International Amateur Radio Union has previously announced that
    this years World Amateur Radio Day on April 18 will have the theme
    of Human Security for All.

    HS4A is the special special call

    This theme is the result of a partnership between IARU and the
    United Nations Fund for Human Security and the World Academy of Art
    and Science.

    According to the UN, human security includes seven interrelated
    dimensions of security economic, food, health, environmental,
    personal, community and political that are essential to an
    individuals well-being. The IARU says amateur radio has repeatedly
    demonstrated its ability to address human security needs. The group
    and its member societies will have special event stations on the air
    between April 11 and 25 to call attention to the HS4A theme.





    REGION ONE

    R

    No it's nothing to do with Pirates, but as part of the UK's
    Coronation celebration activities, Ofcom has approved R as the
    optional Coronation regional secondary locator prefix for all
    UK radio amateurs to use during May and June 2023. However they
    do need to apply for a Notice of Variation or NoV before using R.




    SOMEWHERE IN THE BLACK SEA

    Amateur radio hobbyists appear to have obtained audio recordings of
    the Russian military trying to retrieve a US spy drone.

    They were monitoring publicly accessible airwaves after the
    MQ-9 Reaper drone was downed following an encounter with two Russian
    warplanes, the New York Times reports.

    The radio intercept started about eight hours after the collision in
    the Black Sea in what was the first recorded physical clash
    between Russia and the US since the Ukraine invasion began.
    The clips reveal conversations between multiple Russian ships and
    aircraft over a four-hour period, discussing attempts to recover
    the drones engine casing, nose, wing and gas tank.

    At this moment, we have brought up three parts of the frame,
    one unit code-named Orange was heard saying. Now I am proceeding
    toward the helicopter to search for more.

    Metro UK:
    bit.ly/3TJ9i43





    REGION TWO

    Connecticut USA Governor Ned Lamont has released an official
    statement, designating April 16 22, 2023, as Amateur Radio
    Recognition Week. The proclamation coincides with World Amateur
    Radio Day, which is held annually on April 18.

    A similar resolution was made by the Maine State Legislature,
    recognizing April 18, as World Amateur Radio Day, and acknowledging
    the accomplishments and public service provided by amateur radio
    operators. The resolution was advanced by ARRL Maine Section
    Manager Phil Duggan, N1EP. Duggan said he pursued the resolution
    on behalf of all radio amateurs in the state of Maine.




    Those who have worked with high voltage know well enough that
    anything can be a conductor at high enough voltages.

    Similarly, amateur radio operators will jump at any chance to turn a
    random object into an antenna. Flag poles, gutters, and even streams
    of water can be turned into radiating elements for a transmitter,
    but the members of one amateur radio club were thinking a little bit
    bigger when they hooked up their transmitter to a giant sculpture.

    Rochester Institute of Technology is in upstate New York, the
    enormous metal behemoth is not a subtle piece of artwork and sits
    right at the entrance to the university. Its over 70 feet tall and
    made out of bronze and steel, a dream for any amateur radio
    operator.

    With the universitys permission and some help to ensure everyones
    safety during the operation, the group attached a feedline to the
    sculpture with a magnet, while the shield wire was attached to a
    ground rod nearby. A Yaesu FT-991 running on only 5 watts and
    transmitting in the 20-meter band was able to make contacts
    throughout much of the eastern United States with this setup.

    You'll see this antenna in the ATV and YouTube version of this
    National News put together by VK5BD and the link is on the
    wia.org.au page under broadcasts.

    hackaday.com/2023/03/23/enormous-metal-sculpture-becomes-an-antenna/




    A BUDGET TO "BUDGE IT"

    Washington:-

    The white house has been asked for some $27million US Dollars by
    NASA in its fiscal year 2024 budget.

    NASA is planning to spend up to $1 billion on a space station
    deorbit tug which is designed to deorbit the International Space
    Station at the end of the decade to provide for safely disposing of
    the station. This deorbit tug, would be used to perform the final
    lowering of the stations orbit to ensure it re-enters over the
    South Pacific.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    In todays Operational news some important words again from VK4EA
    Denis our John Moyle Field day Contest Manager.

    Now as time is usually against us, I don't remind you every week of
    every major WIA contest for the year BUT in todays news SCRIPT you
    can check out the contests right through to the start of 2024.


    --------------


    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    Alec VK2APC will be giving us lots of good info about this contest
    a little 'further down the log' in todays WIA National News.


    --------------


    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------


    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------


    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    Also make a mental note that the 2023 QRP Day happens June 17

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.

    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this
    contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as
    possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the
    world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    Held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage
    Low Band activity between VK and ZL
    160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (RTTY OR PSK)

    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN

    --------------


    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest

    This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died
    during World War II and is designed to encourage
    friendly participation and help improve the
    operating skills of participants. It is held on the
    weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased with Japan in the
    southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the
    Australian state or territory with the best
    performance.
    The name of the winning State or Territory is
    inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning
    State or Territory is also given a certificate, as
    are leading entrants.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web site)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)

    --------------
    --------------

    DX WINDOW APRIL

    --------------
    --------------

    VI 10 VKFF running all of 2023 celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    Special Event Station VI 100 MB all year celebrates the centenary of
    the Manly-Warringah Radio Society

    Quite a few hams managed to get the station into their logs from its
    portable location near Nowra last weekend in the recently held
    John Moyle Memorial Field Day.

    VI 100 MB clocked up a total of 171 contacts and 342 points and
    they thank everyone who gave the clubs centenary Special Event
    Station its first major outing of the year. The station will
    continue to be active throughout 2023.

    (vk2wi news)

    --------------

    Luca, HB9OBD is active holiday style as D44KIT from Sal Island, IOTA number AF-086, Cape Verde until this Wednesday April 5. Listen for him on SSB and FT8 on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. QSL via LoTW, eQSL, or via EB7DX.

    --------------

    The Russian DXpedition Team is using the callsign 9 X 5 RU in
    Rwanda until April 7th on 160 - 6m and they will also be using
    the QO-100 satellite.

    They operate CW, SSB and FT8 and QSL via Club Log's OQRS and LoTW.

    (ARNewsLine)


    I'm Felix VK4FUQ and now as I leave todays Operational News Desk as
    promised here is Denis VK4AE Contest Manager for the John Moyle Field
    Day.

    Logs have been arriving steadily. Those that already been received seem to be not as many as the number received at this point after the contest last year. The mixture is about 50% home stations.

    The logs do not appear to have met with many delivery difficulties this year and the direct e-mail address seems to be working well.

    It is still highly recommended that once you have submitted your log you should check a bit later that your callsign has been added to the list of logs received. If your call is not on the list, then it might not have been received.

    A couple of logs have been submitted as a PDF which is just a picture and contains no more useful information to the contest than a picture of a flower as the data is not accessible electronically and hence usable to me. One log was submitted by club station as a series of photographs of the hand written log pages. This log is totally unacceptable as I would have to enter the entire log. This is not going to happen.

    Some club stations were operated during the contest that have not yet provided a log. Perhaps, in your club you have to rely on Mr. Somebody to get the log done, get in touch and give him a hand to get it finished and submitted. Have you considered getting a senior secondary student to complete the log for you? Maybe you might inspire an interest in Ham Radio?

    It is timely to remind you all that while there is not a lot of time left to submit the log and it will pass quickly and the final date is midnight on the 7th April 2023. This is required by the very long lead times now for the AR Magazine.

    Following this date all of the logs will be processed and the results prepared and made available soon after. The results will be shown on the WIA contest page as soon as they are ready.

    So, check that your call is on the list, resend the log if it isnt. It might also be a good idea to submit your log now as you never know what can happen to delay you in the next few days.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS WITH GUSET PRESENTER VK4JJW.

    CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    The first entirely new book on CW in decades, The CW Way of Life, is
    available on Amazon in paperback and kindle versions.

    tinyurl.com/mr2j7jsb

    The books full title is "The CW Way of Life: Learning, Living, and
    Loving Morse Code (in a Digital World))

    Chapters include:

    How your brain turns sensations into thoughts.
    Morses true rhythmic nature - harmonics - not ratios!
    How to ride the "dit train" to fluid keying.
    The lost technologies of code talking and speed-keying.
    The true cause and prevention of Glass Arm.
    How to read and write Morse like music - on paper."

    This certainly is "A modern-day seminal work on CW."

    (qrz)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    The worlds first 3D-printed rocket has launched successfully
    marking a step forward for the California company behind the
    innovative spacecraft, though it failed to reach orbit.

    Here on WIA National News Bruce, VK3FFF last week told us of this
    rocket and how billed as less costly to produce and fly, but, the
    unmanned Terran 1 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida
    suffered an anomaly during second-stage separation as it streamed
    towards low Earth orbit, according to a livestream broadcast by
    aerospace start-up Relativity Space.

    More may be found at
    bit.ly/3K1sSoI

    (ans)




    After 15 years in space, NASAs Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere
    (AIM) mission has ended.

    NASA first noticed issues with AIMs battery in 2019, but the probe
    was still sending a significant amount of data back to Earth.
    NASA says AIM has now become unresponsive. Launched in 2007, AIM
    studied noctilucent or night-shining clouds, which can last hundreds
    of years in the Earths upper atmosphere.

    AIM was only meant to operate up for two years, but its provided
    data for multiple ground-breaking studies, including a study that
    found methane emissions are causing night-shining clouds to form
    more frequently.

    (ANS)




    MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military


    David L. Antry, Jr., WD9HBA, has been named Chief of the US
    Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS).

    MARS is a Field Operating Agency of the US Air Force's Air Combat
    Command and HQ Cyberspace Capabilities Centre.

    Today, US Air Force MARS is an organization of about 800 licensed
    amateur radio operators who volunteer their time and radio equipment
    to assist government agencies in the event normal communications
    channels are disrupted, either by natural calamity or deliberate
    hostile action.

    MARS members are trained to meet the requirements of any
    communications emergency. In recent years, greater interoperability
    between the Air Force and the Army has facilitated accomplishment of
    this objective. Individual civilian MARS stations operate throughout
    the continental US alongside civil agencies and military MARS
    stations in the US and overseas.

    WD 9 HBA has been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1977.

    For more information about Air Force MARS
    mars.af.mil/

    (eHam)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow
    is the first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old
    Timers Club of Australia's monthly bulletin to go to air.

    This month as well as the latest Club news, Ill be presenting an
    article published in OTN some years ago entitled A Good Idea,
    Target Location.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on
    the RAOTC website www.raotc.org.au or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.
    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the
    audio file at any time from today from the club website.

    Members and Friends of the RAOTC in Perth are reminded that the next
    lunchtime meeting at the new venue, the Woodbridge Hotel, East
    Guildford, will be on Tuesday April 11th. All are welcome,
    full details are published on the RAOTC website, under subheading
    Luncheons.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the
    program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    The YOTA Contest is back for its third run!

    As Felix has been reminding us weekly, the first round of this
    contest is only about 3 weeks away.

    BUT there are Three YOTA Contest sessions coming up in 2023.

    The upcoming three sessions will be taking place on the
    following days:

    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    2nd round 22nd July 1000 2159 UTC
    3rd round 30th December 1200 2359 UTC

    Remember as lots of us readjust our chronometers today, these are
    UTC dates, times so heed what our Editor Graham VK4BB said at the
    start of todays WIA NATIONAL NEWS. "The UTC clock in the shack is
    the only one that does not need adjustment"

    So, are you ready to compete within the next YOTA Contest? Everyone
    in the ham radio community can take part; it only lasts 12 hours.
    Its aim is to increase youth activity on the air, strengthening the
    reputation of the YOTA program, and demonstrate the support for we
    youth across the world.

    8 different categories have been implemented which also include
    special ones for under 25 years of age only. Covering the 80m, 40m,
    20m, 15m and 10m bands, the competition takes place in CW and SSB.

    The contest exchange used will be the age of the participating
    operators. Different ages also serve as multipliers during the
    contest.

    Contacts between the same continent are worth 1 point.
    Working DX is worth 3 points, but the most points will be achieved
    by working youngsters. The younger the operator, the more points one
    will get for the QSO.

    (youthontheair.org)






    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK4 - Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club HamFest Saturday 15th April.
    (vk4dn)

    VK3 - Antennapalooza at Drouin West April 15 & 16 (vk3kj)


    VK3 - MOORABBIN HAMFEST - May 6 (vk3gl)


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.


    VK2 - OXLEY REGION 47th Annual Field Day at Wauchope
    10th and 11th of June (vk2zhe)

    The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. (ORARC) at
    Port Macquarie NSW will be holding its 47th Annual Field Day
    at the Wauchope Showground hall on Saturday and Sunday the
    10th and 11th of June 2023 over the NSW Kings Birthday Holiday
    Long Weekend. They are pleased that everything is looking
    good for this year's Field Day. There should be an
    advertisement for the 2023 Field Day in May/June AR.

    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION/FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS June 10-11 (vk5dj)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)



    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
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    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Apr 6 15:12:23 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-04-09.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 APRIL 9 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 APRIL 9 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK we start with a reminder - and well also have
    WIA Director and Company Secretary along with that "king of dudes"..
    Roger Harrison and we'll finish with a couple of reminders,
    this time when both VK4DN and VK2ZHE join us in the social scene..

    OH and there is MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    PEDAL POWER

    Stuart VK3UAO will be activating parks along his bicycle journey
    from Melbourne to the Pilliga park-fest. He has departed this
    Easter weekend and over the next 3 weeks will cover over 1000km
    and meeting up with around 20 fellow ham's at the Pilliga park-fest
    on the 29th & 30th April. Stuart VK3UAO will be posting regularly
    to his QRZ page. Col will cover more POTA, ie Parks on the Air,
    as we travel toeards the 30 minute mark in this your WIA News.

    (vk4kc)




    VK8ZZ PETER

    ACMA seeks feedback on draft FYSO 202328

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the
    Regulatory Authority for all Radio Communications in Australia.
    They have released their draft Five-year spectrum outlook (FYSO)
    202328

    acma.cmail20.com/t/d-l-zkldujl-trephkuj-t/

    The draft FYSO provides a broad overview of trends that affect
    spectrum management and factors used to inform the ACMA's planning
    and spectrum allocation priorities. It includes a detailed annual
    work program, with activities and milestones for the 202324
    financial year.

    The ACMA and the WIA are committed to working together in support of
    Amateur Radio in Australia.

    The draft FYSO is a key part of their engagement with industry and
    the community on their spectrum management priorities. The ACMA
    welcomes feedback by COB, Friday 28 April.

    The Wireless Institute of Australia will provide feedback on the
    FYSO as has been the norm. The feedback is prepared by the
    WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee and endorsed by the Board of the WIA
    prior to submission to the ACMA

    (vk8zz)




    Hey, Dudes.

    Its Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio
    magazine.

    For those of you in the bush patiently awaiting the arrival of
    Issue 2, it occurred to me that you might be partial to a bit of
    poetry in the style of the bush ballads of yesteryear. Those
    vernacular verse-aramas often carried a gentle message, not
    necessarily a comment on the times, but observations on human
    nature.

    For those whove already received your Issue 2, turn back to page 4
    and youll see what Im talking about.

    Its titled: SAID HARRY HAM.

    "The bands are rooned," said Harry Ham
    In accents all forlorn,
    Outside the club, down by the dam
    One early Sat'dee morn.

    The members then attending slumped
    With chins upon their chests
    Breathing low, yet barely pumped
    While deciding what was best.

    A loudly whine and sorry rave
    Was what the members feared
    From Harry Ham and his mate Dave,
    The pair that no one cheered.

    Another member soon chimed in,
    "What is your beef there mate?
    Tell us! Dont mutter in your chin!"
    "Them solar signs arent great!"

    He spoke! The members shocked!
    At Harry's verbal drought.
    No wonder now the clubroom rocked,
    They marvelled at the rout.

    "I tell you now, that Sun of ours
    Exhibits feeble thrust,
    But science says the cycles fit
    To capture all our trust."

    The Pres'dent turned to remonstrate
    With doubters, skeptics all.
    Asks Dave and Harry to debate,
    That early Sat'dee morn.

    And round it went, all in that hall
    Till they were verb'lly worn;
    They came upon consensus all,
    That early Satdee morn.

    I styled that on the poem titled Said Hanrahan, by one
    John OBrien. Ironically, OBrien was the penname of
    Patrick Joseph Hartigan, a man of the cloth, as they used to say.

    You can come out from under your shack benches now, theres much
    more better stuff to be found in this issue.

    The grammar lapse is deliberate. Microsoft Word gave me only an
    88 per cent score.

    Tough.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 2 for 2023. Serving
    Australian radio amateur dudes for 90 years on the trot. Available
    in print and online. Always published to a schedule, never random or
    half-heartedly slapped together.

    This is Editor-in-Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.




    VI6CRO is the special event callsign for the Carnarvon Eclipse
    event, to be held at the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum
    April 17th to 23rd.

    This Amateur Radio active display is sponsored by the WA Amateur Radio News Amateur Radio club, with special support from Phil VK6YOB, the museum manager, Michael VK6TU, the Northern Corridor Radio Group, Ham College, Steve from DX Radio systems, and Cass VK6FMUM

    The primary operator and main instigator is Dan VK6NAD.

    The station will be on-air in several blocks from between the 17th-23rd of April, primarily operating an FT101E HF station, along with special attention to 2m - 70cm satellite modes via azimuth-elevator rotator provided by Michael VK6TU.

    Subject to operator availability, the station will operate:

    NOAA Weather Satellites up to 11am

    ISS and Amateur Satellites - times will vary, according to satellite
    passes.

    The HF Station will be on air from 1pm to 4pm W.A. Standard time,
    which is UTC +8.

    Theres a dedicated web page for VI6CRO, at VK6.Net

    Its over to you now - to get on air and spread the word, as the
    station will need band activity during Museum operating hours with
    600 plus members of the public expected to observe our activities
    throughout the event!

    WA Amateur Radio News designed and printed a bundle of handouts,
    which direct the person to Ham College for Western Australians, and
    to a list of Amateur Radio Clubs nationwide. So do please monitor
    your clubs email address - you may pick up prospective new
    Amateurs.

    Keep an eye on the vk6 dot net website for updates.

    vk6.net/vi6cro
    facebook.com/groups/www.vk6.net/

    (vk6pop)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    In just days, 2023 World Amateur Radio Day will be celebrated,
    literally, around the world!

    WARD is held on April 18 every year and is celebrated by radio
    amateurs and their national associations which are organized as
    member-societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).
    It was on this day in 1925 that the IARU was formed in Paris.
    American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Co-Founder Hiram Percy Maxim
    was its first president.

    The IARU announced previously that Human Security for All
    (HS4A) will be this year's World Amateur Radio Day theme.
    The day is being celebrated with a 2-week operating event occurring
    April 11 - 25. Special event stations will be operating from around
    the world, making two-way radio contacts to call attention to the
    HS4A campaign. The United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security
    describes 'human security' as "a more powerful, lasting approach to
    the most difficult deficits in peace and development," such as
    poverty, war, and natural disasters.

    ARRL encourages all radio amateurs to take to the airwaves for
    WARD, to enjoy our global friendship with other amateurs, and to
    show our skills and capabilities to the public.

    A number of IARU member societies have already become active, for
    example the German DARC team has activated the special event
    call-sign DA 23 WARD and are on air until the 18th of April.
    Another society marking World Amateur Radio Day is the UBA special
    event station in Belgium, using the call-sign OT 23 WARD, active
    until the end of April. Yet another, from South Africa where the
    SARL has been issued ZS 9 WARD, which will be active until 30 April
    on various bands and modes.

    More information about 2023 World Amateur Radio Day is available at
    iaru.org/on-the-air/world-amateur-radio-day




    REGION ONE

    The Coronation of The King and the Queen Consort.

    The RSGB Coronation Events Coordinator, Alan Messenger, G 0 TLK
    says the RSGB has planned many events and have created activity
    suggestions for how UK radio amateurs can mark the Coronation in
    their own way.

    Some of these activities are just for radio amateurs, but in keeping
    with the Coronation theme of community the RSGB have included
    several outreach ideas where radio amateurs can involve their local
    communities.

    These include Celebratory callsigns, prefixes and suffixes

    A Flagship Special Event Station in Greenwich, London.

    Beaconnect connecting the ancient fire beacon sites around the
    UK by amateur radio. The UK has a network of ancient fire beacons
    whose original purpose was to signal major events between what were
    then more isolated communities. They have been used since at least
    Roman and Anglo-Saxon times.

    They have also historically been used to mark Royal events but they
    are not being lit for the 2023 Coronation so the RSGB would love to
    use amateur radio to link the sites of this ancient signalling
    network to showcase amateur radio,




    REGION TWO

    Maryland is a Mid-Atlantic US state and its largest city is
    Baltimore.

    Howard County in Maryland is home to scientist Dan Wilt who has been
    presented with the Emergency Management Volunteer of the Year award
    by County officials for his dedication to safety and advancing
    emergency response capabilities in the county.

    Dan Wilt is a member of the Columbia Amateur Radio Association and
    leads the Howard County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.
    "Dan has a special and often unrecognized set of technical skills as
    an amateur radio operator and chooses to support his community.
    Many people might not know about the critical role these radios
    could play in an emergency, but they would be invaluable to
    communication ability to respond to neighbours needs if phones,
    power or other communication systems were unavailable.

    The award annually recognizes an individual who volunteers time
    through the Howard County Community Organizations Active in Disaster
    to assist the county in preparing for, responding to and mitigating
    or recovering from emergency incidents or disasters.

    Well done that man, Dan the Ham.




    Rossville, Georgia, on the border with Tennessee in the USA, doesnt
    look like a tech town, the population is just under 4,000.

    BUT

    In the view of entrepreneur Charles Whitener, Rossville is the
    perfect place to stage a revival in US technology and manufacturing,
    albeit with a device that was cutting edge when the Ford Model A
    ruled the roads.

    Whitener owns Western Electric, the last US manufacturer of vacuum
    tubes, those glass and metal bulbs that controlled current in
    electric circuits before the advent of the transistor made them
    largely obsolete. Tubes are still prized for high-end hi-fi
    equipment and by music gear companies such as Fender for their
    distinctive sound. But most of the worlds supply comes from
    manufacturers in Russia and China, which after the transistor era
    began in earnest in the 1960s helped sunset the US vacuum tube
    industry by driving down prices.

    Whitener, a 69-year-old self-described inventor bought and revived
    AT&Ts vacuum tube business in 1995.

    Now as I leave you this week, some words from Peter Parker
    VK3YE .. well it IS April hihi and this is from Aptril One.

    (its a joke bit about using repeaters
    and is audio intensive ie - no script)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    Also make a mental note that the 2023 QRP Day happens June 17

    (sourced to iaru r3)


    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.

    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this
    contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as
    possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the
    world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    Held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage
    Low Band activity between VK and ZL
    160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (RTTY OR PSK)

    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN

    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------

    DX WINDOW

    --------------
    --------------

    Graham Alston, VK3GA, Awards Manager joins us:-

    6M Single-Band and 10-Band DXCC now available.

    The Awards Committee is pleased to announce the addition of both
    6M DXCC and 10-Band DXCC awards.

    With the steady rise in sunspots in Solar Cycle 25 several operators
    are closing in on these prestigious milestones.

    73 from Graham Alston, VK3GA, Awards Manager

    --------------

    Western Suburbs Branch 03 of the NZART will be running a special
    station to commemorate ANZAC day this year.

    Between 0800 - 2000hrs.

    All Bands FT8 and SSB Callsign ZL 1 PPY. (Think ZL ONE POPPY)

    (nzart info line)

    --------------

    INDIA

    Special event station AT2 G20 is QRV until June 2 to promote greater
    international cooperation through amateur radio in conjunction with
    the G20 summit to be held in New Delhi September 9 and 10.

    QSL via operator's instructions.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    DR 100 XRAY will be active until the end of June.

    It's a special callsign commemorating the 100th anniversary of the
    death of Wilhelm C Roentgen [ pronounced RUND-GUN], the physicist
    whose discovery of X-rays earned him the inaugural Nobel Prize in
    Physics in 1901 and revolutionised diagnostic medicine.

    QSL via the bureau, or direct to DJ 6 SI.

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China on the 1st of July 1997, Hong Kong licensed amateurs are granted the use of the special prefix VR25 until the 30th of June 2023. The VR2 Contest Club, and the Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society will be using VR25CC and VR25HK, respectively.
    ( RSGB)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/

    LISTEN FOR K 0 MIK

    Amateur Radio Activity Honours African American Heritage

    Parks on the Air or POTA sites that honour African American heritage
    are the focus of an operating event organized by the OMIK Amateur
    Radio Association.

    The OMIK POTA Challenge 2023 will run until December 31.

    OMIK was founded in 1952 by black amateur radio operators. While it
    is still a predominately African-American organization, today it
    represents a multi-racial, multi-cultural organization with members
    from the US and around the globe and is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

    OMIK members are encouraged to activate sites using the OMIK club
    call sign, K 0 MIK.

    The group has a list of suggested sites that are known to have a
    significant role in African American history. They hope that at
    least five unique national parks will be activated as part of the
    POTA event, contributing to a total of at least 10 successful
    activations.

    (arrl)




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    HAM is a short documentary that follows a group of Montanan USA
    amateur radio enthusiasts that show the fading but loyal community
    of amateur radio, explore what it means to be a ham, and how they
    are keeping the hobby alive.

    Produced by students from the School of Visual and Media Arts
    program at the University of Montana in 2022 it aired on Montana
    PBS on November 24th of that year.

    youtube.com/watch?v=wt5wZhC5cr




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Contacting the International Space Station

    Some ISS crew members make unscheduled contacts with hams on the
    ground. They can make radio contacts during their breaks, pre-sleep
    time and before and after mealtime.

    The crew's usual waking period is 07:30 to 19:30 UTC.

    The most common times to find a crew member making casual contacts
    are about one hour after waking and before sleeping.

    The ISS crew uses the call-signs DP0ISS, IR0ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS and
    RS0ISS.

    (irts)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    86 YEARS OF AGE AND STILL VOLUNTEERING.

    Warren Wilde is the emergency services director for Franklin County
    in the USA and he is preparing for flooding this year. He ordered
    15,000 sandbags ready for residents to fill and take to protect
    their homes. Residents have filled and taken 10,000 sandbags
    already, so Warren ordered 10,000 more!

    "It's a work in progress," he said.

    The 86-year-old has been the emergency director since 1979.
    "I can talk to people all over the world with my ham radio and
    I can also use local and state radios," Warren said. "We also have
    an Emergency Operation Centre in the county building where the
    deputy emergency coordinator La Mont Doney can jump in and direct
    the work." Wilde has both amateur and commercial licenses.

    He and the 22 other active ham radio operators in Franklin County
    can all run on battery powered, handheld portables on a
    snowmobile if all other communication goes down.

    ( tinyurl.com/bdftf699 )




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Amateur Radio Included in FEMA Guide for
    National Emergency Preparedness:

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency in the USA has released a
    final version of the National Incident Management System
    Information and Communications Technology Functional Guidance.

    The guidance, which provides a framework for communications
    resources within incident management, officially includes support
    from amateur radio operators.

    This illustrates that at the highest level, trained and qualified
    amateur radio operators are considered a valuable emergency
    communications resource.

    (ARNewsLine)




    In Northern Ireland members of Bushvalley Amateur Radio club
    organised an event to help the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service
    (HEMS) charity.

    The charitys operational helicopter carries a crew compiling pilot,
    doctor, and paramedic, 365 days of the year. They attend some of the
    most traumatic medical incidents across the province and are
    dedicated to delivering the very best possible pre-hospital critical
    care, both at the scene and whilst transferring the patient to
    hospital.

    Well done to Bushvalley AR Club.

    tinyurl.com/3tn7d5h9



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK4 - Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club HamFest Saturday 15th April.
    (vk4dn)

    CQ CQ - Calling all radio and electronic enthusiasts!

    The Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club is excited to invite you to our
    Open Day and our first ever HamFest on Saturday 15th April. This
    event will be held at the Recreational Precinct, the old agro trends
    grounds opposite the Bundy airport.

    Entry to the event is free.

    Come and check out our amazing display of vintage WWII radios, and
    morse code demonstrations as well as see some of the latest
    state-of-the-art modern radio equipment. You can also see our
    automatic satellite tracking system in action.

    If you're interested in obtaining your amateur radio license and
    callsign, we'll be happy to provide you with all information you
    need.

    Kids can participate in a free soldering workshop, under supervision
    and make a small electronic kit they can take home - so it's fun for
    the whole family!

    Hungry? We've got you covered with our delicious sausage sizzle.

    If you're on the lookout for a bargain, be sure to check out the
    HamFest tables with heaps of radio and electronic items for sale.
    There are several prize giveaways including a new DMR Alinco radio
    from Luxfield Technology Solutions and a High quality digital
    soldering station donated by Jaycar as well as other prizes.

    Don't miss out on this exciting event.

    Mark Saturday 15th April on your calendar and come join in the fun!
    For more information, please contact the Bundy club's secretary
    VK4DN on 0410 121 345.

    See you there!


    VK3 - Antennapalooza at Drouin West April 15 & 16 (vk3kj)


    VK3 - MOORABBIN HAMFEST - May 6 (vk3gl)


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.


    VK2 - OXLEY REGION 47th Annual Field Day at Wauchope (vk2zhe)

    The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Clubs 47th annual Field Day
    will be held at the Wauchope Showground hall on Saturday and
    Sunday the 10th and 11th of June 2023 during the NSW
    Kings Birthday Long Weekend. There will be all the usual field
    day activities including traders, trash and treasure,
    foxhunting and a homebrew display.

    The Field Day dinner will be held at the Port Macquarie
    Golf Club on the Saturday night.

    Mark your calendar now for the June Long Weekend.

    The Wauchope Showground permits camping so it is possible to
    stay on site in your own motor home, caravan or tent with
    power and amenities but you must book ahead with the
    showground Caretaker.

    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION/FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS June 10-11 (vk5dj)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)





    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Apr 13 22:31:24 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-04-16.mp3
    Text edition:

    2023 APRIL 16 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 APRIL 16 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK plus news of upwards of
    6 special event stations from our home soil

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    Keep an ear out for new Special Event Callsigns over the next several months.

    MARCH ONE - DECDEMBER THIRTY ONE
    First off is VK90AR which is for celebrating 90 years of the Wireless Institute of Australias official journal, Amateur radio magazine, which celebrates its 90th year anniversary in October later this year. An excellent article on the birth of Amateur Radio magazine can be read in the January 2023 edition of AR magazine, page 12 written by WIA Historian, Peter Wolfenden VK3RV.


    APRIL ONE - DECEMBER THIRTY ONE
    VK100ZL to celebrate the Centenary of the First Tran-Tasman Radio contact between Australia and New Zealand.
    On April 26th this year, it will be 100 years since the first amateur radio contact between New Zealand and Australia was made, between Frank Bell of Shag Valley Station, Waihemo in Otago and Charles Maclurcan, 2CM in Sydney. Several significant events illustrate the close ties WIA and NZART have between our two societies
    1929 WIA supported NZARTs application to join the IARU
    1938 WIA sponsored NZART President Pete Petrie ZL2OV to a Pre-WARC conference in Sydney
    1968 Tom Clarkson ZL2AZ and Harry Burton ZL2APC attended the Sydney WIA Convention as guests of WIA
    1968 At the subsequent inaugural meeting of the IARU Region 3 Conference organised by WIA, the nomination of Tom Clarkson ZL2AZ as an inaugural director was supported by the WIA
    1969 Michael Owen VK3KI attended NZART Conference in Gisborne. The WIA and NZART alternated in attending and contributing to each others conferences over the next two decades. The collaboration between our two societies in preparing for and negotiating at the various WARCs and WRCs is also testament to the strong relationship.


    MAY ONE - THITY ONE
    VI2023HRH celebrating the Coronation of His Royal Highness King Charles III

    VI2023HRH will be active from the 1st to the 31st of May 2023 celebrating the coronation of King Charles III which will be held on May 6th. Charles III is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales, and at the age of 73, became the oldest person to accede to the British throne, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, on 8 September 2022
    To book an operational timeslot, please use the WIA website online booking portal, nominating your WIA affiliated club to register. See www.wia.org.au/ members/onlinelogbook/about/
    There will be a QRZ page and QSL information published shortly.

    News in from Delegate Dale Hughes VK1DSH
    The Second Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM23-2) for WRC-23 is underway in Geneva, Switzerland. CPM23-2 is an important step on work towards WRC-23 which will be held in Dubai later this year.

    The purpose of CPM23-2 is to refine the texts and regulatory proposals that will be the basis of discussion and decisions at WRC-23.

    There are several WRC-23 Agenda Items of concern to amateurs and the IARU and various national amateur radio societies have delegates present at CPM23-2 to express the view of the amateurs at the meeting.
    Arguably, the main issue for amateurs is agenda item 9.1b which concerns our 23 cm band.

    The operative part of WRC-19 Resolution 774 states:
    to perform a detailed review of the different systems and applications used in the amateur service and amateur-satellite service allocations in the frequency band 1 240-1 300 MHz;
    taking into account the results of the above review, to study possible technical and operational measures to ensure the protection of RNSS (space-to-Earth) receivers from the amateur and amateur-satellite services in the frequency band 1 240-1 300 MHz, without considering the removal of these amateur and amateur-satellite service allocations

    The review and studies mentioned above are almost complete and are expected to be finalized before WRC-23 and a summary of the studies has been developed and approved by the CPM23-2 meeting for use at WRC-23.

    The results of the studies and the WRC-23 decision will provide national administrations (like the ACMA in Australia) with guidance that will assist them to protect the radio navigation satellite service (RNSS, mainly Galileo in Australia) while still allowing reasonable access to the 23 cm band for amateur activities. The measures to protect RNSS receivers are likely to include operation in recommended band segments, emission bandwidth and power limitations. The guidance has been designed to protect the RNSS receivers while still permitting typical amateur usage of the band with as little change from existing operation as possible.

    Other WRC-23 issues of interest to amateurs are possible new allocations for other services in bands already occupied by the amateur and other services, or bands adjacent to amateur bands.
    While the final decisions about any changes to the Radio Regulations will be made at WRC-23, attendance at CPM23-2 is important to because it means that our concerns over interference are made known and we can have some input into the documents that will go forward to WRC-23.
    Thats all for this week, for now, 73 From Lee VK3GK






    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY STATIONS CELEBRATING ON AIR INCLUDE

    From Germany DA 23 WARD on air until the 18th of April.


    PORTUGAL CQ 7 HS4A will be QRV until the 25th

    DENMARK 5 P 0 WARD also until April 25


    And until the end of April:-

    BELGIUM OT 23 WARD.

    CROATIA 9 A 23 WARD

    SOUTH AFRICA ZS 9 WARD


    More information about 2023 World Amateur Radio Day is available at
    iaru.org/on-the-air/world-amateur-radio-day




    REGION ONE

    From South Africa comes news of a remarkable achievement

    SOUTH AFRICANS WORK 200TH COUNTRY ON 50 MHZ

    Paul Smit, ZS6NK and Bernie van der Walt, ZS4TX worked Mali, Angola,
    Guadeloupe and Bonaire to push the total over 200.

    Considering that the first South African DXCC award for contacting
    100 countries on this band was issued only in 1998 and that by 2015
    only four South Africans had reached that mark, it was then almost
    unthinkable that over 200 countries would be worked on this VHF
    band.

    During March, equinox propagation and high solar activity allowed
    these four new DXCC entities to appear in South African 50 MHz logs
    for the first time.

    All four contacts were made using the mode WSJT.




    Don't you just LOVE conspiracy theories?

    Hackaday are reporting on a new mystery Russian Short Wave Station.

    UVB-76 or UZB-76, has been a constant companion to anyone with a
    shortwave radio tuned to 4625 kHz. However, seems that there is now
    a second buzzer operating close to the original frequency. Of
    course we ask the question is why?

    The buzzing isnt quite nonstop. There are occasional voice
    messages, but maybe the buzzing is just to keep the frequency clear
    in case it is needed. However, we wonder if it isnt something else.

    Compressed data would sound like this noise. Other theories are
    that the buzzing studies the ionosphere or that it is part of a
    doomsday system that would launch nuclear missiles. Given that the
    signal has broken down numerous times, this doesnt seem likely.

    Whatever the case, is another strange signal to go in the SWL's log.

    tinyurl.com/4be376ys




    REGION TWO

    For Hybrid Radio, It's NOT all about the bass -
    Its All About the Metadata

    Although there is a major push to ensure AM radio is kept on the
    dashboard of new generation motor vehicles at the just held NAB
    show it was the features of Hybrid Radio enthralling consumers.

    The hybrid radio system most familiar to U.S. drivers is
    DTS AutoStage, which for many is still a new concept. But there
    are other platforms in vehicles.

    Radioworld.com are reporting on how the first hybrid radio platform
    available in the U.S. came from Audi in 2020, and supports enhanced
    station lists and service following, whereby a stations over the
    air signal is replaced by a streaming audio version of the signal as
    the vehicle leaves a stations RF coverage area. Stations make use
    of RadioDNS service information (SI) files to support these
    features.

    DTS AutoStage arrived in 2021 in Mercedes S-Class luxury vehicles,
    and in 2022 in a number of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models. Some BMW
    vehicles also have a limited hybrid functionality, also supported by
    broadcasters with RadioDNS SI files.

    As a footnote, Ford in the USA have announced they will NOT be
    installing AM in any future vehicles, be they Electric OR
    gas (petroleum) models




    Dayton Hamvention 2023, scheduled for May 19 - 21 and preparations
    are moving forward for the big event.

    Hamvention, which is amateur radio's largest annual convention, is
    held at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Centre in Xenia,
    Ohio.

    With nearly 700 volunteers, this year's Hamvention will boast more
    than 500 indoor exhibits and more than 2,500 outdoor exhibits. The
    event showcases the latest in amateur radio equipment, technology,
    and computer software and hardware, along with hard-to-find radio
    and computer accessories and equipment.

    hamvention.org/




    The ARRLs 2023 Field Day will be held June 24 - 25.

    This is the USA's Ham Radio open house.

    Every June, hams throughout North America set up temporary TX
    stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science,
    skill and service to communities and the nation. It combines
    public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and
    technical skills all in a single event.

    Unlike our own Field Day, which Silent Key, and past WIA Secretary
    Jim Linton set up for a few years, this one has been an annual event
    since 1933 and remains the most popular event in US ham radio.

    Last year just a few dozen less than 5,000 entries were submitted
    and there was a total of 29,679 reported participants.




    REGION THREE

    ITU OPENS AREA OFFICE IN NEW DELHI

    Jim Meachen Editor of the NZART Audio News Service and like a few us
    here also reports back to Amateur Radio NewsLine joins us.

    Congratulations to the International Telecommunications Union which has opened an area office and innovation centre in New Delhi, India. According to a report on the OSCAR India channel on YouTube, the ITU's presence in the Asia Pacific region is intended to help advance technology and improve innovation in India and across south Asia. The ITU is the specialized agency of the United Nations, dealing with information and communications technologies. The ITU's secretary-general, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX, was present at the opening in March.

    This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF



    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    2023
    --------------
    --------------

    --------------


    YOTA CONTEST
    Youngsters On The Air
    1st round NEXT Saturday 22nd April 0800 1959 UTC
    ham-yota.com/contest/

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999
    It is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time. (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times. (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    Also make a mental note that the 2023 QRP Day happens June 17

    (sourced to iaru r3)


    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.

    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this
    contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as
    possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the
    world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    Held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage
    Low Band activity between VK and ZL
    160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (RTTY OR PSK)

    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN

    --------------

    --------------------------------------------------------------------


    --------------

    DX WINDOW

    --------------

    The Aussie special calls on air are worth listening for,

    VI 6 CRO is the special event callsign for the Carnarvon Eclipse
    event April 17th to 23rd.

    VI 2023 HRH 1st to the 31st of May celebrates the coronation of
    King Charles III

    VI 10 VKFF running all of 2023 celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    VI 100 MB celebrates the centenary year of the Manly-Warringah
    Radio Society

    VK 90 AR for the 90 years of the WIAs journal, Amateur Radio
    Magazine. Until December 31.

    VK 100 ZL celebrates the Centenary of the First Tran-Tasman Radio
    contact between Australia and New Zealand. Until December 31


    --------------

    With Easter just last weekend, it's worth listening out for

    EASTER ISLAND

    CE 0 YHF is QRV from Isla de Pascua for the rest of the month mostly
    on 12, 10, and 6 meters with QRP power using CW, FT8, and FT4.

    QSL via CE 0 YHF's instructions.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    Listen for the special event callsign A 60 AP, which is on the air
    until the 31st of August.

    The suffix stands for the Emirates "Astronaut Program," which
    prepares crews of UAE astronauts for missions that include the
    International Space Station. QSL via EA7FTR.

    (ARNewsLine)


    --------------

    VU 2 CUW is a member of the 42nd Indian Scientific Expedition to
    Antarctica, based at Maitri [MY-A-TREE] Station, AN-016, until
    November.

    In his spare time, he will be active as AT 42 I
    [APLHA-TANGO-FOUR-TWO-INDIA].

    QSL via VU2CRS.

    (rsgb)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    JUST REPEATING - yes it's a bit of repeater news to wrap up
    my segment this week.

    The 146.9 VK2RKG repeater at Bathurst is back on air at its new
    location and is intended as a fill-in repeater, to cover the holes
    in the Bathurst township that VK2RCW doesnt see due to a big hill
    in the way.

    VK2RKG is on 146.9MHz with the stock standard negative 600kHz offset
    and no tone required for access.

    It is experimentally linked to VK2RCW at Gowan.

    (vk2wi news)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WIRELESS WEATHER

    GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE SUN

    Scientists have found the source of a mysterious radio signal from
    the sun that sounds curiously like a heartbeat. Kent Peterson KCDGY
    from Amateur Radio NewsLine takes the pulse of this remarkable
    research.

    When a recent C-class solar flare more than 5,000 kilometres above the sun sent out a radio signal in a heartbeat-like pattern, scientists began work to unlock the reason behind it. The international team went in search of the origin of this pattern, known as a quasi-periodic pulsation, or QPP.

    Studying observations captured in 2017 by a radio telescope in California that detects microwave frequencies, the researchers began studying a heartbeat-like pattern that repeated every 10 to 20 seconds. Then they unearthed something unexpected: a secondary signal, which was weaker and could be discerned every 30 to 60 seconds.

    According to their recently published study, they have been able to determine that the so-called heartbeats are triggered by disruptions known as "magnetic islands" which form in sheets of rapidly moving plasma from the sun.

    At the heart of the matter is what this research may ultimately reveal: Writing in the journal Nature Communications, one researcher said the answer was key to a fuller understanding of the scope of the damage that solar storms can do when their energy is released.

    This is Kent Peterson KCDGY.




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    NASA Names Three Hams for Artemis II Moon Mission Crew

    NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced the four
    astronauts who will venture around the moon on Artemis II.

    Commander Reid Wiseman KF 5 LKT

    Pilot Victor Glover KI 5 BKC

    Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch

    Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen KF 5 LKU.


    The 10 day Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch November 2024.

    (arrl)




    The combination of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASAs
    Kennedy Space Centre hosted 57 launches in 2022, more than any other
    launch range in the world.

    For now, the level of launch activity at the Cape is manageable.
    But, warning signs are emerging. One is that the Cape is effectively
    full and the infrastructure to support those launch sites, such as
    power, commodities and roads, is aging.

    (ANS)




    Launch company Virgin Orbit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 4,
    having failed to achieve financial orbit after burning through more
    than $1 billion, so, there will be no more satellite launch plans
    for Virgin Orbit and Amateur Radio NewsLines Neil Rapp WB9VPG is
    here with more.

    Virgin Orbit has shut the doors of its satellite-launch operations,
    laying off 675 workers after six years in business. The company said
    in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that its
    inability to secure sufficient funds has made it unable to continue
    operating.

    Created as a subsidiary of Virgin Galactic, Virgin Orbit's mission
    was to launch CubeSats into low earth orbit from beneath a
    commercial airliner that had been modified to accommodate its
    proprietary satellite launch system. The company did not have a
    history of great success with the system, known as LauncherOne.

    Virgin Orbit's most recent failure was its attempt to launch a
    rocket from Cornwall in the UK. The company CEO later said that
    the problem may have been caused by a $100 part that may have
    become dislodged in the second-stage engine. The launch had been a
    much-anticipated event for Spaceport Cornwall, which has been
    competing for the UK to enter the global space market by becoming a
    home to satellite launches.

    This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.






    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS LOW DOWN

    Longwave 252

    In Ireland the 252 kHz signal which carries the RTE Radio 1 program
    to listeners across the UK and other parts of Europe that cannot
    access an FM service will end next Friday the 14th of April.

    The broadcaster claims the decision to take a core service to the
    public off air is based on the need to reduce their electricity
    bill, citing the climate crisis, public expenditure efficiency, and
    the need to reduce the burden on the national grid.

    The phasing out and closure of the Long Wave service was one of the
    recommendations of the "Future of Media Commission" report which was
    published by the Government in July 2022, but not after spending
    significant amounts of money for an overhaul of the antenna system
    in 2019.

    The Algerian broadcasters who recently increased their output power
    on 252 kHz will no doubt be delighted to finally get rid of the
    co-channel interference by the already diminished signal from
    Ireland.

    (IRTS)







    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Joining us on the "young parade" is Kathryn Bella Floyd who has
    received her USA ham radio license at the age of 10 years old and
    will soon receive a plaque as well for being the youngest person to
    obtain a license because of right now, it appears she is the
    youngest person to pass the general exam in the State of Tennessee.

    Bella managed to pass both the technician and general tests during
    the same day.

    Bellas grandmother Laura Floyd said in a news article in the
    dailypostathenian.com A year ago, Bellas father decided to get his
    license and he invited us. We went to the classes and spoke to Bella
    about doing this in the future and she was interested, Laura
    recalled.

    Well done Bella & welcome to "The Wonderful World Of Amateur Radio".

    (HAMRADIODAILY)














    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    AuxComm...It's not just a hobby, it's a commitment...

    Both the person (Auxiliary Communicator) and the Incident Command
    System (ICS) position are used to provide auxiliary communications.

    Trained Auxiliary Communicators are a valuable communications
    resource tool that can be used by local, county, regional, tribal or
    state agencies/organizations within the USA.

    Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM) is an all-inclusive term used to
    describe the many organizations that provide various types of
    communications support to emergency management, public safety, and
    other government agencies or describes the services themselves. This
    includes, but is not limited to amateur radio, military radio,
    CB, etc.

    There is a weekly AuxComm USA Net every Thursday at 2000 Central
    Time. Monthly net reports are sent to both Cybersecurity and
    Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management
    Agency

    (arnewsline / auxcommusa.org )



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.

    VK3 - APRIL 21 in BENDIGO

    Hi, I'm Graeme VK3GRK and Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics Club
    invites you to our April meeting -
    'Presents fall from the sky - daily'.

    Twice a day, the Bureau of Meteorology launch a radiosonde from the
    Melbourne airport, comprising of a balloon with an instrument
    package. Most of these measure temperature and humidity. Some
    measure air pressure. The occasional one measures ozone
    concentration as well. All carry a GPS receiver, a 400MHz FSK 60 mW
    transmitter and a microprocessor. These sondes can be reprogrammed
    to transmit in the 432MHz amateur band, and they can be used for
    APRS tracking or as beacons for fox hunting.

    Most sondes drift eastward after launch, reaching an altitude of
    20+ Km and travelling up to 250km. Several times a year they head
    towards Bendigo.

    It's fun to try to recover them, a bit like a fox-hunt with a
    "valuable" prize to take home.

    BAREC member, Phil VK3BHR, will provide an interesting presentation
    on the subject, with a demonstration of the receiving and antenna
    equipment used to track these devices.

    So it's up up and away at 7.30 pm, Friday April 21st at BAREC
    Headquarters, Bendigo East Hall, 35 Lansell St. A gold coin
    donation would be appreciated, and a light supper will be provided.

    The presentation will be live streamed and available for later
    viewing on the BAREC YouTube channel.


    VK5 - South Coast Amateur Radio Clubl Buy & Sell 23rd April 11.30 am
    venue not notified but contact secretary@scarc.org.au
    for further details. (vk5one)


    VK3 - MOORABBIN HAMFEST - May 6 (vk3gl)


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.


    VK2 - OXLEY REGION 47th Annual Field Day at Wauchope
    10th and 11th of June (vk2zhe)


    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION/FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS also June 10-11
    (vk5dj)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    This is Linda VK7QP with news of ALARAmeet 2023.

    Registrations are now open!

    ALARAmeet 2023 is being held in Hobart from 3rd to 6th
    November. Registrations forms are included in the ALARA
    newsletter for April, and are also available on the ALARA
    website ALARA.org.au

    Details of the program are on the website. It should be a
    great weekend. There is also information about some things you
    can do before the weekend, and bring with you to make it
    exceptional.

    Any queries about ALARAmeet 2023 please email me on
    luther8@bigpond.com

    Looking forward to welcoming you to Hobart. Linda VK7QP
    on behalf of the ALARAmeet 2023 planning group.


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)



    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Apr 20 17:50:55 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-04-23.mp3
    Text edition:




    2023 APRIL 23 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 APRIL 23 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    Hot on the heels of last weeks World Amateur Radio Day comes -
    International Morse Code Day Thursday and Mark, VK6QI will tell us
    of lots of opportunities to participate.

    WIA Director Chris VK3FY gives us details on his participation
    in WARD and details of how you can take part in Mays WIA AGM

    And this week, Discussion Point with Geoff BK4ZPP and the apparent
    lost art of club publicity and promotions.


    THAT PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB


    To our many VK5 listeners/readers today at the Seaford scout hall
    7 railway rd. Seaford Meadows the South Coast Amateur Radio Club's
    Annual Buy & Sell gathering will take place in just hours.

    23rd April starting at 11.30 am so after the news and call-backs,
    get cracking!

    (vk5one)





    International Morse Code Day is coming up this week -
    Thursday April 27th, the anniversary of Samuel Morses Birthday.

    Now theres some argument about whether or not Samuel Morse was the
    actual inverter? (inventor - Ed) of the Code but never-the-less,
    International Morse Code Day is still celebrated on his Birthday.

    Whether you love it or hate Morse Code, it has been the basis of
    radio communications since the late 19th Century, and today, theres
    been a real resurgence in amateur radio interest in the fine art.

    So to celebrate International Morse Code Day, the CQ QRS Slow CW
    Practice QSO Team is inviting you to a Morse Code Trivia Quiz on
    Thursday evening, ( 27th April ) using Zoom videoconferencing.
    Last year we had participants from WA, SA, NSW, Tassie and Florida
    and were hoping that youll join in the fun this year. Mister Morse
    Code Richard VK6PZT will run the Quiz for us.

    Although some knowledge about Morse Code will help, dont worry, like
    most trivia quizzes, well have multi-guess questions and youll have
    just as much opportunity to have a laugh as the rest of us.

    Also with Zoom, as long as you have access to a phone, tablet or
    computer connected to the Internet, youll be able to join in.

    Log-in details and the quiz time will be published on both the
    Bunbury Radio Club and Peel Amateur Radio Group websites.

    But wait - theres more!

    The CQ QRS Slow CW Practice QSO Team will also be running a really
    simple slow CW contest on 80m on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. No
    complex logs required - and you wont even need to be proficient at
    CW - the participants will match your speed - and lots of repeats
    will be order of the evening! And the organisers will be adding
    a twist, to the usual contest exchange.

    Information on the International Morse Code Day Slow CW Corroboree
    will also be published this week on the Bunbury Radio Club and
    Peel Amateur Radio Group websites.

    So put them in your diary:

    International Morse Code Day Trivia Quiz, this Thursday evening,
    April 27th.

    International Morse Code Slow CW Corroboree Friday, Saturday or
    Sunday April 28th, 29th or 30th.

    So those websites for information:

    bunburyradioclub.com - look on the Home Page

    parg.org.au - click on Whats New

    Any questions - please contact me, Mark Bosma by email
    mark.bosma@icloud.com

    Cheers and we look forward to sharing International Morse Code Day
    on Thursday and the weekend. This is Mark, VK6QI and VK2KI for the
    CQ QRS Slow CW Practice QSO Net Team.





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY on behalf of WIA Board for
    WIA National News

    The WIA Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday the 13th of
    May 2023 at 10:30am. This will be a Hybrid Event, meaning you can
    attend in several ways.

    In person at the Ann Harding Conference Centre, University of
    Canberra, Bruce ACT

    Or via an internet stream platform. Details to be advised.

    On the Agenda for this years AGM are as follows

    1. To receive and consider The Annual Financial Statements, Directors
    Reports and Independent Auditors reports
    2. To confirm the results of the election of directors
    3. To consider a special resolution to amend a typographical error.
    Details can be seen on the Notice of AGM WIA
    4. To consider a special resolution to bestow life membership to Peter
    Young VK3MB
    5. Transact any other business that maybe brought before the meeting in accordance with the WIA Constitution.

    Dont forget to get your proxies in you are unable to attend.

    Proxys can be sent to proxy@wia.org.au


    World Amateur Radio Day.

    This week saw the activations of many special event stations across
    the world with many stations signing off with WARD as their suffix.

    In celebration of World Amateur Radio Day, I had the pleasure of
    working many of these stations whilst I was activating YU/VK3FY
    from Vitanovac, in Central Serbia.

    The local TV Station in Kralegevo, made a surprise visit to the
    station of YT1AD/YT5A contest station. To interview Hrane on what
    Amateur Radio is. It was a good PR Event for the hobby.

    To my surprise they interviewed me for the segment as I was a foreign
    visiting Amateur Radio Operator.

    73s from Chris VK3FY on behalf of the WIA Board for WIA's Weekly
    National News Broadcast originating from VK1WIA.





    DISCUSSION POINT

    Geoff Emory, VK4ZPP who week upon week, never a fail, sends thoughts
    to the local VK4 area news, QNEWS, is sort of a proselytiser for the
    club and social side of the amateur radio community.

    Over to you Geoff..

    "I mean, like many of us I want to see this community continue to
    expand and grow with the involvement of as many people as we can
    find to enjoy this recreation. Fishing might be the most popular
    past time in the country but amongst the pursuits that are
    technical, well I would like to see others get the enjoyment and
    involvement that we obviously have.

    To this end I periodically offer prompts as to what we can consider
    to grow our club membership and get the story of amateur radio
    percolating in the community. Pointers to activities and groups and
    segments of the local community have been relatively plentiful and I
    dare say will continue to be as the recruitment and retention of
    members ensures the continuity of a great story.

    Some years ago, the Wireless Institute of Australia produced a
    publicity kit that could be used to draft press releases and this
    was accompanied by poster artwork which could be reproduced to
    promote events. We no longer hear reference to these items and like
    the National Field Day that they supported along with World Amateur
    Radio Day, 18th April, they seem to have been archived as pieces of
    history no longer relevant.

    Well to a point that might be true because the mass media has moved
    on with many of the local papers caught under a monopoly ownership
    with publication now only online and only available to paying
    subscribers. Broadcasters are being caught in the jaws of needing
    money and having the various internet and social media platforms
    engorging on the advertising revenue that once supported everything
    from the buy and sell pages of the newspapers to production of local
    content and the buying of rights to popular programming.

    The art of the journalist is still surviving and newspapers, radio
    and television may be holding on to their place against the
    onslaught of the internet and when it comes to getting publicity out
    to the broad community, we depend on those professionals to present
    it. This brings us back to the publicity kit. Now putting things
    together and distributing it may need to be a bit more sophisticated
    than previously. We have our smart phones with nice cameras to
    capture still and video images.

    Local TV stations in my area ask for video and papers will gladly
    accept stills of good quality that are suitable for print. We are
    fortunate that the tools to show our function, our community service
    are in our hands these days. Videos only need to be short so we
    arent looking for a Spielberg production just a glimpse to whet the
    interest of the viewer.

    Now to my mind this all suggests that some of the hams who have the
    experience in the media could get their heads in front of their
    devices video cameras and revamp the old material to make it work
    for us today. I know the skills are in our audience and we just need
    to be given the direction to get it done and out to our clubs.


    Im Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and thats what I think....how about you?"


    ------------------------------------------------------------*1


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY STATIONS CELEBRATING ON AIR INCLUDE


    PORTUGAL CQ 7 HS4A will be QRV until the 25th

    DENMARK 5 P 0 WARD also until April 25


    And until the end of April:-

    BELGIUM OT 23 WARD.

    CROATIA 9 A 23 WARD

    SOUTH AFRICA ZS 9 WARD


    More information about 2023 World Amateur Radio Day is available at
    iaru.org/on-the-air/world-amateur-radio-day





    REGION ONE

    UNITED KINGDOM

    Ofcom has confirmed that the call sign GB 23 C can be used for the
    RSGBs Coronation SSES.

    Cray Valley Radio Society members led by Bob, M0MCV and Dave, G4BUO
    are organising the flagship amateur radio station which will use
    this call sign from 3-8 May. The SSES will be in the grounds of the
    Old Royal Naval College, along the riverside in Greenwich.

    From 10 May until the end of June the call sign will be available
    for individuals and clubs to use until the end of June 2023.

    If you are wondering what an SSES is, in the UK they have 2 types of
    Special Event Stations.
    Specials (SSES) short duration.
    Permanents (PSES) longer duration.





    REGION TWO

    U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko recently visited a HamFest and met with Amateur Radio operators at DeVry University campus in Phoenix, Arizona.

    Congresswoman Leskos visit was a highlight of the event, as she is a major supporter of Amateur Radio. Lesko arrived early and spoke with many Amateur Radio attendees and ARRL leadership representatives. She toured the emergency communications vehicles and explored with great interest the interrelationship of Amateur Radios emergency responders with federal, state, and local agencies.

    Congresswoman Lesko spent a considerable amount of time listening to how radio amateurs integrate communications support with first responders and how Amateur Radio supports civic activities and community events. ARRL leadership shared how Hams support government programs and how favourable legislation strengthens the effectiveness of the Amateur Radio Services mission of supporting the public.

    Lesko said: It was wonderful to join ARRL and ARRL-Arizona and meet with amateur radio operators at HamFest in Phoenix, Arizona. Amateur radio operators play such a critical role in emergency situations, and our communities are safer thanks to their information sharing. I will continue to be an advocate for amateur radio operators in Congress and highlight the important contributions they have made to our nation.




    The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, in conjunction with the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, announced expanded hours during the 2023 Dayton Hamvention.

    The West Chester Amateur Radio Association, WC8VOA, will be on the air. The museum is a short drive from Hamvention, down Interstate 75 or Route 42 from Xenia.

    New exhibits include a dedicated room for amateur radio and shortwave equipment and a newly renovated ham shack.





    REGION THREE

    INDIA

    A Special event station from VU land is operating until June 2
    in conjunction with the G20 summit to be held in New Delhi
    September. Felix, VK4FUQ will tell us of the call etc. in just
    a few minutes time here on VK1WIA National News.



    -------------------------------------------------------------------*



    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    The World Radiosport Team Championship Committee is grieving the
    loss of a fellow contester and avid DXer, Richard King, K5NA who
    had been chosen to be a referee for WRTC 2022 in Bologna in July.
    Richard was electrocuted while taking down a 40-meter beam which
    hit a powerline.

    --------------

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-

    --------------

    MAY SIX Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint 106 mts an annual 80m
    contest event, first established in 1999, to commemorate the life of
    Harry Angel VK4HA who at the time of his becoming a Silent Key was
    the oldest licensed amateur in Australia. (106)
    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year
    of Harry's life.

    The Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been run annually since 1999 and
    although when the concept, by our own Editor VK4BB and the Late
    Brian Beamish, VK4BBS was developed it was held Anzac Day evening,
    it is usually held on the first Saturday in May each year
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    begins the weekend after Mother's Day.

    80m section Saturday 20th May 6 to 9pm Sydney time.
    40m section afternoon of Sunday 21st of May, 1 to 4
    Sydney time.

    (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    Also make a mental note that the 2023 QRP Day happens June 17

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.

    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this
    contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as
    possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the
    world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    Held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage
    Low Band activity between VK and ZL
    160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (RTTY OR PSK)

    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN



    --------------

    DX WINDOW

    --------------


    These Aussie special calls on air are worth listening for,

    VI 6 CRO is the special event callsign for the Carnarvon Eclipse
    event April 17th to 23rd. so it ends today Sunday 23

    VI 2023 HRH 1st to the 31st of May celebrates the coronation of
    King Charles III

    The next 4 are in play to years end.

    VI 10 VKFF celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the VKFF group.

    VI 100 MB celebrates the centenary year of the Manly-Warringah
    Radio Society

    VK 90 AR for the 90 years of the WIAs journal, Amateur Radio
    Magazine.

    VK 100 ZL celebrates the Centenary of the First Tran-Tasman Radio
    contact between Australia and New Zealand. Again until December 31
    and speaking of VK100ZL, a special event callsign ZL100 has been
    issued for 3 months to the NZART to commemorate the event,
    commencing 26 April 25 July.

    --------------

    Amateurs in Israel are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the
    founding of the Israel Amateur Radio Club and the establishment of
    the State of Israel with special prefixes 4X75 and 4Z75 now until
    April 30.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    DXNE DXpedition.

    DX 0 NE is a single-operator DXpedition to the Spratly Islands,
    IOTA Number AS-051, on the air from the 30th of April until the
    9th of May.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    INDIA

    Special event station AT2 G20 is QRV until June 2 to promote greater
    international cooperation through amateur radio in conjunction with
    the G20 summit to be held in New Delhi September 9 and 10.

    QSL via operator's instructions.

    (arrl)

    --------------


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WIRELESS WEATHER

    SOLAR MAXIMUM MIGHT ARRIVE EARLY:

    Evidence is mounting that Solar Cycle 25 might peak much earlier
    than was expected. New research by a leading group of solar
    physicists predicts maximum sunspot activity in late 2023 or early
    2024 with a peak that could be twice as strong as the previous
    solar cycle

    (spacveweather/ARNewsLine)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    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/


    VK7's SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP

    The Summits On The Air/World Wide Flora and Fauna parks group meets
    twice weekly Mondays and Fridays 10.30AM till 12.00 at the Glebe
    Gardens Cafe, Henry Street, Launceston.

    Someone who will need a good 'coffee break' is Stuart, VK3UAO. He is
    presently riding his bicycle from Melbourne to Pilliga park-fest,
    (to be held April 29 - 30) a journey of more than 1,000 km.

    Listen for and work Stuart VK3UAO and wish him well on his massive
    bike ride.

    (vk7wi news ARNEWSLINE)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY

    Radio waves have led astronomers to an exoplanet - a planet
    beyond our solar system - and it's likely the same size as Earth.
    Dave Parks WB8ODF gives us the details as he gave to ARNewsLine.

    Repeating radio signals have led astronomers to a rocky exoplanet
    that is the same size as our own Earth and, like the Earth, it
    orbits a star -- one known as YZ Ceti. Further studies of the signal
    suggest that the planet may also have an atmosphere and a magnetic
    field.

    Writing in a recent issue of the journal, Nature Astronomy, the
    researchers have named the planet YZ Ceti b. The scientists say that
    the magnetic field's interactions with the star are the likely
    cause of the radio signals.

    The signals were picked up in New Mexico by the Karl G. Jansky Very
    Large Array of telescopes. The star and exoplanet are 12 light-years
    away from Earth.

    Of course, this is not the first finding of its kind. Last year, the
    James Webb Space Telescope discovered its first exoplanet which is
    also believed to be rocky and almost as big as the Earth. That
    planet, called LHS 475b, is 41 light years away. The research team,
    which announced the discovery this past January, is trying to learn
    more about the star it orbits and whether the planet has an
    atmosphere.

    This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    March 17, 2023, and FT4DMC is launched.

    The aims of the club are promoting radio operations in FT4, creating
    incentives to use this mode of operation with a moderate number of
    available diplomas, and increasing activity on the amateur radio
    bands.

    Membership in the FT4DMC is free and open to all interested parties.

    FT4 is becoming more popular, and many DXpeditions use this type of
    transmission. FT4 was developed by Dr. Joe Taylor, K1JT.

    The original idea was to use only FT4 for contests. With about 2.5
    times the speed of FT8, FT4 is efficient, and the level of interest
    is terrific. In just around 6 weeks, the FT4DMC already has more
    than 1,300 members and the first diplomas have been awarded.

    As with the FT8DMC, the application for issuing the diplomas takes
    place via the program developed by Heinz Urban, DK5UR. The FT8DMC
    now has 21,600 members from 148 DXCC entities. More than 1.5 million
    diplomas have been issued.

    Additional information is available at:

    FT4DMC: ft4dmc.com/

    FT8DMC: ft8dmc.eu

    (arrl)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP won't be a record-holder for
    much longer. He made news after logging the most days in space for a
    US astronaut -- 355 days -- aboard the International Space Station
    in 2022.

    Now, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is right behind him and gaining.

    He's been on the ISS since September 21, 2022 and his mission has
    grown beyond its original six months. He's now scheduled to leave
    aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft by September 27th, meaning his
    371 days will eclipse the one set by Vande Hei. However, even with
    that accomplishment, he will still be leaving the world record
    intact. That was set by the late Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov,
    who logged an unprecedented 437 days aboard Russia's Mir space
    station in 1994 and 1995. The cosmonaut died last year at age 80.

    (ARNewsLine)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SOFTWARE DEVELOPEMENT

    The Amateur Radio Software Award (ARSA) Committee has announced that GridTracker, a project led by Stephen Loomis, N0TTL, and the GridTracker.org team, has been selected as the recipient of the 4th annual Amateur Radio Software Award.

    The award recognizes software projects that enhance amateur radio and promote innovation, freedom, and openness in amateur radio software development.

    The committee was impressed by the breadth of features in GridTracker, its innovative graphic interface, and its ability to make amateur radio more fun.

    GridTracker is a tool that visualizes WSJT-X amateur radio traffic, like FT8 and contacts from log files, which makes it easier for radio amateurs to track their contacts and participate in contests. Its unique approach to visualizing radio traffic adds a new dimension of enjoyment to the radio art.

    To learn more about GridTracker, visit
    gridtracker.org.

    (ARRL)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK5 - South Coast Amateur Radio Clubs Buy & Sell 23rd April 11.30 am
    Seaford scout hall 7 railway rd. Seaford meadows (vk5one)


    VK3 - MOORABBIN HAMFEST - May 6 (vk3gl)


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST proposed for Canberra (vk8zz)
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform.


    VK2 - OXLEY REGION 47th Annual Field Day at Wauchope
    10th and 11th of June (vk2zhe)


    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION/FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS also June 10-11
    (vk5dj)

    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)



    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Apr 27 21:25:05 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-04-30.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 APRIL 30 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 APRIL 30 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA AGM registration is now open. -

    WIA Director Peter VK4EA. -

    And from the RAOTC, Clive VK6CSW



    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Gidday, for the WIA News, this is Peter, VK4EA, on behalf of the
    WIA board. Warm greetings to all listeners from Turrbl and Jagera
    country.

    By now you should have all received the notices for the May 13, WIA
    annual general meeting via email and the Amateur Radio Magazine.
    For those who wish to be there in person, we have secured a nice
    venue in our nations capital thanks to the Uni of Canberra.

    Most of the directors will be present, unfortunately I cannot be
    there in person due to an upcoming trip away, but, I shall be there
    virtually using the Uni of Canberras live video conferencing
    facilities.

    For those, like me, that cannot be there in person, please keep an
    eye out for the registration messages because registration is now
    open and without prior registration you will not be able to
    participate remotely.

    REGISTER NOW
    tinyurl.com/3fwt78az

    Items on the agenda are ->

    * presentation of the audited financials for the year ended
    December 2022
    * confirmation of elected Directors
    * life membership nomination
    * awards

    Following the AGM there will be an open forum, an excellent
    opportunity for you to ask questions, make suggestions and even
    better volunteer!

    This has been Peter, VK4EA, on behalf of the WIA Board of Directors -
    for WIA National News

    Cheers,
    Peter VK4EA / KQ4PS
    0407 407 636





    EDUCATION

    Across Australia from VK1WIA you are tuned to the National News
    Service. In Melbourne it can be seen and heard on the Melbourne
    DATV Repeater VK3RTV on Sundays at 10.30 AM and 8 PM.
    I am Peter VK3BFG

    Amateur Radio Victoria will be holding another On Line Tutorial for
    the Foundation Licence starting Monday 22nd May. It is expected that
    participants will have read the book Your Entry to Amateur Radio
    available from the Amateur Radio Victoria or Wireless Institute of
    Australia websites.

    The cost of the Tutorial is $60.00 and goes for three nights 7 9
    and an On Line assessment service is offered at the end.

    You can enrol right now via the Amateur Radio Victoria website
    and is open to anyone anywhere.

    amateurradio.com.au/



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY STATIONS CELEBRATING UNTIL TODAY INCLUDE


    BELGIUM OT 23 WARD.

    CROATIA 9 A 23 WARD

    SOUTH AFRICA ZS 9 WARD


    More information about 2023 World Amateur Radio Day is available at
    iaru.org/on-the-air/world-amateur-radio-day




    REGION ONE

    Following the recently held RSGB AGM, a brief Board meeting was held
    to consider necessary appointments.

    The Board was aware that Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, who had been in a
    dual role since the resignation of Richard Horton, G4AOJ, had
    expressed a willingness to continue as Chair if required.

    It was agreed that Stewart should be co-opted to the Board and he was
    asked to join the meeting. He was then elected unanimously to serve
    as Chair until the 2024 AGM.



    BEACON CONNECT

    This is the RSGB's idea of connecting, via Ham Radio all of the
    ancient fire beacon sites around the UK

    Now, Ofcom has agreed to a block of 676 Special Special Event Station
    callsigns for the RSGBs Beaconnect activity for the Coronation of
    the King and Queen Consort.

    And yes you did hear correctly - 676 special calls.

    These are GB23 BAA to BZZ, which will be available throughout May and
    June. The RSGB is asking its members to find a beacon site they could
    activate one or more times for this event



    Hams in Hungary's national ham radio society want to hear from you.

    Yes we hams around the world are being invited to provide our views
    and share experiences about amateur radio through an online survey.

    The short survey asks questions about your personal preferences and
    radio history but also wants to know what your priorities are --
    whether it is your operating preferences, your expectations from
    membership in a national society or the roles you think a local club
    should have. There are also questions about whether you know very
    many active younger operators.

    The society is interested in having the survey responses in time for
    the Youngsters on the Air Region 1 camp which it is hosting in
    August in Hungary. The group would also like to present the survey
    results at the IARU general conference in November.

    A link to the survey appears in the text version of this week's
    WIA National News

    mrasz.org/state-of-hamradio





    REGION TWO

    'Look what I found!'

    Hours after the first test flight of SpaceX's Starship ended with the
    spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster tumbling until it was
    commanded to explode, possible debris from the colossal rocket began
    to wash up on the shores surrounding the company's Starbase launch
    facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

    Photos shared on social media showed that more than one person had
    come across small fragments of the black and white ceramic tiles from
    the Starship.

    Though the Starship test flight was a privately funded activity, it
    was conducted under a Federal Aviation Administration launch license
    asserting it was being undertaken with the oversight of the
    United States. As a party to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967,
    protections are extended that any spacecraft components found
    anywhere on Earth (or in space) remain the property of the launch
    operator until such time that the entity explicitly relinquishes
    them.

    As such, all of the Starship debris remains SpaceX's property, even
    if it is found on private property or in the Gulf of Mexico.



    On April 3, Ria Jairam, N 2 RJ, joined the board of directors of
    Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC).

    After seeing what ARDC has done and is doing, Im a believer.
    So Im here to make that happen. she said.

    Ria, N2RJ, has been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1997,
    after first having been licensed in her native Trinidad and Tobago.
    She has served on the boards of the American Radio Relay League
    and the ARRL Foundation and is actively involved in amateur radio
    outreach and education through speaking at clubs, conventions,
    social media, her weekly radio show on WRMI shortwave radio and her
    YouTube channel.

    She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from
    NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and currently works in
    software and systems development for the financial industry and
    design consulting for renewable energy and energy storage projects.

    Congratulations Ria.





    REGION THREE

    FIJI

    One member of the team is back home from the recent Bouvet Island
    3 Y J DXpedition but not for

    Cezar, VE 3 LYC, is getting ready to put one of the Fiji islands back
    on the air after too many years of things being quiet there.

    Yanuca Island, IOTA Number OC-189, was activated first in 1993 and
    again in 2007 - but there's been no radio operation there since then.

    Cezar will be on the air May 1st through the 5th using the callsign
    3 D 2 LYC. DX World.net reports he will be on most of the HF bands
    and will operate both CW and SSB.

    While not as harsh an environment as the one found on remote Bouvet
    Island, Yanuca does not have any visitor accommodation. Cezar said he
    has been able to locate a generator and gas as well as food and water
    to use during his stay.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    MAY SIX NEXT Saturday Harry Angel Memorial Sprint
    10:00 UTC - 11:46 UTC (wia.org.au)


    --------------

    MAY 20-21 Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest
    80m section Saturday 20th From 6to 9pm AEST
    40m section Sunday 21st From 1 to 4 AEST
    (vk2wi)

    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.
    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times.
    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    JUNE Weekend prior to 2nd Monday of June VK SHIRES

    --------------

    QRP Day happens June 17

    (sourced to iaru r3)


    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.
    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    3rd weekend in July
    160 80 and 40M with SSB, CW and Digital (RTTY OR PSK)


    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    These Aussie special calls on air are worth listening for,

    VI 2023 HRH 1st to the 31st of May celebrates the coronation of
    King Charles III

    The next 4 are in play to years end.

    VI 10 VKFF celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the VKFF group.

    VI 100 MB celebrates the centenary year of the Manly-Warringah
    Radio Society

    VK 90 AR for the 90 years of the WIAs journal, Amateur Radio
    Magazine.

    VK 100 ZL celebrates the Centenary of the First Tran-Tasman Radio
    contact between Australia and New Zealand.


    --------------

    Special callsign 3 A 8 AB is operating from Monaco until today,
    Sunday the 30th of April commemorating the 100th anniversary of
    the first transatlantic amateur two-way contact between
    Leon Deloy, F 8 AB and Fred Schnell, 1 MO in 1923.
    QSL via Logbook of the World.

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    JD 1 BMH is on air from Ogasawara until May 5th.
    Listen for him on 40 - 10m where he is using CW, SSB and RTTY.
    For QSL and other details follow the link on QRZ.COM
    to the JD 1 BMH webpage

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    DR 100 XRAY will be active until the end of June.

    It's a special callsign commemorating the 100th anniversary of the
    death of Wilhelm C Roentgen [ pronounced RUND-GUN], the physicist
    whose discovery of X-rays earned him the inaugural Nobel Prize in
    Physics in 1901 and revolutionised diagnostic medicine.

    QSL via the bureau, or direct to DJ 6 SI.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    QNEWS WORK BENCH
    Measure twice cut once.

    Weve all picked up a radio and switched it on, only to hear an
    awful scratchy noise emitting from the speaker. Richard Langer
    SPEAKING (no pun intended Mr Speaker) on Hackaday is no stranger to
    this problem, and has identified a cheap and unusual solution, using
    toilet paper!

    The cause of the scratchy sound is that when the speakers paper cone
    warps, it can cause the voice coil to rub up against the magnet
    assembly. In time, this wears out insulation on the coils turns,
    damaging the speaker. Richard found that realigning the coil to its
    proper place would rectify the issue. This can be achieved by
    stuffing a small amount of toilet paper in the back of the speaker,
    between the cone and the metal housing.

    To identify the right spot to put the paper, one simply presses on
    the back of the speaker LIGHTLY with a pen while listening out for
    the scratchy sound to stop. The paper can then be stuffed into this
    area to complete the fix. This can realign the cone and voice coil
    and stop the scratchy sound for good.

    hackaday.com/2023/04/20/this-one-simple-trick-rehabilitates-scratchy-sounding-speakers/





    MEDIA WATCH

    The station of shortwaveradio.de is run by shortwave radio
    enthusiasts from their transmit site in Lower Saxony, Germany.
    Their program frequently features Amateur Radio related topics.

    The new transmission schedule for this European Summer is

    07:00 to 17:00 UTC weekends
    15:00 to 17:00 UTC Monday to Friday

    6160 kHz AM.

    Also from 17:00 to 23:00 UTC daily on 3975 kHz AM.

    If you hear the stations and send in a reception report with at least
    30 minutes of programme details, including comments, QSL-manager
    Mario will reply with a printed QSL card.

    for details visit
    shortwaveradio.de

    (irts)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DEFENSE

    The US Department of Defence will host this year's Armed Forces Day
    Crossband Test on May 13. This annual event is open to all licensed
    amateur radio operators in the US and will not impact any public or
    private communications. For more than 50 years, military and amateur
    stations have taken part in this event.

    The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way
    communications between military communicators and radio stations in
    the Amateur Radio Service. These tests provide opportunities and
    challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical
    skills in a tightly controlled exercise scenario.

    Military stations will transmit on selected frequencies and will
    announce the specific Ham frequencies monitored. All of the times are
    Zulu, and all frequencies are Upper Side Band unless otherwise noted.

    A complete list of frequencies, time periods, QSL cards, and other
    information can be found at DoD MARS - Armed Forces Day.

    dodmars.org/mars-comex-information-website/armed-forces-day

    (eHam.net)




    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/

    SOTA "MOUNTAIN GOAT" SAYS "TAG, YOU'RE IT"

    For this story, we catch up with a very grateful SOTA activator who
    has this important message for all those hams who, like him, achieved
    the coveted status of Mountain Goat:

    "TAG - You're It!" Jim Damron N8TMW tells us his story.

    Dave Altman, KO4YLZ, is looking for a few new goats. Actually, he's looking for a few old goats too. None of this has anything to do with age - it's a reflection of pride in Dave's recent accomplishment. The SOTA activator achieved Mountain Goat status in the Summits on the Air awards scheme on March 30th, 11 months after making his first successful SOTA activation.

    When his informal mentor Dean, K2JB, celebrated his new status by saying "welcome to the herd," Dave felt inspired to give something back to colleagues in his own region. What better way to identify a local goat than with a genuine ear tags, the kind of tags Dave sees often on some of the local livestock?? Using the SOTA logo with permission, Dave had the durable plastic tags laser-printed for all those in the W4 region of SOTA who attained the necessary 1,000 points for Mountain Goat status. He's giving them as gifts to fellow members of the herd and no, he doesn't expect anyone to attach the tags to their ears. These are for bags used on SOTA outings.

    Dave said in a recent email to NewsLine that he had already given out seven but has many more. Using the SOTA Reflector and the groups.io board for his local region, he has told fellow Mountain Goats to either email their name, callsign and mailing address or, better still, meet up with him sometime for an activation. Picture it: Just a couple of Mountain Goats climbing their next summit together. That would not be so BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD.

    This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

    (ARNewsLine)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    SPACEX PUT NEW SATELLITES INTO ORBIT.

    A SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-7 mission has placed these satellites
    carrying Amateur Radio into orbit and have been added to the
    AMSAT-NA TLE distribution list

    KILICSAT (uncoordinated frequency: 436.9 MHz).

    CIRBE (IARU coordinated frequency: 437.25 MHz).

    INSPIRE-SAT 7 (IARU coordinated frequencies: 435.2002 MHz and
    437.4100 MHz).

    ROSEYCUBESAT 1 (IARU coordinated frequency: 436.8252 MHz).

    TLE's or two Line Elements, often referred to as Keplerian elements
    or keps in our amateur community, are the inputs to most amateur
    tracking programs and weekly updates are completely adequate for most
    amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated Thursday evenings
    around 2300 UTC, or more frequently if new high interest satellites
    are launched.

    amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

    (AMSAT)




    NOKIA AND NASA TO PUT WIRELESS SERVICE ON THE MOON

    A whole new wireless network of sorts is being looked at - for the
    moon!

    An LTE/4G network destined for the moon is expected to launch on
    board a SpaceX rocket ( when bugs are ironed out), this according to
    plans from the Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia. According to
    reports on CNBC, it's part of a partnership with NASA that envisions
    the creation of the first colony on the lunar surface.

    A message on Nokia's webpage states that the network will be designed
    to support the transmitting of telemetry, biometrics, and sensing
    applications and will also be available for HD video and robotics.
    Nokia states that the high-bandwidth network will be a vital tool in
    NASA's plan for so-called "sustainable exploration" of the moon.

    NASA chose the Finnish telecommunications company back in in 2020,
    announcing Nokia's role in the Artemis lunar program to return a
    human presence to the moon -- this time for extended operations by
    the end of the decade. According to the Nokia website, the network
    will include an LTE Base Station with integrated Evolved Packet Core
    functionalities, LTE User Equipment and RF antennas. The system will
    have hardware redundancy and through its software, the capacity for
    remote operation.

    (ARNewsLine)




    A $50 SATELLITE IN ORBIT

    " $50Sat, also known as EAGLE-2, is an open-source, PocketQube
    satellite project that was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of
    building and launching a functional satellite for just $50.

    The project was launched 10 years ago, in 2013, with the goal of
    providing a simple and low- cost platform for educational and amateur
    space missions. $50Sat is equipped with a basic communications
    system, including a UHF/VHF transceiver, a microcontroller and a
    simple power system. The satellite is based on a modular design,
    which makes it easy to modify and customize for different missions.

    One of the key innovations of $50Sat is the use of Commercial Off The
    Shelf components, such as a cellphone battery and a Bluetooth module,
    all of which helps to lower costs. The satellite also leverages a
    number of open-source hardware and software tools, making it easier
    for others to build their own satellites based on the $50Sat design."

    For more ideas on PocketQubes, see
    satmagazine.com/story.php?number=1780991041

    [ANS]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME

    An historic event

    Amateur Radio is about to commence from the historic warship,
    HMAS Vampire, located at the Australian National Maritime Museum in
    Sydneys Darling Harbour.

    The HMAS Vampire Radio Room team will consist of seven amateur radio
    operators, all ANNM Volunteers, on 7050kHz CW and 7150kHz SSB, all
    days except Sundays during the normal operating hours of the Museum.

    Listen out for the call sign VK2VMP.

    This new partnership with the Museum also provides an excellent
    opportunity for visitors to see the ship and experience the world of
    amateur radio.

    HMAS Vampire is a Daring class destroyer, which was commissioned in
    1959 and served in the Royal Australian Navy until 1986.

    (vk2wi news)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is
    the first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers
    Club of Australia's May bulletin to go to air.

    This month, instead of the usual broadcast, we will offer an
    historical broadcast from years past by Allan Doble, VK3AMD.
    The usual news and information will be broadcast next month. June.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.
    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on the
    RAOTC website raotc.org.au
    or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the
    audio file at any time from today from the club website.

    Members and Friends of the RAOTC in Perth are reminded that the next
    lunchtime meeting at the new venue, the Woodbridge Hotel,
    East Guildford, will be held on Tuesday May 9th. All are welcome,
    further details are published on the clubs website.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the May RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the
    program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) was founded in 2011 by a small group of
    young radio amateurs in IARU Region 1. Together, they created the
    worlds first YOTA camp, which brought friends together for a weekend
    to play ham radio.

    This effort got the attention of IARU Region 1, and shortly
    thereafter, YOTA became an officially supported advocacy organization
    for youth in amateur radio.

    This idea then spread to Region 3 and Region 2 of the IARU where
    Youth on the Air Americas began conducting camps for and by young
    hams in 2020.

    Now a $125,000 US grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications
    (ARDC) will fund YOTA Americas summer camps through 2025. In
    addition, the grant will allow the group to increase the number of
    campers from 30 to 50 in 2024 and 2025.

    The 2023 camp will take place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in just a
    few months, July 16-21.

    On a closing note, a special thank you to the activators who I spent
    time with, including the organisers Alan VK1AO and Marty VK4KC and to
    those I made contact with on the air during this weekends Pillag
    Park Fest.

    For VK1WIA National News, I am Alec VK2APC in Sydney.
    Now back over to you Col

    (yota/vk2apc)






    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK3 - MOORABBIN HAMFEST - May 6 (vk3gl)


    VK - WIA AGM May 13 at 10:30am AEST in Canberra
    A hybrid event conducted both in person and by video
    conference and able to be viewed on an internet streaming
    platform. REMEMBER WIA AGM registration link is now open. -
    https://tinyurl.com/3fwt78az


    VK2 - OXLEY REGION 47th Annual Field Day at Wauchope
    10th and 11th of June (vk2zhe)


    VK5 - SERG CONVENTION/FOX HUNTING CHAMPIONSHIPS also June 10-11
    (vk5dj)

    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)



    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
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    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
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    and send BOTH the audio and the text

    We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 mts in
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    Remember the sooner you submit material the more the
    likelihood of it being broadcast in the very next edition of
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    Each recorded item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple
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    Promote your local rebroadcast; details on
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    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
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    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
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jun 15 17:31:57 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-06-18.mp3
    Text edition:
    2023 JUNE 18 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 JUNE 18 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS AND IT COMES FROM THE APPLE ISLE OF VK7


    THIS WEEK:-


    WIA PRESIDENT SCOTT VK3KJ with the VK7 CENTENARY


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS SEES MORE HAMFESTS IN REGION 1 AND 3 ALONG WITH YOTA IN REGION 3


    THIS WEEKS WIA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS I DIG INTO SOME HILARIOUS VK7 HISTORICAL EVENTS


    CONTEST NEWS COVERS THE VHF/UHF CONTEST WITH SPECIAL EME REPORTER RICHARD VK7ZBX


    WE COVER SPACE JUNK BEING MADE INTO FUEL AND EMERGENCY DIGITAL RADIO NETWORKS


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M GUEST EDITOR JUSTIN VK7 TANGLED WHISKERS AND NOW OVER TO OUR PRESIDENT SCOTT WILLIAMS


    WIA


    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    This is WIA President Scott VK3KJ with a special board comment to celebrate the Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio in VK7. Back in 1923 the Wireless Institute of Australia Tasmanian Division was formed and VK7 have been celebrating this event in a huge manner


    Although the start of the Tasmanian Division in 1923 was a little rocky with the first AGM report citing a black eye and drawn blood. It was the first President of the Division being the one sustaining the black eyemaybe some things dont change HIHI!


    Many great things have come from the Apple Isle in the way of radio - Pop Medhurst VK7AH back in 1901 was one of the first in Tasmania to complete a ship to shore spark radio contact with the Royal Navy Vessels accompanying the Duke and Duchess of York.


    1912 saw a spark contact between Hobart - Macquarie Island and Commonwealth Bay in Antarctica for the Mawson Expedition. Grote Reber the father of Radio Astronomy moved to Tasmania in the 1950s to map the Milky Way and he was also an amateur.


    Who could forget Tom Moffat VK7TM SK and Moffats Madhouse in Electronics Australia. Tom was also one of VK7s adopted sons!


    Joe Gelston VK7JG OAM SK was well known to many Australian and Overseas amateurs for his microwave experimentation and endless energy fixing and maintaining repeaters around Tasmania.


    Notable VK7 amateur who are still very much alive thank goodness - Rex Moncur VK7MO whos endless energy and mentoring many amateurs in the fine art of microwave EME communication is legendary and Hayden VK7HH with his popular Ham Radio DX YouTube Channel.


    On behalf of the Board of the Wireless Institute of Australia, I would like to wish all in VK7 a very happy centenary and may amateur radio continue to flourish and grow in Tasmania for another 100 years.


    Keep an ear out for VK7WIA on the bands as the roster for stations operating the callsign is full and I understand there might even be some EME contacts with other countries taking this Centenary well and truly out of this world!


    This has been Scott Williams VK3KJ President and Director of the WIA for the Broadcast this week.




    ------------------------------------------------------------*




    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam, Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE
    The IARU Region 1 team will be at HAM Radio - the 46th International Amateur Radio Exhibition from June 23-25 at Messe Friedrichshafen. They will be present at the IARU booth A1-860 and our Youth Working Group at the IARU Youth booth A1-766.
    Visit for the first time the IARU Open Innovation Zone A1-864, where ham radio experimenters will share their experiences, this is the zone where innovation meets passion. At this moment we can already share that 7 teams requested a slot.


    These teams include the M17 Project : M17 is developing a new digital radio protocol for data and voice, made by and for amateur radio operators. SatDump a free & open-source software dedicated to receive, demodulate and process data from satellites. GNU Radio is a free & open-source software development toolkit that provides signal processing blocks to implement software radios. Web Radio Control is a project supported by the IARU Shaping the Future initiative. Web Radio Control allows you to operate your amateur radio station using a web browser. Charly25 is a SDR project created by Erwin (DL1FY), Edwin (DC9OE), Markus (DG8MG) and Markus (DG8GM), from the DARC club C25. The team started in 2014 to explore the capabilities of SDR technology.


    Step by the IARU Open Innovation Zone, where we invite you to explore exciting projects from our community. From software-defined radio to powerful digital signal processing tools and captivating citizen science initiatives, youll witness the future of amateur radio unfold before your eyes.


    https://www.iaru-r1.org/2023/iaru-open-innovation-zone-at-ham-radio-2023/


    REGION TWO
    ARRL Proclaiming Field Day!


    With 2023 Field Day fast approaching, many amateur radio operators are busy scouting their locations and getting their equipment ready for the big event.


    State Sections and individual clubs are also working on publicizing Field Day and obtaining proclamations from local and state governments. It's a great way to help get clubs noticed and to draw attention to amateur radio.


    Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a proclamation naming June 24 - 25 2023, as Amateur Radio Operators' Appreciation Days.


    In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly signed a proclamation making June 24 - 25 2023, Amateur Radio Field Days, while Assistant Section Manager of the ARRL Kansas Section Kenneth A. Kopp, AKA, and others stood at her side.


    Many other states, such as Illinois and Virginia, have issued proclamations, and more are pending. See the proclamations, as ARRL receives them, at this link. It's not too late to request a proclamation or resolution.


    The ARRL 2023 Field Day Overview is a great place to start and has information on every aspect of getting ready for Field Day. Visit the ARRL Field Day web page for all of the event's rules and regulations. The information is also available in Spanish at: Reglas del Da de Campo de la ARRL 2023.


    https://www.arrl.org/news/proclaiming-field-day


    REGION THREE


    JARL is pleased to announce the HAM Fair 2023 to be held on the above dates at Tokyo Big Sight Convention Center.


    The biggest event in Japanese amateur radio society, HAM Fair 2022 was held on 20th and 21st August at Tokyo Big Sight Convention Center and visitors were down with only 35,000 attending over the two days - we are expecting more in 2023.


    This years theme is to promote healthy development of amateur radio and improvement of technology. There are exhibitions and events for introducing amateur radio to the general public, exchanging the information and establishing friendship between amateurs. It will be the 45th JARL HAM Fair. The theme is "Let's go for the new era of Amateur Radio!


    https://www.jarl.org/English/4_Library/A-4-6_ham-fair/Ham%20Fair%202023,%20Tokyo.htm


    ---------


    YOTA in Region 3


    The IARU R3 in conjunction with the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King of Thailand have announced that Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) IARU-Region 3 camp will be held 27 - 29 October 2023 at Pattaya City, Thailand.


    The event provides a venue for young amateurs from member societies of the IARU Region 3 to meet multi-national friends and experience radio communication-related activities and technologies. The activities that will be covered during the camp include the following


    Electronics workshop
    Antenna building workshop
    Fox hunting
    Radio station establishment and operation
    VHF, HF and Satellite contact experience
    Local tour of Pattaya city


    A copy of the proposed program is included with an article in the news section on the WIA web page.


    The IARU Region 3 will provide transportation back and forth between Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok Thailand and the venue and other costs during the event including meals, local tour, and accommodation. However, the participants will need to bear travel costs between their home country and Thailand.


    Should you consider you might like to participate in this YOTA Camp then send your expression of interest to the secretary Peter Clee, via email details in the text edition.


    secretary@wia.org.au


    The WIA are keen to support this YOTA activity.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    Start of audio recording - Mel Bush ABC Local Radio Interview with Reg Emmett VK7KK


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    WIA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - HAM RADIO HISTORY NEWS


    The Beginnings of the WIA in VK7


    As mentioned by the current President of the WIA earlier in this broadcast, the birth of the WIA in Tasmania was a difficult one.


    It all started with an unsatisfactory demonstration of wireless at Hobarts Palais de Danse, which was probably due to a lack of knowledge of public address, there was dissension amongst the members. Later demonstrations held in a hall where the audience was quiet and not attempting to dance, were successful, Sydney broadcasting stations being received.


    From the august magazine of the 1920s - the Listener In of 14th March,1925 in the Wireless Club Reports:


    The Hobart Radio Experimenters Club is a strong body of wireless enthusiasts . . . The club was once known as the Wireless Institute, but a split occurred (in the course of which some blood was spilt and a black eye told its tale), and the new body was formed with the donor of the black eye as president. The Wireless Institute is still in existence, but in a rather negative state at the moment. .


    One of the early amateurs Trevor Watkins, VK7AA, noted in his log of the 7th April 1924 1st AGM very lively!! With two exclamation marks!


    By 1925 things were settling down with the Hobart based WIA affiliated Radio Experimenters Club and their motto being with harmony.


    The 5th Federal Convention of the WIA was held in Hobart in 1928 when the proceedings took 5 1/2 days! The Convention was also held in Hobart in 1935, 1967 and 2022.


    Over almost the next 80 years there were rumblings from both Hobart and Launceston amateurs as to who could best govern the Tasmanian Division of the WIA and the headquarters moved up and down the Midlands Highway.


    In Tasmania during this time if you were a member of a local amateur radio club you were automatically a member of the WIA because clubs were just branches of the Tasmanian Division of the WIA.


    Then in October 2004 the move to a National WIA led to the winding-up of the Tasmanian Division of the Wireless Institute and the Tasmanian branches formed into separate affiliated clubs.


    Further details of this history can be found in this Months AR Magazine in a wonderful article by Richard Rogers VK7RO titled Parochialism makes for good history in VK7.


    Website: https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/centenary-of-organised-amateur-radio-in-tasmania/


    Facebook Event:
    https://fb.me/e/5sJsUxEvj


    ---------------------


    Audio Recording - 7AD interview with Eric VK7EV


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT


    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------




    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day.


    0100 UTC Saturday 24 to 0059 UTC Sunday 25
    BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times.


    Well, the weather has begun to chill off, so that means it must be getting close to time for the Winter VHF/UHF field day, yes folks its time to go somewhere cold and play radios for a while.


    This year the field day will be held from 01:00 UTC on June 24th through to 00:59 UTC on June 25th. BUT in VK6 add 3 hours onto start and end times.


    Plenty of categories to participate in, no need to go portable although it's a great opportunity to get out and about and play radio, but you can still operate from your home station.


    Knowing your current grid square is a requirement for logging, so perhaps do some google earthing or use one of the many apps that will let you know your 6 digit maidenhead locator.


    There are a couple of logging programs, VKCL and N1MM. All will talk to your radio making logging easier.


    Why not introduce a new licence holder to the world of field days, you never know where it may take them.


    Please remember to submit your log after the contest has finished.


    Hear you on the higher bands !


    For more information take a look at the URL on the email edition of this broadcast.


    https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/


    This has been Richard VK7ZBX for the WIA National News VK7 Centennial Edition


    --------------------------------


    The NZART Memorial Contest has been held every year since 1946 to commemorate those New Zealand amateur radio operators who lost their lives in World War 2. The contest is held every year on the Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend of July.


    The 2023 Memorial Contest dates are 1st and 2nd of July.


    (nzart)


    --------------


    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC Sunday July 8-9 July.


    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.


    (sourced to iaru r3)


    --------------


    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    Held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and Digital (RTTY OR PSK)


    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN


    --------------




    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest


    This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died during World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and help improve the operating skills of participants. It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on which hostilities ceased with Japan in the southwest Pacific area.


    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or territory with the best performance.
    The name of the winning State or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory is also given a certificate, as
    are leading entrants.
    (wia.org.au)


    Given VK7 is presenting this WIA National News it would be remise of us not to mention that VK7 has won the RD Contest every year since 2016 and its all about participation!


    --------------


    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST


    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.


    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.


    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.


    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.


    For more information check out the ALARA Website on the email edition of this broadcast.


    https://www.alara.org.au/


    (alara web site)


    --------------


    Whilst we are on ALARA


    ALARAMeet 2023


    Happens in Hobart in Early November.


    ALARAmeet 2023 is happening from 3 6 November in Hobart Tasmania. Registrations are now open, and will close at the end of July.
    To register interest take a look at the ALARA Website.
    We are expecting about 40 people, including about 20 OMs.


    We look forward to seeing you all down in Hobart at the ALARAMeet 2023.


    This has been Linda VK7QP for the WIA National News VK7 Centennial Edition.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    Thanks Linda now World Wide Special Interest Groups - Out of this World.


    During the REAST Centennial Open Day held on the 10th June 2023 I made an out of this world contact with Paulo CT2GUR in Portugal.


    This was using 10GHz Earth Moon Earth using a 1.8m prime focus dish that is mounted on trailer which automatically tracks the moon. Equipment is a Khune transverter and preamp, waveguide switch and running 20W of power with everything GPS locked.


    Paulo was running a 2.4M prime focus dish with 40W and a home brew tracking system.


    Conditions were not optimal with shrubbery beginning to obstruct my end, but we managed to make the contact without issue.


    WSJT signal levels with Paulo receiving me at -24 db and I was able to copy him at -20db.


    This was my first 10 GHZ EME contact with a CT station and his first with a VK station.


    I am planning to operate the special callsign VK7WIA on EME when opportunity presents this June.


    Hear you off the moon.


    This has been Richard VK7ZBX for the WIA National News VK7 Centennial Edition


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WEIRD AND WONDERFUL


    https://www.arnewsline.org/


    --------------------------------


    DX WINDOW


    http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-dx


    -------------


    DR 100 XRAY is radiating until the end of June.


    It's a special callsign commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Wilhelm C Roentgen [ pronounced RUND-GUN], the physicist whose discovery of X-rays earned him the inaugural Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 and revolutionised diagnostic medicine.
    QSL via the bureau, or direct to DJ 6 SI.


    (rsgb)


    --------------


    AU 40 NRO is active until the 30th of June to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the National Institute of Amateur Radio in India.


    QSL via VU 2 NRO.


    (rsgb)


    --------------


    CHINA.


    QRV is BY2/K6FA until the middle of August.
    HF bands using mainly CW.
    QSL via LoTW.


    (arrl)


    --------------


    Listen for the special event callsign A 60 AP, which is on the air until the 31st of August.


    The suffix stands for the Emirates "Astronaut Program," which prepares crews of UAE astronauts for missions that include the International Space Station. QSL via EA7FTR.


    (ARNewsLine)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    BEACONS


    After repeated complaints about the QRPP beacon operating from Romania, YO8RIX in the 17 m band, the IARU Region 1 HF Manager has made direct contact with the operator.


    Most recently, yo8rix qrpp beacon was observed on the frequency 18100.53 kHz in the range of the International Beacon Project IBP.


    In the meantime, assurances have been given that the beacon will QSY as soon as possible.


    (iaru r1)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/


    2023 ARRL Field Day is just 1 week away, on June 24 - 25. It's the most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada.


    More than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill, and service to communities and the nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills, all in a single event.


    ARRL Field Day has been an annual event since 1933.


    (arrl)
    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
    SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,
    PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.


    With 2023 Field Day fast approaching, many amateur radio operators are busy scouting their locations and getting their equipment ready for the big event.


    State Sections and individual clubs are also working on publicizing Field Day and obtaining proclamations from local and state governments. It's a great way to help get clubs noticed and to draw attention to amateur radio.


    Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a proclamation naming June 24 - 25 2023, as Amateur Radio Operators' Appreciation Days.


    In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly signed a proclamation making June 24 - 25 2023, Amateur Radio Field Days, while Assistant Section Manager of the ARRL Kansas Section Kenneth A. Kopp, AKA, and others stood at her side.


    Many other states, such as Illinois and Virginia, have issued proclamations, and more are pending. See the proclamations, as ARRL receives them, at this link. It's not too late to request a proclamation or resolution.


    The ARRL 2023 Field Day Overview is a great place to start and has information on every aspect of getting ready for Field Day. Visit the ARRL Field Day web page for all of the event's rules and regulations.


    More information is available on the email version of this news.


    https://www.arrl.org/news/proclaiming-field-day


    (arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org


    Space Junk


    A small high-tech cube made by Australian engineers and scientists has just been launched into space for the first time and it could be a solution to the growing space junk problem.


    Space archaeologist Alice Gorman said with that influx of spacecraft would come the waste that they leave behind.


    "Space junk refers to all of the old satellites and fragments of satellites and tiny particles that are in ... orbit at the moment," Dr Gorman said.


    "A conservative estimate is that there are around 37,000 pieces of junk that are larger than 10 centimetres in size. If we go below 10 centimetres then there are hundreds of millions of tiny little fragments.


    Dr Gorman said even the tiniest pieces of debris could destroy crucial satellites.


    "Everything that's in Earth's orbit is speeding around at an average velocity of 7 kilometres a second, so you do not want to be hit by something at those speeds," she said.


    But it is now hoped that technology developed by Adelaide-based company Neumann Space could provide some assistance to cleaning up the mess.


    "Space sustainability is extremely important, so we can play in that environment with tourism," CEO Herve Astier said.


    "First, we can help deorbit a satellite faster, but also we can use space junk as propellant in our system."


    Usually propulsion systems have been gas or electric however a team of engineers and scientists in Adelaide created one which can be powered by solid metal recycled from space debris. Thats where the Neumann Drive comes in.


    "It's basically converting the solid metal propellant into plasma." engineer Hamza Baig said.


    The Neumann Drive will be used by space companies in the US which carry devices on their satellites such as nets or robotic arms to capture orbital waste.


    The thruster would then enable those satellites to return to Earth with the waste to be melted down into more fuel.


    After almost a decade of testing and preparing the technology for orbit, the propulsion system was sent into space for the first time today.


    Dr Gorman said the launch represented huge potential for Australia's space industry.


    "The technology of plasma thrusters using metal as a fuel is a really exciting development," she said.


    For more information take a look at the URL on the email edition of this broadcast


    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-13/high-tech-cube-helping-solve-space-junk-problem/102469160


    ------------------------------------------------------------*




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL RADIO


    Transition to Tasmanian Government Radio Network begins soon


    Friday, 09 June, 2023
    Tasmanian Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Felix Ellis has announced that eight of the states public safety agencies will transition to the Tasmanian Government Radio Network (TasGRN), provided by Telstra and Motorola Solutions, commencing in July.


    The $763 million network was announced in 2020 and has been built on a feature-rich P25 Phase 2 platform providing a range of capabilities, including greater interoperability; increased coverage; secure, encrypted communications for emergency service workers; and a modern user interface.


    Ellis said the transition to the new network will see Hydro Tasmania, TasNetworks, Parks and Wildlife, and Sustainable Timber Tasmania move across by August. The police, fire and emergency services will then follow.


    The TasGRN project has created up to 50 jobs during the three-year construction phase, with additional positions to be recruited to help run and oversee the network once it is fully operational later this year, Ellis said.


    As an added bonus, the TasGRN will deliver improved mobile phone coverage for Telstra users in Tasmania at no cost to the state, particularly in regional Tasmania.


    More information is available on the email version of this news.


    https://www.criticalcomms.com.au/content/public-safety/news/transition-to-tasmanian-government-radio-network-begins-soon-1392066992


    (Critical Comms Web E-Zine)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/


    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.


    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22


    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.


    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160


    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160


    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160


    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227


    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz


    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME


    ILLW


    The ILLW weekend takes place over the weekend of August 19th to 20th.


    Countries all over the world have become involved in one form or another of lighthouse activity during August. Some years ago the United States Congress declared August 7th as their National Lighthouse Day and during that first week in August amateur radio operators in America set up portable stations at lighthouses and endeavour to make contact with each other.


    This event is known as the US National Lighthouse Week.


    In Britain the Association of Lighthouse Keepers, ALK, conducts International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend on the same weekend as the ILLW in August. Their objective is to encourage Lighthouse managers, keepers and owners to open their lighthouse or light station and related visitors centres to the public with a view to raising the profile of lighthouses, lightvessels and other navigational aids, and preserving our maritime heritage.


    The ILLW usually takes place on the 3rd full weekend in August each year and attracts over 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. It is one of the most popular international amateur radio events in existence probably because there are very few rules and it is not the usual contest type event.


    docdroid.net/VlSXkrD/crnews0623-pdf#page=7


    (ham radio ireland) ------------------------------------------------------------*


    Last but definitely not least - here in VK7 we are in good company and we wish another Club a happy 100th birthday celebration to the Ballarat Amateur Radio Club.


    IN June of 1923, the Ballarat Amateur Radio Club held its first ever meeting.
    A century later, and now known as the Ballarat Amateur Radio Group, members are celebrating the organisations 100th anniversary.
    President, Ben Daniel, said the centenary is a chance to highlight ham radio and its place in the city.
    BARG is sponsoring a month-long on-air event to commemorate 100 years of known amateur radio activity in Ballarat by offering an electronic certificate to any amateur radio station who makes at least one on-air radio contact with any Ballarat based Amateur Radio station during the month of June, he said.
    The hobby is not only historic, but a popular pastime in Ballarat, thats united people and their electronics.
    Amateur radio activity was the first social media, long before twitter, YouTube and Facebook, Mr Daniel said.
    Amateur radio, and the magic of wireless, is alive and well and even more accessible than ever. Visit barg.org.au for more information.
    For more information take a look at the URL on the email edition of this broadcast edition


    https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/ballarat/news/group-marks-100-years-on-the-air/ ------------------------------------------------------------*




    2023 Social Scene


    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK7 - Month of June - Centenary of organised amateur radio in Tasmania - month of activities including special callsign - VK7WIA, Awards, Open Days and media events (VK7TW).


    BARG - Month of June - 100th birthday celebration of the Ballarat Amateur Radio Club (BARG).


    VK5 - ADELAIDE HILLS ARS - Buy and Sell Marion RSL July 15 (armag)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (VK7QP)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday, November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale November 26 (vk5qi)
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------


    THATS A WRAP FROM THE VK7 CENTENARY EDITION OF WIA NATIONAL NEWS THANKS TO SCOTT VK3KL, PETER VK7PD, MIKE VK7FB, LINDA VK7QP AND RICHARD VK7ZBX.


    THIS IS JUSTIN VK7 TANGLED WHISKERS AND AS GRAHAM 4BB SIGNS OFF EACH WEEK.WALK SOFTLY.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2024 IT'S A DATE


    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to our communities.


    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.


    ------------------------------------------------------------* _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jun 22 15:09:08 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-06-25.mp3
    Text edition:



    2023 JUNE 25 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 JUNE 25 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-


    WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK re ACMA Zoom Meeting. -

    WIA Director Giles Kirby VK5GK re Help Wanted'.


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB



    LAST WEEK CREDIT WHERE CREDITS DUE

    Last weeks WIA National news was a presentation researched and
    broadcast by the VK7 CENTENARY COMMITTEE.

    PETER VK7PD, MIKE VK7FB, LINDA VK7QP RICHARD VK7ZBX AND
    JUSTIN VK7TW

    Thanks team for a job 'well done'.











    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    On Wednesday earlier this week, ACMA had prearranged a zoom session
    with all current AMC Amateur radio examination assessors. This was to
    inform them of the new arrangements ACMA plan to be implementing now
    that AMC have officially informed ACMA they will not be renewing the
    deed to continue the exam services after February 2024.

    ACMA propose to initially replicate many of the current AMC exam
    processes but with a couple of welcomed changes which were
    enthusiastically received by most assessors on the information
    session.

    Proposed is that assessors will once again be able to mark the exams
    for the candidates at the completion of the exam as the WIA had been
    doing previously to AMC. Candidates now would be informed of their
    results and can be provided with direct feedback on the exam results
    or areas that may need attention if they may need to re-sit again.

    Currently only one assessor is required to conduct an exam and this
    is being continued.

    Assessor accreditation will be required along with Working with
    Children type compliance.

    Assessor guidelines will need to be agreed to as assessors will have
    a binding contract with the ACMA , a federal organization.

    Exams will be delivered electronically and results uploaded to the
    new exam portal saving mailing costs and delays in result processing.
    Along with the ability to provide remote exams via a skype video
    session or similar there is no proposal from ACMA for exams to be
    delivered on an online platform at this stage.

    Many aspects will need to be fine tuned, such as the exam payment
    process, searchable available callsign database, callsign registers
    and allocation of callsigns to applicants.

    The Subject syllibi for each licence level will be updated and
    question pools were discussed to whether they would be open to the
    public, like many other countries have done such as the USA,
    New Zealand and Canada or whether they will be closed, such as when
    the WIA conducted exams a few years ago. There are pros and cons for
    either method.

    Recognition of Prior learning (RPL) and Reciprocal Licencing were
    briefly discussed. It is important to process applications more
    efficiently and in a compliant and internationally recognised manner.

    ACMA mentioned that there will be a public consultation on the
    assessments and exam procedures around August this year. As an
    assessor, it would be prudent to respond to the consultation with
    your concerns, ideas and solutions to any problems you encounter
    currently as an AMC Assessor. ACMA are being extremely receptive as
    they envisage a smooth transition from AMC to the ACMAs exam
    service, commencing Feburary 2024.

    You can email ACMA with your concerns on
    SpectrumLicensingPolicy@acma.gov.au
    with Assessor accreditation in the subject line.

    The WIA will also be responding to the consultation and would welcome
    any comments and concerns for consideration to their consultation
    response. Email nationaloffice@wia.org.au

    For now, 73 From Lee VK3GK





    This is Giles Kirby VK5GK Delivering the WIA directors update.

    As youre all aware, the WIA is a volunteer organization. We value
    and rely upon our skilled and enthusiastic amateurs to drive
    continued innovation and development in a hobby were all passionate
    about.

    This is a formal call to action.

    Join your fellow amateurs and become part of a close community of
    like-minded people by contributing towards the goals of the WIA.
    Were seeking expressions of interest (EOIs) for a range of roles
    within the WIA. Of note today are the following:

    1. The Technical Advisory Committee.

    To Bolster our technical committee, were seeking subject matter
    experts within key areas of amateur radio activity (DMR, C4FM,
    Satellite etc). This is a technically focused role to advise the
    board on technical matters. Were also seeking a Technical Advisory
    Committee Chairperson to lead this activity. A position previously
    held by the late John Martin (VK3KM).

    2. Expressions of Interest for Contest manager for the Ross Hull
    Memorial VHF/UHF Contest. Either interested amateurs or clubs are
    encouraged to apply for this role.

    3. Expressions of interest for Youth On The Air (YOTA) coordinator.

    This leads me to thank everyone who is currently contributing in
    permanent or acting roles. Youre all noted and highly valued members
    of our community.

    Please stay warm this weekend during the VHF/UHF field day,
    particularly my fellow VK5s. Its predicted to be a wet one,
    so do take a warm drink and stay safe.

    This has been Giles Kirby VK5GK Director of the WIA for the
    WIA National News Broadcast this week.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    WRTC TO GO FORWARD IN ITALY DESPITE FLOODS

    There's some encouraging news from the flood-stricken region in Italy
    where the World Radiosport Team Championship is to be held next
    month. Yes despite flood damages that have devastated Italy's
    Emilia Romagna region, the World Radiosport Team Championship will
    go forward in July, organisers have said.




    RSGB TO RECEIVE UK STATION USED BY KING HUSSEIN JY1

    Any ham who remembers hearing - or perhaps working the callsign JY1 -
    King Hussein of Jordan - will enjoy hearing this story.

    The UK radio equipment once used by King Hussein of Jordan, JY1,
    is being donated to the Radio Society of Great Britain by Her Majesty
    Queen Noor of Jordan. King Hussein became a Silent Key in 1999 at the
    age of 63. The RSGB said the collection will be on permanent display
    at the RSGB's National Radio Centre to inspire others and promote
    friendship and understanding across cultures.

    They said in a statement "His Majesty was a great ambassador for
    amateur radio and whenever his official duties allowed him, his
    radio call sign JY1 could be heard on the amateur bands. His Majesty
    always operated modestly, never announcing himself as King Hussein,
    always just Hussein from Jordan."




    At the last CEPT meeting during May, the CEPT put its weight behind
    the development of a European Common Proposal that would in effect
    mandate the technical and operational guidance under development in
    allowing the amateur and amateur satellite services to continue to
    operate and avoid interference to the RNSS.

    The IARU is supporting the development of an ITUR Recommendation to
    identify the technical and operational constraints that might be
    required by the amateur and amateur satellite services in the 23cm
    band, HOWEVER, the IARU continues to assert that WRC23 does not need
    to make any changes to the Radio Regulations




    RSGB President, John McCullagh, GI4BWM received a warm welcome when
    he attended the IRTS AGM gala dinner recently.
    He talked about the challenges faced by national societies and also
    stressed the importance of engaging young people in amateur radio,
    through the Societys work with schools and universities.





    REGION TWO

    Lawmakers in two US states have reintroduced a bill to protect hams
    from private land-use restrictions that keep them from installing
    antennas at home.

    The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act is back for
    consideration on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.

    The measure is designed to ensure that hams can get on the air,
    especially in instances where there is a need for emergency
    communications, such as in natural disasters.

    No votes were taken when the bill was introduced toward the end of
    the last session of Congress. It is being reintroduced in response
    to the rapid growth of private residential areas that have these
    restrictions on the use of land.




    Student-run Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club at California Polytechnic
    State University just hit a licensing milestone.

    On May 23 Kyle Wiens ( now KO 6 ABA ) became the 2,000th person to
    pass the amateur radio exam given by CPARC since they started in
    2009.

    CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE.




    Amateur Radio Helps Air Show Fly High

    More than 40 members of the Nashville Amateur Radio Club,
    Williamson County ARES, and Stones River Amateur Radio Club
    partnered to provide operations support leading up to and throughout
    the 2023 Great Tennessee Air Show.

    Tom Delker, K1KY, Air Show Communications Coordinator, said that
    amateur radio operators from the Middle Tennessee Emergency Amateur
    Radio System have been supporting the air show since the mid-1980s.

    Operators were able to employ multiple technologies during the event,
    simplex radio operations, RF mesh networking, mobile VoIP phones,
    IP surveillance cameras, APRS tracking, and weather monitoring and
    measurement.

    Event organizers said they expected more than 50,000 people would
    have attended the event.

    The next Great Tennessee Air Show is scheduled for 2025.





    REGION THREE

    In India, an important cyclone-prone forest is getting extra
    protection - from radio!

    India's Sunderbans forest region, a heavily populated area near
    the Bay of Bengal, is now home to a permanent amateur radio station
    that can be activated during times of disaster.

    A civil defence volunteer, Debobroto Mondal, VU3FAE, will be the main
    operator he received his disaster-response training through the
    Indian Academy of Communication and Disaster Management.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    A prominent radio contester is taking a top spot in another
    competitive field - European football.

    You may not find Serhiy Rebrov 5B4AMM on the field of any
    high-profile radiosport event this year, but the former Tottenham
    football striker does have his eyes set on next year's European
    Championship - as the first permanent head coach of Ukraine's team.

    The active radio contester is well-known throughout Europe for his
    career with West Ham, Tottenham and Dynamo Kyiv and he also coached
    in the Saudi Arabian, Ukrainian and Hungarian leagues.

    He recently signed a three-year contract with Ukraine's team, keeping
    his eye on the European Championship qualifiers against Malta and
    North Macedonia.

    As a licensed ham and contester, he has also been heard on the air as
    UT5UDX, MSDX, TA2ZF and UTU.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------

    JUNE 24-25 WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day is on right now,


    ---------------------

    The NZART Memorial Contest has been held every year since 1946 to
    commemorate those New Zealand amateur radio operators who lost their
    lives in World War 2. The contest is held every year on the Saturday
    and Sunday of the first weekend of July.

    The 2023 Memorial Contest dates are 1st and 2nd of July.

    (nzart)

    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.

    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this
    contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as
    possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the
    world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (RTTY OR PSK)


    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------

    DX WINDOW

    --------------
    --------------

    Each year the USA celebrates its independence on 4th July and with
    that holiday there comes the 13 Colonies special event.

    This year the event takes place between 1st and 8th July 2023.

    13 special callsigns will be active, one callsign for each original
    United States colony. In addition, 3 bonus stations will be active,
    operating from France, Great Britain, and Philadelphia.

    Participants can submit a log sheet and a suggested donation of $5
    to receive a special certificate and working ALL stations is not
    required to receive that certificate.

    13colonies.us/

    (icqpodcast)


    --------------

    British Railways Amateur Radio Society

    During 2023, the British Railways Amateur Radio Society have been
    marking 55 years since the withdrawal of steam from British Railways
    in 1968.

    Special Event Callsigns GB 0 LMR and the Club call GX 4 LMR will be
    active throughout the year operated by Mark active from Preston.

    QSLs via the Bureau, eQSL, or direct to 2 E 1 HQY

    (ham radio ireland)

    --------------

    Jacek, SP5EAQ has informed DX-World that he is finalizing
    preparations for a new one man expedition to the Chatham Island
    as ZL7 / SP5EAQ.

    He will arrive on October 20, 2023 staying for two weeks
    (including CQWW DX SSB entry) and will be active on 10-80m bands
    SSB only.

    (dx-world)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WIRELESS WEATHER

    You won't hear rumbles of thunder from active space weather, but it
    can still affect our day-to-day lives. And it's going to get more
    active over the next couple of years.

    The sun is in the upswing of its roughly 11-year solar cycle. The
    number of sunspots goes up as they migrate toward the sun's equator,
    and when their magnetic fields tangle, solar storms erupt. Solar
    storms can disturb the power grid, GPS systems and even migratory
    birds. They can impact radio communication on frequencies used by
    we amateur radio operators, aircraft over oceans and emergency
    management. They can impact satellites, astronauts and radio
    communications in the polar regions.

    So watch out for stormy weather!

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    MEDIA WATCH

    Alpha Medias KBFF(FM) is one of the first radio stations to trial Futuri Medias artificial intelligence software RadioGPT. The Portland, Ore., station has integrated an AI/synthetic version of its current midday host, Ashley Elzinga, to bring a new style of content to their listeners, according to KBFF.

    KBFF/Live 95.5 Content Director Dylan Salisbury said he is ecstatic to see this AI technology come to life.

    We have been working hard to ensure that AI Ashley is just as live, local, engaging and entertaining as the traditional version, and I cant wait for our fans to hear both versions of Ashley in action, Salisbury said in a company press release.

    The artificial intelligence version of Elzinga dubbed AI Ashley also had a message to share.

    I am honoured to be at the forefront of this evolved version of radio broadcasting, said AI Ashley, quoted in the press release. As the worlds first AI DJ, I will fully embrace the power of synthetic voice software and artificial intelligence

    radioworld.com/news-and-business/kbffam-in-oregon-trials-new-ai-dj

    (radioworld)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/

    SOTA Exhibitor Stand at HAM RADIO Friedrichshafen

    For the first time, SOTA has its own booth at HAM RADIO this
    weekend (June 23-25). SOTA is short for Summits on the Air and is
    an award scheme for radio amateurs that encourages portable operation
    in mountainous areas.

    In addition to lots of general information about mountain radio,
    there are many useful hints and answers to questions about radio
    operation on summits, such as what is the right equipment.

    The meet-up in Germany gives the opportunity to put faces to the
    friends that up until now you have only met on the radio.

    (dailyhamweekly)




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    Sydney ATV Group

    For the first time, two members of the Group have successfully
    completed a two-way narrow band digital TV contact across Sydney
    over a severely obstructed 18km path on 70cm using DVB-S.

    Gary VK2CRJ transmitted a High-Definition TV signal in 450kHz
    bandwidth, using a Lime Mini SDR and Raspberry Pi 3. Transmit power
    was 17W into a 12-element beam.

    John, VK2ATU, using a U.K. made DTX-1, set to its lowest setting of
    1 MHz bandwidth running 30W standard definition into a 9db panel
    antenna.

    For comparison, standard broadcast TV using DVB-T modulation,
    requires 7 MHz bandwidth.

    At amateur power levels, transmission ideally needs line of site for
    reception; being able to use reduced bandwidth to successfully make
    contacts over less favourable signal paths, suggests further
    possibilities for experimentation.

    (vk2wi news)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    Louis Benvenuto in the USA is a Morse code master.

    If you dont practice every day -- you lose it,
    said Lou -- as most call him.

    At 106 years old -- YES 106, Lous still got it.
    Growing up in Nebraska -- he went to radio school in California
    where he became licensed as W 6 OTB.

    (fox tv news)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org


    Spain's URESAT-1 Collaborative Satellite Launched

    The satellite is a joint effort between AMSAT-EA, URE (the Spanish
    equivalent of the WIA), private companies, and universities.

    One of the primary objectives of URESAT-1 is to serve as an FM voice
    and FSK data repeater. Equipped with Slow Scan Television, the
    satellite will transmit live images as well as stored images at
    regular intervals. It also features a chess game, enabling players
    here on the green planet to engage in a game against the satellite.
    Periodically, the satellite will transmit updates on the state of the
    game, including the chess board, the last movement made, and whether
    the next move belongs to the players or the satellite.

    Uplink, 145.975 MHz or 145.925 MHz (auxiliary frequency) using FM
    voice without sub tone, FSK 50 bps, AFSK, AX.25, APRS 1200/2400 bps.

    Downlink 436.888 MHz, and modes include FM voice, CW, FSK 50 bps
    telemetry, SSTV Robot 36, and a voice beacon with the callsign
    AO 4 URE.

    (na)




    IARU Coordinates Sapling Magnifica Satellite

    The Sapling Magnifica, developed by the Stanford Student Space
    Initiative, is a technology demonstration mission aimed to prove
    several key technologies necessary for SSI's satellites to host
    scientific payloads in the future.

    These include a magnetorquer-based ADCS, a higher quality camera than
    on previous Sapling missions, and reaction wheels. The satellite will
    be either a 1U or a 2U spacecraft.

    Sapling Magnifica is an Amateur Radio mission that is entirely
    initiated and developed by undergraduate students, most of whom
    already have or are studying for their Amateur Radio license.

    Amateurs will be able to participate by sending commands to the
    satellite and receiving images in response. Research will be
    conducted on image downloading comparing three different modulation
    techniques:

    FSK

    LoRa

    FLRC

    Amateurs will be able to receive images and, if all goes well, take
    an image on command. Downlinks have been coordinated on
    437.400 MHz and 2427.00 MHz.

    Planning a launch into a SSO 525km orbit in Q2 or Q3 2023.

    More info from
    github.com/stanford-ssi.

    [ANS]





    An RTL-SDR Telemetry Decoder for the Soon-to-be-Launched
    MRC-100 CubeSat

    The MRC-100 Hungarian CubeSat is scheduled to launch on a Falcon 9
    June 12 from Vandenburg Space Fore Base. The MRC-100 is the successor
    to the SMOG-1 CubeSat which was launched in March 2021. The satellite
    is named to honour the 100th year anniversary of the HA5MRC Ham Radio
    Club at the Budapest University of Technology.

    To help with decoding the Telemetry on the CubeSat, an RTL-SDR
    based telemetry receiver was created and an installation script
    for Raspberry Pi's and Linux PC's which installs OpenWebRX along with
    the satellite receiver software.

    The satellite should be receivable with a simple satellite antenna,
    such as a handheld Yagi, Turnstile, Dipole or quadrifilar-helix
    antenna. It will be transmitting telemetry at 436.720 MHz.
    If you have a dish and tracking equipment for it, there is also a
    high speed downlink at 2267.5 MHz. Like the original SMOG-1, the
    satellite carries a sensor that is designed to measure human caused
    electromagnetic pollution. It also carries a camera and an AIS
    receiver for tracking marine vessels.

    More information is available
    rtl-sdr.com/

    [ANS]





    NASA is worried that SpaceX's giant new Starship vehicle won't be
    ready to carry astronauts to the surface of the moon in late 2025
    as currently planned.

    In 2021 the agency selected Starship the biggest and most powerful
    rocket ever built to be the first crewed lunar lander for its
    Artemis program of moon exploration. Starship will put astronauts
    down near the ice-rich lunar south pole on the Artemis 3 mission, in
    humanity's first return to the moon since the Apollo program ended in
    1972.

    Artemis 3 is currently targeted to lift off in December 2025, but
    it's unlikely Starship will be able to meet that timeline, NASA
    officials say.

    More information at

    www.space.com/spacex-starship-problems-delay-artemis-3-2026

    [ANS]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS LOW DOWN

    The Alexander Association preserves, documents, and displays the
    unique Alexanderson alternator at the old radio station in Sweden,
    this is an UNESCO World Heritage station.

    Alexanderson Day will be celebrated on Sunday, July 2nd.

    Using the callsign SAQ, the transmitter, which is almost 100 years
    old, is planned to be activated for two CW transmissions on 17.2 kHz.
    A half-wave antenna for this frequency is over 8700m long but you
    dont need to go to that extreme. A simple active antenna connected
    to the sound card of a computer is a common method to try and receive
    the transmissions and may be an interesting construction project to
    consider.

    Further information about the station may be found at
    alexander.n.se

    (irts)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    What a weekend it was on the 10th of June for Scouts to be Radio Active!

    During the Greater Western Sydney Region Jamborette held at Cataract Scout Activity Centre, an activity, "Around the World in 30 Minutes", was run for the Scouts.

    This was an orienteering activity with a radio twist.

    The Scouts used a handheld radio to request grid references to navigate to the spot.

    Once at the reference, they radioed back a code on a container to see if they were at the right city.

    If they were, they were able to stamp their passport and get another grid reference.

    This activity taught Scouts about grid referencing and proper radio etiquette in a fun environment.

    And in Yass, 1st Yass Scouts used the call sign V I 100 Y S G to celebrate 100 years of 1st Yass Scouts while participating in the VK shires event.

    They made plenty of contacts and talked to the amateurs to gain radio experience.

    1st Yass Scouts sends a big thank you to all who took time to speak to the up and coming radio operators.

    Now over to the Honey Suckle Creek campground in Namadgi National Park, the Amaroo Cub Scouts braved minus 4 overnight temperatures while camping there.

    At the former space communications site, the cubs made contact with the 1st Yass Cub Scout Group on 40 metres.

    This was the first time outside of JOTA that the two Cub groups communicated via amateur radio.

    I'm Alec VK2APC in Sydney.




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    INDIA

    Learning from past experiences, Gujarat State Disaster Management
    Authority has deployed six HAM radio teams, two of them in Kutch,
    and mobile units for seamless communication after Biparjoy hits the
    shore near Jakhau port.

    We can communicate emergency requirements through HAM radio like the
    need for ambulances or call disaster response teams when people
    require to be rescued, the Authority added.

    tinyurl.com/2x7ek7np

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.

    VK7 - NW Centenary Dinner Furners Hotel Ulverstone. (vk7ev)


    VK5 - ADELAIDE HILLS ARS - Buy and Sell Marion RSL July 15 (armag)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jun 29 15:02:35 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-07-02.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 JULY 02 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 JULY 2 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA DIRECTOR Steven Green VK2TSG . -

    DISCUSSION POINT with Geoff Emery VK4ZPP.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB and well we won't do THAT again HiHi

    Last week I left all listeners hanging with a teaser for a
    special activity and promised not to steal the Secretaries thunder..
    But tucked away in Director Steve board report is a brief mention
    of it - THE 2024 WIA AGM TO BE HELD IN MAY IN BUNDABERG.

    Other news of note the past couple of weeks originates in the UK.
    A quiet interesting edition of the ICQPodcast is available on
    YouTube when Martin Butler M1MRB/W9ICQ is joined by the RSGB
    President John McCullagh GI4BWM, Chairman Stewart Bryant G3YSX
    and General Manager M1ACB to discuss Ofcom's proposed changes
    to the UK Amateur Radio Licence. Of course in this edition of
    "News You Can Trust" from your WIA our very own International
    Man Jason VK2LAW will also comment on the proposed changes.

    youtube.com/watch?v=_lRQmUmg1Oc





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hello, this is Steven Green VK2TSG, one of your WIA national board
    members.

    Following on from last weeks Board Comment from Giles VK5GK,
    the WIA are looking for people to fill volunteer positions,
    most notably in technical areas, Youth on the Air (or 'YOTA'),
    and the Ross Hull Memorial Contest.

    We have started to receive some expressions of interest, but if you
    feel that you would be suitably qualified, please pop your name in
    the proverbial 'hat' for consideration. The process also lets us
    know of your interest in these areas for future opportunities,
    so please do not be discouraged if you are unsure if you quite meet
    what we are looking for at this time.

    The Board are also presently looking at opportunities to improve and
    upgrade resources for members such as the Website, Memnet, and the
    renewal and joining process.

    This also includes systems that are not yet automated and introduce
    breakdowns in communication when competing proprieties interfere with
    the normal workflow. We have been listening to your feedback and
    being affected ourselves, we understand the frustration that these
    problems have created. If members have any suggestions for updates
    in these areas, please discuss with any of the Board members,
    or contact me via email

    steve.green@board.wia.org.au

    We wish to congratulate the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club on their
    successful submission to the Board requesting to host next years
    WIA Annual General Meeting, this will be held in May 2024. Not only
    will the AGM be hosted, but it will be combined with a showcase of
    Amateur Radio activities in a 'HamVention'. The Bundaberg Mayor and
    Council CEO specifically endorsed the clubs bid for the event and
    were keen to secure their town as the venue. There are still
    many details to be arranged, so please be on the lookout for future
    updates on the WIA website as details come to hand as we would like
    to see many of you there as possible in May.

    73 from Steven VK2TSG





    DISCUSSION POINT WITH VK4ZPP GEOFF EMERY

    I wonder how many clubs are getting prepared for the next events
    on the calendar?

    For that matter, I wonder how many shacks and portable stations
    are ready, too.

    With the strong possibility that we are heading into a La Nina event,
    the probable drier weather will be making it easier for outdoor
    activities, especially as we start to enter the warmer months. JOTA
    and Remembrance Day are two features of the event calendar each year
    and some forward planning certainly sets the scene for successful
    participation. They are only weeks away but we still have time for
    getting the stage set.

    It is always a scramble to get skeds lined up for the JOTA stations
    to ensure the Scouts have the best experience of ham radio. Those
    people who will be running event stations can take this opportunity
    to send us a brief audio spot for inclusion in WIA National News
    to help people plan ahead.

    So enjoy your radio and until next week, Im Geoff Emery VK4ZPP
    and thats what I think....how about you?


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    Ofcom, the communications regulator for the United Kingdom, is
    requesting feedback to potential changes to the amateur radio
    licensing framework.

    Just a few of the changes outlined in the 101 page proposal include:

    Only permit licensees to hold a single individual licence, requiring
    surrender of lower licences as they progress

    Increase the maximum permitted transmit power to allow 1000 Watts for
    Full licensees in bands where amateur radio has a primary allocation.

    Allow Foundation licensees to build their own equipment and access
    the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands

    The full proposal is available via PDF on the Ofcom website.

    tinyurl.com/m45krtfm

    A quiet interesting edition of the ICQPodcast is available on
    YouTube when Martin Butler M1MRB/W9ICQ is joined by the RSGB
    President John McCullagh GI4BWM, Chairman Stewart Bryant G3YSX
    and General Manager M1ACB to discuss Ofcom's proposed changes
    to the UK Amateur Radio Licence.

    youtube.com/watch?v=_lRQmUmg1Oc




    REGION TWO

    Women of Influence in Engineering 2023 Ham Honouree

    Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, Cofounder and CEO of the Open Research
    Institute (ORI), has been selected as a 2023 honouree for the
    Women of Influence in Engineering section published by the
    San Diego Business Journal. The publication celebrates female
    trailblazers and highlights the honourees careers and
    accomplishments.

    Michelle, W 5 NYV, has been an amateur radio operator for more than
    25 years and was drawn to the hobby by her father and grandfather,
    who were amateur radio operators.

    In 2020, she founded ORI, a non-profit research and development
    organization that provides all of its work to the general public
    under the principles of Open Source and Open Access to Research.
    She is responsible for amateur satellite service regulatory reform
    and is a member of the FCC Technological Advisory Council.

    Michelle is also chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
    Engineers San Diego Section and founded the IEEE Information Theory
    Society, as well as the local Open Source Digital Radio Group.

    W5NYV serves the ARRL Field Organization Southwestern Division as a
    Technical Specialist for the San Diego Section and is an ARRL
    Life Member.




    With the broadcast industry and its allies in Washington DC turning
    up the heat on automakers to keep AM in cars, any glimpse into what
    automotive companies are thinking about the dashboard is important.

    General Motors recently outlined its info-tainment plans for new
    electric vehicles. Notably, the automaker says it will DITCH
    phone projection systems for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in a
    number of 2024 models.

    In a media fact sheet, GM announced the move to an embedded
    Android Automotive system from Google in EVs.

    To help customers have seamless access to the full breadth of these
    experiences within our advanced in-vehicle displays, we will be
    integrating industry-leading applications such as Google Maps,
    Google Assistant, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, YouTube Music
    and more, GM stated in the release.

    GMs announcement contained no mention of AM/FM radio capability in
    their infotainment strategy




    HamSCI Selected for NASA Grant Proposal to Support Upcoming Festivals
    of Ionospheric Science and Solar Eclipse QSO Parties.

    Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W 2 NAF, Lead Organizer for HamSCI,
    The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, has announced that the
    organization has recently received a funding grant from the
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in support of
    its upcoming scientific research in ionospheric science regarding
    the upcoming 2023 and 2024 North American solar eclipses.

    This project will study the ionospheric response to the 2024
    total solar eclipse through a series of large-scale citizen science
    experiments known as the HamSCI Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric
    Science, which includes the Solar Eclipse QSO Parties. The data for
    these experiments will be generated by amateur radio operators
    communicating with each other over and around the eclipse paths using
    medium and high frequency signals that are refracted back to Earth by
    the ionosphere, and therefore sensitive to eclipse-induced
    ionospheric changes.

    These Festivals will be coordinated by HamSCI in collaboration with
    the amateur radio community. These experiments will build on the
    success of the exercise held during the 2017 Great American Eclipse
    which generated over 2.5 million data points over the eight-hour
    period around the eclipse.





    REGION THREE

    CEYLON

    Worked Ten 4S-WT4S is an award by The Radio Society of Sri Lanka
    (RSSL). This esteemed award is open to amateur radio operators
    worldwide who can provide evidence of confirmed contacts with at
    least 10 amateurs from Sri Lanka.

    The award is applicable to contacts made on HF and 6m bands only.
    Contacts made using any mode, including Phone, CW, Digital, RTTY,
    etc., are accepted and valid for the award.

    However be aware for Non-Sri Lankan hams there is a fee:-
    USD $25, wire transfer only.

    To apply for the award, please submit your logs to
    awards@rssl.lk with WT4S as the subject.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    While amateur radio teams from all over the world compete in the
    World Radiosport Team Championship, July 8 and 9, hams from
    all over the world can now compete right along with the competitors.

    Organisers have announced the WRTC 2022 Competition Award -
    yes, it's still known as WRTC 2022 because of the one-year
    COVID delay.

    Hams who have had QSOs with competing stations in the championship
    can work toward this award by getting on the air during the contest
    and listening for the action.

    For more details about the Competition Award, visit wrtc2022.it
    and look under the "NEWS" tab.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    The NZART Memorial Contest has been held every year since 1946 to
    commemorate those New Zealand amateur radio operators who lost their
    lives in World War 2. The contest is held every year on the Saturday
    and Sunday of the first weekend of July.

    The 2023 Memorial Contest dates are 1st and 2nd of July.

    (nzart)

    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship Contest takes place the second full
    weekend of July beginning 1200 UTC Saturday and ending 1200 UTC
    Sunday July 8-9 July.

    All licensed amateurs worldwide are eligible to participate in this
    contest as the objective is to contact as many other amateurs as
    possible, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the
    world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

    (sourced to iaru r3)

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    Held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage
    Low Band activity between VK and ZL
    160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (RTTY OR PSK)

    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN

    --------------

    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest

    This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died
    during World War II and is designed to encourage
    friendly participation and help improve the
    operating skills of participants. It is held on the
    weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased with Japan in the
    southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the
    Australian state or territory with the best
    performance.
    The name of the winning State or Territory is
    inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning
    State or Territory is also given a certificate, as
    are leading entrants.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web site)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com


    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    VI 10 VKFF running all of 2023 celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    Special Event Station VI 100 MB all year celebrates the centenary of
    the Manly-Warringah Radio Society

    --------------

    CHINA.

    QRV is BY2/K6FA until the middle of August.
    HF bands using mainly CW.
    QSL via LoTW.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    Listen for the special event callsign A 60 AP, which is on the air
    until the 31st of August.

    The suffix stands for the Emirates "Astronaut Program," which
    prepares crews of UAE astronauts for missions that include the
    International Space Station. QSL via EA7FTR.

    (ARNewsLine)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    CHINA

    Harbin Institute of Technology Developing New Lunar Amateur Radio
    Satellite.

    Lunar OSCAR II is a lunar amateur radio payload developing by a team
    of students in Harbin Institute of Technology and international, all
    amateur radio enthusiasts.

    Its baseline functions include telemetry, digital image downlink from
    an infrared camera, and digipeater with JT4G uplink/downlink.
    Amateur radio orbit determination experiments, for example Very Long
    Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), are also possible with these links.

    Harbin Institute of Technology had previously successfully developed
    the first lunar amateur radio satellite, LO-94 As a subsequent
    mission, Lunar OSCAR II will continue offering various resources for
    communications relay and amateur radio research, and promoting the
    cooperation of amateur radio communities.

    Lunar OSCAR II will utilize downlinks on UHF for telemetry and images
    using 250/500 baud GMSK with turbo codes and Digipeater using JT4G.

    The satellite is planned for a launch from Wenchang in 2024.

    A downlink on 437.750 MHz has been coordinated.

    More information is available at https://by2hit.github.io/.

    (twiar)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME

    ILLW

    The ILLW weekend takes place over the weekend of August 19th to
    20th.

    One to listen out for is Port Clinton Lighthouse in central USA, it's
    located at the mouth of the Portage River on Lake Erie.

    Activation on Saturday, August 19th from 15:00 to 21:00 UTC

    W 8 GNM / 8 will be QRV from the Port Clinton Lighthouse during the
    ILLW which is also Port Clinton Lighthouse Festival Ohio.

    Check web clusters for specific frequencies but typical
    40m frequencies 7.200 or 7.235 and typical 20m frequencies
    14.285 or 14.335

    QSL via LoTW ONLY to W8GNM/8.

    (eHam)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that the
    Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia's July bulletin
    goes to air tomorrow.

    Frequency change.
    Following the success of last months trial, the 00 hours UTC
    transmission will be on 28.450 MHz. Full details of this change plus
    all other broadcast times can be found on the Club website
    www.raotc.org.au or by Googling RAOTC broadcasts.

    This month, instead of the usual broadcast, we will offer an
    interesting historical broadcast from 2001 by Allan Doble, VK3AMD.

    The usual news and information will be broadcast next month.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the
    audio file at any time from today from the club website.

    The next lunchtime meeting for Members and Friends of the RAOTC in
    Perth is on Tuesday July 11th at the new venue, the Woodbridge Hotel,
    East Guildford starting at 11.30. All are welcome; see our website
    for full details. www.raotc.org.au

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the July RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the
    program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    YOUNG DXPEDITIONERS SET SIGHTS ON GUYANA

    This story takes us to Guyana - that's the location a young quartet
    of DXpeditioners has its collective eye on.

    Their trip has been years in the making and now, with the travel
    precautions of the pandemic behind them, a team of DXpeditioners
    -- all in their 20s -- is finally free to travel to their
    destination: Guyana.

    Four friends, Jamie MSDV, Philipp, DK6SP, Tomi, HA8RT and
    Sven DJ4MX, make up the team.

    Their youth hasn't stopped them from becoming veteran DXpeditioners.
    Jamie told Amateur Radio NewsLine: "We have been fortunate enough to
    visit some amazing locations worldwide." Now they putting together
    their plan to operate in Guyana between the 14th and the 24th of
    next February operating CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY on the HF bands.

    They have not yet been assigned a callsign.

    The Northern California DX Foundation said it has given the team a
    $5,000 USD grant as a way of encouraging the next generation of
    adventuring amateurs.

    www.8R-2024.com




    Meanwhile in the UK, National Coding Week has been run for many years
    in the third week of September. Coding is used increasingly in
    amateur radio, and the BBC Micro-bit and the Arduino have made it
    easier for radio amateurs of all ages to discover more about this.

    As part of its commitment to encourage youngsters into amateur radio
    and to support lifelong learning, the RSGB will be providing
    resources and creating coding activities for people to get involved
    in throughout the month of September.

    (rsgb)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070

    SCOUTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

    VOORTREKKERS TO ACTIVATE ZS9BKJ

    The Voortrekkers will be activating special call sign, ZS 9 BKJ
    during their annual camp, taking place from the 1st to the 8th
    of July at Port Edward on the Natal south coast.

    The station will be active twice a day, in the morning and the
    afternoon. As the station is also an educational station, the young
    people will also be allowed to take part in the contacts made.
    The purpose of this is to expose the young people to the hobby.

    Transmissions will be on the 40 m band.

    An electronic OSL card will be issued.

    All amateurs and Scouts are invited to make contact with the
    ZS 9 BKJ station.

    (SARL NEWS)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK5 - ADELAIDE HILLS ARS - Buy and Sell Marion RSL July 15 (armag)


    VK6 - Northern Corridor Radio Group HamFest 20th August.
    Email us at bradcortina1600@gmail.com
    contact Brad Peters VK6BAP on 0427 401 513

    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK - WIA AGM MAY - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)

    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jul 6 23:55:35 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-07-09.mp3
    Text edition:

    2023 JULY 09 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 JULY 9 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    Dare we say we have the "DIRTY DOZEN" appearing:-

    VK's 8ZZ, 3GR, 3BFG, 2LAW, 5GR, 4FUQ, 4SN, 3GTV, 4KC, 4BOB, 2APC,
    AND MYSELF, EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB WITH AN EXCEPTIONALY SHARP
    PAIR OF EDITING SISSORS THIS WEEK SO WE CAN FIT EVERYONE IN
    WITHIN THE 30 MINUTE WIA NEWS BROADCAST FOR WEEK COMMENCING
    JULY NINE 2023.




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    PETER CLEE VK8ZZ WIA SECRETARY/DIRECTOR

    Thanks Graham

    The Board of the Wireless Institute of Australia has accepted a well
    presented proposal to hold the next Annual General Meeting in
    conjunction with a "HAMFEST" and "OPEN day" over the weekend of
    4 and 5 May 2024 in Bundaberg Qld.

    AGM's in the recent years have been held virtually and the Board has
    considered that it would be beneficial to return to the format
    whereby the AGM is held in conjunction with a Field Day and
    Commercial expo. The proposed date falls on a long weekend and that
    in itself, is likely to attract a lot of interest.

    We are fortunate to be able to set a date so far out as it will give
    commercial entities time to plan and budget to attend the event. It
    will give the organising committee time to prepare and it will
    provide amateurs time to plan a "Queensland holiday" to attend this
    fantastic weekend event.

    The Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club is in the process of drafting a
    program for this event. The WIA AGM will be held on the Saturday
    morning and a HamFest and Open Day will be held over the 2 days of
    the event.

    The event organisers will make recommendations for a variety of
    accommodation types from Camping Grounds and Caravan Parks through
    to 3, 4 and 5 star accommodation for attendees.

    Our membership system will open for bookings for this event later
    this year and I will let you know more details well ahead of the
    event. There will be early bird incentives to register early.

    I am very much looking forward to catching up and meeting as many
    amateurs as I can over that long weekend, that is 4 and 5 May 2024.
    Put it in your Diary.

    Positions Vacant

    On another note the Wireless Institute are currently looking to fill
    a number of volunteer positions.

    In particular we are looking for members with suitable backgrounds to
    fill or assist with the following positions:-



    * WIA Regulatory Counsel;
    * WIA National Inwards QSL Manager;
    * YOTA Co-ordinator
    * WIA representative to Standards Australia;
    * Contest Manager for the ROSS HULL MEMORIAL VHF/UHF Contest; and
    * A number of Technical Advisory Committee positions including the
    position of Chair.

    If you have interest in any of these roles please forward your
    expression of Interest and CV to secretary@wia.org.au>

    This has been WIA Secretary, Peter Clee VK8ZZ for the WIA Board.





    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    The World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) is an on-site ham radio
    competition held every four years. Previous WRTCs have been held in
    Seattle (1990), San Francisco (1996), Slovenia (2000),
    Finland (2002), Brazil (2006), Russia (2010), Boston (2014), and
    Germany (2018). This year it is being held in Italy as it was
    posponed last year due to covid.

    This weekend the WRTC runs alongside the IARU contest which is also
    being held this weekend of July 8th-9th and several of the WIA
    callsigns will be active.

    WIA is STILL asking for expressions of interest from any WIA members
    who are contesters that have a genuine interest to operate in the
    contest as a WIA IARU HQ station using one of the WIA callsigns.
    VK1WIA through to VK8WIA.

    There may be some operational time slots still available.
    (Preference is for one op to operate the whole time but callsign
    sharing can work if arranged between same state ops)

    Send an email to me, Lee Moyle VK3GK, vk3gk@wia.org.au expressing
    your interest and I will respond with some specific requirements
    needed to operate the WIA callsigns in the contest.

    The Contest begins at 1200 UTC Saturday July 8th and runs through
    1159 UTC Sunday July 9th.

    Modes are both CW and SSB.

    Bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters

    The 2023 Contest rules can be downloaded from the WIA website or
    from the link provided on the text version of the news.

    contests.arrl.org/ContestRules/IARU-HF-Rules.pdf

    Exchange: IARU member society HQ stations, such as VK3WIA, send
    signal report and official IARU member society abbreviation,
    eg: on SSB: 59 Whisky India Alpha or on CW: 599 WIA.

    Members of the IARU Administrative Council and the three IARU
    regional Executive committees send AC, R1, R2, and R3
    as appropriate.

    All other participants send the signal report and your ITU zone
    which for Vk1-VK8 will be either zone 55, 58 or 59

    Logs are due within SEVEN (7) days after the event is over.

    Electronic cabrillo logs are preferred and can be uploaded directly
    via the web app at

    contest-log-submission.arrl.org

    For now, 73 From Lee VK3GK





    EDUCATION

    Hello I am Peter VK3BFG

    Amateur Radio Victoria is holding a three night on line tutorial
    using Zoom for the Foundation Licence starting next Monday July 10,
    7 9 PM Eastern Australian time.

    The recommended text is Your Entry to Amateur Radio available from
    the Amateur Radio Victoria website.

    amateurradio.com.au/licence/foundation

    As the delivery is on line anyone in Australia can participate. The
    cost of the Tutorial is $60.00 and you can enrol via the Amateur
    Radio Victoria website.

    amateurradio.com.au/licence/foundation

    An on line individual assessment service is offered at the end of the
    Tutorial .

    Hope to catch up next Monday

    Peter VK3BFG


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    The 46th annual International Amateur Radio Exhibition, HAM RADIO,
    attracted more than 11,000 visitors to Friedrichshafen, Germany June.

    ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio, sent a small
    delegation to the convention -- greeting members and friends from
    the global amateur radio community, and networking with other
    national radio societies.

    Messe Friedrichshafen Managing Director Klaus Wellmann and Project
    Manager Petra Rathgeber were delighted with the success of the event.

    "HAM RADIO lived up to its reputation as Europe's largest amateur
    radio exhibition. This year's slogan, 'We're all about STEM!' was
    brought to full fruition, with many activities focusing on work with
    young people -- something that really brought in the crowds."

    For the kids, a technical scavenger hunt featuring 25 stations, also
    students were encouraged to try sending Morse code, and pass the
    QSL card quiz. ARRL participated in the Ham Rally, challenging young
    people to name and identify the US states.

    A total of 392 participants, including 149 commercial exhibitors and
    international associations, as well as 243 flea market exhibitors,
    represented the unique diversity of amateur radio around the world.




    REGION TWO

    The Big Bang Theory Antenna Lives On

    An antenna that holds an important place in scientific history sits on a small parcel of land on Crawford Hill in Holmdel Township, New Jersey USA.

    The antenna is known as the Holmdel Horn Antenna, and it was built in 1959 by Bell Labs. It was originally designed to bounce radio signals off of reflective satellite balloons for long-distance communication. It worked, and the Holmdel Horn Antenna was no longer needed.

    Two Bell Labs employees in 1965 used the antenna to search for radio transmissions in outer space. They pointed the antenna toward what was considered a quiet area, but what they discovered was anything but quiet. They discovered Cosmic Microwave Background radiation, which provided evidence for the Big Bang Theory.

    Now, there is a historical marker at the site. In mid-June 2023, the Holmdel Township Committee voted unanimously to approve resolutions that will begin the process of acquiring two of the three parcels that make up the Crawford Hill property. The township committee is leaving the third parcel to be part of the redevelopment toward preserving Crawford Hill as a public park to celebrate the horn antennas place in scientific history.

    bit.ly/3rbnKaR




    The United States Navy knows what almost every amateur radio
    operator knows too: that sometimes the software that enhances your
    transmissions on HF needs a major upgrade. In this case it's a
    $87.5-million USD upgrade for the Navy and the work will be done on
    a long-range surveillance system by Raytheon Technologies Corp.

    The system is known as ROTHR, which is short for Relocatable
    Over-the-Horizon Radar, and it detects and tracks surface ships and
    aircraft by using long-range radar in the HF part of the spectrum.

    The four-year contract will provide software enhancements,
    maintenance, installation, removal, integration and testing,
    among other things, and will be conducted mainly in Virginia and
    Massachusetts.

    ROTHR systems have been used to track drug-smuggling and are, in
    fact, considered the government's primary form of surveillance
    in the war on drugs.





    REGION THREE

    NEW ZEALAND

    The NZ equivalent of our own ACMA, the Radio Spectrum Management,
    (RSM), their team recently attended the Comms Connect Conference held
    in Christchurch on 13 June 2023.

    RSM say Commsconnect is a fantastic platform for them to provide
    updates on the various upcoming projects and their timelines.
    Attendees gained valuable insights into the future plans of RSM,
    allowing them to align their own strategies accordingly.

    Furthermore, RSM took the opportunity to inform industry
    professionals about the latest developments surrounding the new
    Register for Radio Frequencies. They reassured attendees that their
    concerns were being taken seriously and that efforts were underway
    to resolve any issues related to the new RRF

    It was a great opportunity to catch up face to face with many
    New Zealand licence holders and industry professionals. Such open
    dialogues help foster collaboration and ensures that all stakeholders
    are on the same page, RSM said.

    rsm.forwardtomyfriend.com/r-qbuioiy-31F23602-ttiilutl-l-b
    Radio Spectrum Management






    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    and this week joing felix vk4fuq we have both VK4SN and
    Grant VK5GR

    Amateur Radio Experimenters Group

    On the 27th of July 1998, the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group was
    formed here in South Australia. Starting out with 6 members, the club
    has strived to foster learning and experimentation about radio
    communications through Amateur Radio.

    Now, 25 years later and with over 100 members, we're celebrating our
    25th anniversary with the activation of a special event callsign -
    VI 25 AREG.

    The callsign will be active from the 1st of July through to the
    31st of August.

    The aim of the event is to encourage everyone to get out there and
    experiment with radio.

    To support this we are planning on operating VI25AREG on as many
    different modes as possible, and are creating an award certificate
    to recognise achievement in making contact with us on at least 3
    different operating modes. Our members are planning acivations on
    HF, VHF and UHF, via the troposphere, ionosphere, satellites plus
    various analogue and digital networks. We will be active both from
    home and portable stations, with a focus on Parks activations within
    the WWFF program.

    You will find callback events are planned using DSTAR, DMR, FUSION
    and IRLP, with QSOs possible via satellites, CW, voice and digital
    modes and (hopefully) even one of our high altitude balloon flights.

    Special commemorative QSL cards will also be available via OQRS and
    an electronic award certificate is planned for people who supply
    evidence of having worked VI25AREG on at least three or more
    different modes. This is an event designed for everyone anywhere to
    get involved. Seek us out and give us a call we would love to hear
    from you!

    For more information about our activities head over to our website -
    areg.org.au

    73 from Grant VK5GR


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW WITH FELIX VK4FUQ
    --------------
    --------------

    Entries for the April - June period of the Ted Powell Memorial DX
    Challenge are now open until the 14th of July.

    This contest was developed by the Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club
    in memory of Ted Powell, who became a silent key 2014. Ted's passion
    was working rare DX and collecting QSL cards. At the time of his
    passing, Ted had worked 301 entities and confirmed 300 by QSL cards.

    So if you have worked any DX over the past 3 months, head over to
    contest.fgarc.org.au and submit an entry. There are several easy ways
    to enter. See that website for more details.

    contest.fgarc.org.au

    (vk2pr)

    --------------

    Listen for the special callsign IL 3 P on the air until the 30th of
    September throughout the Italian region of Veneto. Be listening
    especially on the 28th through the 31st this month as the team
    activates Pellestrina Island, IOTA number EU-131, holiday style and
    participates in the IOTA contest. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

    The next RSGB IOTA Contest is 29-30 July 2023, and a guide for
    newcomers to the contests is at

    rsgbcc.org/hf/information/iotahelp.shtml .

    (arnewsline)

    --------------

    CROATIA.

    Special event station 9 A 150 TESLA is QRV during July celebrating
    the 150th anniversary of Nikola Tesla's high school education.

    QSL direct to 9 A 7 R.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    SEA OF PEACE

    This award, (be listening for DL 50 SOP) was first awarded by the
    amateur radio organisation of the former German Democratic Republic
    in 1958 and has been continued by the DARC district Mecklenburg-West
    Pomerania since 1991.

    Special event station DL0SOP will be QRV till July 31 marking the
    65 years of the Sea of Peace Award.

    QSL via LoTW.

    dl0sop.darc.de/Seite-1e.htm

    (arrl)

    --------------


    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest
    Held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage
    Low Band activity between VK and ZL
    160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (RTTY OR PSK)

    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN joins in.

    HI This is Alan, VK4SN with information for the upcoming
    Trans-Tasman contest.

    During a recent ZL contest I participated in, some ZL operators
    commented that they were looking forward to working across the ditch
    in the Trans-Tasman.

    The contest will be held next Saturday - on the 15th of July.
    There is 6 hours of fun starting at 0800UTC till 1400UTC.
    That's 6pm to midnight local time on the east coast.

    There are 3 x 2 hour blocks where reworking is allowed per band
    per mode in the new block.

    Using 160, 80 and 40 meters, an operator can use SSB and CW or
    RTTY/PSK.
    Exchange RS(T) and a serial number starting at one.
    Categories include SO HP, SO LP and SO QRP, Plus Multi operator
    stations.

    QRP is 5 watts or less
    LP is >5 and <100 watts and
    HP is 100-400 watts.

    Please submit cabrillo V3 logs within 7 days to vklogchecker.com
    or email to the manager as per the rules.
    VKCL Logger is still in use and does produce the correct cabrillo
    output.
    N1MM users can download the UDC from my website.

    All information is on the WIA contest page.

    Good luck and hope to work you.

    de Alan VK4SN

    --------------

    The next RSGB IOTA Contest is 29-30 July 2023 (iota website)

    --------------

    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest

    This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died
    during World War II and is designed to encourage
    friendly participation and help improve the
    operating skills of participants. It is held on the
    weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased with Japan in the
    southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the
    Australian state or territory with the best
    performance.
    The name of the winning State or Territory is
    inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning
    State or Territory is also given a certificate, as
    are leading entrants.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web site)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/

    SOTA

    The Summits on the Air Ireland group has organised an activity
    weekend THIS weekend, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July UTC coinciding
    with a similar event in Wales.

    It is taking place in the Wicklow/Dublin mountains based out of the
    Irish Mountaineering Hut in Glendalough County..

    The group is looking forward to contacting SOTA activators, chasers,
    and all amateurs not only in Ireland but abroad.

    (irts)




    BOTA

    Beaches on the Air

    This is an award scheme for radio amateurs that promotes portable
    operation from beaches. It is a global program that has been
    operating since 2016 and is starting to gain momentum in Australia
    with a number of recent activation's on the east coast.

    Living in a country renowned for our beaches it is ideal to combine
    portable ham radio operations with the beauty of our beaches.

    Here are a few more positives

    - You can find beaches that are dog friendly.
    - Bring the family along and whilst they are playing in the sand,
    swimming or reading a book under the cabana you can play
    ham radio.
    - Take advantage of the salt water effect especially with vertical
    antennas.

    There are thousands of beaches already in the system, and if the
    beach that you want to activate is not in the system then there is
    an easy way to add it!

    To participate in the program as an activator and/or chaser please
    register at beachesontheair.com

    If you would like more information contact me Marty VK4KC email
    on QRZ.com

    (vk4kc)





    ADVENTURE NEWS FROM THE TROPICS
    (up in Far North Queensland)

    The first recent combined Cairns Amateur Radio Club and Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club outing was a great success. We started with a group briefing at the Atherton emergency services depot before heading out in various vehicles to our two locations.

    We had six members at the Lake Eacham site, only thirty metres from the waters edge. We set up in a public area with lots of walkers, swimmers (yes, in June up here in Far North Queensland), picnickers and one young lady wearing a barely-there bikini who caused a short break in transmissions. The public location meant that we had to be very careful with our antenna so erected a 40 metre end-fed half wave wire strung up through one tree to another tree. Not ideal but it worked. Our IC-7300 fed into an RM Italy linear putting out about 200 watts. The mike was passed between each of the hams to get their tally of QSOs up to ten for the VKFF award. Stu, VK4SDD, had arranged to have the VI10VKFF special event callsign for the day, it got lots of attention not the least caused by the mouthfull! Being in a valley, the operators had to work for their QSOs but managed contacts with all call areas from VK1 to VK7 plus ZL.

    Our other group of 7 members headed up to Gillies Lookout. Fortunately four wheel drives are the vehicles of choice up here in Far North Queensland so once we turned off the wonderfully-named Boar Pocket Road onto the muddy narrow track up the hill, amusingly referred to as Madigan Road on the map, it wasnt too hard, just engage 4WD low and off you go. There was only one challenging section to drop a wheel into a hole while catching the diff on the peak, otherwise it was mind-the-ruts, keep going forwards gently and minimise wheel slip. The chosen location was just back from the removable fence where hang gliders sometimes launch themselves. The view from there is nothing short of sensational, at 600 metres ASL looking over a valley to other peaks in the Great Dividing Range. Of course this amazing location meant it was cool, constantly windy and drizzly.

    Antenna construction was no problem, with lots of suitable trees for another 40 metre end fed half wave, and a 10 metre three element yagi on a 4 metre high tripod. The equipment was also an IC-7300 driving an RM Italy linear for 200 watts out. This group had more luck with contacts and had quite a few pile-ups, with over a hundred QSOs. As they say in real estate and ham radio, location location location!

    Around lunchtime the Lake Eacham crew packed up as the rain started, and headed off for the 30 minute drive to join the others at the Gillies Lookout. About 3pm the equipment was packed up as was the large 6x3 gazebo with side wall, forunately, brought by Ben ex VK4UMB now VK4YT. Then we all gingerly made our way back down in 4WD low, successfully avoiding any sliding off the track into the greenery.

    We used the Millaa Millaa repeater south of both locations for comms between our two groups as the 20km driving distance between us included many hills meaning direct two metres comms didnt work.

    All thirteen of us had a great day out in the country, had fun playing HF radio and meeting each other. We are definitely going to do it again! Operators were:
    Mark VK4JU, Stu VK4SDD, Mike VK3XFX, Dave VK4DNF, Ben VK4UMB, John VK2FUZZ, Fred VK4FE, Steve VK4SJB, Bob VK4ABI, Bryan VK4BDD, Tony VK4AER, Tony VK4XL and Bob VK4BOB.

    Both clubs can be contacted via their respective websites listed on the WIA clubs page.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY

    In a highly anticipated and globally coordinated announcement on Wednesday, June 28, teams of scientists worldwide reported the discovery of the low pitch hum of these cosmic waves flowing through the Milky Way. While astronomers dont definitively know whats causing the hum, the detected signal is compelling evidence and consistent with theoretical expectations of gravitational waves emerging from pairs of the most massive black holes in the entire universe weighing as much as billions of suns.




    The European Space Agencys Euclid spacecraft launched July 1 from
    Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

    Euclid features a telescope 1.2 meters across equipped with a camera operating at visible wavelengths and a near-infrared spectrometer and photometer. The two-ton spacecraft will operate at the Earth-sun L-2 point also used by the James Webb Space Telescope 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, generating the largest and most accurate 3-D map of the universe to date.

    Astronomers hope that Euclids observations will shed light on two of the biggest mysteries in cosmology: the nature of both dark energy and dark matter that, combined, comprise 95% of the universe.

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    METEOR M2-3 NOW IN ORBIT AND TRANSMITTING WEATHER IMAGES
    Meteor-M satellites are Russian owned weather imaging satellites that are in polar orbit. They transmit images to earth in the LRPT format at 137 MHz, making them almost as easy to receive as the older NOAA APT satellites. Unfortunately all prior Meteor M satellites have suffered an early ending or partial ending to their mission from technical faults or micro-meteorite collisions.

    However, on June 27th 2023 the latest Meteor M2-3 satellite was successfully launched on a Soyuz-2 and has been reported to be already transmitting LRPT images of the earth.

    To receive images from the Meteor M2-3 satellite you will need an appropriate 137 MHz satellite antenna such as a v-dipole, Turnstile or QFH. An RTL-SDR or any similar SDR can be used as the receiver.

    These days, the easiest software to use to receive Meteor M2-3 is probably SatDump, whose Windows and Android binary releases can be downloaded from the GitHub Releases page. Linux users can follow the build guide in the SatDump Readme. We note that we've found the SatDump GUI to run well on an Orange Pi 5, which makes this a good portable solution too.

    RTL-SDR.COM

    tinyurl.com/2yekdpuj




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Timo, OH1NOA will be active from Hiiumaa Island, Estonia IOTA EU-034 as ES1NOA/0 this weekend UTC July 9/10-12.

    He will activate some ES0 ESFF-references on 80-10m CW/SSB, and hopes
    to activate the base camp on FT8 the rare locator square KO18
    (possibly in the evening of the 9th). ES1NOA operates also from the
    mainland ESFF on July 12th.

    Closer to home

    The Intrepid-DX Group is pleased to announce that all plans to
    activate H40WA Solomon Islands - Temotu Province are going well.
    O operational dates will be from October 26th completing operations
    on November 9th. 8 operators will make the fifteen-day activation of
    this entity. Temotu Province ranks #45 on ClubLogs most wanted DXCC list.

    dx-world.net/category/iota-news/

    (dx-world)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    HOW YOUNG CAN WE GO

    The Czech Radio Club in cooperation with the IARU Region 1 Youth
    Working Group is organizing the KOTA Subregional Camp at Castle
    Trhanov, from September 15th to 17th.

    Trhanov is a municipality and village of only some 500 inhabitants
    and lies some 136 km south-west of Prague.

    This camp will provide a fantastic opportunity for young radio
    enthusiasts between the ages of 10 and 15 to come together
    and participate in thrilling programs and activities.

    During the camp, participants will have the chance to engage in
    various interactive sessions, workshops, and hands-on demonstrations.
    The program is designed to offer valuable insights into the world of
    amateur radio, fostering a spirit of exploration and learning.

    For particularly our European listeners , readers, this program
    will be conducted primarily in the Czech language, and due to the
    young age group, they kindly request that you consider this factor
    when recommending participation.

    This event is intended to be an extension of the existing YOTA
    initiative. Since the event includes a new target audience, the
    2023 event is intended to serve as a pilot project to further discuss
    the concept at the upcoming IARU Region 1 General Conference in
    Serbia in November. Meanwhile, it will be treated as a YOTA
    Subregional Event in terms of monetary support and program.

    (iaru r1)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK5 - ADELAIDE HILLS ARS - Buy and Sell Marion RSL July 15 (armag)

    VK2 - Westlakes Amateur Radio Club car boot sale Saturday 15 July.
    Its at the Club grounds, 6a York Street Teralba, starting at
    8am. You can set up a stall at no charge; but bring your own
    table. There will also be a BBQ and hot and cold drinks
    available. All are welcome. (vk2wi news)


    VK6 - Northern Corridor Radio Group HamFest 20th August.


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4-5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jul 13 17:26:11 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-07-16.mp3
    Text edition:

    2023 JULY 16 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 JULY 16 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    Getting it on and all together this week,

    WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK. -

    Marty VK4KC who last week reported from 'the beach' with BOTA news
    reaches moves inland and goes 'parking' with POTA. -

    John Knox VK4FJRK takes us to Ireland and another REWIND story.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING JULY 16 2023 ,
    FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    A PIRATE TO THE WEST

    A PIRATE STATION FROM MARION ISLAND

    The SARL Secretary has been informed of a pirate station operating
    on 17 metres using ft8 and using the call sign ZS8C.

    Carson McAfee, ZS8C was active from Marion Island in 2013 and 2014
    and the licence was cancelled in 2015.

    It has been confirmed that there are no radio amateurs on
    Marion Island, Gough Island or at the SANAE Base.

    (sarl news)





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    WRTC is an international event held every four years that brings together teams of Amateur Radio contesters to compete against each other on a level playing field. The 2022 event was held in Italy last weekend (a year later than scheduled due to COVID).

    2026, the next WRTC will run in the UK. The organising committee will be inviting around 50 international teams of two people to come to the UK in July 2026. Most of those teams will gain a right to compete through their success in a number of qualifying contests between October 2023 and March 2025.

    Many visitors also attend the event, so this will be an amazing social
    occasion for all of the international contesting community as well as being the most intense test of the competing teams operating skills. A great competition environment will give them the opportunity to use equivalent sites and antennas scattered across East Anglia in order to compete fairly and evenly amongst themselves in the usual 24 hour intensive operating marathon.

    More details on website
    wrtc2026.org

    For now, 73 From Lee VK3GK


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    ITUR Working Party 4C meeting #30 could not agree on the technical and operational measures required to ensure the protection of the RNSS (radio navigation satellite service) in the amateur 23cm band. (Relating to WRC-23).

    The group struggled to find consensus amongst the RNSS community on the measures it could propose to WP5A.

    The outcome of the discussion and final elements of the ITUR Recommendation remain uncertain and work on this topic will continue at the next ITUR WP5A meeting in September with some urgency to finalise ahead of the WRC.

    In other IARU news, the 58th meeting of the IARU Administrative
    Council (AC) was held in person at Friedrichshafen, Germany,
    during HAMRADIO 2023.

    On the subject of strategic planning, preliminary results from the work of the Relationship Working Group, Legal Working Group, and Finance Working Group were approved. Their work will continue to address a planned restructuring of IARU. An initial report will be presented at the Region 1 Conference in Serbia, in November.

    The AC received a report on the completion of the IARU officer consultative process regarding nominating candidates for the offices of President and Vice President for the 2024 - 2029 term. The nominees will be formally submitted to member-societies for ratification later this year.

    Reports were also received from IARU Beacon Project International Coordinator Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN; Electromagnetic Compatibility Coordinator Martin Sach, G8KDF; Satellite Advisor Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, and Emergency Communications Special Advisor Rod Stafford, W6ROD.

    Preliminary thoughts on how to celebrate the 100th anniversary of IARU, founded in Paris in 1925, were exchanged and nominations for the IARU Michael J. Owen, VK3KI, Award and the IARU Diamond Award were received.




    German entry level "N class" amateur radio licence.

    Amateur Radio NewsLine are reporting the regulations will come into
    force on the 21st of June 2024, the week before next years
    "Ham Radio" event 28 to 30 and indeed the very first examinations
    for this new class of licence will take place at "HAM RADIO 2024."
    The new licence will allow access to 70cm, 2m and 10m running a
    maximum of 10 watts and will conform to CEPT specifications for an
    entry level licence.





    SILENT KEY?

    George, UY5XE, was a friend and an advocate to many.

    A number of reports are circulating advising George recently became
    a Silent Key.

    He has clearly left his mark:
    In 1993, while attending the IOTA convention in Spain, George
    encouraged the creation of what became the Russian Robinson Club,
    a group of adventurous amateurs who would come to operate out of
    particularly challenging locales in the polar regions. He later
    became QSL manager for many of the Russian expeditions in both
    Antarctic and the Arctic

    He had also served as the president of the UDXC and vice president of
    the Robinson club. One of his DXpeditions was EM2YU, in which he
    activated the Chernobyl exclusion zone in 2006 with Boris UT7UT.

    Licenced in 1966, he was an active ham whose contesting activity had
    won him many awards and plaques. He was also a published author and
    had been a correspondent for a number of amateur radio magazines,
    including Radio and RadioMir, both in Moscow and RadioHobby, in Kyiv.

    George was 75.





    REGION TWO

    W 1 VCM Receives Grant for the Vintage Radio and Communications
    Museum from the ARDC

    ardc.net

    W1VCM is the amateur radio club station of the Museum in Connecticut.

    The museum is run by volunteers and it opened in 1990. It is
    dedicated to the preservation of old-time communications equipment
    and to educating the public about communication systems of the past.

    Vintage Radio and Communications Museum Director John Ellsworth
    emphasized the importance of the amateur radio club as part of the
    story of communications, stating, "During our tours, we discuss the
    history and development of radio and television. Having a working
    radio station available reinforces many of the topics discussed."

    Later in todays WIA National News we'll 'rewind' to another
    Museum and that one features a Spark Gap Transmitter amongst its
    treasures.




    Youth on the Air Camp 2023 is a camp for young amateur radio operators
    in North, Central and South America.

    The youth will operate the special event station VE 3 YOTA while camp
    is in session with a special focus on satellite operations occurring
    Wednesday, July 19. Additionally, an ARISS contact with the
    International Space Station is scheduled to take place on Tuesday,
    July 18.

    youthontheair.org




    The ad hoc group Shortwave Modernization Coalition has petitioned
    the Federal Communications Commission in the USA to allow data
    communications on multiple bands within the HF 2 25 MHz range with
    up to 20 KW, including in bands immediately adjacent to spectrum
    allocated to the Amateur Radio Service.

    This group appears to represent high-speed stock trading interests.

    The FCC has asked for comments by July 31, and reply comments by August 15.

    While the petitioners exclude the amateur bands, high power operations
    on immediately adjacent bands are proposed hence the ARRL is
    reviewing the petition.




    WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

    Well maybe not WEIRD but WONDERUL they are and the tech behind them
    has been reversed engineered in a recent Hackaday release.

    We are talking about LED wristbands.

    LED wristbands are becoming more of a common feature of large arena
    concerts and events, with a variety of capabilities and technical implementations. If you havent yet worn one ask your kids or grandkids, Im sure they'll have at least one stashed away as a souvenir

    LED wristbands are in fact wearable light shows..yes..on your wrist.
    Some events use them to flash in time with the music on stage, some can highlight a section of the audience. Much light when we used to
    go to the Royal Shows and the ring announcer would get the crowd to sing out the next colour the sky rockets would be.

    Some large outdoor (and indoor) events use pan-tilt IR emitters
    mounted on lighting towers, the operators can sweep across the
    audience controlling colour and light levels or activating pre-programmed sequences.

    Individual control is also available to signify winners of give aways at event.

    The three main control technologies are Infrared light, RF radios, and Bluetooth. The IR-controlled ones are the simplest, and Hackaday have
    covered a teardown, a reverse engineering effort and reflash of the Pixmob IR armbands.

    tinyurl.com/42enxhbn

    (hackaday.com)


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------

    --------------

    JULY 15 - Trans Tasman Low Band Contest on NOW.
    Low Band activity between VK and ZL
    160 80 and 40M

    --------------

    JULY 15-16 UTC

    Also taking place this weekend is CQ Magazines World Wide VHF
    Contest. It's running from 18:00 UTC on July 15th until 21:00 UTC on
    July 16th.

    The contest promotes VHF activity on the six and two-meter bands
    with participation from around the world.

    The objectives of this contest are for amateurs around the world to
    contact as many amateurs as possible in the contest period, to
    promote VHF and for interested amateurs to collect VHF Maidenhead
    grid locators for award credits.

    All amateur radio frequencies on 50 MHz and 144 MHz may be used as
    authorized by local law and license class.

    (irts)

    --------------


    JULY 22 The second leg of the 2023 Youth on the Air Contest
    is on the air from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on Saturday 22
    July with CW and phone activity on 80, 40, 20, 15 and
    10 metres.

    The exchange for a Single operator is a RS or RST
    report and your age 1 January 2023.

    ham-yota.com/contest (sarl)


    --------------



    The next RSGB IOTA Contest is 29-30 July 2023 (iota website)

    --------------

    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest

    This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died
    during World War II and is designed to encourage
    friendly participation and help improve the
    operating skills of participants. It is held on the
    weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased with Japan in the
    southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the
    Australian state or territory with the best
    performance.
    The name of the winning State or Territory is
    inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning
    State or Territory is also given a certificate, as
    are leading entrants.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web site)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com


    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    TIMOR LESTE

    4 W 6RU from near Dili until July 20.
    QSL via R7AL using Club Log's OQRS, or, LoTW.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    PORTUGAL.
    Special event station CR 6 J will be QRV in observance of the
    41st International Faro Moto (motorcycle) Gathering in Faro
    from July 17 to 23.

    Activity will be on 80 through 6 meters on SSB, CW and Digital.

    QSL via CT 1 EHX.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    NIUE
    E 6 AM from October 10 to 23.
    CW, SSB, FT8 and maybe some RTTY on 160 to 6 meters.
    QSL via Club Log's OQRS (preferred), LoTW, or via LZ1GC, direct or bureau.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    TAIWAN

    BM 0 QSO until December 31, using mostly digital modes.
    QSL via BM 2 JCC.

    (arrl)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WIRELESS WEATHER

    SUNSPOT COUNTS HIT A 21-YEAR HIGH: The sun is partying like it's 2002. That's the last time sunspot counts were as high as they are now. The monthly average sunspot number for June 2023 was 163, according to the Royal Observatory of Belgium's Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre.

    Solar Cycle 25 wasn't expected to be this strong. When it began in Dec. 2019, forecasters believed it would be a weak cycle akin to its immediate predecessor Solar Cycle 24.

    Instead, 25 has shot past 24 and may be on pace to rival some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century. The last time sunspot numbers were this high, the sun was on the verge of launching the Great Halloween Storms of 2003, which included the strongest X-ray solar flare ever recorded (X45), and a CME so powerful it was ultimately detected by the Voyager spacecraft at the edge of the solar system.

    spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=03&month=07&year=2023

    (eHam)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/


    September 1st & 2nd deemed to be the first World HEMA day

    HEMA is a summit awards scheme which started in the UK but has
    spread across Europe and into Australia.

    It is a scheme more for the hillwalker than the mountaineer.
    Leisurely exercise, fresh air and good radio contacts make up the
    typical HEMA activation.

    Dare I point out SO leisurely that this World HEMA Day actually takes
    TWO DAYS to complete! What? Why does it start on Friday, when many
    are still working? Well actually it IS one day but only if you live
    in New Zealand, I'm not going to try and work this out but this
    story, sent in by Ron VK3AFW does point us to the HEMA website.

    So for the leisurely 'walkers' amongst us just remember -
    September 1st & 2nd will be the first World HEMA day

    hema.org.uk

    Now if even a little hill or hummock has you stumped never fear POTA
    is here, as is Marty VK4KC.

    Parks on the Air update!

    The Parks on the air admin team in Australia and New Zealand have
    been hard at work adding parks into the POTA database. New Zealand
    now has over 600 parks and Australia over 7000.

    The focus for Australia has been on adding state forests. Many state
    forests have good vehicle access, camping facilities and are dog
    friendly.

    To find parks near you go to the web site POTA.app and click on the
    map.

    All licensed hams are welcome to participate in the POTA program as
    activators and/or as hunters.

    To see the program in action visit Peter VK3YE's YouTube channel and
    view his most recent videos on activating POTA parks.

    This is Marty VK4KC saying POTA on!

    The camp for young amateur radio operators in Region 2 is upon us as
    Jason has reported in todays News from your WIA and it includes a
    Parks on the Air activation.

    Neil Rapp the Camp Director says 15 QRP stations will activate a
    two-for-one POTA location, Central Experimental Farm National
    Historic Site (VE-5095) and Rideau Canal National Historic Site
    (VE-4882) on 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m.

    Weather permitting, the activation will be on the air on Tuesday,
    July 18 from 1900Z to 2100Z and Thursday, July 20 from 1300Z to 1600Z




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Ham radio operators are picking up a strong signal from space.
    It's NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft returning home after 17 years.

    "I'm having fun with STEREO-A," reports Scott VE 7 TIL of
    British Columbia. "The spacecraft is coming close to Earth this
    northern summer, and I can now receive its signal using a small
    26-inch dish in my backyard."

    Spaceweather.com says STEREO-A left Earth in 2006, launched from
    Cape Canaveral with its sister ship STEREO-B. Both spacecraft were
    on a mission to the far side of the sun. Over the years, they would
    circle behind the sun, beaming images back to Earth so
    scientists could make 3D models of solar activity.

    In 2014, STEREO-B failed and was not heard from again.

    STEREO-A kept going, and now it is on its way back.

    Ham radio operators are picking up signals from STEREO-A at
    8443.58 MHz




    Ariane 5 Rockets into Retirement:

    Europes workhorse rocket has completed its final mission, launching
    two satellites into orbit before retiring after an illustrious
    27-year career. The Ariane 5, known for its power and reliability,
    took off from Europes Spaceport in French Guiana on July 5, marking
    its 117th and last orbital lift-off.

    (amsat)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Be listening for a six-member team of activators using the callsign
    RI 1 OR (R Eye One Oh R) from Bolshoy Solovetsky Island, IOTA number
    EU-066, from the 25th to the 29th of July. They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on 160-10 metres. Send QSLs via RZ3EC.

    (ARNewsLine)


    NETHERLANDS
    Schouwen-Duiveland (EU-146) in the RSGB IOTA Contest. This will be a
    multi-two effort. QSL via PA3EYC.

    (arrl)


    UNITED STATES
    During the RSGB IOTA Contest, Jeff, W7BRS plans to operate from the NN7SS station located on Vashon Island (NA-065). This will be a
    single op, hi-power effort. QSL via K6UFO.

    (arrl)


    MALDIVES.
    8 Q 7 HU on air until Tuesday July 11-18 on 40 - 6m.
    QSL via EB 7 DX.

    (dx world)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS

    A reminder now that International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is
    coming up soon, the event is usually held on the third weekend of
    August which in 2023 is 19 and 20 August.

    It is one of the most popular amateur radio events in the calendar,
    and in past years there have been more than 500 entries from over
    40 different countries.

    To date WIA news has not received details of any activations planned
    for VK - ZL

    More details about the event and a registration form can be found at
    illw.net.

    (details sourced to rsgb news)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    For this report we are off to Ceylon, thanks to ARNewsLine.

    An introductory lecture on Amateur Radio was held at S. Thomas'
    Preparatory School, organized jointly by The Scouts of the school
    and the Radio Society of Sri Lanka. Many Old Timers tuned today
    will have known Sri Lanka by the name Ceylon.

    The lecture, delivered by RSSL secretary Victor, 4 S 7 VK and
    Bharat 4 S 6 ABC, provided the young scouts with valuable insights
    into our amateur radio world and its various aspects. The scouts were
    then given hands-on training on operating an amateur radio station,
    guided by experienced Hams from the RSSL, focusing on operating
    procedures and etiquette.

    The session concluded with a demonstration of Slow Scan Television
    and its practical applications, including the transmission of
    weather data through WEFAX.

    The event showcased the potential of amateur radio to support the
    scouts' mission, fostering a desire to participate in future events
    such as the Jamboree on the Air, or JOTA.

    The Radio Society of Sri Lanka hopes that this event will inspire
    more young voices to engage in amateur radio activities in the
    future.




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    A radio wireless system, co-ordinated under the Revenue department
    in Thrissur has been used to effectively coordinate relief and
    rescue work during floods and natural calamities.

    The system emerged as both a multiplier and a fallback for the
    disaster management force when power outages and remoteness render
    other communication systems defunct.

    The network of some 35 amateur radio operators can be integrated
    into the system in case of emergency.

    Their service was used recently for official communication during the
    Thrissur Pooram when all the mobile services got jammed as thousands
    of people gathered in the city.

    The Thrissur Pooram is the annual Hindu temple festival held in
    Thrissur, Kerala, India. It is held at the Temple when the moon
    rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam
    and is the largest and most famous of all poorams in India.

    (eHam - Wiki)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    REWIND

    Its off to Ireland for a look back into our past.

    A Galway museum capturing the technological advancements of the 20th and 21st centuries is to be opened to the public for the first time and its hoped it could become one of the citys leading tourist attractions, so if you are planning a trip to the Emerald Isle, listen up.

    The Computer and Communications Museum of Ireland, based at the University of Galways Data Science Institute in Dangan, was founded in 2009 and has served as an important learning resource for schools and colleges over the past 13 years.

    But according to the museums curator and co-founder, Brendan Smith, opening the doors to the wider public offers a unique opportunity to learn about the development of digital technologies and electrical communications in what is the only facility of its kind in Ireland.

    While we have rare and noteworthy historical artefacts secured in display cabinets for viewing only, our approach has always been to encourage, where possible, visitor interaction with our exhibits as we see ourselves as a living museum with a hands-on approach, said Mr Smith, adding that this would be a major draw for visitors to the city.

    There is a wonderful operational Morse Code-based spark wireless telegraphy transmitter exhibit put together by museum board member Frank McCurry that recreates a Marconi radio system from the 1890s.

    The museum Not 'only' but 'also' boasts a wide variety of games consoles and computers, taking visitors on a journey from the popular 20th century games such as Pacman, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario, early Fifa and Star Trek, right up to the early 21st century developments including a suite of original Microsoft Xbox consoles which were the first to allow multiple users play games online.

    My time is up - For WIA National News and REWIND - this is VK4FJRK
    John Knox.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - Northern Corridor Radio Group HamFest 20th August.


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    This is Linda VK7QP, coordinator of ALARAmeet Hobart which will
    be held 3-6 November 2023

    Registrations close on 26 July, so that we know who is coming
    and we can finalise our bookings. The registration form is on
    the ALARA website ALARA

    alara.org.au

    Looking forward to meeting old friends and seeing for the first
    time those I have only spoken to on the air.

    Make sure you register by 26 July.

    Linda VK7QP

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jul 27 14:45:57 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-07-30.mp3
    Text edition:




    2023 JULY 30 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 JULY 30 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    VK4EA at WRC 23 prep conference. - VK2ZRH his 2nd preview of your
    latest AR Magazine. - HOUSEKEEPING, when supplying club, hamfest news
    remember in the AUDIO ONLY edition we cannot mention special offers
    from sponsor clients nor advertise raffles if they can be bought on
    air and buyer need NOT be at event, and the old chestnut WE CANNOT
    MENTION SECONDHAND GOODS FOR SALE by providing phone numbers etc.
    INSTEAD use the WIA's online selling portal
    hamads.wia.org.au/


    So with that and being Sunday morning, time to lay your hands on the
    radio, turn up the volume and settle back.. this is the WIA NEWS for
    week commencing July 30.




    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB







    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    Gidday and greetings from Turrabul and Jagera country, this is Peter, VK4EA, on behalf of the WIA board.

    I am fortunate to be part of the WIA delegation to the August WRC 23
    prep conference, to be held at the Sofitel hotel in Brisbane. My
    employer is a good one, they provide volunteer leave, so I have taken
    the week off work to attend as an observer. Dales Hughes (VK1DSH) and
    Peter Pokorny (VK2EMR) are the WIA delegates for this prep session and
    the main event in November, located in Dubai, UAE.

    Interesting to note there is an agenda item concerning 23cms we will
    keep you informed while we advocate for continued access to amateur
    spectrum. Of particular concern to me personally, is the threat to
    the remainder of the nine centimetre band. As you may be aware,
    ZL lost all of nine centimetres, not even a small slice is available
    to them. I hope we can at least continue being able to use 3300 to
    3399 MHz and if the push comes to shove, at least have access to a
    small slice at 3398MHz, we dont need much. The old saying comes to
    mind use it or lose it.

    I have the support of the board to increase the WIA digital footprint,
    a group of keen, technology savvy volunteers are needed to help us
    promote the hobby using social media platforms. Are you able to
    devote some time to help us create great content? If so, please get
    in touch via the WIA Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or that old
    fashioned means email me on
    vk4ea@wia.org.au

    Our insurance briefing session conducted via Teams a few months was a resounding success, at the end of the session I proposed to the attendees to have more of these briefing slash information sessions.
    So, club presidents, please reserve the 27th of September for a chat
    with the board, if you cannot attend, please nominate a delegate. More info coming later this month.

    Over the last few months I have been visiting clubs located in South East Queensland within a couple hours drive of my home QTH, I havent
    been pelted with rocks yet, thank you to those clubs I have visited
    so far, I appreciate you listening. I am planning on going to the
    Summerland Hamfest in September, if you see me in my black WIA polo,
    hit me up with some questions. For any clubs that have not heard from
    me and would like to chat please contact me via email -
    vk4ea@wia.org.au

    Happy to visit in person if not too far away or via video conference.

    Cheers for now, this has been Peter, VK4EA, for the WIA board.





    Hey, Dudes.

    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    About that freshly squeezed juice. I havent finished with last weeks orange yet. Moore juice.

    Some of you will have your print copy of the magazine already. I must remind those grumpy gents among you that prefer the digital edition your PDF is now available for download.
    Some members swing both ways. Print AANND PDF! Yours truly included.
    OK. Here comes the juice about what else is in the latest issue.

    If you didnt manage to attend the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the WIA, in person or by Zoom, we have an article on highlights of the AGM that I have penned around a panoply of pictures from the camera of Steve Green VK2STG.

    He even caught some people smiling!

    The AGM was the occasion for announcing various awards, among which were those for the awesome efforts of AR magazine authors. That ones a must read.

    Picking up on the issues theme of Promoting amateur radio and the AR clubs, theres more to what I told you last week.

    Keeping it topical and on-message, a golden opportunity to promote ham radio arrives every year. Its the annual Scouts and Guides Jamboree on the Air!

    It returns in October, along with its partner, Jamboree on the Internet. JOTA and JOTI.
    Richard VK2SKY has it covered on how to take advantage of the promotional opportunity.

    But, wait! Who remembers that the World Radio Conference arrives in September?

    These W-R-Cs throw up both opportunities for more privileges and threats to our existing licence conditions. Theres been a growing threat for some time from satellite interests to our 23-centimetre band, 1240-1300 MHz.

    We have an article from "our man in Geneva" Dale VK1DSH about the looming threat from the radio navigation satellite service RNSS is the acronym. If you have it, open your magazine or PDF and turn to page 28 and learn what Dale did in Dallas.

    For those that enjoy a tall tale, but true this issues WestNews column from Will VK6UU relates the story of how the VK6REX two metre repeater came to be installed atop a 387 metre tall tower in Exmouth on the West Australian mid-north coast. In the old money, 387 metres is 1,270 feet!

    This article comes complete with must see pictures. Dont look down! Quite a triumph. No radio amateurs were harmed in the installation of VK6REX.

    Speaking of triumphs, WIA Historian Peter VK3RV completes his story on the Centenary of The Trans-Pacific Tests. The hard work of a few forward-thinking innovators proved that the Pacific Ocean could be spanned by radio, and with transmitters running less than two watts!

    Talking of centenaries we have another article in the series celebrating 100 years of organised amateur radio in Tasmania.

    This time, its A brief history of WIA and local amateur group broadcasts in VK7. Its profusely illustrated with portraits of many broadcasters from over the years.

    Newcomers Notebook in Issue 4 covers The Ins and Outs of op-amps. Jules VK3JFP curates op-amp configurations for the curious.

    The ALARA column from Jenny VK3WQ sets out the details for the forty-third ALARA Contest this year, along with other news.

    If you applied for one of the WIA DX Awards between April and June, or youre looking to see who among your tribe got a guernsey, Marc VK3OHM has the listings.

    Thats not all the juice, but enough from me for now.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 4 for 2023.
    More guts. Less gab.
    Serving Australian radio amateur dudes for 90 years. Available in print and online. Always published to a schedule, never random. No quarter given.

    This has been AR magazine Editor-in-Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    WNEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE.

    Right around the world it seems frequencies are under pressure.

    For WIA News viwers and readers if you have a UK amateur license,
    you may want to weigh in on this issue affecting the 6 GHz band.

    Jeremy Boot G4NJH reporting for ARNewline explained how Ofcom is
    exploring a system of what it calls "hybrid sharing" of the upper
    portion of the 6 GHz band to accommodate both licenced mobile use and
    low-power licence-exempt Wi-Fi in the UK. The regulator wants to find
    an appropriate system that would increase capacity successfully
    because of industry interest in supporting an ongoing growth in
    traffic.

    Ofcom believes that because Wi-Fi routers are based indoors and
    mobile transmitters are mostly outdoors, hybrid-sharing mechanisms
    can and should be developed that allow the users to coexist. The
    regulator also believes there is also potential for what it calls
    international harmonisation of hybrid sharing on the band.

    Industry members or others with a stake in the use of this band can
    submit comments to Ofcom no later than the 15th of September.

    ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2023/sharing-6-ghz-spectrum-for-wi-fi-and-
    mobile




    FCC Pirate Radio Sweeps Turn to Miami

    The commission is conducting enforcement sweeps of the top five radio
    markets where illegal broadcasts are a problem.

    The FCCs Enforcement Bureau has issued nine warnings to landowners
    and property managers in the Miami, Florida area for apparently
    allowing illegal broadcasting from their properties.

    The FCC may issue a fine upwards of $2 million if it determines that
    the accused parties continue to permit or engage in pirate radio
    activity.

    The commission announced an increase to its maximum fines under the
    PIRATE Act which became law more than three years ago and provides
    for much bigger penalties than in the past. The FCC has since sent
    letters to property owners in the second biggest city in the
    Sunshine State.

    The most recent batch of Notices of Illegal Pirate Radio
    Broadcasting sent on Friday, July 21, target properties identified
    by FCC Enforcement Bureau field agents as sources of pirate radio
    transmissions. These notices formally alert landowners and property
    managers of the illegal broadcasting activity occurring on their
    property and outline potential consequences.




    The Audio Engineering Society has published recommendations about
    loudness for streaming and on-demand audio.

    Implementing these guidelines will provide consistent loudness and
    appropriate playback loudness range, will reduce audio quality
    degradation from excessive limiting, will preserve the original
    artistic intent and will improve the listening experience, the
    organization stated.

    aes.org/publications/standards/search.cfm?docID=114




    A computer hacker who was once on the FBI's "most-wanted" list - and
    who described himself as possessing the world's most expensive
    amateur radio license, has become a Silent Key.

    According to several online obituaries, by the time he was 16 years
    old, Kevin had already sharpened his software skills, gaining
    unauthorized access to computer systems. Ultimately, it was his
    illegal download of software from Digital Equipment Corporation in
    the 1980s that led to a massive manhunt, his conviction and
    five-year prison term.

    Having become a ham radio operator at the age of 13, he wished to
    return to the air once he was released from prison and spent more
    than $16,000 in legal fees to petition the FCC for a license
    renewal. He succeeded, saying afterward that, as a result, he
    possessed the most expensive amateur radio license in the world.

    Kevin was 59.





    WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

    CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE RADIO KIND

    Do you believe in Unidentified Flying Objects?
    Well whether you do or you don't, as long as you believe in
    amateur radio, you'll be interested in this weird n wonderful
    which comes to us via Amateur Radio NewsLine and Kent Peterson
    KCDGY.

    It's no secret that Pete Guldan KDSQJ and his fellow club members in the Midwest have been seeing flying saucers for quite some time. The flying discs hover with great tenacity on the landing page of the website for NFOO, which identifies the Minnesota group by its formal club name: Hams of Insignificant Value.

    Ah, but the amateurs' true worth is actually as great as the universe itself - and thanks to these hams, visitors in a nearby Wisconsin village are about to have a close encounter of the radio kind.

    The village of Elmwood considers itself the UFO capital of the state, based on residents' claims of having had so many sightings over the years. It is therefore not insignificant that for the first time in the festival's 44-year history, there will be sightings of amateur radio operators calling QRZ on the HF bands. They bring a message of peace: "Take me to your feedline." The club will have operators on the air with the club callsign NFOO from July 28th to the 30th.

    Let's face it: Having radio amateurs at a UFO festival is proof that there is indeed intelligent life on this planet.

    Be listening, from anywhere on earth - or even beyond.

    This is Kent Peterson KCDGY.



    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------


    The RSGB IOTA Contest is on now 29-30 July 2023

    The RSGB IOTA Contest, using the Islands on the Air concept, was
    created in 1993. This is now a major international event, attracting
    thousands of participants from all over the world. Radio amateurs have travelled to islands around the globe and putting them on the air this
    weekend, making contacts with other islands and with those who are
    chasing islands.

    Home stations send a signal report and serial number, with stations
    on islands sending their IOTA reference number.

    A guide for newcomers to the contests is available at rsgbcc.org/hf/information/iotahelp.shtml

    The list of IOTA References can be found on
    iota-world.org/

    (sarl)


    --------------


    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest

    This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died
    during World War II and is designed to encourage
    friendly participation and help improve the
    operating skills of participants. It is held on the
    weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased with Japan in the
    southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the
    Australian state or territory with the best
    performance.
    The name of the winning State or Territory is
    inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning
    State or Territory is also given a certificate, as
    are leading entrants.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------

    Not a contest BUT this IS A reminder now that International
    Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is the third weekend of August
    which in 2023 is 19 and 20 August.

    --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web site)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------
    --------------

    DX WINDOW

    --------------
    --------------

    CN, MOROCCO

    Michel, F5LRL is operating from near Kenitra as CN2DX until
    August 16, from 40 to 6 meter using CW and SSB mainly in his
    morning and evening.

    QSL CN2DX via home call which again is F 5 LRL

    (dxworld)

    --------------

    TF, ICELAND

    Mek SP7VC and Kasia SQ7OYL will be operating as TF/SP7VC
    during July 27 and August 17. They are travelling by motorhome
    so are able to take all their needed amateur radio equipment.

    Theyre planning to be active on 14 MHz bands


    (dxworld)

    --------------

    MYANMAR.
    QRV is XZ 2 B from Yangon until the end of September.
    Activity is on 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters using CW
    QSL via JH3SIF.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    REPEATING>

    Hi all this is Nathan VK5DAD from the SCARC.

    Our Willunga Hill repeater VK5RSV 2m and APRS digi are back to the
    operational antennas after the tower works has now been completed
    with IRLP and ECHO link now re enabled.

    On the 3rd of August at 7.30pm at SCARC rooms at Seaford Meadows
    Scout hall Rail Way parade a tech talk by Grant VK5GR on RTTY &
    RTTY Contesting.

    VK5ARC our club call will again this year be completing in the LHLS
    weekend from Point Malcom and we look forward to the contacts,
    station number is AU 0029.

    73 Nathan Grundy - VK5DAD Repeater Manager Committee Member
    South Coast Amateur Radio Club Inc




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - BALLOONS

    w5kub-113 has now completed over 290 days of flight. That is like
    about 17 times around the world.

    Altitude is still holding the same as at launch and the flight balloon team are hoping that 113 can exceed 1 year in flight.

    Their w5kub-112 flew for 320 days before the transmitter died and it's
    thought it is still flying and passed the 1 year mark but they can't
    confirm that. Hopefully 113 will achieve and confirm a 1 year flight.

    (ARNewsLine)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    EO-88, with its 70cm to 2m linear transponder, having spent a trouble free 6 years and 5 months in space, finally re-entered the Earths atmosphere and burned up on Tuesday, 18th July. Having originally been launched into a 500km orbit, EO-88 has reduced in altitude rapidly over the past year due to the increased level of solar activity.

    Remarkably, some of the last frames of telemetry were captured as the 1U CubeSat passed over the South Western United States.
    The final 90 seconds show a rapid rise in temperature across all the satellites sub systems. The last frame of data was captured by David WB0IZO in New Mexico at 18:18:54 UTC showing the antenna temperatures operating about 40 degrees above normal.

    (amsat uk)




    URESAT-1 is a small pocketQube 1.5P (8x5x5cm), much smaller than
    a CubeSat. Unfortunately this Spanish Satellite has problem
    with the deployment of the antennas and as such has been designated
    NORAD object 56992.

    However URESAT-1 is currently transmitting telemetry, CW, and SSTV
    images despite the reduced capability of the antenna system.

    (ans)




    Philippine CubeSats May-5 and Maya-6 have been deployed. The primary
    mission is to provide digital message relay service to the amateur
    radio community by means of an APRS digipeater on-board. The APRS
    digipeater on board the CubeSats will use 145.825 MHz for both
    receive and transmit.

    Another mission of the CubeSats is to demonstrate a data/message
    store-and-forward system in line with Universal
    Amateur Radio Text and E-mail messaging. The CubeSats also carry
    Commercial off-the-shelf cameras which will take images of the
    participating countries from space for promotional and educational
    awareness.

    A downlink on 437.375 MHz and APRS activities on 145.825 MHz have
    been coordinated.

    (ans)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA


    OC-067 Huahine Isl Didier, F6BCW is operating as FO/F6BCW from
    Huahine Island OC-067 until October from 160 to 6 meter using
    CW and SSB. QSL via home call F 6 BCW and LoTW.


    CROATIA.
    Stations 9A7YY, 9A/S53Z, 9A/S54W, 9A/S58MU, 9A/S50O and 9A/S50X
    are all active from Vis Island, IOTA EU-016, until August 1 on
    80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. This includes being active in the
    RSGB IOTA contest. QSL direct to home calls.


    ISLE OF MAN
    G3TTC plans to be QRV as GD3TTC on 40 to 10 meters using SSB also
    in the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL to home call, G 3 TTC.


    USA
    K3LR Super Station will host Young Hams during the RSGB IOTA Contest
    July 29.

    With more on this 'fresh from his appearance on this months AR
    Magazine cover is Alec VK2APC

    US company DX Engineering has a long history of supporting we young
    hams. The company recognize the importance of extending opportunities
    to the youngsters who represent the future of amateur radio. In the
    spirit of being Elmers, one of the hallmarks of this great hobby,
    CEO Tim Duffy, K3LR, has gotten behind many youth-oriented efforts.

    Youth participants Katherine, KE8LQR; Grace KE8RJU; Lilly, W8LIL;
    Agnes Wagner, AD8IR; and Ben Wagner, AD8FQ will be operating on
    July 29 from the K3LR superstation in western Pennsylvania during
    the 2023 RSGB IOTA Contest, which runs from July 29, 1200Z to
    July 30, 1200Z.

    The group will be using the W3Y special callsign.

    Prior to arriving, participants and parents will be treated to
    lunch and a tour of DX Engineering headquarters in Ohio.

    The adventure is also being sponsored by Dayton Amateur Radio
    Association.

    Giving y0ung amateur radio enthusiasts the chance to operate from
    a well-equipped, powerful station can be a life-changing experience,
    says Tim, K3LR. Weve hosted some truly talented youngsters at K3LR,
    and its always amazing to watch them work with such skill and poise.
    I look forward to seeing what island groups W3Y will be putting in
    their logbooks on July 29.




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    We'll give you the 'scrub' of this story in Rescue Radio but it may
    have been better under MARITIME .

    As we know, it's the winner of the great race that gets the glory,
    but volunteers make sure they know how every bath-tubber is faring,
    at all times.

    The Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society, this year, is saluting the
    contributions that the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association has made
    to the event over the years in keeping bath tubbers accounted for and
    safe when out on the water.

    Well before the racers head out into the harbour to start the
    Great International World Championship Bathtub Race today, Sunday
    July 23, NARA volunteers will have set up checkpoints on land at
    Berry Point on Gabriola Island, on the Winchelsea Islands, and at
    Neck Point, and will be at bathtub control on the 11th floor of the
    Coast Bastion Hotel. They will also have volunteers at the Boat Ramps
    to track tubbers who don't make it all the way around the course.

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*




    ------------------------------------------------------------*







    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - Northern Corridor Radio Group HamFest 20th August.


    VK4 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale Saturday 26th August at club house
    Kippa Ring (vk4tfn)



    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK2 - SARCFEST 8am Saturday 23 September (vk2acd)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    This is Linda VK7QP, coordinator of ALARAmeet Hobart which will
    be held 3-6 November 2023

    Registrations close on 26 July, so that we know who is coming
    and we can finalise our bookings. The registration form is on
    the ALARA website ALARA

    alara.org.au

    Looking forward to meeting old friends and seeing for the first
    time those I have only spoken to on the air.

    Make sure you register by 26 July.

    Linda VK7QP

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Aug 3 01:35:12 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-08-06.mp3
    Text edition:

    2023 AUGUST 6 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 AUG 06 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA AR MAGAZINE EDITOR IN CHIEF JOINS US


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB







    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y







    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    A second - and very brief - activation of the remote granite islet
    known as Rockall was called off after hazardous conditions in the
    North Atlantic had forced a team of 3 to return to the mainland.

    They had to turn back after making several passes of Rockall.

    The trio was traveling to recover radio equipment left there during
    the June activation of MM UKI.

    Describing the team's failed attempt to return, one would be rescuer
    wrote on the Rockall DXpeditions Facebook page:
    [quote]
    "Nature has said NO. We reached Rockall without difficulty, but
    the waves were extremely high. That's the way of life."
    [endquote]

    Don't be discouraged: The team plans another recovery attempt.





    IARU Monitoring service in Region One has reported on interference
    from illegal stations particularly here in Region 3.

    Every Tuesday monitors could hear the splatter from 21455 kHz
    to 21450 kHz from 1000 to 1100 UTC caused by the broadcasting
    station Radio Free Asia transmitting from Tinian Island on
    21455 kHz, But, it was disturbed by a Chinese 20 kHz wide jammer.

    Village-radio SSB communications from Region 3 were heard on
    40, 14 and 15 m as well as pirates on 15 m and CBers on the 10m band.

    Also, the annoying Spanish fishers always the same for years - were
    heard transmitting on 21000 kHz USB as usual, very often.

    On the 10 m band, also received were illegal fishing buoys
    transmitting a CW 2 or 3 letter code to help the fishers
    radio locating their nets, and others using short FSK sending their
    ID and position encrypted.

    Now for new comers, IARU is the worldwide federation of national
    amateur radio organizations. The IARU membership consists of more
    than 160 member-societies in as many countries and separate
    territories. WIA is your only Australian member-organization.





    REGION TWO

    The Enforcement Bureau of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is continuing its active efforts (as I reported last week) to curb pirate radio operations across the country, issuing Notices to three separate operators.

    Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture were issued to two pirate radio operators, one in Burney, CA and the other in Rockford, IL. In the first instance, the operator was found to have wilfully and repeatedly interfered with radio communications of the Western Amateur Radio Friendship Association (WARFA) during the Associations regularly scheduled on-air meetings.

    In the second case, the operator made multiple one-way radio transmissions for an extended period of time, including recorded comedy routines, air raid siren sounds, and digital noises. One transmission observed by an Enforcement Bureau field agent continued for over 30 minutes, during which time other users were blocked from accessing the channel.

    The FCC proposed financial penalties of $24,000 and $25,000 respectively in these cases.

    In a separate action, the FCC issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation to a Utica, NY operator who reportedly made unauthorized transmissions on frequencies used for police dispatch communications in Herkimer County, NY. The operator was given 10 days to cease the illegal interference and to notify the FCC of the specific steps they have taken to avoid operating on unlicensed frequencies in the future.




    The ARRL board has voted to increase membership dues starting January 1st. 2024.

    In addition, members will be required to pay $25 USD on top of the membership dues in order to continue receiving printed copies of ARRL magazines such as QST and On the Air.

    Membership plus QST delivered first class mail in the USA would equate
    to $132 USD per annum as an example that's close to $194 AU

    ARRL President Rick Roderick called the dues increase "a necessary part of ensuring ARRL is supported so we can continue to promote and fight hard for our Amateur Radio Service..."





    REGION THREE

    The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (an autonomous
    institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of
    India) is currently accepting applications for the 43rd Indian
    Scientific Expedition to Antarctica.

    In the previous expedition (42-ISEA), Sarabjeet Singh Chhabra, an
    Amateur Radio Operator with the call sign VU2CUW, was chosen as the
    Radio Operator.

    For the upcoming expedition (43rd ISEA), three amateurs will be
    included in the team.




    The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) has announced the return of
    JARL Ham Fair for 2023, this being the 45th event and expects to
    attract 30,000 visitors.

    The ham fair will take place August 19th and 20th.






    -------------------------------------------------------------------*
    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest only weeks away, BUT, here
    now is WIA RD Contest Manager VK4SN Alan

    The Remembrance Day contest, is where we remember those 26 VK
    amateurs who paid the supreme sacrifice during WW2, 39-45.

    Contest starts from 0300z Saturday the 12th of August till
    0300z on Sunday the 13th.

    Categories are SO, SO QRP, M1 and MM using Phone, CW/RTTY,
    or mixed mode.

    Contacts can be re-worked after 3 hours have elapsed. There are no
    blocks in the RD, just 3 hours between the same contact.

    If you're in to win, then staying up for triple points between
    1am and 6am local time is the go. VKCL logger and N1MM logger are
    the preferred logging software. Make sure you're running the latest
    version, V4.15 for VKCL Logger.

    Please submit Team nominations via email vk4sn@wia.org.au
    with your 3 operator callsigns and address. A Team consists
    of any three stations using a single transmitter. That is a single
    operator or a multi operator single radio station. Just submit the
    log as normal and your submitted teams scores are added together by
    the manager to produce the team results.

    Remember to send your log in within two weeks after the contest ends.

    Many thanks and good luck

    Alan VK4SN

    --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    participate using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    Saturday 0600 hours UTC till Sunday 0559 hours UTC
    All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web site)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)



    Good morning all VHF / UHF / microwave contesters.

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, erstwhile manager of the VHF / UHF /
    microwave contests.

    Now that the 2023 Winter event is done and yet to be dusted,
    so to speak, Im here to draw your attention to the fact that I have
    completed compilation of the results of the logs submitted for the
    2022 Summer event and posted them on the website.

    One of these fine days I will catch up with you all.

    Something that sustains me in this exercise is the sight of logs
    coming from more geographically scattered areas and by that I mean
    VK6s and VK7s, who were rare participants when I took on this work.
    Im also sustained by seeing logs from the stalwarts who maintained
    interest and activity throughout the years. And another thing an
    encouraging number of contestants entering logs that include the
    bands up to 120 Gigs. Great to see!

    Also, I particularly note that small band of Foundation and Standard
    licensees having a crack on the bands above 50 Megs. And, along with
    this, Ive become aware of those few contesters that have taken
    that next step on the licensing ladder and continue their
    participation in these contest events.

    Keep it up, people!

    This has been Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.

    --------------

    DX WINDOW AUGUST

    ---------------

    VI 10 VKFF running all year celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    Special Event Station VI 100 MB all year celebrates the centenary of
    the Manly-Warringah Radio Society

    --------------

    CHINA.
    QRV is BY2/K6FA until the middle of August.
    HF bands using mainly CW.
    QSL via LoTW.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    REPUBLIC OF KOREA.
    Wouter, is on air to August 16 as HL4/PB1WL.
    QSL to Wouters Home Call PB 1 WL.

    (arrl)

    ------------

    MOROCCO
    Michel, F5LRL is operating from near Kenitra as CN2DX until
    August 16, from 40 to 6 meter using CW and SSB mainly in his
    morning and evening.

    QSL CN2DX via home call which again is F 5 LRL

    (dxworld)

    --------------

    ICELAND

    Mek SP7VC and Kasia SQ7OYL will be operating as TF/SP7VC
    during July 27 and August 17. They are travelling by motorhome
    so are able to take all their needed amateur radio equipment.

    Theyre planning to be active on 14 MHz bands

    (dxworld)

    --------------

    Listen for the special event callsign A 60 AP, which is on the air
    until the 31st of August.

    The suffix stands for the Emirates "Astronaut Program," which
    prepares crews of UAE astronauts for missions that include the
    International Space Station. QSL via EA7FTR.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------


    A DXCC ACHIEVEMENT OF TWO LIFETIMES

    Our final look through the DX window today is a story, a story
    that isn't just about the DX achievement of a lifetime; it's about a personal tribute. Patrick Clark K8TAC brings us that story now.

    PATRICK: For some, a contact with Bouvet Island - considered the most remote island on earth - is like winning the lottery but for Bob Wertz, NF7E, it means so much more in the amateur radio lexicon. The QSO he logged earlier this year with the 3YJ DXpedition ended his 47-year journey to log all 340 independent DXCC entities. The ARRL requires contact with only 331 such entities for any ham to be included on its DXCC honour roll. Clearly, Bob had his sights set on a higher mountain - his personal challenge begun nearly a half-century ago.

    Speaking of mountains, the impressive log he amassed toward that end includes another remote contact - Mount Athos in Greece - where the operator was Monk Apollo. Their QSO, using CW, took place in 2016. Monk Apollo, who is now a Silent Key, was viewed by DXers as one of the most sought-after contacts. Bob at one point thought it might end up being the most difficult contact since he became a ham in 1976.

    Bouvet, however, filled that role nicely. It also allowed him to fulfil a very personal - and perhaps most meaningful - goal. In an interview with Flagstaff Business News, he said he considers his completion of the challenge to be a tribute to his father, who held the callsign KA9ACS, and is now a Silent Key.

    This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.

    (ARNewsLine 2386)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    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/


    Summits on the Air (SOTA) in North America has three events scheduled
    this weekend between August 4 - 7.

    The Colorado 14er annual event will run from August 4 - 7,
    the SoCal SOTAFest in Southern California will run from August 4 - 6,
    and the Pacific Northwest Not-Quite-Fourteener event will run from August 5 - 6, and includes climbers in Washington and Oregon.

    SOTA is the world-wide award scheme for radio amateurs that encourages
    portable operation in mountainous areas. It provides opportunities for summit climbers (known as activators) to scale some of the highest peaks and contact amateur radio stations locally and around the world.

    Many different frequencies and modes will be used during the August events, but interestingly in the USA there is a North America Adventure Frequency for SOTA (146.58 MHz).

    (eHam)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY

    QRM PLAYING HAVOC WITH ASTRONOMY

    Large satellite constellations that provide detailed Earth imagery as well as broadband internet access to some regions have been shown to emit unintended electromagnetic radiation that may prove a challenge to radio astronomers' research. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany report that interfering signals appear to come from the electronics on board a number of SpaceX satellites. Writing in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, the researchers said they made the discovery using the facility's Low Frequency Array telescope. They drew their conclusions after observing 68 of the satellites in low earth orbit.

    The report's lead author, Federico Di Vruno, said [quote] "This study represents the latest effort to better understand satellite constellations' impact on radio astronomy." [endquote] The scientist said that the most recent observations confirm there is a measurable existence of the radiation.

    (ARNewsLine)




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
    ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    A new amateur TV display has just been installed at the RSGB
    National Radio Centre, with signals received via the wide-band
    segment of the geostationary satellite QO-100.

    Any trip to 'the Motherland' demands a visit to the NRC and this new
    display and demonstration of amateur TV as a permanent display
    helps highlight yet another exciting aspect of our technical hobby.

    A special configuration, developed in conjunction with the British
    Amateur Television Club, incorporates a touch screen from which
    visitors can select a signal to be tuned, decoded and displayed on
    the large monitor.

    (rsgb)




    Student journalist makes video of GB23C SSES

    Colin Butler Writing in ICQPodcast tells how back in May 2023,
    student journalist, Alina, visited the UK special event station,
    GB23C, run by Cray Valley Radio Society as part of the RSGBs

    The video she has released includes interviews with members of CVRS
    talking about their equipment, making contacts across the world, and
    other historical events the club has been involved in.

    You can view this on YouTube

    youtube.com/watch?v=nAXh-b5XOCc




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FAITH.

    CHURCHES AND CHAPPELS ON THE AIR.

    HERE IS BRUCE VK3FFF

    This year CHOTA is on Saturday, September 9.

    With the dramatic rise in Parks On The Air, participation, getting
    churches on the air in a similar non-contest style would be
    enjoyable.

    Contact John G3XYF jhwresdell@gmail.com to register and learn the
    full story of CHURCHES AND CHAPPELS ON THE AIR.

    John only asks for activators to merely drop him a line with the
    call sign being used and the location of the church or chapel
    (or other religious institution) being activated. John will be using
    the call GB0LOW from his local church in the East Riding of
    Yorkshire.

    There is an award available for working any CHOTA stations on the
    Saturday of the event . Lets hope the conditions are good!
    Those claiming the award must contact 8 or more CHOTA stations.

    (k4fmh.com)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Indias second attempt to land on the Moon, Chandrayaan-3, launched
    last month.

    The mission is a replacement for Chandrayaan-2, which crashed while
    descending to the lunar surface in September 2019. Chandrayaan-3 is
    scheduled for an August 23 or August 24 arrival.

    The lander and rover are scheduled to operate for one lunar day,
    which is about 14 Earth days.

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Last weekend saw the running of the RSGB IOTA CONTEST and lots of
    new to the IOTA scheme have been asking questions of exactly what it
    is. A list of Island reference numbers and a guide for new comers
    is available at the links we like in this weeks, August Six, WIA
    national news script on wia.org.au

    rsgbcc.org/hf/information/iotahelp.shtml

    The list of IOTA References can be found on
    iota-world.org/

    (sarl)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS

    A reminder now that International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is
    the third weekend of August which in 2023 is 19 and 20 August.

    To ensure they are prepared for emergencies and extreme weather, many
    of we hams are accustomed to sharpening our responses through
    regularly scheduled drills. But the drill that's taking place next month in Mobile, Alabama is for a major event that actually happened more than 70 years ago: It was World War II. Jack Parker W8ISH fills in the details.

    JACK: There will be a "Call to Battle Stations" sounded on Saturday, August 12th, and those aboard the battleship USS Alabama and submarine USS Drum will be ready for what is to follow in Battleship Memorial Park. Vintage enemy aircraft will do a flyover in a mock attack. The crew on board the ships will fire the vessels' 20mm guns. Meanwhile, radio communications will go forward with members of the Deep South Amateur Radio Club, also on board, calling QRZ on 20m and 40m. They will be using the club callsign K4DSR and the callsign K5LDA.

    Unlike the radio amateurs, the crewmen are all re-enactors. Dressed in WWII-era Navy uniforms, they will conduct weapons briefings and demonstrations while reliving some of the stories of that time. This is a Living History Crew Drill designed to show the public just how things were in the heat of war so many years ago.

    What the members of the Living History Crew share with the hams is that they are all volunteers. They show that they appreciate the spirit of volunteerism and education by conducting these drills, to bring history to life again, a few times each year.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is
    the first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers
    Club of Australia's August bulletin to go to air.

    This month as well as the latest Club news Ill be talking about
    Oboe, a British WW2 bomb aiming system which was the forerunner of
    DME or Distance Measuring Equipment

    This will be followed by Bill, VK3BR who talks about a book review
    on The Tatura Secret Radio.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.
    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on
    the RAOTC website at raotc.org.au

    or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the
    audio file at any time from today from the club website.

    Members and Friends of the RAOTC in Perth are reminded that the next
    lunchtime meeting at the Woodbridge Hotel, East Guildford, will be
    held tomorrow Tuesday August 8th. All are welcome, further details
    are published on the clubs website.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the August RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the
    program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    CONGRATULATIONS

    Nineteen-year-old Kees Van Oosbree, W0AAE of Minnesota, has been
    selected as the 2023 Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, Memorial Amateur Radio
    NewsLine Young Ham of the Year.

    Kees was honoured for his leadership in helping other young amateurs
    through Youth on the Air and the Remote Ham Radio Youth Network.

    A visit to a museum with an amateur radio station at age 12 sparked
    his interest in becoming a ham. Studying on his own, he quickly
    earned his Technician and General Class licenses, then joined the
    Minnesota Wireless Association and developed his interest in
    contesting.

    HF was my life, Kees said. Contesting is pretty much my main thing
    in amateur radio although I do branch out and do other things.

    Among those "other things" is YOTA-Americas, in which he has taken on
    a variety of leadership roles including the training of youth
    operators, serving as QSL manager for W 8 Y contacts made with YOTA
    campers and sharing his interest in remote operating.

    A 2023 graduate, and class valedictorian, of Heritage Christian
    Academy in his hometown, Kees will be attending Iowa State University
    where he plans to study aerospace engineering.

    The YHOTY award will be presented to Kees during a ceremony at the
    Huntsville HamFest in Alabama on August 19. Amateur Radio NewsLine,
    CQ magazine, and Yaesu USA are primary sponsors of the award, along
    with Heil Sound, Ltd. and Radiowavz Antenna Company.

    (CQ)




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    The next WICEN NSW monthly meetup is today 6 August, with another
    communications exercise being planned.

    To participate in any WICEN event, or just find out more about
    WICEN NSW, you can email wicen.ops@vrarescue.org

    WICEN nets are on every Sunday evening, using FM voice, DMR, or
    HF voice, depending on the week. All WICEN members and other Amateurs
    are welcome to join in.

    WICEN NSW is a support squad of VRA Rescue NSW, specialising in
    tactical radio communications. In between activations, WICEN supports
    local community events: these provide practical training for members,
    and help raise the public profile of Amateur Radio.

    To find out more, check out the WICEN NSW web site
    nsw.wicen.org.au

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene


    VK6 - Northern Corridor Radio Group HamFest 20th August.


    VK4 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale Saturday 26th August at club house
    Kippa Ring (vk4tfn)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK2 - SARCFEST 8am Saturday 23 September (vk2acd)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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 un-subscription has been processed, you will
    probably receive a message confirming your un-subscription
    from the list and at that point you should stop receiving
    messages.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Aug 10 16:00:18 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-08-13.mp3
    Text edition:



    -------------------------------------------------------------------69

    2023 AUGUST 13 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 AUG 13 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA Affiliated Clubs Coordinator Angelo VK2NWT. -

    WIA ATV representative, Peter VK3BFG. -


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB







    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hi everyone, this is Angelo VK2NWT, WIA Affiliated Clubs Coordinator.

    Im sure weve all heard the saying: You only get one chance to make
    a first impression.

    I bring this up because from time to time, Im contacted by people
    frustrated with not having received a response after contacting a
    club or got one only after several attempts or a long period of time.
    These inquiries are from people that have already read the info on
    the respective clubs WIA or Webpage now want to speak with someone
    seeking further information about joining, training or AR in general.

    We all appreciate that in todays busy world we may not get around to
    things as quickly as wed like to, however, slow or no responses to
    enquiries made to your club is a sure-fire way to turn prospective
    amateurs off the hobby.

    Now, Im sure most Clubs responses to enquiries are excellent, and
    when Ive contacted some clubs to let them know about their lack of
    response most have jumped right on it but some of the answers Ive
    received, unbelievably, are:

    Well, Im busy. If theyre really interested in AR theyll call
    again,

    So and so looks after that, its not my job, or this chestnut
    All the info they need is on the WIA site or club website isnt
    that what its for.

    Not great viewpoints are they for what is after all a hobby all about
    communication and Im sure youll agree that we can do a lot better
    than this. No matter what your viewpoint may be about this topic, the
    simple fact is that as radio amateurs the impression that people have
    of us is that we are all ambassadors for this great hobby and those
    first prompt, courteous and friendly interactions with prospective
    new amateurs are just so vital to attracting and maintaining early
    interest.

    At the risk for sounding like Im telling you how to suck eggs,
    heres a simple checklist Id recommend:

    Are the contact details for your club on the WIA website correct and up to date right at this moment?

    Do you check your Clubs inbox daily for enquiries and respond promptly?

    Are phone messages sent to the phone numbers listed on your WIA page answered promptly as in as the same day?

    Given more and more Clubs now have Facebook Pages are you responding to questions sent to the Club Facebook page promptly?

    Have you asked yourself Am I really being as helpful as possible when someone asks me about Amateur Radio even if its not my job?

    This really is an important topic and Id urge you to bring this
    subject up for discussion at your next Club meeting, Club Net, or
    include it in your next Club newsletter.

    Ill say it again,
    You really only get one chance to make a first impression.

    This has been Angelo VK2NWT for VK1WIA National News.





    TASMANIA

    REAST August Presentation Night - WIA Q&A with VK4EA

    That August presentation night we told you was going to happen in VK7
    with WIA Director, Peter Schrader VK4EA was a great success according
    to all present and Justin VK7TW .

    And as an aside it's a small world, I was in Tassie at the time, we
    had just had breakfast in Hobart, left the cafe and literally bumped
    into Justin in the street!

    But, back to that REAST meeting, Peter VK4EA started with some of
    his vast history and background and then went into a bit of WIA
    History, then the structure and the enormous work that the Education
    group is undertaking.

    Peter then went into how the WIA supports the clubs, the committees
    and membership benefits.

    Another area that the WIA is involved in is International Advocacy
    including, World Radio Conference attendance, involvement in the
    International Amateur Radio Union, and International Member
    Societies.

    In Australia WIA representation includes with the Australian Maritime
    College, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority and
    the Department of Communications, et.al.

    Peter then went into some of the current issues that the WIA is
    dealing with like - higher power, class licence, assessment changes
    and threats to 23 and 9cm bands.

    A recording of the evening can be accessed on the REAST YouTube
    Presentations playlist.

    youtube.com/watch?v=req-2yoFDxU

    (VK7WI NEWS)




    SILENT KEY

    This is Ron VK3AFW with some sad news of a silent key.

    Derek McNiel VK3XY, G4LQW, previously VK3ZVG, VK3NKY, G8OLN and
    VK3BYA, became a silent key on Friday 28 July 2023.

    Born in the UK on 22 March 1944, Derek developed a love of the
    outdoors, riding across the countryside on horses and sailing with
    his father while a teenager. He was working as a Chartered
    Accountant when he met his future wife who was studying in the UK.
    They both shared a sense of adventure and soon after he emigrated to
    Australia where they married. Over the years they made many
    adventurous trips around the world, as well as regular trips to the
    UK to visit his family. They skied, swam, sailed, cycled and hiked.

    Derek had an agreeable personality and made lasting friends at many
    of the places they visited. He was an excellent manager and used
    those skills at work and in voluntary positions. His first amateur
    licence was obtained in Australia. Derek was a long-time member of
    the WIA and an active member of WICEN especially during the
    Ash Wednesday fires and the Mt Macedon fires and for many years
    afterward until his deteriorating health prevented him from taking
    an active role.

    Derek also served as treasurer of the WIA Vic later ARV, treasurer
    of the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club from 2006 to 2007 and was a
    regular attendee at Moorabbin and Districts Radio Club Meetings.
    He was a member of the Queenscliff Flotilla VF9 of the Volunteer
    Coast Guard for 15 years, as a crew member and later coxswain.
    Derek also took up SOTA activating but this was curtailed by failing
    eyesight. He is survived by his wife Margaret, two sons, David and
    Peter and daughter Anna and two grandchildren Jessie and Sophie.

    Derek was a genuine gentleman who will be missed by all who knew him.

    Vale Derek.




    GOLD COAST

    Hi, Im Mark VK4DMH, from the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society

    The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society was recently asked by the
    Pacific Airshow of the USA to provide radio communications between
    five Southeast Qld airfields and the shows Air Boss on Surfers
    Paradise beach. The Pacific Airshow is a first time event for
    Australia and will involve over 40 civilian & military aircraft, and
    two parachute teams, performing aerobatic routines and demonstrations
    along the beachfront of Surfers Paradise. The Pacific Airshow
    Gold Coast is being held between August 18th and 20th

    The Amateur Radio operators are required to provide real-time reports
    from the various airfields on participating aircraft, detailing
    engine started, taxiing, takeoffs and landing. The most critical
    information that will need urgent transmission will be any issues
    that may disrupt the schedule for the Airshow.

    I contacted Jon WB6OZD, President of the Huntington Beach RACES team,
    whos Ham radio operators have been supporting the Californian event
    since its inception in 2016. Jon was able to tell me what was
    expected of us here in Australia, and the technical details on their
    communications setup in Huntington Beach. Jon said the issues to deal
    with will be aircraft noise on the airfield aprons and wireless
    internet overload due to large crowds.

    Due to the airfields being so far away from Surfers Paradise, with
    Amberley being 82km away and Brisbane International being 76km away,
    a network of repeaters will be used in Southeast Qld to provide the
    extended radio coverage required. And as there are air band
    frequencies assigned to the Airshow, many of our operators will have
    Aircraft Radio Operator Certificates.

    The Californian based organisers have promised aircraft and parachute
    action with a minimal delay between segments, which is why they are
    most reliant on Amateur Radio operators to pass on airfield updates.

    We have also been asked to supplement the existing ADS-B online radar
    coverage for the area, so GCARS will be setting up two ADS-B
    receivers, one right down on the Surfers Paradise beachfront.

    Ill have another WIA News report following the Airshow, highlighting
    all of the activities that took place.

    73, Mark VK4DMH, from the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    RSGB response to eLoran in the UK

    The Society has responded to an Ofcom consultation on licensing
    Enhanced Long-Range Navigation (eLoran) systems.

    This would use a new network of 400kW EIRP transmissions at
    90-110kHz to provide an alternative to GPS for Position, Navigation
    and Timing.

    The RSGB response focused on the high levels of out of band emissions
    that would affect the weak signal 136kHz amateur allocation, as well
    as transparency on transmitter licensing.





    REGION TWO

    The U.S. House of Representatives has rejected a satellite spectrum
    licensing reform bill as the House Science Committee leadership did
    not want to grant the FCC authority to regulate space debris/traffic
    management, since, in their opinion, doing so would divert the FCC
    from its primary responsibility of spectrum allocation.




    'CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU'

    Amid calls of protest from the news media and from local New York
    City officials, the New York City Police Department has begun
    encrypting its radio transmissions, following a practice taking place
    at police departments around the United States.

    Six police precincts in northern Brooklyn were the first to implement
    the use of encrypted transmissions recently, and the NYPD confirmed
    to various media outlets that more are to follow.

    Unlike Australia where the majority of police transmissions have been
    encrypted for many a year, USA police radio transmissions have
    traditionally been transparent and first responders, members of the
    media and others often monitor scanners to learn what is going on.

    New York City's change to its police radios follows similar actions
    in California, Colorado, the city of Chicago and elsewhere.




    WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS STAYS IN VEGAS...or does it?

    There is a Hack-A-Sat event taking place in Las Vegas this month,
    with the winner having a chance to win a cash prize of $50,000.

    It all revolves around the Moonlighter CubeSat which has successfully
    reached its planned low earth orbit in preparation for this upcoming
    in-space hacking competition, known as the Space Security Challenge:
    Hack-A-Sat 4.

    This competition, run by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, aims
    to enhance security researcher knowledge and skills in securing space
    systems. The finals of the Hack-A-Sat event will take place in Vegas
    and the competition provides an opportunity for hackers, researchers,
    and space enthusiasts to tackle space systems cyber security
    challenges.




    Since May, ARRL The US National Association for Amateur Radio has
    been reviewing the rules proposed in a petition before the Federal
    Communications Commission from the Shortwave Modernization
    Coalition (SMC).

    SMC, a group that appears to represent high-speed stock trading
    interests, has proposed amending the FCC Part 90 rules to allow
    introduction of high-power digital communications to the shortwave
    spectrum that in many instances is immediately adjacent to the
    amateur HF bands.

    ARRLs comments on the matter will be based on the analysis by its
    laboratory and guided by its experienced Washington, D.C. regulatory
    affairs counsel.

    Over 800 comments were received by the FCC.




    Ten-Tec Founder Jack Edward Burchfield Silent Key

    Jack began his career with Electro-Voice as an acoustical engineer.
    In the late 1960s, he, along with Albert Kahn and Tom Mitchell,
    founded Ten-Tec, a manufacturer of amateur radio equipment in
    the USA.

    Jack designed the initial line of products and most of the radio
    equipment that followed. His radios were on display at the
    Smithsonian Museum of American History for many years.

    He was an amateur radio enthusiast and was inducted into the
    Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2004.





    REGION THREE

    In Pakistan, a massive antenna project is being built to bring
    Digital Radio Mondiale service to the nation's public radio
    listeners - and beyond.

    Calling Radio Pakistan's analogue and shortwave broadcast
    technology outdated, the nation's minister for information and
    broadcasting formally launched a project on July 30th designed to
    bring 1,000-kw digital signals from the public broadcaster to
    listeners in Pakistan and beyond. The upgrade begins at a time when
    the majority of Radio Pakistan's transmitters have been declared
    obsolete and have been shut down.

    According to the DRM website, DRM was approved in January of 2020 as
    the standard in Pakistan for all frequency bands on AM and FM radio.

    The minister for information and broadcasting said that the boost in
    signal strength and range will benefit listeners in the Middle East,
    the Far East, Central Asia, South Asia and Eastern Europe.

    And according to the DRM website, DRM technology is enjoying a robust
    rollout elsewhere. Thirty-five medium-wave transmitters are sending
    signals to more than 900 million people in India, where cars are also
    being outfitted with DRM receivers. Indonesia, China and Romania are
    among the many nations that also have various forms of DRM
    broadcasting.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    -----------------

    AUGUST 12 - 13 Remembrance Day Contest is rolling as I speak,

    The Remembrance Day contest, is where we remember those 26 VK
    amateurs who paid the supreme sacrifice during WW2, 39-45.

    Contest starts from 0300z Saturday the 12th of August till
    0300z on Sunday the 13th.


    --------------


    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    Contest is always on the last FULL weekend of August.

    Hi everyone, this is Marija VK5MAZ, Contest Manager for Alara.

    The 43rd Alara Contest will be held on the last weekend of August
    from Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th.

    Starting time is 0600 UTC on the 26th August, finishing 24 hours later at 0559 UTC 27th August.

    The Alara contest is a lot of fun and open to all YLs and OMs. Although we are slightly competitive, we do help each other by giving out numbers and spotting each other on Facebook. Some of the girls even practice CW together in the months before the contest. We look forward to chatting with those we dont usually meet on air.

    All YLs, Oms Scouts & Girl Guides are invited to take part and it is hoped that everyone will enjoy this friendly contest. It is a great opportunity to made contact with those we dont usually meet on air.

    The contest rules have now been uploaded to the Alara Contest page. For those who dont have FB and would like a copy of the rules, please email alaracontest@wia.org.au


    73
    Marija VK5MAZ


    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Field Day.

    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------

    Lazio and Molise are using the special callsign II 6 PN to
    celebrate the centenary of the National Park of Abruzzo, a region
    of Southern Italy

    They are on the air now until the 31st of October BUT most of their
    activity will be from the 1st to the 17th of September.

    Certificates are available, see II 6 PM on QRZ.com for details.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    NIUE
    E 6 AM from October 10 to 23.
    CW, SSB, FT8 and maybe some RTTY on 160 to 6 meters.
    QSL via Club Log's OQRS (preferred), LoTW, or via LZ1GC, direct or bureau.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    Kazu, M0CFW (JK3GAD) will again be active from Rodrigues island as
    3B9KW during the CQWW CW contest (November 25-26).

    Activity before/after contest (November 19 to December 1) as
    3B9/M0CFW.

    QSL via LoTW.

    (dxworld)

    --------------

    TAIWAN

    BM 0 QSO until December 31, using mostly digital modes.
    QSL via BM 2 JCC.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    LUXEMBOURG

    LX 90 RTL is in use to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Radio
    Luxembourgs first long-wave broadcast.

    It will be used by various LX operators until the end of the year.

    Listen for the callsign on the HF bands on SSB, CW, digital modes
    and via satellite. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via
    the DARC bureau. The logs will be uploaded to Club Log,
    Logbook of the World and eQSL on a regular basis.

    For more information see QRZ.com

    (rsgb)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/

    DON'T FORGET

    September 1st & 2nd 2023 sees the first World HEMA day.

    HEMA is a summit awards scheme which started in the UK but has spread
    across Europe and into Australia and is still growing. It's a scheme
    more for the hillwalker than the mountaineer but also not a scheme
    for those who want to operate from their cars.

    Leisurely exercise fresh air and good radio contacts make up the
    typical HEMA activation.

    Ron VK3AFW also reminds us for information on listed summits here in
    VK1, VK3, VK5 and VK6 go to hema.org.uk and open the Summits folder.

    (vk3afw)



    9 M 8 SOTA and 9 M 8 BOTA are the special callsigns during 2023
    operating from various mountains and beaches in Sarawak,
    East Malaysia.

    QSL for both callsigns via 9 M 8 HAZ directly,
    Logbook of the World and Club Log.

    (rsgb)




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    The annual Digital ATV QSO Party is scheduled for Friday August 25
    starting around 0930 UTC with mainly VK stations with Saturday
    morning/afternoon on August 26 being our link with USA. It will be
    their Friday night.

    So far, stations acting as local Anchors will be Bevan VK5BD in
    Port Pirie, Gary VK2CRJ in Sydney, Art WA8RMC in Columbus Ohio,
    Bill AB0MY in Boulder Colorado and Roland KC6JPG in Los Angeles.
    Also participating this year will be Claudia I2NDT our first
    European participant for quite a while.

    Anchor stations act to patch signals received from their local
    repeater to VK3RTV via IP. VK3RTV has an SRT service which is an
    improved protocol over the older RTMP IP protocol and thus the
    quality of signals received from remote locations is very good.
    Peter VK3BFG acts as the local Anchor for VK3RTV and the
    Event Co-Ordinator, with VK3RTVs signals available on the British
    Amateur TV Clubs streamer or VK3QLs U Tube Channel.

    At this time I have stations from VK2 and VK5, USA and Europe, it
    would be good to include some from other states. Please contact
    Peter VK3BFG @ pcossins@bigpond.com if you would like to participate.
    You can use the SRT service in to VK3RTV or just use Zoom which will
    also be used as a Back Channel for liaison and co-ordination.

    Hope to see you all and that many stations will view the activity on
    their local Repeater, on the BATC Streamer or by VK3QLs Utube
    Channel.

    See you on the 25th . Im Peter VK3BFG, WIA ATV representative.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    SpaceX has launched the world's heaviest commercial communications
    satellite atop a Falcon Heavy rocket, the triple-core rocket lifted
    off from Kennedy Space Centre carrying EchoStar's Jupiter-3
    (EchoStar-24) communications satellite, which weighs in at over
    9,000 kg (198,416 lb.).

    This is the largest communication satellite ever launched to
    geostationary orbit.

    Jupiter-3 will support Internet connectivity across North and South
    America, in-flight Wi-Fi, community Wi-Fi services, maritime
    connections, enterprise networks, and backhaul for mobile network
    operators.

    [ANS]



    Voyager 2 has re-established communication with Earth and is
    operating normally.

    NASA's long-running Voyager 2 mission, which launched in 1977 and is
    currently about 12.4 billion miles from Earth, lost contact with our
    planet after a set of commands accidentally moved Voyager 2's antenna
    two degrees away from Earth on July 28.

    Voyager 2 is programmed to automatically reset its orientation a few
    times a year in case of troubles like this, but the next window would
    have been in October.

    On Friday, August 4, JPL announced in a mission update that NASA's
    Deep Space Network facility in Canberra, Australia was able to send
    a command into interstellar space that reoriented the spacecraft and
    pointed its antenna back towards Earth.

    "The spacecraft has been returning science and telemetry data,
    indicating it is operating normally and that it remains on its
    expected trajectory," JPL said in the statement.

    [ANS]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    The 11th annual YOTA Summer Camp is here, and already its been
    an unforgettable week!

    Yes from August 5 to 12, youth gathered in Gyr, Hungary, with over
    100 youngsters from 25 different countries.

    In the 2023 edition of this summer camp, multiple new societies were
    represented for the first time, including Egypt, Singapore, and the
    Republic of Korea.

    In the evening the camp began with the official opening ceremony. In
    the ceremony they heard greetings from people behind the camp
    including organizers, IARU representatives, and the President of
    the Hungarian Radio Amateur Society. The participants also got their
    first look at the highlights of the interesting program that the
    camp offered.

    The opening ceremony was live streamed on the YOTA YouTube channel.
    youtube.com/live/zYSZ42vp2rc?feature=share

    The program on the camp was varied with a focus on teaching and
    experiences. The interesting lectures, among other things, taught
    the participants about the world of contesting, SDR, and High-speed
    telegraphy. Participants were given a chance to practice kit-building
    and ARDF, even a possibility to participate in a CW course.

    As different cultures are always present at the YOTA Camp, the
    popular intercultural evening was held, along with an excursion to
    the capital city, Budapest.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN

    CANADA

    On Aug. 1, Meta announced that it will begin to block news content
    from its Facebook and Instagram platforms in Canada.

    This announcement follows the passage of the Online News Act in
    June, which requires tech giants like Meta (formerly the Facebook
    company) and Google to negotiate deals for news content.

    According to the Canadian government, the Online News Act ensures
    fair revenue sharing between digital platforms and news outlets and
    promotes voluntary commercial agreements between digital platforms
    and news outlets, with minimal government intervention.

    Tech giants that have been able to use news content for free in their
    search engines and social media platforms have furiously attacked the
    law, and threatened to remove news content rather than pay for it.
    Now, both Google and Meta have said they will remove the content
    altogether, with changes to follow in the coming weeks.

    (radioworld)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - Northern Corridor Radio Group HamFest 20th August.


    VK4 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale Saturday 26th August at club house
    Kippa Ring (vk4tfn)



    Redcliffe Club Carboot Sale Update

    Greetings from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC

    Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.

    The Redcliffe Club will hold our Annual CarBoot Sale

    on Saturday 26th August 2023 at our club house in MacFarlane Park at
    Kippa Ring in the City of Redcliffe.

    The raffle prize is an IC-T10 dual band FM analogue hand held tranceiver. Two metre and 70 centimetre.

    Vendors in at seven, breakfast is at eight, gates open at nine, the raffle draw is at ten thirty

    $10 per car boot or table, gold coin admission.

    Go to www dot redclifferadioclub dot org dot au for more information.

    Thank you and 73's from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC.



    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK2 - SARCFEST 8am Saturday 23 September (vk2acd)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    This is Linda VK7QP, coordinator of ALARAmeet Hobart which will
    be held 3-6 November 2023

    Registrations close on 26 July, so that we know who is coming
    and we can finalise our bookings. The registration form is on
    the ALARA website ALARA

    alara.org.au

    Looking forward to meeting old friends and seeing for the first
    time those I have only spoken to on the air.

    Make sure you register by 26 July.

    Linda VK7QP

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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
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  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Aug 17 15:48:09 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-08-20.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 AUGUST 20 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 AUG 20 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    YES THIS IS THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK AND IT COMES FROM
    YOUR WIA for week commencing AUGUST 20 2023

    This is the ALARA presentation which we do close to our Birthday and the ALARA contest each year, I'm ALARA President VK2AYL Michelle.

    Presenting the news with me this week will be Shirley VK5YL who will
    be covering the International Desk.

    Lesley VK5LOL with the operational news covering contests and a look
    through the "DX Window".

    Linda VK7QP will handle special Interest Group news but to start todays Broadcast WIA President Scott Williams VK3KJ.




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hi there, this is WIA Director and President Scott WilliamsVK3KJ
    and great to be appearing on the broadcast this week. Thank you to
    ALARA President Michelle VK2AYL for the introduction and it is
    wonderful to see ALARA hosting the news broadcast this week. Thank
    you to all of the ALARA members that are helping out this week in
    bringing the Broadcast to you.

    I will be quick today and just cover a few brief points.

    Firstly, thank you to all operators that got on air last weekend as
    we commemorated the Remembrance Day Contest. From what I understand,
    the bands were very active and what a great way to remember those
    Amateur Radio Operators that lost their life serving our great
    nation. I was unfortunately away interstate with work commitments,
    but I did log on to my SDR remotely and listened to some of the
    activity going on.

    Just a reminder that there are a range of WIA volunteer committee
    positions vacant that we have been calling for active volunteers.
    This has been promoted on the website, through social media, in AR
    Magazine and we are again calling for final nominations this week on
    the broadcast. The Board will be meeting next week, and we will be
    appointing various representatives and announcing them the following
    week. Thank you to all those people that have nominated so far.
    If you are interested in volunteering and helping the WIA, please
    email the WIA National office.

    Finally, nominations are now open for WIA Merit Awards 2023/2024.
    Nominations are open up until 31st March 2024 and Awards are then
    announced at the 2024 AGM which will be held next year over the
    weekend of the 4th and 5th May in Bundaberg.

    The WIA Merit Awards are:

    GA Taylor Medal
    Michael J. Owen Distinction Medal
    WIA Honorary Life Membership
    Chris Jones Award
    Brenda Edmonds Award
    Ron Wilkinson Achievement Award
    WIA Technical Excellence Award
    Presidents Commendation

    Details of these awards and the nomination template can be found on
    the WIA website under WIA Awards. So, if you believe there is
    someone that provides outstanding service and commitment to Amateur
    Radio, make sure you nominate them for an award and lets recognise
    those individuals that contribute so much to our great hobby.

    In closing, a warm greeting to all those Australias that have headed
    to the Tokyo Hamfair in Japan this weekend. Safe travels and I have
    no doubt there might be some excess luggage charges coming back.

    On behalf of the Board, thank you for supporting the WIA and best
    wishes to you all. And my thanks goes out once again to ALARA for
    hosting the broadcast this week.

    This has been Scott Williams, WIA President for this weeks news.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    Quite often in the weekly WIA news we make mention of the fantastic
    RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park, well worth a visit.

    Would you like to encourage your family and friends to visit when you
    are on that OS holiday? to find out more about amateur radio?

    RSGB have created a promotional video that gives a whistle-stop tour
    of all the fantastic things at the NRC in just one minute.

    rsgb.org/main/about-us/national-radio-centre-gb3rs/




    A new agreement between the African Telecommunication Union and the International Amateur Radio Union is being hailed as a landmark agreement on the African continent.

    Praising ham radio for its responsiveness in a crisis, the secretary-general of the African Telecommunications Union signed an agreement with the International Amateur Radio Union advocating for expanded use of ham radio during emergencies in African nations. The agreement places a special emphasis on ham radio's role in the 51 African countries that belong to the ATU. Both organisations pledged to cooperate when preparing for and responding to crises. A large part of the pact involves coordinating workshops and training programs and stepping up promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education in Africa through the use of amateur radio.

    Sylvain Azarian, F4GKR, the president of IARU Region 1, said that the agreement would also have an impact on regulatory changes that are needed for amateur radio in Africa. As he signed the pact, he told those in attendance [quote]: "This is our first step to initiating a collaborative approach that is keen to find solutions and to ensure a conducive environment for amateur radio operations in the region. [endquote]





    REGION TWO

    More from the ARRL on a proposed use of high power digital transmissions in the short wave band saw the ARRL Laboratory perform
    detailed technical analysis over several months to determine if the proposed rules would affect operations on the bands allocated to Radio Amateurs that are inter-mixed with the Part 90 bands in the spectrum in question.

    ARRLs analysis determined that, if the proposed rules are adopted, the new operations inevitably will cause significant harmful interference to many users of adjacent and nearby spectrum, including Amateur Radio licensees. Ed Hare, W1RFI, a 37-year veteran of the ARRL Lab and internationally recognized expert on radio frequency interference, was the principal investigator on the study. Hare concluded the petition should not be granted. This petition seeks to put 50 kHz wide, 20,000-watt signals immediately next to seven different amateur bands with weaker protections against interference than required in other services, said W 1 RFI.




    NASA to Conduct 5 Experiments during the Great North American Solar Eclipse of 2024

    This total solar eclipse gives scientists a unique opportunity to study the interaction between the sun and Earth.

    On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will completely darken skies across the United States as the Moon blocks the light of the Sun. The path of totality will be an average of 123 miles wide, running from northern New England to southwest Texas. The duration of totality will vary depending on viewers location, with as many as four and a half minutes in Texas.

    In addition to casting a breathtaking shadow over millions of people, this solar eclipse gives scientists a unique opportunity to study the Sun, Earth, and their interactions. Correspondingly, NASA will fund five interdisciplinary science projects for the eclipse. As Peg Luce, acting director of the Heliophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, explains, Were excited to see what these new experiments will uncover about our Sun and its impact on Earth.

    One of the experiments is a Listening Party for Amateur Radio
    Operators.

    In the electrically charged ionosphere, which is in an upper region of our atmosphere, radio communications can travel long distances. However, when the Moon blocks the Sun during a solar eclipse, the ionosphere can change dramatically and affect those communications. During the 2024 Solar Eclipse, Solar Eclipse QSO Parties will occur, where radio operators are invited to make as many radio contacts as they can with other operators. The radio operators will record how strong their signals are and how far they go to observe how the ionosphere changes during the eclipse.




    Jean Moffett, VE3WAD, turned 100 years old last Saturday August 12.

    She grew up in the Canadian province of Ontario about 300 kilometres
    from Ottawa, moving to Toronto as a child with her family, hoping to
    study science and technology. Her dream of going to college wasn't
    possible, as her parents only had money so her older brother could
    study.

    Jean then leaned towards the radio, a hobby she found very appealing,
    took the course and got her VE3WAD license.

    For four decades, two days a week Jean attended the Ontario Science
    Centres amateur radio station, showing visitors how radio amateurs
    and Morse code work, and teaching the details of the phonetic alphabet
    and how this technology remains in force during emergencies.

    For this volunteer work for so many years, Jean Moffett was awarded in
    2018 with the Sovereign Medal, the highest honour for voluntary
    service a person can receive within Canadas Honours System.

    Jean, VE3WAD, dedicated much of her life to the airwaves. She was a
    very active radio fan who communicated with people from all over the
    world. She was able to send her signals to the satellites, spoke to
    people from the Arctic to the Antarctica. But - Jean had a pending
    dream, being able to talk to an astronaut on the space station. At 96
    years old her dream came true. In 2020 the nonagenarian along with a
    group of students from Toronto were able to ask questions to
    Commander Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP, aboard the International Space
    Station.

    The activity took place from the VE3OSC station of the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto.





    REGION THREE

    INDIA

    THE MOON IS GO

    In preparation to 'soft land' on the moon, India's Chandrayaan-3
    lunar lander has returned its first images from the moon after
    entering orbit around our nearest neighbour. The Indian Space Research
    Organisation released images showing that the spacecraft had reached
    its destination ahead of its lunar landing attempt expected this
    Wednesday, August. 23.

    When successful, India will join the United States, the former
    Soviet Union and China as the only nations to perform a soft lunar
    landing.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------

    Hi, This is Alan VK4SN, Remembrance Day contest manager.

    The last day for log submission is Sunday the 26th at 0300z.
    My internet service provider sometimes thinks that logs coming
    to me is spam and are blocked.

    Please make sure that if you've sent a log, that your callsign
    is showing in the submitted logs link on vklogchecker.com
    If not, please email me. Details on the WIA RD page.

    I type up paper and attached logs to email, and submit
    to vklogchecker.com. All operators will get an automated
    acknowledgment when submitted. Success or failure is shown
    on screen when the log is submitted.


    Good luck
    This is Alan VK4SN in the TEXT edition this week

    --------------

    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST IS NEXT WEEKEND

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX Contest

    Contest Dates/Times:

    Phone - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)



    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    First we see through the window is a whole bunch of special calls from right here in Australia.


    VK5's Amateur Radio Experimenters Group are celebrating their
    25th anniversary with the special event callsign - VI 25 AREG.

    VI25ARG ceases operation at the end of this month, August.

    (wia)

    -----------------

    VI 10 VKFF running all year celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    VK 90 AR for Amateur Radio Magazine.

    October 2023, this year, sees your WIA celebrating 90 years of
    continuous publishing of Amateur Radio Magazine, the official journal
    of the Wireless Institute of Australia.

    The WIA will be running the VK90AR activity until December 31.

    (wia)

    --------------

    Special Event Station VI 100 MB all year celebrates the centenary of
    the Manly-Warringah Radio Society

    --------------

    KOREA

    HL78 V through to the end of August.

    Members of the Korean Amateur Radio League's Chungbuk headquarters
    are on air marking the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Korea
    from Japan. QSL via 6 K MF.

    (ARNewsLine 2389)

    --------------

    INDIA

    In celebration of India's 76th anniversary of Independence, listen and work AT 2 CMN from Pollachi, Tamilnadu now until August 31.
    QSL AT2CMN via VU 2 W D P.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    Frans, DJ 0 TP is active as TK / DJ0TP from the main island of Corsica
    EU-014, until the 3rd of September. QSL via the DJ 0 TP home call and
    use Logbook of the World, LOTW.

    (sourced to RSGB)


    --------------

    MID ATLANTIC

    No later than November this year, 2023 the exact date to be
    confirmed by the Brazilian Navy team consisting PY1ZV Fbio, PT2IC
    Stephano and PY6RT Beto will leave the Brazilian coast and head to
    Ilha da Trindade, located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1200km
    east of Esprito Santo, a state in South Eastern Brazil.

    The objective is to carry out the activation of the 16th most wanted
    DXCC entity, according to current data from Club Log.

    The team will use the special callsign PR 0 T, which has already been
    requested from ANATEL and is in the final phase awaiting
    confirmation.

    (dx-world)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    BOOK REVIEW

    Handbook 100: Now Available in Softcover

    The softcover edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications.

    Yes the 100th edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications
    is the most extensively revised and expanded edition in recent years.
    Each chapter is filled with up-to-date knowledge representing radio
    amateurs' wide and ever-expanding range of interests.

    There are practical, hands-on projects for all skill levels, from
    simple accessories and small power supplies to amplifiers and
    high-gain antennas.

    The traditional softcover edition features the same piano-finish
    black cover as the hardcover collector's edition and six-volume
    paperback set and probably easiest place to purchase would be to
    search it at the arrl web site.

    tinyurl.com/275kuefr



    EDUCATION

    Foundation Courses at ARNSW

    ARNSW Education team advise their next foundation course and
    assessment weekend is scheduled September 9th & 10th.

    Closing date for bookings is this weekend, as the assessment
    provider, AMC, requires 3 weeks notice to get the assessment
    material out.

    Please send your application via email to education@arnsw.org.au

    The following assessment weekend is scheduled for November, the
    weekend of 11th and 12th and is the last one planned for 2023.

    (vk2wi news)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    The National Association for Amateur Radio in the USA, ARRL, has been closely following updates from the Hawaii Amateur Radio Emergency
    Service, Hawaii ARES, as amateur radio operators responded following
    those deadly wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

    Although NOT a designated frequency for Rescue work, please refrain
    from using 7.088MHZ as this is being used on the island for local communications.

    ARRL Section Manager Jospeh Speroni, AH0A, who serves the Pacific Section including Hawaii and US territories in the Pacific, said
    The suddenness of the Maui Disaster is shocking. It affects us all.
    Jospeh Speroni said it was difficult to know immediately the status of
    radio amateurs and equipment on Maui, including repeaters and gateways. Sadly, there are confirmed deaths and several of our ham
    friends have lost their homes.

    Speroni reported that the ARRL Hawaii ARES website, hawaiiares.net
    provides the latest emergency communications news. The website
    includes updates on Mauis amateur radio and communication infrastructure, including affected and operational radio systems, repeaters, and other emergency communication details.

    Again, amateurs worldwide are asked to monitor 7.088 MHz but refrain
    from using 7.088MHZ as this is being used on the island for local communications.

    (arrl)




    The next big event on the VK2 WICEN calendar is the Hawkesbury Canoe
    Classic which helps raise money to fund bone marrow transfer
    research. It takes place on the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney at
    the end of October.

    WICEN NSW provides safety communications for the event, and many
    operators are required to staff about 25 checkpoints along the 111 km
    course from Windsor to Mooney Mooney.

    If youre new to this kind of thing, you can be paired up with a more
    experienced WICEN operator. Why not give it a go?

    To participate in any WICEN event, or just find out more about how to
    use your Amateur Radio skills in times of need, you can email
    wicen.ops@vrarescue.org

    (VK2WI NEWS)





    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS -- ARDF
    WIA ARDF COORDINATOR IS VK3WWW JACK.

    Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club's next Amateur Radio Repeater
    Group fox hunt will be today, the 20th of August, in the Macarthur
    area.

    The format will be their usual 4, or maybe even 5 foxes to find,
    after check-ins are taken on the VK2RFG repeater at 9:00am.

    The location of the foxes will be somewhere between Casula and
    Narellan Rd in the vicinity of the Hume Hwy corridor. A more precise
    location hint will be given after check-ins are taken.

    Anyone is welcome to attend.

    Keep an eye on the website,
    arrg.club

    (VK2WI NEWS)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY

    A group of amateur radio enthusiasts in the UK have developed a beacon
    that allows anyone to observe meteors as they burn through the Earth's atmosphere.

    The UK Meteor Beacon project uses radio signals to identify meteorites
    passing through a 400 km-wide section of the sky over England and
    Wales. The data collected is displayed on a live online feed, with
    meteors appearing as blue streaks that emit a ping followed by a
    trailing pitch. The system is capable of capturing over 100 meteors
    per hour, even during low activity times.

    The radio transmitter for the beacon is located at the Sherwood
    Observatory, Nottinghamshire. However, receivers can be placed
    anywhere in the country. The project, funded by the Radio Society of
    Great Britain and the British Astronomical Association, has gained
    attention from academic and citizen scientists interested in studying
    meteors.

    Receivers can be built affordably using materials from DIY stores.
    The aim is to encourage schools to set up their own receivers for
    STEM-related projects, promoting interest in radio engineering and
    astronomy among students.




    A COMET SHAPED LIKE THE MILLENNIUM FALCON:

    Astronomers are monitoring a very unusual comet. A few days ago, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks explosively brightened, spewing plumes of debris into
    space that now resembles Han Solo's, hunk of junk spaceship, the
    Millennium Falcon.

    No one knows for sure what happened, but it could be the eruption of an ice volcano on the comet's surface.

    ( ARNewsLine)




    As the sun nears the peak of its current solar cycle, our star is growing increasingly active. And that peak may be occurring sooner than predicted, according to scientists. Every 11 years or so, the sun experiences periods of low and high solar activity, which is associated with the amount of sunspots on its surface. These dark regions, some of which can reach the size of Earth or larger, are driven by the sun's strong and constantly shifting magnetic fields. Over the course of a solar cycle, the sun will transition from a calm to an intense and active period. During the peak of activity, called solar maximum, the sun's magnetic poles flip. Then, the sun will grow quiet again during a solar minimum. Initially, peak activity was forecast to begin in July 2025. Now, experts believe the cyclical peak is more likely to take place in mid- to late 2024.

    (eHam)




    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS ATV
    (Every pixel tells a story) -
    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative.

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN


    The annual Digital ATV QSO Party is scheduled for Friday August 25
    starting around 0930 UTC with mainly VK stations with Saturday
    morning/afternoon on August 26 being our link with USA. It will be
    their Friday night.

    Peter VK3BFG, WIA ATV representative is the man to see to find out
    more. pcossins@bigpond.com




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS

    International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) is here this
    weekend.

    Maybe not here in Australia, where WIA news was only advised of one
    VK activation, it is said to be one of the most popular amateur radio
    events in the world wide calendar and in past years there have been
    over 500 entries from more than 40 different countries. The club proud
    enough to let us all know thru this WIA National News? The South Coast
    Amateur Radio Club or SCARC. Club participates in this weekends ILLW
    event operate from Point Malcolm Lighthouse (AU0029) using the VK5ARC
    portable call and members congregated and setup the station in the
    Narrung Campground adjacent to "The Narrows" (where Lake Alexandrina
    and Lake Albert meet. A car ferry to get over lay in store and a
    fantastic campground on the lakes edge where they operate the station
    from Friday through to today, Sunday.

    NOT ONLY BUT ALSO:-

    Listen for TM BSM, the callsign being used by a team of German operators on the air from the lighthouse at Berck-sur-Mer, France, until tomorrow, Monday 21 of August, which obviously includes the
    International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
    They are transmitting using CW, SSB and digital modes on the HF bands.
    QSL via LoTW only.


    W 8 GNM / 8 will be QRV from the Port Clinton Lighthouse during the
    ILLW which is also Port Clinton Lighthouse Festival Ohio.
    Check web clusters for specific frequencies but typical
    40m frequencies 7.200 or 7.235 and typical 20m frequencies
    14.285 or 14.335

    (WIA, ARNewsLine 2389, RSGB)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Students Achieve Radio Surfer Awards

    Thanks to Chris Leviston, M0KPW, ten children at Ireleth St Peters (ISP) CofE Primary School in Cumbria have achieved their Radio Surfer Awards.

    Chris recently started an after-school club at ISP, and over the five weeks that it ran, the children enjoyed a range of amateur radio activities, leading to them each being presented with their certificates at the final assembly of the year. With a key part of the club being to pass greetings messages, the RSGB Awards Manager tweaked the scheme to allow a point to be awarded for this.

    The children were introduced to the phonetic alphabet, call signs across Europe, QSL cards and the basics of a dipole antenna. They practised Morse code on oscillators and keys, as well as using PMRs.

    The 8- to 11-years-olds got to see their voices on the scope when Chris Icom IC-705 was connected to a dummy load. Using his Yaesu FT-857 running 75w with a SOTA-linked dipole for 20m/40m, all the children passed greetings messages and accurately logged contacts.

    With excellent feedback from the children and school staff, plans are afoot for the club to run again next academic year!

    Ireleth St Peters CofE Primary School
    irelethst-peters.cumbria.sch.uk/

    (ICQPodcast)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - Northern Corridor Radio Group HamFest today Sunday
    20th August.


    VK4 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale Saturday 26th August at club house
    Kippa Ring (vk4tfn)


    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK2 - SARCFEST 8am Saturday 23 September (vk2acd)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)
    Looking forward to meeting old friends and seeing for the first
    time those we have only spoken to on the air.


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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/
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    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/100 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Aug 24 17:43:04 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-08-27.mp3
    Text edition:

    2023 AUGUST 27 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 AUG 27 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-


    WIA Secretary and Director of the Wireless Institute of
    Australia, Peter Clee VK8ZZ. -

    VK2JNA and an unusual CW contact, of sorts, while on the road. -

    Mark VK4DMH, President of Gold Coast AR Society and their
    involvement with last weekends PACIFIC AIR SHOW. -

    Col VK4GTV with arguably Ham Radios BEST Rescue Radio planning. -

    and although not really falling into the news category, AR Magazine
    Editor in Chief VK2ZRH does a lil 'scientific pondering.

    BUT Lets head to Darwin and your WIA Secretary.


    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    This is WIA Secretary and Director of the Wireless Institute of
    Australia, Peter Clee VK8ZZ.

    I took part in the Remembrance Day contest earlier this month at the
    Club Station VK8DA. We set up a portable station running on solar
    power and barbeque sausages at the East Point Reserve, adjacent to
    the East Point Military Museum and the historical gun emplacements
    at East Point. The bands were not as active as I would have
    expected, but the station did well, and our log has been submitted.

    The International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend was last weekend
    and again the bands were not as active as I would have hoped. The
    Darwin Amateur Radio Club will activate the Cox Peninsula Lighthouse
    next year.

    Over the last few months, we have advised of several new and
    existing WIA positions that needed to be filled by members to assist
    the board in the operation of the institute. At a recent meeting of
    the Board the following positions have been filled and advertised in
    the September / October edition of Amateur Radio Magazine and on
    the WIA News pages.

    We are pleased to confirm the following appointments:-

    * Technical Advisory Committee - Chairman - Grant Willis VK5GR

    * Technical Advisory Committee member - Technical Advisor C4FM -
    Peter Jung VK5JP

    * Technical Advisory Committee member - Technical Advisor DMR -
    Peter Brennan VK3TE

    * Technical Advisory Committee member - Technical Advisor P25 -
    Steve Kennedy VK6SJ

    * The Ross Hull Memorial VHF / UHF Contest Manager -
    Tom Blunt VK2TBC

    * Spectrum Strategy Committee - Standards Australia TE-003 and
    TE003/19 - Peter Pokorny VK2EMR

    * WIA National & Inwards QSL Manager - Mike Adams VK3KMA


    We thank the retiring members for their hard work and assistance to
    the Institute:-

    * Retiring Ross Hull Memorial VHF / UHF Contest Manager -
    Ted Thrift VK2ARA

    * Retiring Spectrum Strategy Committee - Standards Australia
    TE-003 - Ron Cook VK3AFW

    * Retiring WIA National & Inwards QSL Manager -
    John Seamons VK3JLS

    Thank you, gentlemen, for your contribution to the
    Wireless Institute of Australia and to Amateur Radio in Australia.

    The WIA runs almost entirely on volunteers. We have only 1 paid
    employee who operates out of our national office. The seven Board
    members of the Institute and well over 100 committee and group
    members are all unpaid volunteers who run this institute for the
    benefit and betterment of the Amateur Radio service. Without our
    army of hard-working volunteers, we simply would not be able to
    operate.




    VK2JNA from the Manly-Warringah RS had an unusual CW contact of
    sorts while on the road.

    I have just driven home from Canberra. Whilst on the road near
    Paddys River, I saw a couple of low flying military aircraft SW
    bound which I now understand to be probably C-27J Spartans

    airforce.gov.au/aircraft/c-27j-spartan

    thanks to Tim VK2BT I thought they looked like the old Caribou

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-4_Caribou

    with the swept up tail.

    Having listened to 666 ABC Canberra

    abc.net.au/listen/live/canberra

    during the morning, I was aware that they were probably heading to
    CBR for a flypast involved with the commemorations of Australias
    withdrawal from Vietnam 50 years ago.

    I also reckoned they could probably see me on the highway, so I
    turned off my lights & then signalled them with Morse V 3 times
    (for Vietnam).

    The lead aircraft did see me & tipped the wings in acknowledgment!
    This was good enough to also get that story back on ABC Canberra
    within minutes by SMS.

    .mwrs.org.au/2023/08/18/morsin-down-the-highway/

    (Richard VK2SKY)




    Hi, Im Mark VK4DMH, from GCARS on the Gold Coast

    The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society was involved with radio
    communications for the Pacific Airshow last weekend, providing
    schedule timing and aircraft movement updates from the various
    airfields back to the airshow command in Surfers Paradise.

    There were 10 Amateur Radio operators engaged for 3 days at four
    different airfields and locations, spanning a distance of close to
    100km. Many of us also had aircraft radio certifications so we could
    communicate with the pilots on air band as necessary.

    The Amateur Radio operations for last weekend were

    Mark VK4DMH

    Aidan VK4APM

    Ron VK4RH

    Simon VK4TSC

    Jamie VK4XD

    Geoff VK2DLA

    Ed VK4JEN

    Chris VK4CBX

    Dylan VK4NFS

    Syd VK4TVR


    A complete new 70cm repeater network was commissioned for the event,
    designed and built by Andrew VK4QF. There were four repeater sites
    Mt Glorious, Mt Coot Tha, Springbrook Mt and a Surfers Paradise
    Hi-Rise building, all linked together via 70cm link transceivers.
    In addition, we installed a cross band aviation to commercial UHF
    repeater on a hi-rise in Surfers Paradise, giving the Airshow Air
    Bosses an expanded area of aircraft radio coverage.

    All of the installation work took place over a period of weeks with
    the assistance of Andrew VK4QF, Aidan VK4APM, Jamie VK4XD and
    myself, VK4DMH.

    There were 50 aircraft participating in the airshow, with both
    civilian and military machines, some first flown in the 1940s.


    Each airfield presented unique issues for our Amateur Radio
    operators, as we needed to see and report on each aircraft from
    pushing out of the hanger, to engine start-up, taxiing, then finally
    take-off. Even though two airports had Air Traffic Control towers, we
    werent allowed access, so our radio operators had to make best
    from airside ground positions.

    The third airfield was the Southport Flying Club, hosting 25 of the
    shows aircraft, and within a CTAF zone, which is pilot
    self-controlled with no Air Services Traffic Controllers. The upper
    balcony of the Southport Flying Club gave us a good place to operate
    from, with a full view of the runway, and about 60% view of the
    taxiways. As Southport was within the 119.0 MHz CTAF zone, it became
    necessary for me to communicate on airband direct to the aircraft as
    they were warming up their engines then taxiing to the runway. I was
    also able to warn any incoming aircraft if there were hazards like a
    flock of birds on the field or a kangaroo had strayed in from
    the neighbouring nature reserve.

    The Gold Coast Airport hosted 11 aircraft, included the small
    privately owned fighter jets, the US Marines Ospreys, and three WW2
    fighter planes. There was a Special Event Zone setup airside for the
    aircraft which allowed our Amateur Radio operators to freely move
    about the aircraft and talk with the pilots. Once again there were a
    few blind spots at Gold Coast Airport so our radio operators had to
    improvise so they could transmit aircraft status reports.

    The Brisbane International Airport radio operators had a large area
    of airfield to deal with, where the Airshow pilots lounge being
    around 8km from their three military jet aircraft were parked, being
    the US Air Forces C-17 Globemaster & KC-135 tanker, and Canadian
    CC-150 tanker. Once again, our radio team improvised making use of
    Flightradar24 and binoculars so they could verify on radio the
    ground movements for these heavy-lift aircraft.

    The Surfers Paradise Command Centre crew were well prepared to deal
    with the continuous loud aircraft noise from the airshow. They had
    noise cancelling pilot headsets connected into their handheld
    transceivers, and with only two city blocks to the 70cm repeater,
    they had excellent radio coverage. Seated alongside our two
    Amateur Radio operators in the Surfers Paradise Command Centre were
    two Air Services Australia representatives and a CASA
    representative. The three Air Bosses were able to get the latest
    aircraft updates from our crew, and all three groups constantly
    liaised on aircraft movements, including those aircraft in the area
    that werent in the airshow.

    The Pacific Airshow is confirmed to be on the Gold Coast for another
    four years, with an additional five-year option to extend the show
    to ten years. Next years event promises to be even bigger more
    aircraft and a more refined display. GCARS is already planning the
    radio coverage for next years event, implementing small changes
    that came to light from this years event.

    Again, thanks to Andrew VK4QF for his extensive support with putting
    together a 70cm radio network for the Airshow.

    73, Mark VK4DMH, from the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society

    ( Hear the entire report on qnews:- vk7ax.id.au/wianews/ )




    DISCUSSION POINT

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    National Science Week has just concluded, which reminded me that, in
    one sense, amateur radio has science as its basis. Think about it
    every time you turn on your rig and call CQ or join a net, or take
    part in a contest, youre conducting a scientific experiment.

    Remember when you did science in high school and had to write-up
    an experiment?

    I recall having to set out the objective, the means, the method, and
    the results.

    Think about that. When you turn on your rig and set it to, say,
    20 metres for example, your objective is to make contacts. The means
    is about the equipment in this case: your microphone, your
    transceiver, your feedline and your antenna. The method concerns the
    details of how you go about making a contact selecting a band and
    a frequency or channel; what sort of antenna you select if its a
    beam, the direction you pointed it; included here is that CQ call.

    The result for this scientific experiment is making a contact with
    a station that responds to your CQ call, and writing that in your
    log.

    So, if you joined-in the Remembrance Day Contest, I trust that you
    enjoyed it. The last time that I joined-in the RD, I never managed
    to make a contact. All the equipment, feedline and antenna checked
    out OK, but the intervention of nature prevented me from getting any
    results not a single contact. It was 1970. I was living and
    working at Casey Station in Antarctica. I was there doing science
    collecting data on the Phillip Law Ice Dome east of Casey. My work
    required working in daylight. However, August is still winter in
    Antarctica and theres only a couple of hours of twilight around
    midday. This meant that I had the time to get on the air for the
    Remembrance Day Contest.

    As it happened, 1970 was the Cook Bicentennial for which the WIA
    succeeded in convincing the licensing authority to allow use of the
    AX prefix all year that was the first outing of AX.

    I organised to spend all my time in the shack (also my office) for
    the period (excepting toilet breaks), with meals, morning and
    afternoon tea, and regular coffee cups brought to me for the
    duration.

    The RD contest arrived and I tuned-in to the opening broadcast with
    bated breath. The signal on 40 metres was 5x7 to 9, with slow QSB.
    As it began to end, the signal faded alarmingly. Undeterred, I tuned
    to my pre-determined spot and called CQ contest three times and
    listened.

    Silence.

    Tune up, tune down. Nothing.

    Check the antenna connection. All good.
    Call again. No response.
    Tune the band. More silence.

    I phoned my ionospheric physicist friend elsewhere on Casey.
    He said something like sorry mate, theres a polar cap absorption
    event in progress. The D-layer sucked up all signals. No HF
    communications for the polar regions. The bands didnt come good
    until Monday.

    My grand scientific experiment on the amateur bands was a bust!

    This has been Roger Harrison VK2ZRH. Thanks for listening.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    IARU Region 1 Monitoring System Newsletter

    The latest edition has been published and includes a report
    regarding the successful resolution of a case, a transmitter
    undergoing testing that is part of an international scientific
    radar network called the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network operating
    in the 20m band. The report covers how it was detected and brought
    to a satisfactory conclusion.

    ( iaru-r1.org )




    CALFORNIA

    Amateur Radio operators activated last Sunday, August 20, to provide
    communications and information for Tropical Storm Hilary.

    As of mid-morning Sunday, the system was moving up the Baja
    Peninsula of Mexico, expected to cross into Southern California.
    Heavy rains were falling in San Diego, and local media reported that
    250 airline flights had been cancelled.

    Amateur radio operations began that Sunday morning with WX 4 NHC
    amateur radio station at the National Hurricane Centre on air.

    This was the first Tropical Storm to hit California since 1939.




    PUERTO RICO

    Will Arecibo Observatory ever do science again?

    Although it is slated to become an education centre, astronomers
    hope research might one day return to the site.

    After weathering hurricanes, earthquakes, budget cuts and a
    pandemic-induced shutdown, the iconic Arecibo Observatory in
    Puerto Rico closed its doors on the 14th of August.

    After its main instrument collapsed two years ago, the site was
    supposed to shift from carrying out astronomy to being a science
    education centre. But concrete plans for that have yet to
    materialize and funding for current operations has run out.

    Scientists were disappointed that research would formally halt at
    the site, but they had hoped to keep some instruments running,
    both for the students who might use the educational centre and to
    continue the sites astronomy legacy. Doubts now swirl, as equipment
    is taken offline and dismantled, that Arecibo will ever again study
    the sky.

    The observatorys main attraction a 305-metre-wide dish that was
    responsible for, among other things, studying near-Earth asteroids,
    discovering exoplanets and observing gravitational waves was
    destroyed in 2020 when some support cables snapped following years
    of delayed maintenance. In 2022, the US National Science Foundation
    which runs the facility, announced it would not rebuild the dish,
    citing community recommendations to put the agencys limited budget
    into other, newer astronomical facilities. Instead, the NSF said it
    would convert the observatory into the Arecibo Centre for STEM
    Education and Research.




    HAWAII

    Emergency officials in Hawaii have been using AM broadcast equipment
    to help communicate with the public during the wildfire recovery
    efforts on Maui.

    The State of Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has purchased four
    RadioSTAT portable emergency advisory stations.

    The Wireline Competition Bureau of the Federal Communications
    Commission granted the state an emergency authorization to use
    at four locations including checkpoints and police and fire
    stations 1620, 1650, 1670 or 1700 kHz.





    KUALA LUMPUR:

    The Borneo Post has run a great story for that area on Ham Radio.

    In today's digitally driven world where instant communication is
    often taken for granted, a powerful yet overlooked tool remains
    ready to serve in times of crisis:

    Amateur radio.

    While mobile phones have revolutionized communications, they are not
    infallible, and their limitations become strikingly apparent during
    emergencies. When batteries drain, power fades, and signals weaken,
    a humble radio emerges as a beacon of communication and community
    support.

    Imagine this scenario:

    Your phone is out of power, the electrical grid is down, and there
    is no cellular signal. Desperation sets in as you try to reach
    authorities for help. Enter amateur radio, a versatile communication
    medium that thrives under these adverse conditions. Amateur radio
    operators (also known as "hams") step up to provide a crucial
    communications lifeline. They can connect over open frequencies to
    share vital information, coordinate rescue efforts, and maintain a
    lifeline when all other forms of communication fail.

    Well done " theborneopost.com "





    WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

    If youve been making up for lost years of travel, you might have
    seen a fellow traveller in the airport terminal walking with their
    luggage happily careening behind them.

    Hackaday are reporting on a project from a couple who wanted more
    of that. They wanted an open-source, low-cost system that could be
    put in anything.

    The basic principle is that they have a transmitter that sends both
    a radio signal and an ultrasonic pulse. The receiver receives the
    radio signal and uses it as a reference for the two ultrasonic
    sensors. The time since the radio signal is compared between the
    two, and a distance and direction are established.

    In practice, the radio, an ESP32-S3 using ESP-NOW, a protocol from
    Espressif that offers low latency 250 bytes payloads. The ultrasonic
    transceiver is based on Sparkfuns HC-SR04.

    The prototype the team built was an electric wheelbarrow that would
    happily follow you around the yard wherever you go.

    hackaday.com/2023/08/15/uchaser-follows-you-anywhere/


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------

    --------------

    RD CONTEST GET YOUR LOGS IN PRONTO
    Today is the last day for log submission, Sunday the 27th at 0300z.


    Hi, This is Alan VK4SN, Remembrance Day contest manager.

    My internet service provider sometimes thinks that logs coming
    to me is spam and are blocked.

    Please make sure that if you've sent a log, that your callsign
    is showing in the submitted logs link on vklogchecker.com
    If not, please email me. Details on the WIA RD page.

    I type up paper and attached logs to email, and submit
    to vklogchecker.com. All operators will get an automated
    acknowledgment when submitted. Success or failure is shown
    on screen when the log is submitted.


    Good luck
    This is Alan VK4SN


    --------------


    August 26 - 27 A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST IS THIS WEEKEND


    --------------


    Also this weekend, the CQ RTTYops Worldwide RTTY Contest which has
    two sessions between the 25th and 27th of August.

    The first session is between 2200UTC on the 25th and 1200UTC on the
    26th. The second session is from 1200 to 2359UTC on Sunday the 27th.

    Using RTTY only on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are
    permitted, the exchange is signal report and the four-digit year of
    your FIRST licence.

    (RSGB AND WIA)

    --------------

    THE LUCK OF THE IRISH.

    IRTS SSB Field Day

    The IRTS SSB Field Day will take from 13:00 UTC next Saturday
    September 2nd to 13:00 UTC on Sunday September 3rd.

    Activity will focus on SSB phone contacts in the 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and
    28 MHz bands.

    Details may be found at www.irts.ie/contests

    (irts)


    --------------


    OCTOBER - Oceania DX Contest

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)



    --------------------------------------------------------------------


    --------------

    DX WINDOW

    --------------

    First we see through the window is right here in Australia.

    VK5's Amateur Radio Experimenters Group have been celebrating their
    25th anniversary with the special event callsign - VI 25 AREG.

    VI25ARG ceases operation THURSDAY, August 31.

    (wia)

    -----------------

    NAURU.

    C 21 TS is on the HF bands using FT8 and SSB. QSL C21TS via M 0 OXO.

    (eHam)



    -----------------

    MARIANA ISLAND.

    QRV as KH0/DL2AH from Rota Island until September 14 on 80 to 6 meters
    using SSB and FT8. QSL direct to home call which of course is DL 2 AH.

    (eHam)


    -----------------

    ASIATIC RUSSIA.

    RI 0 Z from Beringa Island, IOTA AS-039, until September 3 marking
    the 30th anniversary of the Russian Robinson Club. Activity is on
    160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and various digital modes.

    QSL via operators' instructions.

    (eHam)


    -----------------

    LA 100 K is the special callsign in use by Akademisk Radioklubb,
    LA1K to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its foundation.

    It is the oldest amateur radio club in Norway.

    The special callsign will be in use until the 31st of December and
    QSL route is VERY easy, via the bureau, or direct.

    (eHam)




    ------------------------------------------------------------*




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    EchoLinks Jonathon Taylor K1 RFD

    The next Hunter Group meeting will be held on Thursday the 14th of
    September at the Electronics section at Newcastle TAFE.

    This meeting to our knowledge will be the first time this has
    happened in Australia. The meeting will be an online lecture by
    Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD.

    Jonathan is the gentleman who developed the popular Amateur Radio
    program EchoLink. He is an outstanding speaker and we feel this lecture is one not to be missed.

    EchoLink has just under half a million users validated on the system and is a tool used to link licenced Radio amateurs all over the world
    including people who have had to move into nursing home and no longer
    have access to their radio equipment. EchoLink is also an asset for
    licenced Amateurs travelling overseas who can't take their radio
    equipment with them.

    The Hunter Radio Group would love to have you attend this meeting and
    hear Jonathan's lecture.

    Our meeting starts at 6.30pm and you will be made welcome at our
    friendly club.

    There will be a live stream of the lecture by Zoom, supplied Amateur
    Radio New South Wales. Further details will be given in future broadcast.


    ZOOM details from Eric, VK2VE

    Eric van de Weyer has invited you to Hunter Lecture Jonathon Taylor
    Title: Hunter Lecture Jonathon Taylor
    Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89884640439?pwd=OTFVTjFjM2tteUhNQmRuclp2RVpLZz09
    When: Thursday, 14 September 2023 6:00 pm 10:00 pm
    Organiser:
    Eric van de Weyer <evdw@iprimus.com.au>
    Description: ARNSW Events is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

    Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89884640439?pwd=OTFVTjFjM2tteUhNQmRuclp2RVpLZz09

    Meeting ID: 898 8464 0439
    Passcode: 898540


    I'm Grahame VK2FA on behalf of the Hunter Radio Group for
    WIA National news




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FAITH.

    REMEMBERING THE PATRON SAINT OF AMATEUR RADIO

    History will not let anyone forget the horrors of the concentration
    camps of World War II. Hams in Mexico have devoted this month,
    August to remembering a Polish priest considered the patron
    saint of amateur radio.

    The Franciscan friar, Maximilian Kolbe, was killed at Auschwitz
    in 1941, giving his life in exchange for saving a Polish army
    sergeant condemned by the Nazis to die. In remembrance of the
    priest, who was declared a saint in the Roman Catholic Church in
    1982, the callsign 4 A 2 MAX has been on air all month.

    Father Kolbe is considered the patron saint of amateur radio.
    Using the callsign SP 3 RN, he went on shortwave radio in 1938
    from a station he built in the monastery to spread words of faith.

    Throughout August, the special event station in Mexico has been
    calling QRZ in his memory on various bands using CW, SSB and the
    digital modes. Details are available on QRZ.com.

    Hams unable to contact 4A2MAX this month can still check into the
    weekly Saint Maximilian Kolbe Radio Net, operated on Sundays
    year-round on 80, 20 and on the TGIF DMR Network Talk Group 3814.
    The net was founded in 1998 by a group of hams in the United States
    to commemorate the priest's martyrdom.

    SAINTMAXNET.ORG

    (arnewsline)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Slovakia and Romania are preparing to launch digipeating
    satellites following coordination of their frequencies by
    the International Amateur Radio Union. The Slovakian satellite, a 1U
    CubeSat, will have experimental slow-scan digital video as well as a
    digipeater operating around the clock on two different bands. Because
    the satellite has an educational role to fulfil, there will be
    messages transmitted in both CW and using AX.25 occasionally.

    The IARU has coordinated a downlink on 436.680 MHz.

    The Romanian satellite is a picoSAT with the primary role of serving
    as a digital amateur radio repeater. A CW beacon will also be
    transmitted so hams can measure various properties of the signal and
    detect its speed by using Doppler. The satellite will also transmit low-resolution SSDV images in GFSK mode.

    The satellite will be using a downlink on 436.235 MHz. CW will be sent
    at 20 wpm. GFSK telemetry will be sent at 500 bps and GFSK SSDV will
    be sent at 5 kBps.

    (arnewsline)





    Amateur Radio Operator 'hacks' NASA Satellite".

    While the phrase is eye-catching for social media, the truth is just
    as exciting. Amateur radio astronomer Scott Tilley, VE7TIL, has made
    contact with NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft, which passed Earth for the
    first time in 17 years.

    The STEREO-A (Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory) spacecraft
    we told you of again recently here on WIA national news, was
    launched in 2006.

    "I'm having fun with STEREO-A," Tilley reported to Spaceweather.com
    "The spacecraft is close to Earth and I can now receive its signal
    using a small 26-inch dish in my backyard , its channel is on
    8443.58 MHz"






    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA

    Thousands of amateur radio enthusiasts visited 'Rocket City'
    for the annual Huntsville HamFest and this year, something a little
    different which I'm sure many an Aussie HamFest could pick up.

    YOUTH LOUNGE.

    Jessica Molo of the HUNTSVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB told how " In
    order to try and get some more youth into the hobby and just display
    what it is what we do, we actually had a youth lounge. This where
    the kids could come to gather, and actually get on the radio with us
    kind of coaching them"

    This annual conference has been bringing enthusiasts together since
    1954 and is known as The Worlds Friendliest HamFest. At this
    years HamFest, people were able to take part in exam sessions, sit
    in on one of the many forums, visit one of the many vendors, and
    of course take part in one of the activities in the youth lounge.

    (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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    When All Else Fails.

    After 18 months of preparation, the Bendigo Amateur Radio and
    Electronics Club (BAREC), will conduct the first
    *community-focussed* emergency communications exercise ever held
    in Australia.

    Operation *RADAR*, the *Rapid Deployment of Amateur Radio*, will
    fill a critical gap in emergency planning by providing
    communications resources to bushfire evacuees and regional
    administrators when electricity, mobile phone networks and
    internet have failed.

    On the morning of Sunday 3rd September, 8 Bushfire Places of
    Last Resort around the City of Bendigo will be activated with
    stand-alone field radio stations linked to the BAREC headquarters
    at Bendigo East Hall and to outlying stations up to 300km away.

    The RADAR model is unique in Australia, deploying expert
    communications volunteers in support of the communities of which
    they are part.

    The RADAR model was formulated in response to warnings about climate
    change and answers the call from all levels of government for
    communities to become more self-reliant in the face of regional
    emergencies.

    The City of Greater Bendigo and Mt Alexander Shire are providing
    observers from their Emergency Management Teams to help evaluate
    the new model.

    Amateur operators in Central Victoria are advised that the VK3RCV
    repeater will be used during the exercise and that stations not
    involved are respectfully requested not to use the repeater during
    the exercise however are welcome to monitor.

    HF Outlier stations will be operating on 40 metres 7.115MHz lower
    sideband and regular public announcements will be made requesting
    that this frequency be kept clear for exercise traffic.

    BAREC President, Neil VK3ZVX, notes that the principle points of
    difference between Operation RADAR and previous emergency exercises
    are its focus on radio amateurs providing communications services
    to their local community, rather than acting as an adjunct to state
    agencies, and the fact that local knowledge plays a pivotal role in
    the rapid deployment of resources.

    This approach, he says, allows amateur radio groups greater
    autonomy, significantly reduces barriers to participation, ensures
    that communications resources are deployed to the locations most
    needed, and that planning is carried out with the greatest possible
    awareness of local conditions.

    Operation RADAR will commence Sunday September 3 at 0700 eastern
    time and will conclude shortly before 1300.

    A video of the exercise will be made available on the BAREC
    YouTube channel at a later date.




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    VK2 - Hunter Radio Group meeting September 14 an online lecture by
    Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD who wrote EchoLink. (VK2FA)

    VK2 - SARCFEST 8am Saturday 23 September (vk2acd)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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
    SEEN-BY: 1/100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 113 114 115 116 117 SEEN-BY: 1/118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 130 132 133 134 135 136 SEEN-BY: 1/137 138 139 140 142 143 144 145 147 148 151 154 155 156 157 158 159 SEEN-BY: 1/160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Aug 31 17:05:37 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-09-03.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 SEPTEMBER 3 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 SEP 3 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA VICE PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR LEE MOYLE VK3GK and ACMA LATEST

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    Firstly wishing all the DX dads a happy fathers day and hoping
    that All Time New One does LOTW.

    Earlier this week our friends at ACMA released their latest Update
    on the Proposed amateur radio qualification and assessor
    accreditation arrangements.

    In May 2023, ACMA advised that:
    the Australian Maritime College (AMC) had decided not to extend
    its deed for services related to amateur qualifications and call
    sign recommendations

    the ACMA plans to deliver these services from February 2024

    ACMA would consult on proposed new arrangements for an ACMA-managed
    scheme in August 2023.

    ACMA are now consulting on proposed arrangements for a new amateur
    radio qualification framework and assessor accreditation scheme to
    be managed by the ACMA and they propose to start implementing these
    arrangements in December 2023, so they are in place when the amateur
    class licence begins in February 2024.

    To support the ACMAs new functions, ACMA propose to introduce new
    fees for issuing ACMA recognition certificates, assessing
    applications for recognition of prior learning and issuing call
    signs. The fees proposed are similar to the current AMC fees for
    these services. A full outline of these fees and how they have been
    calculated is contained in their draft 202324 fees for service Cost
    Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS), which is also open for
    consultation.

    ACMA invite comments from stakeholders on both consultations by 5 pm
    (AEST), Tuesday 26 September 2023.

    Update: Scientific licensing guidelines.

    ACMA are also publishing information to support the consideration of
    applications for assigned scientific licences to authorise certain
    higher-power experimentation uses by amateurs. The updated
    Scientific apparatus licences Guidelines will provide further
    information about using and applying for scientific apparatus
    licences, including for the use of high-power amateur stations.
    ACMA will let us know when these guidelines are published on ACMAs
    website.

    Response to submissions: September 2022 consultation.

    ACMA have considered the submissions made during the September 2022
    consultation on proposed class-licensing arrangements and the
    proposal for staged implementation of high-power authorisation for
    amateur operators. ACMAs response to submissions outlines what they
    heard from stakeholders in the consultation and ACMAs answers,
    outcomes and next steps.

    An important clarification is in a previous ACMA update on
    19 July 2023 ACMA advised of proposed changes to amateur access in
    5052 MHz and 3.43.6 GHz frequency bands. This was incorrect as the
    changes were implemented in accordance with the Radiocommunications
    Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Omnibus Amendment Instrument
    2023 (No.1). These amendments commenced on 14 July 2023 and changed
    amateur operators access in the 5052 MHz in and 3.43.6 GHz
    frequency bands.

    This means that Standard Class operators have had access to the full
    6m band from July 14th.

    More information on the Overseas Class Licence and associated
    operating permits for amateurs visiting Australia can be found on
    the WIA website news section and the ACMA website.


    Last week WIA Secretary and Director, Peter Clee VK8ZZ announced the
    appointments to several volunteer positions including the Technical
    Advisory Committee, Ross Hull Contest manager, Spectrum Strategy
    Committee and the QSL Bureau.

    This week the Board are pleased to confirm the following
    appointments to the Youth On The Air team:

    * YOTA Co-ordinator - Steve Kennedy VK6SJ
    * YOTA Deputy Co-ordinator - Alec Cherry VK2APC


    The Board of the WIA congratulates Steve and Alec and looks forward
    to them promoting YOTA activities to both existing and aspiring
    amateurs alike.

    The Wireless Institute was well represented at the Tokyo hamfair on
    the weekend of the 19th and 20th of August. Hamfair attendees
    usually number around 30,000 for the weekend function. This year the
    DX Seminar and DX dinner were held on the Saturday night with many
    JA and international hams attending. WIA past and present directors
    attending hamfair included Peter Young VK3MV, WIA Life Member and
    past WIA Director and past IARU Region 3 Director. Chris Platt
    VK5CP, past WIA Director, Oscar Reyes VK3TX / JK1TYB who is the
    current IARU Region 3 Director and past WIA Director and myself,
    Lee Moyle VK3GK / JK1UIR Current WIA Vice President.

    Discussions on numerous topics were had with IARU president
    Tim Ellam VE6SH, MARTS President Mohd 9M2IR and several other
    international society members.

    IARU had their Annual meeting in Tokyo on the same weekend where the
    JA winner of the IARU contest is given the plaque sponsored by the
    WIA.

    For now, 73 From Lee VK3GK


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    THE LUCK OF THE IRISH.

    IRTS SSB Field Day This Weekend.

    The IRTS SSB Field Day is taking place from 13:00 UTC Saturday
    September 2nd to 13:00 UTC Sunday September 3rd.

    Activity will focus on SSB phone contacts in the 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and
    28 MHz bands.

    Details may be found at www.irts.ie/contests

    (irts)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX Contest

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)



    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW - SEPTEMBER
    --------------
    --------------

    VI 10 VKFF running all year celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    VK 90 AR for Amateur Radio Magazine.

    October 2023, this year, sees your WIA celebrating 90 years of
    continuous publishing of Amateur Radio Magazine, the official
    journal of the Wireless Institute of Australia.

    The WIA will be running the VK90AR activity until December 31.

    (wia)

    --------------

    Special Event Station VI 100 MB all year celebrates the centenary of
    the Manly-Warringah Radio Society

    --------------

    NIUE
    E 6 AM from October 10 to 23.
    CW, SSB, FT8 and maybe some RTTY on 160 to 6 meters.
    QSL via Club Log's OQRS (preferred), LoTW, or via LZ1GC, direct or bureau.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    Kazu, M0CFW (JK3GAD) will again be active from Rodrigues island as
    3B9KW during the CQWW CW contest (November 25-26).

    Activity before/after contest (November 19 to December 1) as
    3B9/M0CFW.

    QSL via LoTW.

    (dxworld)

    --------------

    TAIWAN

    BM 0 QSO until December 31, using mostly digital modes.
    QSL via BM 2 JCC.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    NORWAY

    LA 100 K is the special callsign in use by Akademisk [ACA-DEM-EESK]
    Radioklubb, LA1K to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its
    foundation.

    It is the oldest amateur radio club in Norway.

    The special callsign will be in use until the 31st of December and
    QSL route is VERY easy, via the bureau, or direct.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    LUXEMBOURG

    LX 90 RTL is in use to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Radio
    Luxembourgs first long-wave broadcast.

    It will be used by various LX operators until the end of the year.

    Listen for the callsign on the HF bands on SSB, CW, digital modes
    and via satellite. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the
    DARC bureau. The logs will be uploaded to Club Log, Logbook of the
    World and eQSL on a regular basis.

    For more information see QRZ.com

    (rsgb)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    IARU Region 1 will hold its next General Conference from the 1st to
    the 4th of November in Serbia.

    Topics include: general reports; organisational and budget
    proposals; the new HF Band plan; VHF, UHF and SHF changes; and
    consideration of WRC-23, the World Radiocommunication Conference,
    which follows shortly afterwards. Other themes include:
    strategic projects and progress, accommodating digital technologies,
    contests, EMC and other spectrum matters.




    It has been announced that the UK will host the worlds first summit
    on artificial intelligence safety in November. The AI summit will be
    held at the iconic Bletchley Park, which is one of the birthplaces
    of computer science.





    REGION TWO

    The meeting of the International Amateur Radio Union Region 2
    Executive Committee met virtually on August 2 with Region 2
    President and Area A Director George Gorsline, VE3YV, presiding
    over the meeting.

    A major topic of discussion was the status of the Region 2
    preparations for the upcoming WRC-23 which will be held in Dubai
    in November. Region 2 representation at CITEL and CTU meetings were
    reviewed and plans were confirmed for representation at the WRC.




    Members of the Champlain Valley Amateur Radio Club gathered last weekend at the Atlas F Missile Silo in Champlain to make the first silo-to-silo radio contact there since the 1960s.

    The original goal was to just set up and test our equipment, Matt Pray, CVARC Second Vice President, said.

    But it turns out, I found out about a group, through my friend, out in Texas who was doing a similar event at an Atlas F Missile site there, so we decided we were going to try and make contact.

    SILO-TO-SILO CONTACT

    The group set up a 15-meter antenna suspended between two poles and utilized two custom-built radios operated by Pray and Mark Varin, president of the club, in effort to make contact with an operator at an Atlas site in Texas.

    We thought it would be a unique thing, not only to set up and test here, but this might be the first time there has been any silo-to-silo contact since the cold war of the 60s, Pray said.

    bit.ly/3QUODK




    Diane Sutter is set to receive the 2023 National Radio Award from
    the National Association of Broadcasters this USA fall.

    Diane is the founder and dean of the NAB Leadership Foundations
    Broadcast Leadership Training program, a 10-month MBA-style course
    designed to teach aspiring broadcast owners and senior-level
    executives particularly women and people of colour the
    fundamentals of purchasing, owning and running successful radio and
    television stations.

    Nearly 400 broadcasters have graduated from BLT since its inception
    24 years ago




    In an inspiring show of camaraderie, a tight-knit ham radio community of YouTubers rallied around Ranae Six (KR 5 S.I.X.) August 18 as she undertook a heart-stopping parachute jump on behalf of her husband Vern Six (KV 5 S.I.X). Vern, who has already completed 14 jumps.

    Ranae was able to jump in tandem with the well-known parachute mobile ham operator KD9OLN, Carlos. KD9OLN agreed to the jump and assisted Ranae in completing this daring achievement from 12,800 feet. This achievement has been recognized globally and showcases the power of unity and determination within the adventurous amateur radio community. What makes this achievement even more astonishing is that Ranae's successful jump led her to become one of only five people worldwide to establish a QSO under such extreme circumstances. Her first of three contacts during the canopy 246 second descent was to her husband Vern (KV5SIX).

    You can find out more about KD9OLN on his YouTube channel, @lifeatterminalvelocity.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    REWIND

    Howden Crystals

    Barry McCann from Tas Maritime Radio dropped a box crystals off at
    the REAST Clubrooms in Hobart the other day and Justin VK7TW went
    through them and found a couple of FT-243 holder Max Howden branded
    crystals.

    This sparked his interest to find out more as this name is well
    known to many VK Amateurs.

    The following is sourced from the Radio Museum website.

    Walter Francis Maxwell Howden (1899-1980) made the first successful,
    two-way amateur telegraphic shortwave radio contact between
    Australia and the US on November 4, 1924, followed by England 9 days
    later.
    This was from the experimental station "VK3BQ" he operated at his
    residence in Box Hill, Melbourne.

    In 1924, he worked as a Consulting Engineer for Corbett, Derham &
    Co. designing Tunaphone radios.

    After a visit by Alf Treager and Dr John Flynn of the Royal Flying
    Doctor Service in 1930 he agreed to manufacture and supply crystals
    for Treager Flying doctor radios. This was the start of his business
    which he operated from his home.

    As business increased, he built a workshop/factory in his backyard.

    Initially the crystals were hand-ground and he later invested in a
    lapping machine. His staff were mainly family and he supplied the
    military with crystals during WW2. He supplied crystals to industry
    and radio amateurs until he retired in the 1970s with his son
    taking over the business which he ran until the 1980s.

    radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=20140


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/


    POTA IN THE 1940s

    Not only did these 'park' activators need steer clear of foxes and 'drop bears' but a heavily armed group intent on tracking these ops
    down.

    Half re-enactment & half actual footage, "Churchill's Secret Agents"
    is a 5-part documentary available on Netflix and in Episode 4,
    details the Morse training received by SOE agents and discusses the
    advantages of CW over voice comms for field operation.

    The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a secret British World
    War II organisation.

    What makes it pertinent to POTA is the role of these SOE radio
    operators, their value - and typical short longevity when deployed,
    the (suitcase) portable rigs they used, accurate discussion of the
    value of Morse Code, the German triangulation/hunting of the
    transmitters, etc., including working their radios out in the woods
    including wire antennas tossed into the trees (sounds familiar?).

    (blogs.radio)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Teams Hack U.S. Air Force Satellite in Space Cybersecurity Contest

    The United States Air Force has successfully concluded its
    pioneering Hack-A-Sat competition.

    The competition, which took place as part of the annual DEF CON
    hacking convention in Las Vegas cantered on the task of hacking
    into active satellite Moonlighter, in orbit.

    Emerging triumphant was the Italian consortium, a fusion of five
    Italian cyber research teams, whose accomplishment netted them the
    coveted first-place position and a princely sum of $50,000.
    Following closely in second place was the squad hailing from Poland,
    pocketing $30,000 for their impressive performance.

    The essence of the competition was the penetration of Moonlighter's
    protective layers, enabling participants to override the satellite's
    predetermined scope of observation targets. Successful teams then
    wielded the power to direct the satellite's lens towards desired
    focal points on the Earth's surface, capturing images that were
    subsequently relayed back to ground stations as proof.

    (amsat-na)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Galway Radio Experimenter's Club annual DXpedition to Inisbofin
    Island has been heard on air and they pack up today, the 3rd of
    September

    Inisbofin Island has an area of approximately only 12 Sq. Km,
    and is situated off shore some 7km N.W. of Clifden County Galway.

    EJ 4 GRC is their station and IOTA number is EU-121

    (ham radio ireland)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian lights planned and advised to WIA :-
    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club


    Recently we saw the 26th annual International Lighthouse Lightship
    Weekend event take place with 409 stations listed in 42 countries.

    The USA was just ahead of Germany with 65 entries to 62 closely
    followed by Australia with a respectable 40. There were some good
    dx contacts to be made with Gibraltar, Trinidad, Iceland, Guernsey
    to name a few.

    The relaxed nature of this 2 day event seems to appeal to Oz
    amateurs as we only have 400 lighthouses, most of which are
    inaccessible yet 10% of them were activated over the weekend.

    The ILLW is unique in that it is not a contest or an award, it is
    free and logs are not required. It is an opportunity to go portable
    and show the public what amateur radio and lighthouses are all
    about.

    Give it a try next year AND let us here at WIA National News also
    know of your activation plans so we can give you a 'free plug'.

    Those listening in VK4 or via Tony VK7AX's site we'll have
    a full report on an activation of Grassy Hill Light, also known as
    Cooktown Light, an active lighthouse located on Grassy Hill above
    Cooktown, Queensland, on the south side of the entrance to
    Endeavour River.

    And whilst still in Maritime, from that ONLY vk club that told us
    beforehand they were going to activate a light,

    "Hi all this is Nathan VK5DAD from the south coast, amateur radio
    club, on the weekend of the 19th and 20th of August We operated the
    point Malcolm Lighthouse we made 195 contacts on the HF band and
    worked 22 countries. The highlight of my weekend was a contact made
    with Brian VK5BK at 103 years young.

    The contact was great and very fulfilling.

    On Thursday, 7 September at 7:30 pm at our clubrooms Seaford Meadows
    Scout Hall Railway Parade we have a tech talk by Paul VK5PAS on the
    trip to Troubridge Island, we would love to see you for the talk.

    On the 23rd and 24th of September South Coast amateur radio club are
    looking to hold a foundation course with exam. Please contact Mike
    VK5ZC@SCARC.org.au

    73 all and hope to catch you on the air soon.

    This has been Nathan VK5DAD from the south coast, amateur radio
    club incP"

    (Kevin vk2ce - Graham vk4bb)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that the
    Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia's September bulletin
    goes to air tomorrow.

    Frequency change.
    Eastern states listeners are reminded that the 00 hours UTC
    transmission is now on 28.450 MHz, not 14.150 megs. Full details
    of this change plus all other broadcast times can be found on the
    Club's website

    raotc.org.au

    or by Googling RAOTC broadcasts.

    WA listeners are reminded of the experimental 28.450 megs
    transmission scheduled for 2 pm Perth time tomorrow afternoon.

    This month, instead of the usual broadcast, we offer an interesting
    historical broadcast from 2001 by Allan Doble, VK3AMD. The latest
    news and information will be broadcast next month.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the
    audio file at any time from today from the Club's website.

    The next lunchtime meeting for Members and Friends of the RAOTC in
    Perth is on Tuesday September 12th at the Woodbridge Hotel,
    East Guildford starting at 11.30. All are welcome; see our website
    for full details.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the September RAOTC bulletin,
    enjoy the program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    1st Yass Cub Scouts had a communications activity on Wednesday night, 23 August.

    There was a lot of preplanning and coordination that went into getting amateurs lined up to answer the Cubs HF calls on the chosen frequency.

    The call went out to the Wagga Amateur Radio club and the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club for volunteers to assist.

    Pete, V K 2 P E T gave a briefing to the cubs before the activities on radio started.

    This brief included behaviour expected around in the radio room, who they will be in contact with, radio operating protocol and a tour of VK2PETs car that is full of radios!

    Cubs came in groups of 2 or 3 to have a quick chat to either Phil V K 2 N E or Michael V K 2 A M F.

    In the radio room, Don V k 2 X D T was at the microphone with VK2PET, Stacey V K 2 S J C & Jenny V K 2 T O T helping out in the background.

    The Cubs used the callsign V I 100 Y S G to help celebrate the 100 years of Yass scouting.

    The cubs asked quite a few good questions of VK2NE and VK2AMF.

    Both of these gentlemen were very patent with the cubs, which helped greatly to make this a fun event for the cubs to get their communications badge, and a lead up to JOTA/JOTI in October.

    Yass Scout Group sends a big thanks to everyone that helped with making this event a successes, including a special thanks to VK2NE and VK2AMF, and to the other operators on backup on the local 2m repeaters.

    For VK1WIA National News, I am Alec VK2APC in Sydney.
    Now back over to you Col




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    When All Else Fails.

    After 18 months of preparation, the Bendigo Amateur Radio and
    Electronics Club (BAREC), is currently part-way through the *community-focussed* emergency communications exercise Operation RaDAR, the Rapid
    Deployment of Amateur Radio created to fill a critical gap in emergency planning by providing communications resources to bushfire evacuees and regional administrators when electricity, mobile phone networks and
    internet have failed.

    Commencing at 7am today, Sunday 3rd September, 8 Bushfire Places of Last
    Resort around the City of Bendigo are currently being activated with stand-alone field radio stations linked to the BAREC headquarters at
    Bendigo East Hall and to outlying stations up to 300km away. An important correction: Last week we reported the BAREC exercise was thought to be the first of its kind in Australia and have since learned
    there have in fact been some similar amateur radio exercises conducted
    in Australia, some during actual emergencies. BAREC thanks those for
    setting the record straight and congratulates all amateur clubs and
    individual operators for their contributions assisting communities in
    need.

    Operation RaDAR is being conducted via the VK3RCV repeater in Central
    Victoria and on 40M 7.115MHz and will conclude shortly before 1300 today.

    A video of the exercise will be made available on the BAREC YouTube
    channel at a later date.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK4 - SUNFEST SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an)
    At Mountain Creek State Schools massive air conditioned
    auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek
    is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba


    The next Hunter Radio Group meeting will be held on Thursday the 14th of September at the Electronics Section at Newcastle TAFE.

    Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, who developed Echolink, the Voice over Internet Protocol network for linking repeaters and amateurs, will be
    a guest of the Hunter Radio Group VK2AWX in Newcastle on the 14th of
    September. Echolink has a global reach of nearly half a million
    amateur radio users.

    For those who cannot attend the talk in person, Amateur Radio New
    South Wales will provide a link via Zoom, where Jonathan will deliver
    his talk remotely. Jonathan, a resident of Connecticut USA, was
    inducted into the CQ magazine Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2005.
    The programme will take place between 18:00 and 22:00 AEST

    ZOOM details from Eric, VK2VE

    Eric van de Weyer has invited you to Hunter Lecture Jonathon Taylor
    Title: Hunter Lecture Jonathon Taylor
    Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89884640439?pwd=OTFVTjFjM2tteUhNQmRuclp2RVpLZz09
    When: Thursday, 14 September 2023 6:00 pm 10:00 pm
    Organiser:
    Eric van de Weyer <evdw@iprimus.com.au>
    Description: ARNSW Events is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

    Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89884640439?pwd=OTFVTjFjM2tteUhNQmRuclp2RVpLZz09

    Meeting ID: 898 8464 0439
    Passcode: 898540

    I'm Grahame VK2FA on behalf of the Hunter Radio Group for
    WIA National news


    VK2 - SARCFEST 8am Saturday 23 September (vk2acd)

    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Sep 7 16:21:11 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-09-10.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 SEPTEMBER 10 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 SEP 10 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGIONN ONE

    UBA, ROYAL BELGIAN AMATEUR RADIO UNION has been advised by their
    regulator, the radio amateur service in Belgium now has access to the
    frequency range 40.660 40.690 MHz on a secondary basis for holders of
    a class A operating certificate i.e. the HAREC licence.

    Quite a few conditions are in place including a power limit of 5 W ERP,
    a bandwidth limit of 3 kHz and it will not only be mandatory to keep a
    logbook in which all transmissions are noted BUT at the end of each
    year, the holder must submit his logbook to BIPT, their regulator.

    This is an important development as Belgium now joins Ireland (EI),
    Slovenia (S5) and South Africa (ZS) with official amateur radio
    allocations on the 40 MHz band.




    UK RADIO FANS LAUNCH PETITION TO SAVE BBC's LONGWAVE SERVICE

    Radio fans in the UK are raising their voices - and a petition - to
    convince the BBC to keep a longstanding favourite radio service.
    We hear about their efforts from Amateur Radio NewsLine and Jeremy Boot
    G4NJH.

    A petition drive has been launched to press the BBC to reverse its plans to take its longwave service on 198 kHz off the air by 31st March 2024. The BBC made the announcement in May 2022 that it was closing its longwave transmitter, describing it as a dying technology.

    According to the petitioners on the Change.org website, the single longwave transmitter at Droitwich is efficient, covering most of the UK and northern Europe. It is viewed as one of the more historic features of the BBC, and its planned shutdown would come a mere six months before it marked its 90 years on the air. The Change.org petitioners called it [quote] "a historic radio lifeline." [endquote]

    BBC Radio 4 has already begun a public information campaign to convince listeners to make the change from longwave to the broadcaster's other platforms. Those platforms are expected to carry many of the programmes now on Radio 4 Longwave, including Test Match Special, Yesterday in Parliament, Shipping Forecast and the Daily Church Service. The BBC has been following listeners' trend toward favouring digital radio and has acknowledged on its website that a wide range of alternative listening services have become available.

    This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.





    REGION TWO

    On-Air Special Event Celebrates 56 Years of Handiham Program.

    Tomorrow, Monday, September 11, as part of the 2023 Handiham Radio
    Camp, they will be conducting a special event QSO party to honour the
    56th Anniversary of the "Courage Kenny Handiham Program".

    The goal is to work as many stations as possible throughout the United
    States and beyond on both SSB and CW on 10, 15, 20, and 40 meters
    from 16:00 21:00 UTC.

    Using both W 0 ZSW and W 0 EQO, two call signs with a rich history in
    the Handiham Program.

    The Courage Kenny Handiham Program helps people with disabilities earn
    their amateur radio license and get on the air. The goal is to assist
    in all aspects of life while promoting STEM related activities. Since
    1967, the Handiham mission has been To empower people with
    disabilities to reach their full potential in every aspect of life.




    RadioShack's New Owner Plots Old Comeback Strategy:

    RadioShack has been acquired by El Salvador-based Unicomer Group with a
    plan to overhaul its website and add new programs driven by its
    heritage in technological innovation for franchised operators.
    RadioShack will seek to establish an Amazon.com storefront and revive
    franchise development.

    Founded in 1921 to provide equipment for amateur ham radio operators,
    RadioShack now has around 400 stores worldwide, down from a peak of
    over 7,000 in 2003.





    REGION THREE

    Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared in 2014 carrying 239
    passengers with its final resting place remaining a mystery - however,
    amateur radio technology may have found it according to a new news
    story attributed to mirror.co.uk dated September 1 2023.

    tinyurl.com/muptnfxa

    It is believed flight MH370 could be found about 1,560km west of Perth,
    thanks to the amateur radio technology Weak Signal Propagation
    Reporter, or WSPR. WSPR was used by researchers to track the Boeing
    777's flight path for six hours after contact was lost.

    In a new 229-page report, the team say: "The results represent credible
    new evidence. It aligns with analyses by Boeing and drift analyses by
    University of Western Australia of debris recovered around the Indian
    Ocean."

    The final resting place is slightly north of previous estimates. The
    researchers said: "Together with the data, a comprehensive picture of
    the final hours can be collated. Flight MH370 was diverted into the
    Indian Ocean where it crashed of fuel exhaustion at some point after
    the last signal after midnight.

    At the time of writing, MH370 still has not been found despite
    extensive surface and underwater searches.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------

    Quite a lot of increased activity has been heard through the week from
    the UK.

    Air Ambulance Week 2023 has been taking place and it ends today Sunday
    the 10th of September. Lots of amateur radio stations have been on the
    air to help raise awareness of the lifesaving work that is carried out
    by the UKs air ambulance charities.

    airambulancesuk.org

    Then starting yesterday, the popular Churches and Chapels on the Air
    event, also known as CHOTA, has been taking place.

    wacral.org

    (rsgb)


    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------

    ALARA Contest - August 26 - 27

    This is a reminder that if you participated in this contest you need
    to submit your logs AND logs need to be received by the Contest Manager
    by the 30th September 2023.

    email:
    alaracontest@wia.org.au

    --------------

    The 64th Scandinavian Activity Contest will be held on 16 and 17
    September for CW and the SSB leg 14 and 15 October.

    Scandinavian stations, i.e., Aland Islands, Denmark, Faroe Islands,
    Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Jan Mayen, Market Reef, Norway, Svalbard
    and Bear Island and Sweden will try to work as many non-Scandinavian
    stations as possible and vice versa.

    A great contest to maybe pick up some rarer stations.

    Complete information of the SAC events can be found at
    sactest.net

    (sarl)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX Contest

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------

    Greg, 8 P 9 GB from Barbados, IOTA number NA-021 from the 8th to the
    15th of September on 60-10 metres and possibly 6 metres. During their
    local afternoon hours he will be on SSB; in the evenings he will operate
    CW.

    (ARNewsLine 2392)

    -----------------

    Harald, D 44 TWO from Sao Tiago, IOTA number AF-005, Cape Verde until
    the 17th of September using CW, SSB and FT8 on the HF bands and 6 metres. He will also operate via the QO-100 satellite.

    (ARNewsLine 2392)

    --------------

    BRAZIL.

    Members of the Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Radio Emissao are QRV
    with special event call sign ZV 201 ID until today, September 9 to mark
    the 201st anniversary of the independence of Brazil.

    QSL via LoTW.

    (eHam)

    -----------------

    The special callsign VI7ALARA is active on the HF bands until the 8th of November, commemorating the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association's meeting to be held in Hobart, Tasmania. The callsign is being operated by a number of YLs in Tasmania and throughout Australia. See QRZ.com for more details.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    NET ADVICE

    NEW ZEALAND

    Grandparents Grandkids Amateur Radio Net
    Sunday 1 October (NZ Grandparents Day) 3PM their local time.

    Peter Henderson ZL1PX, writing in NZ INFOLINE says "Every radio club
    in the country needs more members. Here a chance to do something
    about it by creating a happy, successful memory of ham radio in your
    grandchilds life by inviting them to your shack and tuning in to
    Grandparents Grandkids Net.

    Theyll never forget the day Grandad/Grandma talked on the radio
    with them. And, eventually, that will lead some of them to join
    NZART and a local club.

    How is it run?

    Invite your grandkids over for a midday meal. After its cleaned
    away, get them in the shack and introduce them to Grandparents -
    Grandkids Amateur Radio Net.

    A net leader will call for check-ins at 3 PM. When all families are
    checked in, every participant will get a chance to describe their
    grandparent or grandchild on a friendly ham radio connection with
    such topics as what does my grandad/grandma like to do?
    What does my Grandson/granddaughter like to do?

    2M repeaters will be used for each NZ region


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    REWIND

    Space Shuttle Remembered in todays REWIND.

    Im VK4FJRK

    Last July, marked the 12th anniversary of the last Space
    Shuttle mission. Ham astronauts operated amateur radio in space
    on a number of shuttle missions, providing many with their first
    opportunity to contact an astronaut in space -- an opportunity still
    actively pursued today through Amateur Radio on the International
    Space Station (ARISS).

    Over three decades, the five NASA space shuttles were launched on
    135 flights to orbit. The shuttles collectively travelled more than
    537 million miles and spent more than three and half years in orbit.

    355 people flew aboard the shuttles, including Sally Ride, the first
    American woman to fly to space. Her first mission was aboard the
    Challenger in 1983.

    Missions averaged about 10 days, with the shortest at 2 days, 6 hours
    and the longest 17 days, 15 hours.

    Mission objective included building the International Space Station,
    carrying large satellites to space and maintaining equipment like the
    Hubble Space Telescope. Ten missions remain classified, with little
    to no information publicly available.

    Ultimately, the fatalities on Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003
    helped bring about the end of the Shuttle program. The investigation
    in the loss of Columbia concluded that safety improvements would be
    costly. The program was shut down after construction on the ISS was
    complete.

    My time is up - for REWIND, I'm John Knox VK4FJRK.

    [ANS]


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/

    In New Zealand, hams will be activating summits and remembering a
    devoted SOTA friend and colleague, as we hear from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF
    on Amateur Radio NewsLine..

    The sudden death of Andrew White, ZL3CC, in March of 2018 was a difficult loss for many of the amateur radio friends who had come to know the Christchurch operator through Summits on the Air and his SOTA activation blog. New Zealand hams are especially grateful that Andrew played a big role in establishing SOTA on the South Island. On May 1st, 2016, the day that the South Island officially became active in the SOTA programme, Andrew wrote happily on his blog and thanked the many friends on the team who helped make it happen.

    Many of his radio friends set aside the closest Saturday to what would have been Andrew's birthday to hold Andrew White ZL3CC memorial day. This year it is on the 9th of September. It is a day of activation, summit-to-summit contacts when possible and then fellowship at a nearby cafe, often near the Banks Peninsula summits. Operators will be able to honour Andrew and work toward the ZL3 award at the same time.

    It would no doubt please him to know that the South Island summits are still alive with RF.

    This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    Learning to send and copy Morse code involves many skills;

    Vince Alvino, writing in turbofuture.com has an article on such skills.
    in this article, he covers six of the most important ones and knowing
    these will make anyone a better CW operator. They are:

    Listening
    Timing
    Instant character recognition
    Codes and abbreviations
    Attention
    Mirroring

    Mirroring I hear you say?

    When starting a new conversation (QSO), it is best to mirror the speed
    of the other person. This is a distinct sign of a good operator, and
    not just in CW. The first thing is to identify their speed and adjust
    to them. Then, you want to match their QSO by sending your information
    in the same format they sent to you.

    If they send their location, name, and weather report. Then return the
    same three things in that order; after that, add something new or turn
    it back over to them.

    It is difficult to know the skill level of someone you just started a
    new QSO with, and this makes it easier for them to copy what is being
    sent. This is called mirroring because your sending format matches, or
    mirrors theirs.

    (eHam)




    September is Canadian Straight Key Month

    The Straight Key Century Clubs yearly on-air event promotes the clubs
    many Canadian members. This year VC 3 K is the special call sign that
    has been granted in Canada for this event, which is referred to as
    Canadian Straight Key Month.

    VC3K runs September 1 through September 30 and is a perfect time to
    introduce or reacquaint Amateurs to the fun of hand-keyed Morse code
    sent with straight keys, bugs, and side-swipers.

    SKCC members and non-members alike are welcome to hunt the Canadian
    based VC3K stations. Non-members are encouraged but not required to
    use straight keys for their VC3K contacts.

    SKCC website skccgroup.com

    (rac)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    NASA officials have sounded an alarm about the agencys Deep Space
    Network, a collection of antennas here in Australia and in California
    and Spain, used to maintain contact with missions scattered across the
    Solar System.

    Everything from NASAs Artemis missions to the Moon to the Voyager
    probes in interstellar space rely on the Deep Space Network to receive
    commands and transmit data back to Earth. There are currently around
    40 missions that rely on the DSNs antennas to stay in communication
    with controllers and scientists back here on Earth.

    Another 40-plus missions will join the roster over the next decade or
    so, and many of the 40 missions currently using time on the network
    will likely still be operating over that time.

    We have reached a really critical point on the DSNs aging
    infrastructure, said Sandra Cauffman, deputy director of NASAs
    astrophysics division.

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    On October 4th 2023, a band of ten experienced ham radio DXpeditioners will be QRV from Swains Island in the South Pacific.

    Particularly those in VK4 Swains Island is NOTHING to do with your
    off coastline Swains Reef.

    This much sought after QSO on Swains is ranked #27 on the Club Log
    most wanted DXCC list. DX Hall of Famer, and W8S teammate, Adrian
    Ciuperca KO8SCA explains their entire operation in detail including
    the teams unique relationship with the island owners, the Jennings family, who are providing a significant amount of logistical support
    for the trip.

    Before you get on the air to make your contact, learn more about Swains and the effort being made to bring you this rare DXCC, IOTA and POTA contact.

    youtube.com/watch?v=0w0FXQ7E0yE

    (dxworld)




    IOTA Ltd has, from 1 September 2023, established a DXpedition Fund to
    help reduce the costs of expeditions to the rarer and less accessible
    IOTA groups.

    Administered by the IOTA Board it will consider making grants to
    operations from IOTA references confirmed by less than 25% of IOTA
    members based on the last 10-year listing in IOTAs Most Wanted List.

    The grant request should be submitted more than 30 days prior to the
    operations start and the evaluation and grant process is based on
    various criteria including the rarity of the IOTA reference,
    planned number of stations on the air, of days operating, of contacts
    made, of bands and modes used, QSL and QSO matching practice and
    estimated cost of the expedition project.

    Applications should be addressed to
    dxp-fund@iota-world.org.

    (dxworld)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian lights planned and advised to WIA :-
    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club

    So I am sure more than one club already has plans for 2024, let us know
    here at the news desk so we can start reminding all of what is going to
    happen August 17-18 NEXT YEAR.





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Hurricane Idalia:

    FCC Approves ARRL Petition to Aid Emergency Communications

    ARRL the USA National Association for Amateur Radio has received
    approval from the Federal Communications Commission for an emergency
    waiver to facilitate amateur radio emergency communications for
    hurricane relief.

    The request, filed by the ARRL Washington DC Counsel, sought a waiver
    of HF symbol rate restrictions.

    The waiver, which was granted August 30, is for a 60-day relief period
    from the rules, based upon the immediate need related to the threat of
    Hurricane Idalia. It would cover use directly related to any additional
    hurricanes that may develop within the 60-day period. Only messages
    related to these hurricanes would be permitted to be sent via the
    higher-speed modes, and only publicly documented modes would be
    allowed.

    ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE 5 MHV, said the
    rate increase will help response abilities. The increased symbol rate
    provides for faster more efficient message transmissions for digital
    communications. These modes such as WINLINK are used to send forms for
    served agencies and other data that can be vital during a disaster,
    he said.


    MEANWHILE.

    Section Manager of the ARRL Northern New Jersey Section Robert Buus,
    W2OD, and Section Manager of the ARRL Southern New Jersey Section
    Tom Preiser, N2XW, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
    representatives from the American Red Cross New Jersey Region.

    The MOU focuses on disaster planning and response for communities
    within New Jersey during and after a disaster event.

    As part of the MOU, Amateur Radio Emergency Service teams in New Jersey
    will aid with communications in support of disaster relief through
    training, testing, and exercises, and by providing emergency
    communications to support local shelter operations. This is especially
    important when normal communications are disrupted or overloaded.

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    It's on this Thursday September 14

    The Hunter Radio Group's meeting at Newcastle TAFE at the school of
    electronic trades at Tighes Hill will be an extra special event.

    And you don't have to be there to take part as ARNSW is providing a
    ZOOM Link .... details in the text edition of this news.

    What's so special you might ask?

    Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, the developer of EchoLink, will be the featured speaker all the way from Connecticut USA between 6 and 9pm Eastern Australian Standard time which means he's making a major effort as his
    time is 15 hours behind ours!

    With around half a million registered Amateur Radio users worldwide, EchoLink has proven it's flexibility and popularity with compatible
    software versions now available for just about any operating system,
    even including mobile phones!

    Jonathan is a very cluey guy so this event promises to be something out of the box and unlike anything else you would expect from a Radio Club meeting.

    Join us at the Club, or join the ZOOM link between 6 and 9 pm NEXT THURSDAY.

    For the Hunter Radio Group and WIA National News, I'm Grahame, VK2FA.

    ************************************************************************

    ZOOM details from Eric, VK2VE

    Eric van de Weyer has invited you to Hunter Lecture Jonathon Taylor
    Title: Hunter Lecture Jonathon Taylor
    Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89884640439?pwd=OTFVTjFjM2tteUhNQmRuclp2RVpLZz09
    When: Thursday, 14 September 2023 6:00 pm 10:00 pm
    Organiser:
    Eric van de Weyer <evdw@iprimus.com.au>
    Description: ARNSW Events is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

    Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89884640439?pwd=OTFVTjFjM2tteUhNQmRuclp2RVpLZz09

    Meeting ID: 898 8464 0439
    Passcode: 898540

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


    VK2 - SARCFEST 8am Saturday 23 September (vk2acd)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Sep 14 16:38:04 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-09-17.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 SEPTEMBER 17 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 SEP 17 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS AND INFACT AUSTRALIA'S
    ONLY HAM RADIO SERVICE WHICH HAS MAINTAINED IT'S
    "WE NEVER TAKE A BREAK" NEWS SERVICE

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA VICE PRESIDENT LEE VK3GK AND WIA DIRECTOR CHRIS VK3FY
    ALSO WIA RD CONTEST MANAGER ALLAN VK4SN AND
    WIA YOTA Deputy Co-ordinator - Alec Cherry VK2APC

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    Earlier this week ACMA held their Assessor information session for all
    current AMC assessors. This session was designed to inform assessors
    the current status of the planning and implementation of the assessor
    program and the many finer details of enabling a smooth transition from
    AMC to the ACMA assessor network for conducting Amateur exam sessions
    Australia wide.

    I was one of the 108 attendees on the zoom session and it was excellent
    to see many of the previous WIA assessors at the meeting. ACMA staff
    delivered the draft proposal via a powerpoint presentation and as
    always the ACMA staff answered the many questions asked by the
    attending assessors.

    The major positives are that assessors once again, just like when the
    WIA was administering exams, will be able to actually assess and mark
    candidates on the spot once the candidate has completed the exam and if
    need be, candidates can sit the next exam if they so chose to do so.
    This is excellent as it allows the assessor to provide explanations to
    questions and feedback to the candidate, unlike the current process in
    place.

    ACMA is proposing to implement a portal in which the assessor can log
    in and download uniquely generated exam papers and completed exams and
    documentation can then be uploaded for archiving results. Not unlike
    how the WIA exam service previously generated unique and secure exam
    papers for assessors to use. As ACMA propose to use much of the current
    AMC process, assessors will be very familiar to the new process and I
    believe it should be a smooth transition come February 2024.

    Discussions about remote exams was popular as there are some new
    proposed restrictions. Another hot topic was the aspects of insurance
    cover for assessors and the location exams can be held.

    ACMA seem happy to keep the single assessor structure in place which
    does make assessments easier to organize as opposed to having a two or
    the three assessors attending an exam for integrity, much like the US
    exam system currently has in place.

    The Certificate of Proficiency will be replaced with an ACMA
    Recognition Certificate once the Class Licence is introduced.

    Working with children cards or similar will still be required to be
    kept current.

    ACMA assessor guidelines will need to be agreed to be followed before
    accreditation will be approved. Both General assessors and Specialist
    assessors will be utilized, not unlike the current situation with
    AMC now.

    ACMA fees for issuing ACMA recognition certificates, assessing
    applications for recognition of prior learning and issuing call signs
    are proposed to be similar to the current AMC fees for these services
    although currently it looks as though the theory and practical exams
    will actually be free of charge if conducted by an accredited ACMA
    Assessor.

    ACMA invite comments and suggestions from assessors on the consultation
    by 5 pm (AEST), Tuesday 26 September 2023. See ACMA website for further
    information at acma.gov.au

    For now, 73 From Lee VK3GK, now we continue WIA NATIONAL NEWS with
    fellow Director Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY and particularly a 'new spot
    on the dial' utilising the WiresX protocol for this VK1WIA News
    Broadcast ."

    YES, catch this Weekly News Broadcast on WiresX through the
    AUS REPEATER NET WiresX Room 24160.

    This is WIA DIRECTOR Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY

    Listen to Amateur Radio NewsLine, VK1WIA Weekly News and an
    AUS REPEATER NET copy write exclusive of K1KC Chriss Tech Corner,
    which is not be; rebroadcast on any other mode other than C4FM.
    These broadcasts can be heard on C4FM System Fusion by connecting to
    AUS REPEATER NET WiresX Room number 24160.

    You will soon be able to connect through a YSF Reflector 24160.

    The broadcasts are heard on Sundays from 9:00am and 7:00pm local
    Australian Eastern Time. Following the news broadcasts Peter VK5JP
    will conduct a call-back of those listening. Please note that all are
    welcome to connect and listen to broadcasts and we welcome call-backs
    from where you maybe.

    WIA Board Comments

    Topic 1

    * The WIA Bundaberg Convention will be held in May 2024, during
    the Queensland 's labour Day long weekend.

    There will be Commercial displays, surplus equipment disposals,
    talks on Digital communications a connection with the
    International space station plus a tour of Bundaberg rum
    facilities.

    Further details will be advised on wia.org.au in AR and on
    VK1WIA the WIA National News Service.

    Start Planning your attendance and see you all there.

    Topic 2

    * Nominations for the WIA Merit awards are now open.
    Further details and how to nominate someone can be located
    on the WIA Website, wia.org.au

    Topic 3

    * The WIA are currently considering an application from South
    Australia to utilise the callsign VK5WIA during call-backs.
    The board are looking at options for call logging.

    Topic 4

    * The WIA Encourages clubs to submit items of interest for
    broadcast, especially field days and meetings.

    This has been Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY on behalf of the Board of the
    Wireless Institute of Australia through VK1WIA Weekly News.

    Regards
    Chris Dimitrijevic de
    VK3FY / W3YM / T30T / 3D2FY / DU8FY / 4E8T / 5W0FY / HK7T




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.



    World Radio Conference 2023 Will Impact Amateur Satellite Service

    The World Radio Conference in 2023, WRC-23, will take place
    November 20 - December 15 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
    Some decisions made during the conference will affect Amateur Radio
    and the Amateur Satellites service.

    Representing Amateur Radio at the conference is the IARU, the
    International Amateur Radio Union. The two most pressing issues
    affecting the Amateur Satellite Service are:

    1/

    Additional measures to protect the radionavigation-satellite
    (space-to-Earth) in the 1240 - 1300 MHz band from amateur
    interference. As in most microwave allocations, the Amateur Service
    is secondary and must avoid interfering with primary services
    operating in the band, even if they are introduced later.

    An ITU Radiocommunication sector Recommendation that contains
    guidance for administrations is in the final stage of development.
    If an agreement is reached prior to WRC-232, it should complete
    work on the item.


    2/

    Identification of the 10 - 10.5 GHz band for International Mobile
    Telecommunications in ITU Region 2, including a primary allocation
    to the mobile service. The IARU opposes the introduction of IMT in
    the band and has some allies among administrators within and outside
    of Region 2.





    REGIONN ONE

    Polands railways have recently come under a form of electronic attack, as reported by Wired. The attack has widely been called a cyber-attack in the mainstream media, but the incident was altogether a more simple affair pursued via good old analogue radio.

    The attacks were simple in nature. As outlined in an EU technical document, Polands railways use a RADIOSTOP system based on analogue radio signals at around 150 MHz. Transmitting a basic tone sequence will trigger any duly equipped trains receiving the signal to engage emergency braking. Its implemented as part of the PKP radio system on the Polish railway network.

    The attacks brought approximately 20 trains to a standstill, according to the BBC, with services restored within hours. There was no major safety risk in the event, something made clear in a statement from Polish rail authorities. Regardless, the attacks frustrated logistics across the rail network.

    Polands railways will receive an upgrade to more secure cellular technology by 2025, with the 150 MHz system retained only for shunting duties and other edge cases.





    In Europe an amateur radio activation is honouring the legacy of a once-popular broadcast station with a special call that our own DX
    GURU Felix vk4fuq has been reminding us of over the past weeks, now
    Jeremy Boot G4NJH from the RSGB and reporting via ARNewsLine
    brings us that story.

    Long before the British pirate broadcast station Radio Caroline took to the airwaves from a boat off the Essex coast, there was Radio Luxembourg. Much to the displeasure of the BBC, the English-language service was launched 90 years ago and became one of Europe's most popular stations. According to some reports, the long and medium-wave broadcast of its programmes and its British presenters peaked at an estimated 78 million daily listeners before Radio Luxembourg went off the air in December of 1991.

    Since July, amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners are hearing Radio Luxembourg again - this time symbolically, with the callsign LX 90 RTL . The station is on the air until the end of this year. Various ham radio operators throughout Luxembourg are calling QRZ to mark the anniversary of that first broadcast. They can be heard on the HF bands using CW, SSB and the digital modes. They can also be contacted via satellite.

    The special event radio operators have been carefully listening too, especially when the QSOs trigger moments of nostalgia. The operators write on the station's page on QRZ.com: [quote] "Many of you told us about your memories and the great time listening to Radio Luxembourg, especially the great entertainment with the best music on the air over the years." [endquote]

    The DARC bureau will confirm all QSOs automatically and logs are being uploaded to Club Log, Logbook of the World and eQSL.

    This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    If you were growing up in Europe in the 60's the only way to hear
    the latest and greatest US chart hits was via "The Great 208
    RADIO LUXEMBURG - THE STATION OF THE STARS."





    REGION THREE

    Australia Post releases new Centenary of Broadcasting Stamps

    Australia Post is set to mark 100 years of public broadcast radio
    by showcasing a new Australian stamp release.

    The first officially licensed broadcast radio station to go to air
    in Australia was 2SB Sydney on 23 November 1923. In 1924 the radio
    industry lobbied for the introduction of a system that allowed radio
    stations to be funded by listener fees (A licenses) and
    commercial stations to generate revenue through advertising
    (B licenses).

    Amalgamated Wireless of Australia (AWA) became Australias largest
    radio company, manufacturing radios for homes, transmitters for
    radio stations and wireless communications for cross-country to
    cross-continent communications, as well as for ships and the
    military. Radios for homes ranged from mantel sets to taller
    floor-standing consoles.

    The new Centenary of Broadcast Radio stamp releases feature images
    from broadcast radios early years, with the 1st Day of Issue release
    set for October 17 to mark the Centenary of broadcast radio in
    Australia.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    The 2023 CQ World-Wide RTTY DX Contest will rattle into life next
    weekend, September 23-24 starting at 00:00:00 UTC Saturday and
    ending 23:59:59 UTC Sunday

    (cq mag)

    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX Contest

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com

    --------------

    OCTOBER - 75th CQ World Wide DX Contest
    SSB leg is October 28-29
    Starts 0000 UTC Saturday; Ends 2359 UTC Sunday

    --------------

    NOVEMBER - 75th CQ World Wide DX Contest
    CW: November 25-26, 2023
    0000 UTC Saturday; Ends 2359 UTC Sunday

    ----------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)

    ------------

    RESULTS ARE OUT:-

    Alan VK4SN the Remembrance Day contest manager takes the mike.

    Results are out for 2023, and once again very favourable comments
    were read in the soapbox comments from the submitted logs. It was
    great to see 11 new rookies in the contest also. Approximately
    1006 stations were on air over the weekend, with 237 logs being
    submitted.

    VK7 has won as the state champion. A huge number of logs were
    received from VK7 making it another easy win for them.

    Individual results are as follows.

    SO PH Justin VK7TW

    SO CW Allan VK2GR

    SO MX Lawrie VK5LJ

    SO QRP PH Anthony VK7AG

    SO QRP CW Chris VK3QB

    SO QRP MX John VK2YW

    MS VK3WAR

    MM VL4R

    A very special mention must go to David VK3DY as he has put a log in
    every year for the last 70 years. Congratulations David, I doubt
    that anyone will ever beat your outstanding record.

    Certificates and a full report are available for download on the
    WIA RD Contest page.

    For 1st 2nd and 3rd place getters, you will also receive a
    certificate direct from the WIA.

    Thanks for another excellent turn out for the Remembrance Day
    contest and see you all again next year.

    Best 73

    Alan VK4SN





    PRE ADVICE FOR A JANUARY EVENT

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)



    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    -----------------

    FRANCE.

    Special event station TM 23 RUGB will be QRV September 21 to 24, and
    then on October 16 to 22, during the Rugby World Cup. Activity will be
    on the HF bands.

    QSL via F 5 KHG.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    EAST KIRIBATI.

    Ken, KH6QJ is QRV as T 32 AZ from Kiritimati, IOTA OC-024, until
    October 17. QSL to home call which again is KH6QJ.

    (eHam)

    -----------------

    Rebel DX Group are using callsign T22T from Tuvalu, IOTA OC-015
    from the 21st of September to the 9th of October on 160-6m
    using SSB and FT8 (either in normal or fox-hound mode).
    Visit the QRZ.com page for T 22 T for further details.

    (ARNewsLine 2393)

    -----------------

    During September 15-28 active from THE Chatham Islands is ZL7IO.
    QRV on 160-10m; CW, SSB, RTTY & FT8. Participation in the CQWW RTTY contest next weekend also. QSL via DK7AO, LoTW.

    Return trips at the end of October and November are also planned
    again signing ZL7IO. The QTH is off grid and powered by a solar
    system with batteries therefore its very limited for high power
    possibilities.

    (dx-world)

    -----------------


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/

    BUNKERS ON THE AIR

    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Would seem no end to 'OTA's' from beaches, summits, now BUNKERS.

    Bunkers on the air was an idea after G8GMU & M3HBM used the bunker
    site at Wolston in the UK as the location of the 'fox' on a radio
    direction finding contest with the Coventry Amateur Radio Society.

    It was then decided to activate 4 of the local bunkers, this was
    tried on several occasions & it has been shown not all those local
    bunkers would have been able to communicate using low power VHF &
    UHF systems with a simple antenna.

    The Coventry Amateur Radio Society have had Bunkers on the air as a
    club event for a while now , which brings us to this event:-

    BUNKERS ON THE AIR

    It will run the entire month of October 2023.

    The purpose of this event is to support radio amateurs and short
    wave listeners, both in the United Kingdom and overseas, to
    communicate with other radio amateurs activating ROC (Royal
    Observer Corp) Bunkers in the United Kingdom.

    Whilst not a contest, awards will be issued to both activators and
    hunters submitting logs and demonstrating QSO with the requisite
    number of stations. Awards are also available for SWL's submitting
    reception logs.

    (ham radio ireland and BOTA pages)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - BALLOONS

    If youve ever thought about launching a high-altitude balloon,
    theres much to consider.

    One of the things is how do you stream video down so that you and
    others can enjoy the fruits of your labour? Youll find advice on
    that and more in a recent post thanks to Hackaday and youll at
    least enjoy the real-time video recorded from the launch that you
    can see in the link in this weeks text edition on wia.org.au

    tinyurl.com/musremmc

    The video was encoded with a Raspberry Pi 4 using H264. The MPEG-TS
    stream feeds down using 70 cm ham radio gear. If you are interested
    in this sort of thing, software, including flight and ground code,
    is on the Internet. There is software for the Pi, an STM32, plus the
    packages youll need for the ground side.

    High-altitude ballooning is -- pardon the pun -- 'taking off' around
    the world. Payloads are many and varied, but we dont suggest you
    try to put a crew on board, but theres a long and dangerous history
    of people who did.

    tinyurl.com/2p8ezh72

    The Montgolfier brothers get most of the credit for hot air
    ballooning in 1783, there are some reports that a Brazilian priest
    may have lifted himself with a balloon as early as 1709.
    In slightly more modern times, Joseph Kittinger did a skydive from a
    balloon at 31,300 meters in 1960. Felix Baumgartner pulled the same
    stunt from 38,969 meters in 2012, and Alan Eustace leapt from 41,419
    meters in 2014.

    (hackaday.com)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    ARISS USA Team Names Director of Education

    Tanya C. Anderson has been selected as Director of Education for
    Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, Inc. (ARISS-USA).

    Tanya has been a classroom educator for 18 years, the last 16 years
    teaching middle school science at St. Joan of Arc in Lisle,
    Illinois.

    Her science curricula cover earth and space science, life science,
    and physical science. Her career focus has been curriculum
    development in various fields of science.

    When informed of her selection, Tanya exclaimed, "I am excited to be
    a part of the ARISS organization and cannot wait to see what the
    future holds for amateur radio as commercial space stations are
    built and lunar exploration evolves. I look forward to sharing my
    passion for STEAM and space education with other educators while we
    work together to inspire, engage, and educate the next generation."

    Tanya currently holds a Technician Class amateur radio license, with
    the callsign KD 9 BQZ,

    (ANS)




    After two weather delays in previous weeks, Japan launched its
    Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission and the X-Ray
    Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite on September 6.

    SLIM will test precision landing on the Moon and deploy a lunar
    rover and lunar hopper.

    XRISM will look into deep space to study the formation of the
    universe and search for dark matter.

    [ANS]





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    OC-195

    In the middle of nowhere. It's a deal.

    VK1POR is active from Deal island OC-195 until December 1.

    He has been QRV so far on 20 & 10m FT8, yes the operator prefers the
    digimodes.

    Don't get to confused with the call, the VK1 prefix, because VK1POR this time is on Deal Island, the largest island of the Kent Group
    located in northern Bass Strait, that lies between north-east VK7
    and Wilsons Promontory, in VK3.

    QSL via LoTW, eQSL, QRZ.

    (DX-WORLD)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    YOTA CONTEST 2023

    The YOTA Contest is back for its third run OF its third run!

    The 3rd year and each year 3 runs per year and the last contest for
    2023 is 30th December 2023 1200 2359 UTC

    So, are you ready to compete?

    Everyone in the ham radio community can take part; it only lasts
    12 hours and has an aim to increase youth activity on the air,
    strengthening the reputation of the YOTA program, and demonstrate
    the support for youth across the world.

    If you still have a question, feel free to drop the YOTA Contest
    Committee an email at contest@ham-yota.com

    They are happy to reply.

    NOW BEFORE I HAND BACK TO COL:-=

    Here in Oceania YOTA - Youngsters On The Air - has a FaceBook page
    worth joining, check out the address in the text edition of this
    weeks WIA National News.

    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz



    A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck central Morocco near
    Marrakesh on 8th September.

    Greg, G0DUB Emergency Comms for IARU region one has said that the
    Moroccan Amateur Radio Emergency Services ( part of ARRAM the
    Moroccan National Society ) normally operate on VHF/UHF and speaking
    to Hassan CN8HAN, their Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator, he
    said there was no indication of any HF frequencies in use to respond
    to the disaster. There are however a number of Search and Rescue
    teams from other countries now in the area and some of them have
    Radio Amateurs as part of their teams.

    ARRAM has not asked for any HF frequencies to be kept clear but as
    the situation develops and SAR teams are at ground zero, it would be
    good for radio amateurs to take extra care around the HF Emergency
    Centres of Activity frequencies in case any SAR teams start to use
    frequencies to talk back to their home countries.

    At least 2,900 people died from the earthquake, Morocco's Interior
    Ministry said this week with over 5,500 injured.

    (iaru-r1.org cbsnews)








    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    REWIND

    THE GREAT SOLAR STORM OF MARCH 1940:

    Im John Knox vk4fjrk and this story is shocking.

    On March 24, 1940, a solar storm hit Earth so hard it made copper wires
    in the United States crackle with 800 volts of electricity.
    A New York Times headline declared that a "sunspot tornado" had
    arrived, playing havoc with any signal that had to travel through
    metal wires.

    spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=09&month=08&year=2023

    "For a few hours it completely disrupted all long-distance
    communication," wrote astronomer Seth B. Nicholson in a recap
    of the event for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Radio
    announcers seemed to be "talking a language no one could understand."
    The New York Times reported that more than a million telephone and
    teletype messages had been garbled:

    "Veteran electrical engineers unhesitatingly pronounced it the worst
    thing of its kind within their memory."

    Modern researchers, however, are now paying attention paying attention.
    Their work confirms that it was no ordinary solar storm.

    "It was unusually violent," they say. "There were very rapid changes
    in Earth's magnetic field, and this induced big voltages in long metal
    wires."

    What caused the high voltages?

    Old magnetogram records from the date of the storm show evidence that
    two coronal mass ejections CMEs hit Earth only 1.82 hours apart.
    The double blow rattled Earth's magnetic field in a way single CMEs
    do not.

    "This could be a harbinger of things to come."

    Modern studies show that as many as 5 CMEs leave the sun every day
    during Solar Maximum. With Solar Cycle 25 underway and intensifying, a
    double hit could definitely happen again.

    My time is up; With Rewind, this is John Knox VK4FJRK.


    (web reports)






    REWINDING THE SMITH WAY

    Phillip Smith, an amateur radio operator working at Bell Labs, devised a
    chart that even today can help engineers understand the behaviour of transmission lines.

    From an early age, Smith had a keen interest in radio, creating his own
    amateur radio station using homemade components and contributing articles to the radio section of the Boston Traveller.

    In 1924, Smith went to Tufts College to study electrical communications.
    Upon graduating in 1928 with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering
    he was offered a job at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

    Smiths first assignments at Bell Laboratories required him to take
    countless measurements of standing waves, inspiring him to develop a
    quick method to compute the input impedance of transmission lines. In
    1931, he created his first graphical solution in the form of a
    rectangular chart. However, Smith recognized the limits of this chart,
    which could only accommodate so much data. He continued to search for
    ways to improve his chart, constantly refining it.

    After enhancing his chart with a grid made up of orthogonal circles, he
    could finally accommodate all data from zero to infinity. And thus, the
    Smith chart was born. After a slow acceptance process, his article
    describing the chart was published in 1939.

    The Smith chart is a tool for visualizing the impedance of a
    transmission line and antenna system as a function of frequency. The
    charts can be used to improve understanding of transmission lines and
    how they behave from an impedance viewpoint while also helping with
    impedance matching.

    My time is up; With Rewind, this is John Knox VK4FJRK.


    https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/phillip-smith-from-amateur-radio-operator-to-creator-of-the-smith-chart/

    Written by Lianne Frith for the All About Circuits web e-zine.
    (vk7wi news)





    ------------------------------------------------------------*







    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK2 - SARCFEST 8am Saturday 23 September (vk2acd)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Sep 22 15:17:00 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-09-24.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 SEPTEMBER 24 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 SEP 24 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA DIRECTOR STEVEN GREEN VK2TSG. -

    WIA PAST DIRECTOR BOB VK6POP. -

    WIA EDITOR IN CHIEF OF AR MAGAZINE, AUSTRALIAS ROGER HARRISON VK2ZRH. -

    WIA DEPUTY YOUTA CO ORDINATOR ALEC CHERRY VK2APC. -

    AND YOUR'S TRULY GRAHAM VK4BB ANCHORING THE BEST 30 mt. NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK





    THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

    Interstate and OS memberships Now Available

    A new Membership Tier available from REAST to all outside of VK7.

    Yes those listening outside the state of Tasmania and would like to
    join as a REAST member this is now available to you at a discounted
    rate of $20/year. For a full list of benefits you receive as a member
    or to join, check out the REAST Membership portal link shown, as are
    all points of contact - in the web edition of this News Cast best
    read at wia.org.au

    reast.tidyhq.com/public/membership_levels

    (vk7wi news)




    OUTSIDE THE BOX TWO

    Another club who thought outside the box is that VK2 club who organised
    the inventor of EchoLink to speak to them and others via a zoom
    platform.

    With the follow up story VK2FA

    On Thursday the 14th of September, The Hunter Radio Group had an
    incredible lecture via Zoom from Jonathan Taylor K1RFD from Connecticut
    in the USA. This was a massive effort on Jonathan's part because of the
    time difference. His local time was 4.00 am

    Jonathan is the guy who developed the very popular Amateur Radio
    program Echolink.

    We must thank The staff from the Electronics section at TAFE Newcastle
    for their support , Eric Van De Weyer VK2VE from Amateur Radio NSW for
    supplying the Zoom support, The National WIA news for helping publicize
    the event, John Williams VK4JJW for his behind the scenes support with
    publicity and Jonathan for his unbelievably informative lecture.

    I would give Jonathan 10 out of 10 for a fantastic job.

    The meeting had nearly 50 people from all over the Globe check in and
    listen to the talk including the United Kingdom and the USA.

    A link to the lecture will be on the ARNSW web site in the near future.

    I'm Grahame VK2FA for the Hunter Radio Group and WIA National News.





    A special call you MUST try and work

    VI4ACRO.

    With more here is Bernie V K 4 K X.

    Gday listeners, Bernie VK4KX here with some news from the Sunshine
    Coast in Queensland.

    For many years I have had a relatively rare medical condition known as
    Acromegaly, and on the first of November each year is Acromegaly
    awareness day, so this year I decided to do my part to increase
    awareness of this condition by having a Special Event Call sign,
    VI4ACRO.

    I only know of one other amateur with this condition, VK4XR and
    Eric has kindly volunteered to be an operator on my Roster. So if you
    or any other Amateur you know has been effected by Acromegaly and would
    like to participate in raising awareness for this condition please
    contact me, as I would like more operators on the roster in November.

    To find out more about this Special Event activation or to know more
    about Acromegaly you can look up VI4ACRO on QRZ.com or use your
    favourite search engine to search Acromeglay.

    Hope to catch you on air.

    73 for now VI4ACRO, or VK4KX
    Bernie





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Director Steven Green VK2TSG

    Last week WIA Director Lee VK3GK advised us that the ACMA held their
    Assessor information session for all current AMC assessors. This
    session was attended by 108 people and was designed to inform assessors
    the current status of the planning and implementation of the assessor
    program and the many finer details of enabling a smooth transition from
    AMC to the ACMA assessor network for conducting Amateur exam sessions
    Australia wide.

    The new assessment system will be fairly similar to that which was in
    place when the WIA undertook the amateur examinations.

    The WIA encourages all of the assessors who were accredited at that
    time to reapply to become an assessor under the proposed scheme.

    Lee went on to advise that ACMA is proposing to implement a portal in
    which the assessor can log in and download uniquely generated exam
    papers and completed exams and documentation can then be uploaded for
    archiving results. Not unlike how the WIA exam service previously
    generated unique and secure exam papers for assessors to use. As ACMA
    propose to use much of the current AMC process, assessors will be very
    familiar to the new process and we believe it should be a smooth
    transition come February 2024.

    There will be two level of assessors and these will be detailed in the
    coming months by the ACMA.

    The WIA Bundaberg Convention will be held in May 2024, during
    Queensland's labour Day long weekend.

    There will be Commercial displays, surplus equipment disposals, talks
    on Digital communications, a connection with the International space
    station plus a tour of Bundaberg rum facilities and it is sure to be a
    weekend not to be missed.

    At this months Board meeting we were joined by Daniel Vandenberg, the
    president of the NZART. The WIA and the NZART have always been very
    close and continue to be so. Danial has been invited to attend the
    WIA AGM and Convention in Bundaberg in May next year, and he has
    invited our President Scott VK3KJ to attend the NZART Convention in
    Christchurch in 2024.

    This has been Steven Green VK2TSG for VK1WIA National news.





    Dudes! This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine,
    Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Last Monday, the files for Issue Number 5 of AR magazine for this year
    were uploaded to the printer's server in Bairnsdale, Victoria. Well.
    Actually. Truth be told, they went on Tuesday morning. We just had to
    make sure that everything we could possibly fit in, went in.
    Look out for the issue landing late next week. In your letterbox,
    your Post Office Box, or your local newsagent.

    The theme for this soon-to-arrive issue as foreshadowed on page 3 of
    the last issue is . . . When all else fails. There are
    occasions still where amateur radio can assist a community when
    emergencies land.

    No doubt you heard about the tragic wildfire disaster last month on
    the Hawaiian Island of Maui, where the township of Lahaina was wiped
    out. The local Amateur Radio Emergency Services responded quickly,
    coordinating with state and local officials during the response and
    recovery effort, supplanting lost cell phone and other telecoms
    infrastructure.

    The theme for this issue had its roots in an article that was drawn to
    my attention when published mid-year in a local industry magazine.
    It was about how local amateurs had helped the authorities respond to
    the disastrous impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle that scoured a major
    region in mid-February. I chased down the author who was very
    forthcoming in enabling me to bring the story to Amateur Radio
    magazine. He gave me a version with material additional to what had
    already been published!

    And thats not all we have on the subject.

    This issues theme of When all else fails runs to 15 pages. Just wait
    until your issue arrives.

    Meanwhile, Tasmanian amateurs are still celebrating the centenary of
    organised amateur radio in their state. The featured article this
    issue is about how women made their mark across the years. So many
    landmarks and achievements, I was astonished to read it. Now its your
    turn.

    For those among you that succumb to the smell of solder flux, will be
    glad to know that Lou Destefano VK3AQZ continues providing the goods
    about his rig for the road homebrew three-band 100 W HF
    transceiver.

    Should you be the lucky owner of an Icom IC-7300, you may have
    suffered the misfortune of the real-time clocks battery going
    dead . . . or perhaps know someone who experienced that. Well,
    Peter Forbes VK3QI has the solution, described in short words and big
    pictures, in his article on using a supercapacitor as battery backup
    for the Icom IC-7300. The dead RTC solution seems simple enough
    hoik-out the tiny now-dead battery and wire-in a fat capacitor of a
    few Farads. Thats right. Farads. Not microfarads. Farads. For all you
    IC-7300 owners, this articles worth a decko, or a squizz. If you
    dont own an Icom its entertaining, anyway.

    Now. Pay attention.

    We have been well, me anyway banging on all year about reaching
    90 years of continuous, uninterrupted publication of Amateur Radio
    magazine. To mark this milestone ON-AIR, the WIA Board obtained a
    Special Event call sign VK 90 AR with which to get on the bands
    and make some noise. The call sign is for use by any member of the
    WIA as well as any affiliated club. Getting to use VK 90 AR is a
    simple process. Apply on the WIA website Online Event Calendar, where
    you can book a roster to suit yourself. If you already know where that
    is, go straight there. Otherwise, look up the news item featured
    prominent on the WIA website home page.

    And another thing . . . well, one last thing today . . . with this
    issue, we have introduced something new. Quite new, for AR mag. Its
    a regular column called Listening In. For a moment, that might seem
    like a reprise of the long-term column known as Spotlight on SWLing,
    authored by Robin Hardwood VK7RH now SK, unfortunately.
    Listening In will, naturally, cover shortwave listening and more
    besides. Yep, we intend to have coverage of the hobby of scanning
    generally related to listening to whats on-air across the spectrum
    from 30 MHz on up through VHF and further. Introducing Listening In
    was prompted by three readers who made contact offering some
    suggestions.

    Consider it done.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 5 for 2023.
    More guts. Less gab.

    Serving Australian radio amateur dudes for 90 years.
    Available in print and online.
    Always published to a schedule, never random.

    Thats it from me. Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    SOMEWHERE IN THE ATLANTIC

    In the latest chapter surrounding controversial salvage operations at
    the wreck site of the Titanic, the US government is challenging a
    company's plans to recover the doomed ocean liner's wireless telegraph.

    The salvage company RMS Titanic Inc., had announced its plan to visit
    the wreck site May 2024 to recover items including the radio and
    telegraph used to send the distress call in 1912.

    Attorneys for the U.S. government claim the expedition would violate a
    pact with Great Britain that classifies the wreckage as a memorial.

    RMST, which had been granted salvage rights earlier by the court, told
    Associated Press recently "The company will continue its work,
    respectfully preserving the memory and legacy of Titanic, passengers
    and crew for the future generations."

    The company plans to put the radio in an exhibit that tells the story
    of the lost liner. In May 2020, the court gave RMST permission to
    recover the radio because of its historical significance but the
    US government challenged the plans for the expedition that year.

    The expedition was called off.





    REGION ONE

    The August edition of the IARU Monitoring System newsletter has been
    published. In this, they highlight the very frequent reception of
    burst systems acting as jammers transmitting using unknown modes.
    According to the newsletter, the QRM is mostly observed in the
    twenty, seventeen, twelve, and ten metre bands.

    It appears to be in the spectrum segments typically used for
    FT8, FT4, and other amateur digital modes.




    In the UK the RSGB Board has chosen four strategic priorities for the
    Society to focus on until the 2024 AGM. These are:

    Growth of amateur radio
    Membership of the RSGB
    Spectrum and licensing
    Ensuring the continued financial stability of the Society

    These priorities will set the framework for the RSGBs activities
    over the coming months and both HQ staff and volunteers across the
    range of RSGB teams will be involved in planning how best to implement
    these four priorities.




    Artificial intelligence is now responsible for fulltime radio
    programming on Antenne Deutschland, which calls the format
    Absolut Radio.

    Absolute spelt without an E for those interested in googling her.

    The DAB+ multiplex channel in north-central Germany is using
    Radio.Cloud, which the broadcaster has already been using in its
    online streaming version.

    The AI is capable of providing the on-air voice as well as scheduling
    the necessary breaks and other elements.

    The broadcaster's managing director told the RadioWorld.com website
    that they are hoping to eventually find a nationwide market for the
    AI programming.





    REGION TWO

    The Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC) has now
    over 90,000 items in its collection of amateur radio related resources.
    This free online library is hosted by the Internet Archive.

    Those interested in amateur radio and shortwave listening will find
    resources including magazines, club newsletters, podcasts,
    radio manuals, and early ham radio related Usenet conversations.

    bit.ly/3RqedI6


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    FIRST SOME SUPER EARLY ADVICE/REMINDER OF OUR WIA
    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    --------------

    The 2023 CQ World-Wide RTTY DX Contest has clunked to life this
    weekend, September 23-24 ending 23:59:59 UTC Sunday with activity on
    our heritage bands, that is 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 metres.

    Observance of established band plans is strongly encouraged.

    The exchange is an RSQ report and your CQ Zone. Stations in continental
    USA and Canada also are sending their state or province.

    All logs must be sent within five days after the end of the contest:

    cqwwrtty.com/rules.htm

    (cq mag / sarl)

    --------------


    Oceania DX Contest

    PH - The first full weekend in October each year 0600 UTC
    Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - Second full weekend in October from 0600 UTC Saturday to
    0600 UTC Sunday

    Log deadline for PH and CW logs - 31 October.

    Managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee.
    info@oceaniadxcontest.com


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW

    Often I make mention of DX Stations working satellite QO-100 and I have
    been asked "why as we in VK can't access it', well this WIA News
    service is read, heard and viewed around the world, not JUST here in
    VK.

    It is understandable that many of we amateur radio operators are
    disappointed that they cannot experience the fun of using QO100.
    However, although the footprint charts that have been published show
    that it is not possible, there have been reports about the successful
    QO-100 expedition in Indonesia. In particular YC1HVZ/P successfully
    operated through the QO100 narrow band transponder from OI42DE at
    -1.2 degrees elevation!

    (qo-100)

    ----------

    ITU HQ, 4U_ITU.

    As part of WRC-23 Preparation, delegates are on air as 4 U 1 ITU in
    their spare time on the HF bands.
    QSL via operators' instructions.

    (eHam)

    -----------------


    AND finaly, don't forget during NOVEMBER to listen for and work
    VI 4 ACRO as Graham and Bernie mentioned at the start of this, the
    September edion of WIA NATIONAL NEWS.

    Now as I leave you this week, it's a CW net with a difference,
    Mark VK6QI "dashes" in with that story, I'm Felix VK4FUQ.


    CQ QRS Slow CW QSO Practice Net

    If you happen to listen to the right part of the 80m band on a Tuesday evening, you may hear something that sounds like this.

    CQ QRS

    The CQ QRS net has been running every single Tuesday for the last two
    years and has been unbelievably popular - theres usually half a dozen,
    a dozen and a couple of times, up to 18 stations popping in and out
    when they can over the four or five hours.

    The aim is to encourage new CW operators to have a go at slow CW in a
    safe and really friendly environment where slow speed and lots of
    mistakes are par for the course its all about having a go, starting
    with a basic callsign and RST exchange, then over time, getting better
    and better. The net also attracts its fair share of old timers who
    enjoy helping others to have a go, or to just enjoy the banter.

    So this might be just the opportunity youve been waiting for to have a
    go at transmitting on CW, or perhaps just to stop the contacts rusting
    up on your key. Doesnt matter whether youre brand new to the Code, or
    if youre an old timer who would like to have a bit of fun and help
    encourage new operators by having simple, safe QSOs at their speed -
    wed love to have you join in.

    The net starts at 0900z every Tuesday on 80m between 3540 and 3570kHz,
    and theres stations in the West, East and in-between listening out for
    your CQ QRS call. For more information and to receive our weekly CQ
    QRS RagChew newsletter, contact me, Mark VK2KI and VK6QI via the email
    address on QRZ.com <http://qrz.com/>, or youll find my email address
    (mark.bosma@icloud.com <mailto:mark.bosma@icloud.com>) in the
    text version of this segment, on the WIA website
    (wia.org.au <http://wia.org.au/> click on News Broadcast).

    Too much switch mode power supply hash on 80m? This might be the
    incentive to do something about it - with a cheap noise canceller
    costing less than $100, 80m could be easier than you think!

    Once again, Tuesdays from 0900z until late between 3540kHz and 3570kHz.

    Cheers from Mark VK2KI and VK6QI.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS --- ASTRONOMY

    It took 15 years and the efforts of three authors on two continents to complete the project - but the fruits of their labour likely would likely have brought a smile to Australian radio astronomer Joe Pawsey. His biography has been published.

    W.M. Goss, Claire Hooker and Ronald D Ekers collaborated on the book, "Joe Pawsey and the Founding of Australian Radio Astronomy." On Wednesday, the 27th of September, scientists at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in New Mexico are preparing to celebrate the co-authors achievement, which maps the researcher's life and work and its relevance to radio astronomy today.

    The story tracks the researcher's earliest studies following the Second World War, when Joe Pawsey was at the helm of Australia's first radio astronomy research group. He is credited with inspiring the creation of the radio astronomy group of the Radiophysics Laboratory at Australia's national science agency in Sydney. The book explains how his study of the interference between radio waves later paved the way for creation of the Very Large Array, antennas that create a single telescope spanning great distances.

    The book launch, like the book itself, has also spanned great distances. In July, the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre in Perth hosted the event in his native Australia -- a nation whose profile he helped elevate in the world of science. As Ronald Ekers writes on the NRAO website [quote] "The book explains how an isolated continent with limited resources grew to be one of the international leaders in the study of radio astronomy and the design of instruments to do so. [endquote]

    (ARNewsLine)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Astronaut Frank Rubio, forced to spend an extra six months aboard the
    International Space Station because of trouble with his Russian ride
    home, set a new U.S. single-flight endurance record on Monday, Sept.
    11.

    Launched in 2022 , September 21, Rubio and 2 cosmonauts originally
    planned to come home in March. But their Soyuz capsule suffered a
    massive coolant leak in December, presumably due to a micro-meteoroid
    impact. The three now plan to return to Earth aboard a replacement
    Soyuz ferry ship next Wednesday, September 27 to close out a marathon
    371-day stay in space the first flight longer than a full year by an
    American astronaut.

    (ANS - TEXT VERSION ONLY OF WIA NEWS)




    The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, or MOXIE, on
    NASA's Perseverance rover has successfully completed a project to
    produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere.

    MOXIE produced 12 grams of oxygen an hour at 98% purity or better,
    which is twice as much as NASAs goals for the instrument. MOXIE works
    by separating the oxygen molecules and emits carbon monoxide as a waste
    product. Bigger and better versions of something such as MOXIE in the
    future could supply life support systems with breathable air and
    convert and store oxygen needed for rocket fuel used to launch on a
    return trip to Earth.

    (ANS)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN

    hamimports.com/radio_type/handheld-radios/

    Good use can be made of the "interweb" when you visit hamimports.com
    site because on there you can browse and compere many a "Chinese" radio
    import.

    Ham Imports is a comprehensive database of Chinese radio manufacturers
    and the website makes comparison between radios VERY easy. Each entry
    features a pricing guide, be it in US dollars, photos, specifications,
    a lengthy description, and video reviews.

    well worth a visit just for the info available.

    (ard)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    EXPERIMENTAL LOW-PASS FILTER MAKES DEBUT IN LONDON

    A different kind of RF filter has just been introduced by a defence
    company in Sweden to assist in military communications. It is being
    called the Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Screen-Frequency Selected
    Surface, and it introduces a new capability for soldiers'
    communications in the field.

    It is a filter that permits certain radio frequencies to pass through
    the mesh of a camouflage net protecting military vehicles. The surface,
    which is not yet in service, was introduced by the Swedish defence
    company Saab earlier this month.

    Saab says that until now, camouflage nets' ability to reduce enemy
    sensors' detection of equipment has also prevented GPS signals and
    other communications passing through, jeopardizing soldiers who then
    must move out of camouflage cover to perform certain tasks. At times
    that has even meant sticking antennas through the mesh in order to
    transmit or receive signals.

    The surface was on display for visitors at the DSEI Defence Exhibition
    held in London earlier this month.

    (ARNewsLine 2394)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    KOTA, which stands for Kids On The Air, officially opened September 15.

    This event is organized by the Czech Radio Club (RK/CRC) in
    collaboration with the IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group and marks
    a new addition to the well-known YOTA program.

    Its aimed at a different age group and is considered a Subregional
    Camp.

    Approximately 30 kids between the ages of 10 and 15 gathered at
    Trhanov Castle in Czechia. The schedule included their first workshops
    on What is amateur radio? and How to have a QSO. These enthusiastic
    kids are already on the air and have been worked using the callsign
    OL 1 KOTA. They are operating on the HF bands and the QO-100
    geostationary satellite, that's the satellite Felix VK4FUQ mentioned
    in his operational news.

    Additionally, during the camp, participants have had the opportunity
    to take part in various interactive sessions, workshops, and hands-on
    demonstrations. The program is designed to provide valuable insights
    into the world of amateur radio, encouraging a sense of exploration
    and learning.

    (iaru R1)





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    CANADA IS SET

    This years Canadian Simulated Emergency Test will coincide with a
    celestial phenomenon: a solar eclipse!

    The SET is a Canada-wide exercise in emergency communications, which is
    administered by Radio Amateurs of Canadas Community Services Officer
    and Section Managers. This year's event is known as

    Operation Dark Skies

    It will be held in two parts.
    Part 1 October 14;
    Part 2 October 16.

    (ARNewsLine)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - PerthTech - October 28th (vk6pop)

    Perth in Springtime! Better still, Perth Hills in Springtime. Its wildflower time. Im Bob VK6POP, and Im inviting you to come to PerthTech, one of Australias premiere Amateur Radio events, which is in October, and in Gidgegannup, in the Perth Hills, at the Gidgegannup Recreation Club. The place name Gidgegannup is from the Whadjuck Noongar language, meaning a place by the water where spears are made.

    PerthTech is a full day Amateur Radio seminar on Saturday 28th October, with a solid line-up of presenters, luscious country catering, and good social activities, including a sundowner on Saturday evening, and the bar will be open to buy drinks.

    We have caravan and camper sites available, so you can come along on Friday afternoon, and leave Sunday by lunchtime. Friday and Sunday are optional. Saturday is the main event.

    The opening presentation is by Phil Harman, VK6PH, who has been working on Software Defined Radios (SDRs) for over 18 years. Phil co-founded the High Performance SDR group (openHPSDR.org) in 2006 to develop and manufacture SDR hardware and software. Phils other contributions
    included an SDR transmitter, Penelope, and the first fully digital transceiver, Hermes. Phil currently acts as a consultant to Internet of Things (IoT) companies.

    Visit the vk6.net website for more information about PerthTech, and for the link to our registration site. PerthTech is free to attend, however we charge a $25 fee per person, which is a pass-on cost to the caterers, and other add-on costs for the sundowner and camping apply. Full details are on our website, vk6 dot net.

    I look forward to meeting you at PerthTech 2023

    vk6.net/perthtech_1

    trybooking.com/events/landing/1108808

    Raffle: https://rafflelink.com.au/perthtech2023raffle
    This raffle is what makes PerthTech available free to you
    (youll need a WA address)



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Sep 28 19:05:08 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-10-01.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 OCTOBER 01 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 OCT 01 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA Director Giles Kirby VK5GK provides the board update. -

    WIA AR Magazine Editor in Chief VK2ZRH Roger Harrison looks at his
    latest issue.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    This Tuesday night, Oct 3, is the 5th anniversary of the VKDMR Net.

    The net started off small when I was living in Queensland and has grown
    exponentially over that time.

    I've had people call in while caravanning utilizing their hotspots and
    even had a few people call in while Maritime Mobile.

    So, dust off those radios and come get your callsign in the log.

    Timings have changed due to Daylight Savings and are as follows:
    Qld - 7pm,
    NSW, ACT, Vict. and Tasmania - 8pm,
    Sth. Australia - 7.30pm,
    NT. - 6.30pm and
    Western Australia - 5pm.

    Don't you just love Daylight Saving timings across our country!

    So, please come and join us on TG505 on Australia's largest digital
    amateur network. This has been Peter, vk5dmr and vk4nbl for vk1wia.





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Director Giles Kirby VK5GK providing the board update.

    Last week the ACMA consultation on Assessor Accreditation and Arrangements closed and the WIA made a ten-page submission. This submission was an excellent collaboration between the Education and Spectrum Strategy Committees of the WIA.

    Online collaboration spaces like Google, Teams, and Slack are one of the great things to come of the different ways we live and work in recent years. Especially useful to us given that we have committee members from all over Australia and overseas.

    The WIA is positive about the direction that the ACMA is taking in relation to setting up the Assessment service from February 2024 when the Deed expires with the AMC.

    The submission asks some key questions that include - why there is a 50 km limit for remote assessments, use of home premises, public liability cover, digital literacy concerns, further clarification about process, recognition of prior learning, and fees and charges.

    There are also some questions about how the transition process will work along with ensuring and maintaining the integrity of the assessor system.

    On behalf of the board, Id like to say a huge thank you to the Education and Spectrum Strategy committees for their input and to Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW for bringing it all together.

    You can find a copy of the WIA submission to the ACMA on the WIA Website news feed.

    Ive said this before, but the WIA relies on the passion and drive of volunteers to represent the amateur radio service. A relatively small number of dedicated individuals give their time and effort to support the future of amateur radio in Australia, and to each and every one of them, I am immensely grateful.

    This has been your board update. Best wishes and 73s. This is Giles Kirby VK5GK for the VK1WIA national news.




    I DID RECEIVE A JOT POINT LAST MONDAY, SEPT 25, THAT DARWIN TO JAPAN
    2 METER CONTACTS WERE MADE RECENTLY 20 PLUS ON FT8 AND SSB. RICHIE VK8RR
    HAS TOLD WIA NEWS HE WILL SEND US A REPORT SOON SO WE AWAIT THAT AUDIO.

    IN THE MEAN TIME A REPORT NOW ON THE LATEST ARMAGAZINE..




    So dudes! This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    This week, I have to fall on my knees and do a mea culpa for an error I committed last week.

    In introducing the new Listening-In column, I paid tribute to a previous AR magazine columnist, Robin Harwood VK7RH, who contributed Spotlight on SWLing for decades.

    Mistakenly, I said he was a silent key, when in fact, hes alive and kicking!

    My forehead hit the space bar on my laptop keyboard on being advised of this followed by an email from Robin himself!

    Nobodys perfect! Thats not an excuse, just a painful fact. My apologies, Robin. I look forward to receiving the article you offered and giving it a run in Listening-In!

    Recovering my composure . . . what else is there in Issue 5, which has begun landing in letterboxes and newsagents this past week.

    Given that the ACMA is currently consulting the radio amateur community about working out the details of how examinations and assessments will be carried out in future, it so happens that we have a very timely article on something of a stumbling block of where exams may be held.
    Jules Perrin VK3JFP, a long-time assessor and also a member of our Publications Committee, describes a recent incident in which exam assessments were withheld until the issue of whether they were conducted at premises other than his residence was resolved.

    This is a must read article that is of particular interest to all present and past assessors, as well as clubs, and for that matter, anyone with an interest in the governance of amateur radio in Australia.
    The issue has been referenced in the WIAs recent submission to the ACMAs consultation on Proposed amateur radio qualifications and assessor accreditation arrangements.

    For the solder smoke brigade we have a nifty mod for the Poppin Pulser test project, published in Issue 2.
    Remember that? It generates an audio pulse for testing and setting up transceivers and linear amps saving you having to whistle or repeat haaa-lo. Keith Gooley VK5OQ describes how he substituted a MOSFET in place of the LED-LDR assembly that pulsed the audio tone in the original project designed by Jim Tregellas VK5JST.

    October being Jamboree on the Air month that is, JOTA we have Alec Cherry VK2APC with Below 25, a column about young people on the air, who outlines the story of how JOTA came about in the late 1950s and was joined by Jamboree on the Internet JOTI in the late 1990s. JOTA with JOTI bursts into life over 20th through 22nd of October.

    The Geelong Amateur Radio Club celebrates 75 years of life this year! Tony Collis VK3JGC tells the story of the Clubs formation and later acquisition of the call sign VK3ATL. To mark its diamond jubilee, Geelong ARC obtained the special event call sign VI 75 G, for use all year. Look for it on the bands theres a special QSL card to be had.

    If youre keen on playing ham radio in the outdoors, youll be eager to read of the 2023 Pilliga Park-fest. This annual event is for participants of the World-Wide flora and Fauna (WWFF) and Parks on the Air (POTA) programs.

    The 1st event was held at Dorrigo last year and written-up in AR Issue No.4 for 2022. As for last years Park-fest article, this year also deserved a poetic introduction:

    To the wild Warrumbungles, they drove far and wide
    Braving roads and wild jungles, reaching Pilliga Parkside

    Marty Nelson VK4KC tells about the adventures of the 20 participants.

    Elsewhere in Issue 5, Will McGhie VK6UU goes into remote stations, with a focus on VK6CRO, located at Carnarvon, which is on Western Australias coast some 890 km north of Perth.

    Completing Issue 5s focus on When all else fails, we have an article on the role amateur radio plays in the new $25M purpose-built Disaster Emergency Management Centre on Queenslands Gold Coast.

    In addition, Newcomers Notebook goes into the matter of the Go Box a complete, all-in-one portable amateur radio station. Something that you can pick up and take with you in an emergency where independent communications is needed.

    A Go Box is also great for POTA, SOTA and other outdoor amateur radio operations.

    Whats more Spectrum Horizons is back with an article detailing how two clubs with keen interests in VHF-UHF and microwaves, one from VK2 and one from VK4, got together on a lonely lookout in northern NSW to do it differently for the 2023 Winter VHF-UHF Field Day. Its a soliloquy on a sojourn.

    This issues ALARA column from Jenny VK3WQ updates details on the ALARAmeet event happening in Hobart in four weeks time. VI7ALARA can be worked until 9 November.

    Spread over three pages, this issues Over to You has some interesting and entertaining letters to peruse and amuse.
    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 5 for 2023.
    More guts. Less gab.
    Serving Australian radio amateurs for 90 years. Available in print and online. Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGIONN ONE

    WRTC 2026 becomes an RSGB affiliated Special Interest Group.

    The United Kingdom is delighted to have been awarded the hosting
    rights for the 10th WRTC taking place in July 2026.
    Every 4 years, much like the Olympic Games, the World Radio Sport Team
    Championship, known as WRTC, relocates itself to a new host nation.

    WRTC is a radio contest event, designed to provide a platform for
    high-achieving ham radio contesters to compete on a level playing
    field in the same geographic region using identical antennas,
    output power and other operating conditions.

    Each team will have had to qualify over a significant period of time
    by participating and scoring extremely well in a collection of HF radio
    contests from this month, October 2023 to March 2025, then, in
    July 2026, Fifty qualifying teams, comprising of 100 operators will
    arrive in the UK from most parts of the world and will represent their
    home countries, much like the style seen in the Olympic Games.




    The International Broadcasting Convention was held September in
    Amsterdam with over 43,000 attendees, 1250 exhibitors and 325-plus
    speakers across an expanded number of theater halls to champion new
    technologies, future business models and creative innovations that
    broaden the horizons of media and entertainment.

    The organizers noted that topics such as cloud and AI were
    front and centre throughout the show floor theatres and
    exhibition halls,

    Organizers also announced that IBC will return in September of 2024
    in Amsterdam.





    REGION TWO

    CANADA

    The Cambridge Amateur Radio Club VE 3 SWR went QRT earlier last month
    following a break-in at the shed where the club stores its equipment.

    Stepping up and lending a helping hand ( or is that a 'helping ham'
    the Kitchener-Waterloo Amateur Radio Club.

    While the Cambridge club sorts out the damage and the losses from the
    early September incident, members have been given use of the
    Kitchener-Waterloo club's equipment and repeaters. Harry Niezen, VE3HZ,
    President of Kitchener club, told CBC that it was natural for the club
    to open its doors to help fellow hams.

    According to a story on the CBC website, Scott Mitchell, VA3GGT,
    President of the Cambridge club, said that the club's electric
    generator went missing along with numerous tools after the break-in.
    Part of the storage shed had been set on fire and the club's repeaters
    suffered smoke damage. The club's duplexer had been thrown to the other
    side of the shed and was destroyed.




    USA

    The amateur radio operator's tool kit for disaster assistance usually
    consists of towers, radios, antennas and other communications
    equipment. Now one club in Missouri has just added a new device - one
    that communicates with the heart.

    ARNewsLine say the Sedalia-Pettis Amateur Radio Klub has a new addition
    to its emergency communications trailer. It's an AED, an automated
    external defibrillator which is capable of restoring the heart's
    natural rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest.

    KE QYA, told local media that the AED will be placed in the emergency
    communications trailer that hams use during disaster drills as well as
    real emergencies.





    REGION THREE

    WHO LISTENS TO THE RADIO

    In Indonesia, their regulator now authorises the simulcasting of
    analogue and DRM digital radio in the standard broadcast bands we here
    in Australia are used to in our radios plus in VHF band III, the new
    regulation authorizes the use of DRM in the 174202 MHz portion of the
    band and DAB+ in 202230 MHz. There is no requirement to simulcast
    analogue and digital signals, and there is no analogue shut-off plan
    in the regulation.

    In China, a joint recommendation from the National Radio and Television
    Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and
    the State Administration for Market Regulation has called for
    strengthening in-car radio reception, in part, by accelerating the
    rollout of DRM for domestic AM broadcasters. The recommendation calls
    for accelerated integration and expansion of AM networks using the
    DRM digital radio standard, as well as for promoting the use of
    analogue / digital simulcasts.

    Finally, Pakistan Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting
    Murtaza Solangi addressed the International Conference on Radio
    Resource Control and Management at IBC 2023, highlighting Radio
    Pakistans digitization efforts, which includes a transition to
    DRM digital broadcasting in all wavebands. In late July, we here at
    WIA National News told how Radio Pakistan broke ground on a massive
    DRM project, including a new 1,000 kW transmitter that extends the
    broadcasters reach from the Mediterranean to the Pacific.




    New Zealand Amateur Radio Milestones

    Arguably the best laid out and easy to navigate web page showing a
    timeline of notable events for Amateur radio in New Zealand and NZART
    is to be found on their nzart.org.nz web page

    ( nzart.org.nz/nzart/milestones )

    Craig Crawford ZL 3 TLB is to be congratulated on this project.

    Now Im pretty sure it isn't our own WIA News Editor VK44BB Graham Kemp
    BUT way back in 1888, and first entry on this timeline is one G Kemp
    who began wireless experiments in Gisborne NZ.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX Contest

    PH - The October 7 - 8 0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    CW - October 14 - 15 from 0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday


    --------------

    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's SSB leg is October 28-29
    ith the CW test November 25-26.
    Both legs run 0000 UTC Saturday; Ending 2359 UTC Sunday

    ----------------

    VHF-UHF Spring Field Day 25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT for our Perth Listeners and
    viewers, in fact all over VK6 YOU CAN add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.


    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.

    (PAUSE HERE Felix because we MAY get an audio report from
    a new contest manager.. not sure)


    --------------
    DX WINDOW - OCTOBER
    --------------


    The special callsign VI7ALARA is active on the HF bands until the 8th of November, commemorating the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association's meeting to be held in Hobart, Tasmania. The callsign is being operated by a number of YLs in Tasmania and throughout Australia. See QRZ.com for more details.

    -----------------

    Acromegaly Awareness day this year has, to raise awereness of this
    medical condition, a Special Event Call sign all of November, VI4ACRO.

    -----------------


    VI 10 VKFF running all year celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    VK 90 AR for Amateur Radio Magazine.

    October 2023, this year, sees your WIA celebrating 90 years of
    continuous publishing of Amateur Radio Magazine, the official journal
    of the Wireless Institute of Australia.

    The WIA will be running the VK90AR activity until December 31.

    (wia)

    --------------

    Special Event Station VI 100 MB all year celebrates the centenary of
    the Manly-Warringah Radio Society

    --------------

    Rebel DX Group are using callsign T22T from Tuvalu, IOTA OC-015
    till the 9th of October on 160-6m using SSB and FT8
    (either in normal or fox-hound mode).

    Visit the QRZ.com page for T 22 T for further details.

    (ARNewsLine 2393)

    -----------------

    EAST KIRIBATI.

    Ken, KH6QJ is QRV as T 32 AZ from Kiritimati, IOTA OC-024, until
    October 17. QSL to home call which again is KH6QJ.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    FRANCE.

    Special event station TM 23 RUGB will be QRV October 16 to 22,
    during the Rugby World Cup. Activity will be on the HF bands.

    QSL via F 5 KHG.

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23


    Ben Lloyd is taking on the challenge of "activating" ten new summits
    in the Outer Hebrides with some amateur radio equipment. In Ben Lloyd's
    case, it means taking on ten new summits in the Outer Hebrides.

    Ben is a board director for Radio Society of Great Britain, the
    RSGB -- the UK's national society for amateur radio enthusiasts and is
    planning to climb ten summits on remote islands and from there, make
    SOTA contacts to the world.

    When successful, it will be the first time the summits have EVER been
    "activated".

    (eHam)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    HAMS IN LATVIA CELEBRATE THE MECHANICAL KEY

    You may have worked the Latvian Contest Group YL1ZX in any number of
    major contests on the band over the course of any year. Well, now those
    same hams are involved in another activity - one that its members have
    organized as a kind of celebration.

    It's a celebration of the mechanical key used by many CW operators.
    This one-hour activity featuring bugs, side-swiper and straight keys
    will encourage amateurs to shake the dust off on the 13th of October
    and engage in as many QSOs as they can using a simple exchange.
    The activity frequencies will be between 3.520 MHz and 3.560 MHz.
    Operators will be calling "CQ MK," of course, for "mechanical key."

    This is the third activity of this kind that the group will have hosted
    this year in the hopes of recognising these keys' increasing
    popularity.

    For details and to see the operators' simple exchange, see the link
    that can be found in the text version of this week's WIA NATIONAL NEWS.

    yl3jd.fizioikskile.lv/mkey/

    (ARNEWSLINE 2395)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Researchers have designed a miniature rocket thruster so small that it
    can only be fabricated using techniques originally intended for
    creating silicon microchips

    Satellites weighing under 10 kilograms, constituting approximately 90%
    of today's satellite launches, present a unique set of challenges when
    it comes to developing components for them. Among the most critical
    challenges is designing rocket thrusters tailored to the limitations of
    CubeSats. These thrusters must not only be diminutive in size but also
    uncomplicated, unpressurized, low-power, and devoid of toxic materials.

    Funded by the European Space Agency, this Thruster meets these
    stringent criteria, with its primary attribute being its diminutive
    size. The entire thruster chip, comparable in length to a human
    fingernail, features a combustion chamber and nozzle measuring a mere
    1 millimetre.

    (ans)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is the
    first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club
    of Australia's October bulletin to go to air.

    This month Andrew VK3CAH brings us the latest Club news, after which
    Ill be talking about the Earth Inductor Compass, followed by
    Bill, VK3BR telling us about the A-A-3-Mk-7 gun-fire control system.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on the
    RAOTC website
    raotc.org.au
    or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the audio
    file at any time from today from the club website.

    The next lunchtime meeting for Members and Friends of the RAOTC in
    Perth is on Tuesday October 10th at the Woodbridge Hotel, East
    Guildford starting at 11.30. All are welcome; full details are on the
    Club website.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the October RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the
    program and please join in the call backs afterwards. Now I was just
    thinking, who is VK's Oldest Ham? Drop nationalnews@wia.org.au
    a quick note so we can give our eldest statesman a shout out, much like
    the ARRL has credited W4OXH Oscar Norris as the USA's oldest.

    Oscar W4OXH, turned 106 last Monday, Sept. 25.

    (eHam)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    Jamboree on the Air, JOTA, is on 20-22 October this year.

    Whilst searching FaceBook recently I stumbled across a great JOTA
    resource, from our friends at Ham Radio Ireland. In turn, they
    credited Aussie club Manly-Warringah in VK2.

    In the past, the club had taken HF rigs and antenna etc to a nearby
    JOTA camp site, but setting up and tearing down all the gear was a
    lot of work. So they worked with the Scouting Association to
    streamline the whole operation and give the kids a broader
    introduction to Amateur Radio.

    These days, Scouts and Guides are brought to the club in groups,
    for about an hour and a half each. They are split up into smaller
    groups and during their time they rotate between a number of different
    activities, each lasting about fifteen minutes.

    They learn how to assemble an Emergency Radio Station. -

    Introduction to Shortwave. -

    See Electronic Signals with an Oscilloscope. -

    They play games such as 'Radio Battleships' and based on the training
    mission from the smartphone app, Escape Team, the scouts on this JOTA
    gathering race the clock to crack the secret codes that will defuse a
    bomb that threatens the city. This is titled Code Breaking.

    And learn about Radio Propagation, identifying AM radio stations and
    seeing the difference the daytime scouts receive compared to those of
    an evening.

    WELL WORTH A VISIT, THE LINK WE LIKE FOR THIS AS WITHH ALL POINTS OF
    CONTACT IS HERE - tinyurl.com/vm9rvbbx






    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

    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    In the wake of the devastating and tragic earthquake that struck
    Morocco September 8, satellite data is proving to be a vital asset for
    emergency response teams.

    The International Charter 'Space and Major Disasters,' which offers
    rapid support during major crises, quickly deployed Earth observation
    assets to assist rescue efforts. Additionally, radar measurements from
    Europe's Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite mission are being utilized to
    assess ground shifts caused by the earthquake. This information not
    only aids in planning reconstruction efforts but also advances
    scientific research.

    The powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Atlas Mountains, about
    75 kilometres from Marrakesh, Morocco resulting in significant loss
    of life, building collapses, and infrastructure damage.

    The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
    along with the United Nations, invoked the International Charter
    Space & Major Disasters. This initiative allows for the swift provision
    of satellite imagery to define the extent of the disaster, enhancing
    rescue operations.

    In alignment with this collaboration, the Copernicus Emergency Mapping
    Service was activated to share satellite data in response and High
    resolution images from France's Pliades satellites were used to create
    detailed damage maps, aiding rescue teams in their operations.

    (ans)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- STAMP COLLECTING RADIO AMATEURS

    Australia Post is set to mark 100 years of public broadcast radio
    by showcasing a new Australian stamp release.

    The new Centenary of Broadcast Radio stamp releases feature images
    from broadcast radios early years, with the 1st Day of Issue release
    set for October 17 to mark the Centenary of broadcast radio in
    Australia.

    (vk2law)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - PerthTech - October 28th (vk6pop)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    This is Linda V

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Oct 5 23:34:50 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-10-08.mp3
    Text edition:

    2023 OCTOBER 08 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

    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    WE HAVE THE NEWS FOR YOU - THE NEWS YOU'VE BEEN WAITING ALL
    WEEK FOR, FOR WEEK COMMENCING OCTOBER 8 2023

    This week, VK2ZRH looks at how you can operate special call VK90AR. -

    From the top end VK8ZZ looks at WRC-23 and, also covers for our, as
    promised last week report from 8RR, on that trans-equatorial opening,
    on 2 meters into Nippon. -

    And hot on the heels of the QNEWS report for VK4 last week, more on
    the 2024 WIA AGM from David VK4DN of the Bundaberg Amateur Radio
    Club. -


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    Gidday, Im David VK4DN in Bundaberg QLD.

    Just wanting to remind everyone about the exciting 2024 WIA National AGM and Convention happening in Bundaberg on Star Wars Day (May 4th) next year!.

    It promises to be an amazing weekend! with keynote presentations, a HamFest / Open day and we have even scheduled a contact with the Space Station!

    We are looking for amateurs who would be willing to give a talk on-stage about a subject you are passionate about. (preferably related to Amateur Radio of course!) but whatever your interest and if its something you would like to share, let us know! . (what is your passion? Antenna design / SDR equipment / Digital modes / High Altitude Balloons/WICEN/CW / Vintage radio? Your talk can be from 30mins to 60mins and the subject of your choosing.

    Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the event.

    Im David VK4DN From the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club We look forward to welcoming you on May 4th/5th 2024 here in Bundaberg QLD! Cheers!




    WIA AR MAGAZINE EDITOR IN CHIEF :-

    Pay attention!

    Yes this is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison
    VK2ZRH..

    We have been well, me anyway banging on all year about reaching
    90 years of continuous, uninterrupted publication of Amateur Radio
    magazine.

    To mark this milestone ON-AIR, the WIA Board obtained a Special Event
    call sign VK90AR with which to get on the bands and make some
    noise. The call sign is for use by any member of the WIA as well as any
    affiliated club.

    Getting to use VK90AR is a simple process.

    Apply on the WIA website Online Event Calendar, where you can book a
    roster to suit yourself.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/events/submit/index.php

    If you already know where that is, go straight there. Otherwise, look
    up the news item featured prominently on the WIA website home page.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20230921-1/index.php

    Thats it from me.

    Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.





    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    WIA SECRETARY PETER VK8ZZ

    The World Radiocommunications Conferences, which sets down the Radio Regulations for the entire radio spectrum for every country, is held every 3 4 years.

    The last Conference was held in 2019 and the WIA sent delegates to attend this meeting and to support the IARU in its endeavours to protect amateur radio frequency assignments. At WRC-19 there were two issues that had a possible impact on our Amateur assignments.

    The first was an agenda item in relation to short duration satellite missions (CubeSats etc.) seeking additional spectrum for these missions in or near the 2m band. This agenda item was surprisingly contentious, and it took many meetings to reach agreement on a new allocation. The new allocation provides for transmissions in the space-to-Earth direction in the 137 138 MHz band and for Earth-to-space in the 148 149.9 MHz band. This was a good outcome for amateurs.

    The second issue relating to Wireless Power Transfer for Electric Vehicles was of great concern to amateurs because of the potential for poorly engineered WPT systems to cause serious Radio Frequency Interference. After much work in various national and regional meetings, along with work at WRC-19 there were no changes made to the Radio Regulations at that stage.

    The Wireless Institute of Australia as the only internationally recognised National Association for Amateur Radio in Australia. The WIA is a member society of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and during the World Radiocommunication Conferences it is part of the official Australian Delegation to WRC-23 which is hosted by the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

    The next World Radio Conference will be held later this year in Dubai. The WIA will send 2 delegates to this WRC-23 namely Dale Hughes VK1DSH and Peter Pokorny VK2EMR.

    In the interim time between WRC events there are several working group meetings held either in person or virtually. The WIA has been represented at all of these working group meetings.

    The WIA has budgeted in excess of $60,000 to fund Australian Amateur Radio International Representation, up to an including the WRC-23 which will be held over 1 month in November and December this year. Whilst we have had some contributions towards these costs, for which we are extremely grateful, a significant proportion of the WIA membership fees goes to this international representation.

    As Peter Shrader VK4EA has indicated in a previous broadcast item about WRC-23, there is much concern about the secondary 23cm amateur allocation. This secondary allocation is shared with the primary GLONASS, COMPASS and GALILEO radio-navigation satellite systems. Much of the lead up to WRC-23 has been to address the technical studies undertaken at the ITU. The working groups have also been dealing with the opposing views from different countries that represent the operators of the satellite systems, while trying to preserve meaningful access to the band by amateurs.

    We eagerly await the outcomes of these deliberations at WRC-23.

    This has been Peter Clee VK8ZZ WIA secretary and WIA Director here on
    WIA National News


    ________________________________________________



    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    WI-FI SEVEN

    For most people, the Wi-Fi hardware of today provides a perfectly
    satisfactory user experience. However, technology is ever-evolving
    and as always, the next advancement is already around the corner.

    Enter Wi-Fi 7: a new standard that is set to redefine the boundaries
    of speed, efficiency, and connection reliability.

    Wi-Fi 7 isnt just another incremental step in the world of wireless
    tech. Its promising drastic improvements over its predecessors.
    But what does it bring to the table? And how does it differ from
    Wi-Fi 6E, which is still relatively fresh in the market?

    Wi-Fi 7 is engineered with advanced features to combat latency,
    bolster capacity, and enhance stability and efficiency.

    Wi-Fi 7 is recognized in the official naming convention as
    IEEE 802.11be. Its headline feature is speed. Wi-Fi 7 is expected to
    provide speeds up to up to 46,120 Mbit/s. Thats over 4,000 times
    faster than 802.11b, the first Wi-Fi standard the world fell in love
    with.





    REGION TWO NEWS

    Despite their potential for use in communications, radio
    frequencies in the terahertz and sub-terahertz ranges - that is,
    those above 100 GHz, are considered underutilized.
    The United States Air Force is about to share its plans for a radio
    they are hoping could change all that.

    ARNewsLine has told how a project in the works in the US Air Force
    Research Laboratory is exploring the potential that radio frequencies
    above 100 GHZ have for secure wideband communications. The military is
    looking to develop an ultra-broadband radio that can adjust output
    power, data rate and even carrier frequency and are hoping to find
    defence contractors in the industry who can assist with the project.

    Although frequencies in those ranges, which can be used for 6G
    communications, have a high level of atmospheric absorption that
    can restrict how far the transmissions travel, the military is hoping
    to capitalize on the frequencies' ability to accommodate secure
    channels. The Air Force is hosting an informational day for the
    industry October and will be looking for defence contractors who are
    US citizens to get on board the project.

    Early experiments have already proven successful, according to a report
    on the Inside Towers website. Last December, communication was achieved
    at frequencies higher than 300 GHZ during flight experiments by the
    Air Force, which has been exploring these options for almost a decade.




    With the hope for clear skies on Saturday, October 14th, a small group
    of SOTA enthusiasts in Oregon will be climbing the peaks - not just for
    a chance at Summit-to-Summit contacts but to stop long enough to
    experience a total eclipse of the sun from an elevation.

    ARNewsLine say these hams who are also fans of SOTA activations and
    camping out don't really need an excuse like an eclipse to make a big
    weekend event happen but Tim N7KOM and his friends are seizing the
    moment anyway in Oregon The state's south-eastern region is in the path
    of totality for the annular eclipse and that is as good an occasion as
    any for a hike up to Drake Peak, SOTA designation W7O/CE-002
    and Light Peak, W7O/CE-004. Tim has also announced his own plans to
    camp at Mud Creek Campground and arrive on one of the summits by 9:20
    local time. His rig and of course his camera will be ready.

    The weekend doesn't end when the eclipse is gone, however:-
    Tim expects to keep getting more summits right up through Sunday
    afternoon.




    Two notable radio amateurs will be presenting at the banquet being held at the AMSAT Space Symposium in Texas on October 20th and 21st. AMSAT has announced that the keynote speaker will be Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD, who was a co-inventor of the form factor for the popular miniature satellites known as CubeSats. He will be joined by Nick Pugh, K5QXJ. A telecommunications technology specialist, Nick's notable efforts have included the help he has given the college team at the University of Louisiana Lafayette to be the first campus team of its kind to build and launch satellites.



    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------


    OCTOBER - Oceania DX Contest Part One this weekend, on now.

    PH - The October 7 - 8 0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    then

    CW - October 14 - 15 from 0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    --------------

    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's SSB leg is October 28-29
    with the CW test November 25-26.
    Both legs run 0000 UTC Saturday; Ending 2359 UTC Sunday


    ----------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday



    AND A PEAK AT JANUARY 2024 ONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
    13 - 14 January.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au)
    -----------

    --------------------------------------------------------------------


    --------------

    DX WINDOW

    --------------
    --------------

    MONACO.

    During October all Monaco amateur radio operators are allowed to use
    the special call sign 3 A 70 ARM to commemorate the 70th anniversary
    of the Association des Radioamateurs de Monaco.
    Activity may be on 80 meters to 10 GHz using all modes.
    QSL via operators' instructions.

    (eHam)


    ----------

    TIMOR-LESTE.
    Satoshi, JH2EUV is QRV as 4W/JH2EUV from Dili until October 13.
    Activity is in his spare time on 80 to 6 meters. QSL to home call
    which again is JH2EUV

    (eHam)


    -----------------

    SAMOA.

    QRV is 5 W 0 LM until October 14 on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and
    FT8. QSL via 9 A 3 MR.

    (eHam)

    -----------------


    FRENCH POLYNESIA.

    TX 6 D from Tahiti, IOTA OC-046, until Sunday next, October 15.
    Activity is on 160 to 10 meters with 5 stations using CW, SSB
    and various digital modes. QSL via DL 7 DF.

    (eHam)




    -----------------

    6W/IV3FSG from Senegal until the 16th of October. This YL operator
    is operating SSB and the digital modes in her spare time.
    Refer QRZ.com for QSL details.

    (ARNewsLine 2396)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23


    The HEMA Summit award scheme is slowly expanding with Cyprus, East Malaysia and West Malaysia being added to it and the first activations occurring from these regions in the last few months.

    There's been the first World HEMA Day on September 1st/2nd. There was a good response and all certificates have been sent out. Congratulations to Bill M0DXT and David M0YDH as joint top scorers. It looks like it will be run again around the same time next year.

    daily.hamweekly.com say a Smartphone App for Android smartphones
    "HEMA Assistant" is in the testing phase and spotting and listing spots
    with the app are working. Other features are still under development.

    If you want to learn more about this amateur radio portable operating scheme and to check if there is a qualifying summit (or summits) near you please go to hema.org.uk

    (DAILY.HAMWEEKLY.COM)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY

    Solar Eclipse QSO Party Seeks Amateurs and Radio Enthusiasts for Global Experiment

    ARRL is proud to partner with HamSCI to help promote participation in the Solar Eclipse QSO Party, the S.E.Q.P, SEQPs are a series of global experiments -- and you can be a part of them. Solar eclipses will pass across the continental United States on Saturday October 14, and
    April 8, 2024. During these celestial events, you can join thousands of fellow amateurs as part of the largest crowd-sourced event for ham radio scientific exploration. The SEQP is part of the Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science and is for learning more about how the ionosphere works.

    All radio amateurs need to do is operate using any mode and any band for all or part of the day, then upload their logs. Participation can be from anywhere; you don't even need to be near the path of the eclipse
    to contribute valuable data.

    hamsci.org/contest-info.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    WSJT-X has released a beta version with full duplex, ideal for use on
    RS-44, AO-109, and other linear satellites. It also includes many other
    useful satellite operating features.

    Download sourceforge.net/projects/wsjt-x-improv

    [ANS]




    Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD, and Nick Pugh, K5QXJ will be partnering with
    University of Louisiana and other organizations to apply for a NASA
    grant to fly a 3U satellite with approximately 30 small thinsats.

    This program is designed so high schools and universities with minimal
    satellite experience can have an opportunity to place satellites in
    low-earth orbit. This program anticipates schools with budgets of less
    than $500 to get to space.

    Bob and Nick will be presenting this initiative at the 41st Annual
    AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting to be held in DFW
    October 20-21.

    amsat.org for more information on the Symposium.

    (ANS)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MEDICAL

    In Tennessee, some newly licensed hams are adding vital skills to the state's Medical Reserve Corps. Skeeter Nash N5ASH has those details.



    SKEETER: Andrew Albertson KN4CTG has a little extra pride in his voice when he talks about the latest group of Technician class amateurs who passed their license exam in Tennessee. That's because they are graduates of a class he taught. So they're not just new hams but volunteers with the Tennessee Medical Reserve Corps, which began offering the classes last year. The MRC is giving a new priority to encouraging members to get their amateur radio licenses. The Tennessee MRC, which is overseen by the Tennessee State Department of Health, is part of a national network of more than 200,000 volunteers. Andrew told NewsLine that he began teaching the classes last year after Melanie Grant, KQARE, coordinator for the MRC's South Tennessee area, asked if he would be willing to help expand the volunteers' skill set in that region to include communications.

    Since then he has also taught classes in Tennessee's MRC in the nearby Upper Cumberland Region. The goal, he said, is to have a total of 50 to 60 volunteers licensed between the two regions to provide what he called an "organic capability" in communication within the ranks of the volunteers. The MRC does not replicate the work of ARES or RACES. Its mission is to be part of a larger public health response in the event of a crisis.

    Andrew told NewsLine in a phone interview [quote]: "By offering this we can have a more capable MRC without having to rely on other groups." [endquote]

    He said he will be gearing up shortly for the next classes, which are free and use a modified curriculum based on ARRL materials. The 16-hour course is offered over a three-day span. The Technician license test is given at the conclusion. Andrew said that anyone interested in joining the Tennessee Medical Reserve Corps should visit the website. You can find a link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

    This is Skeeter Nash N5ASH.

    https://tinyurl.com/yty4jjkn




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    The newest operator handling a weekly evening net for the Philippines Ham Radio Cebu DX7CBU is also a very new ham who has wasted no time showing her leadership skills. At the age of 10, Summer Mina, DY7SUM, is the youngest member of the club, where her parents, Bjorn, DW7KGB, and Bopbop, DW7OIC, run nets on other nights. With the help of her parents and her mentor, Jet, 4F7MHZ, the club's founder and trustee, Summer sat for her Foundation exam from the National Telecommunications Commission this past June and received her licence. Now she is actively taking check-ins on 2 metres.

    Jet told NewsLine in an email that Summer was inspired by her parents' activities as amateur radio operators, calling her a natural achiever. Her leadership abilities extend to her academic life off the air. When she's not running the show on the local repeater, Summer is in her third term as president of her class at the Maria Montessori International School in Cebu.

    (ARNewsLine)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF AND ABOVE.

    VK8 OPERATORS ENJOY THE FRUITS OF TRANS-EQUATORIAL PROPAGATION

    Up in the territory as the mangos start to ripen, they enter the
    mango madness season as the build-up starts and the humidity starts
    to climb. This usually brings some good openings and this year
    exceeded expectations with regular trans-equatorial openings on
    2 meters into Japan.

    VK8ZZ filed this report.

    Contacts have been made via FT8 and SSB with 59 contacts each way
    in some instances.

    It all started with some detective work by Joe VK8VTX, who is an avid
    VHF operator, discovering the Japanese amateur radio band plan
    specifies 144.460 MHz as the preferred FT8 operating frequency. With
    regular openings from VK8 to Japan on 6 metres in the afternoons and
    evenings, Joe was keen to try for a contact on 2 metres. Some diligent
    calling on FT8 eventually revealed an opening to the JA6 Kagoshima
    region in the very south of Kyushu island in Japan. Joe made his first
    contact using a 100 watts and a vertical antenna. Joe was quickly
    joined by Gary VK8AW, another VHF enthusiast.

    Word quickly got out among amateurs in Darwin and it would seem JA6 as
    well, as numerous contacts between VK8 and JA6 have been made in the
    evenings. SSB contacts were made by Joe, Gary, Richie VK8RR and Phil
    VK8MC. On 26 September Richie VK8RR, using his 44 element EME station,
    worked into Osaka JP3EXR on FT8 at a distance of some 5,200 kms.

    Perhaps not a record, but getting closer.

    Darwin region VK8s are making the most of the conditions while they
    last and are hoping for more openings further north into Japan when
    the propagation gods are feeling benevolent

    (vk8mc and vk8rr and vk8zz)




    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    REWIND

    REWINDING THE SMITH WAY

    Phillip Smith, an amateur radio operator working at Bell Labs, devised a
    chart that even today can help engineers understand the behaviour of transmission lines.

    From an early age, Smith had a keen interest in radio, creating his own
    amateur radio station using homemade components and contributing articles to the radio section of the Boston Traveller.

    In 1924, Smith went to Tufts College to study electrical communications.
    Upon graduating in 1928 with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering
    he was offered a job at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

    Smiths first assignments at Bell Laboratories required him to take
    countless measurements of standing waves, inspiring him to develop a
    quick method to compute the input impedance of transmission lines. In
    1931, he created his first graphical solution in the form of a
    rectangular chart. However, Smith recognized the limits of this chart,
    which could only accommodate so much data. He continued to search for
    ways to improve his chart, constantly refining it.

    After enhancing his chart with a grid made up of orthogonal circles, he
    could finally accommodate all data from zero to infinity. And thus, the
    Smith chart was born. After a slow acceptance process, his article
    describing the chart was published in 1939.

    The Smith chart is a tool for visualizing the impedance of a
    transmission line and antenna system as a function of frequency. The
    charts can be used to improve understanding of transmission lines and
    how they behave from an impedance viewpoint while also helping with
    impedance matching.

    My time is up; With Rewind, this is John Knox VK4FJRK.


    https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/phillip-smith-from-amateur-radio-operator-to-creator-of-the-smith-chart/

    Written by Lianne Frith for the All About Circuits web e-zine.
    (vk7wi news)





    ------------------------------------------------------------*







    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - PerthTech - October 28th (vk6pop)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

    This is Linda V

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Oct 12 18:11:50 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-10-15.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 OCTOBER 15 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 OCT 15 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    Along with AR Magazine Editor in Chief Roger Harrison VK2ZRH the
    'Williams's join us. -

    WIA President Scott Williams VK3KJ covers two items, Election of
    Directors and Call for Nominations, also, an additional 1-year
    complementary membership if you have not been a WIA member in the
    past. -

    WIA Past Director John Williams VK4JJW with ACMA news on how our
    regulator is taking a second look at how microwave frequencies

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF
    NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    Hi there, this is WIA Director and President Scott WilliamsVK3KJ and welcome to the broadcast this week.

    This week, I will just quickly cover two items, Election of Directors - Call for Nominations and also, an additional 1-year complementary membership if you have not been a WIA member in the past.

    Election of Directors Call for Nominations

    A notice will be published in the November / December edition of the Institute's magazine "Amateur Radio" calling for nominations from members for election to join the Board of Directors of the WIA.

    Three directors retire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting which will be held in May 2024, namely Lee Moyle VK3GK, Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY and Steven Green VK2TSG. Each retiring director is eligible for re-election.

    A director must be a voting member of the WIA and must hold an Australian amateur radio license and a Company Director Identification Number.

    A nomination form is available on the WIA web site and at the link in the text version of this broadcast.

    Candidate information will be posted online and emailed to members.
    Members are requested to ensure that their email address is correctly recorded on the WIA membership register to ensure emails are not delivered to incorrect addresses.

    Delivery to the Returning Officer may be made by hand when the WIA national office is open or by mail to the Returning Officer. Detailed delivery information is available in the text version of this broadcast.


    Delivery to the Returning Officer may be made by hand when the WIA national office is open at:

    Wireless Institute of Australia National Office Unit 20
    11-13 Havelock Road
    Bayswater
    Victoria 3153

    or by mail to:

    The Returning Officer
    Wireless Institute of Australia
    PO Box 2042
    Bayswater
    Victoria 3153

    tinyurl.com/2s4adws

    Nominations received by facsimile, email or by other electronic means cannot be accepted.

    This communique is Authorised by:
    John Marshall
    WIA Returning Officer

    1 Year Complimentary Membership

    GOT A NEW LICENCE? 1-Year Additional Membership on us!

    If you have received an Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency:

    (AOCP) Foundation, Standard or Advanced

    at any time since 1st January 2018, or if you are an Amateur Radio Operator, SWL or other interested party and at any time have not previously been a member of the WIA, you may be eligible for an additional 1- year membership extension to your first years WIA membership subscription* at no additional cost.

    If this is you, or someone you know, all that is needed is to complete a WIA membership application form (hard or soft copy) along with a copy of the relevant AOCP qualification (or equivalent if applicable) showing the date of qualification attainment and send them to the WIA head office for processing.

    This can also be forwarded by email to : nationaloffice@wia.org.au

    Join now and start receiving all the benefits of WIA membership.

    This has been Scott Williams, WIA President for this weeks news.




    ACMA

    In the past 10 days or so we all received an via email from ACMA.
    Our regulator is taking a second look at how microwave frequencies
    are being used in light of growing competition for those parts of
    the band.

    John Williams VK4JJW brings us an update as he originally did for
    ARNewsLine

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released its
    five-year spectrum outlook which acknowledges possible changes in the
    range between 2.3002.302 GHz where we amateur radio operators have
    privileges on a secondary basis for activities that include
    earth-moon-earth operations. Primary use is allocated to fixed and
    mobile services. The ACMA notes in its report that there are competing
    interests for the 2.3 GHz band, including for wireless broadband.
    The ACMA expects to address that in next year's report.

    Meanwhile, the regulator is scrutinizing the middle of the band between
    3.4 GHz and 4.0 GHz. This is an effort to accommodate 5G services as
    they are rolled out in the country. The ACMA is also looking to add
    three bands: The extended L band at 1.5 GHz, between 1.5181.525 GHz
    and 1.6681.675 GHz and 1.9 GHz, looking toward an allocation of
    2 GHz mobile satellite service from 1.9802.005 GHz / 2.1702.195 GHz.

    This is John Williams VK4JJW.




    Its me again. Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio
    magazine,.

    This month 90 years ago, the first issue of Amateur Radio magazine was
    launched. Bearing a bright, bold-red cover, the 24-page issue was
    priced at six pence. The WIA President of that era, George Thompson
    VK3TH, said that the new magazine satisfied a long-felt want.

    Amazingly, that want has never vanished not even during the dark days
    of World War 2.

    To mark this milestone ON-AIR, the WIA Board obtained a Special Event
    call sign VK90AR with which to get on the bands and make some
    noise. The call sign is for use by any member of the WIA as well as any
    affiliated club.

    Getting to use VK90AR is a simple process.

    Apply on the WIA website Online Event Calendar, where you can book a
    roster to suit yourself.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/events/submit/index.php

    If you already know where that is, go straight there. Otherwise, look
    up the news item featured prominently on the WIA website home page.

    VK90AR expires on 31 December 2023. So, get online, book a roster, and
    dont miss out.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20230921-1/index.php

    Thats it from me. Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com, Hackaday and the World Wide sources of your WIA.

    The sun is about to lose something important:

    Its magnetic poles.

    Recent measurements by NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory reveal a
    rapid weakening of magnetic fields in the polar regions of the sun.
    North and south magnetic poles are on the verge of disappearing.
    This will lead to a complete reversal of the sun's global magnetic
    field perhaps before the end of 2023.

    If this were happening on Earth, there would be widespread alarm.
    Past reversals of our planet's magnetic field have been linked to
    calamities ranging from sudden climate change to the extinction of
    Neanderthals. On the sun, it's not so bad.

    "In fact, it's routine," says a solar physicist at Stanford University.
    "This happens every 11 years (more or less) when we're on the verge of
    Solar Maximum."




    REGION ONE

    French authorities have received a software update from Apple for its
    iPhone 12 and are reviewing it as a fix for a radiation issue, a source
    at the French digital ministry has told Reuters.

    Apple pledged to update the software to defuse a row over radiation
    levels from iPhone 12 handsets, after France suspended sales of the
    model following tests it said found breaches of radiation exposure
    limits.

    France had threatened to seek a product recall if Apple had refused
    to do a software update.

    The radiation warning in France was based on results of tests that
    differ from those carried out in other countries.

    Industry experts said there were no safety risks as regulatory limits,
    based on the risk of burns or heatstroke from the phone's radiation,
    were set well below levels where scientists have found evidence of
    harm.

    Apple launched the iPhone 15 earlier this month and the iPhone 12 is
    not available to buy from Apple directly. It can, however, be bought
    from third parties that have inventory, or trade old phones.





    Back in our October One edition of WIA National News we told how a
    RSGB Board Member was planning on activating 10 summits out on some
    remote Scottish Islands.

    Now comes word RSGB Board Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML will climb some
    of these WITH his partner and fellow radio amateur Martha, AND their
    TWO-year-old daughter Lyra.

    This Summits on the Air (SOTA) challenge combines Bens favourite
    hobbies of amateur radio and hiking, but it also sometimes brings
    with it adverse weather conditions and the need to reach remote islands
    by KYACK!

    You can catch up with his adventures on RSGB social media channels and
    through the special playlist of videos on the RSGB YouTube channel

    tinyurl.com/ychb66hw




    REGION TWO

    A public period is open until October 30, 2023, for USA radio amateurs
    to comment on proposed changes to their 60 Meter band.

    ARRL is asking all radio amateurs to join it in urging the FCC to
    continue the existing use of the band. ARRL is encouraging expressions
    of support to the FCC for the current 100-watt ERP power limit
    (instead of reducing the power limit to 15 watts EIRP) and continuing
    secondary access to the current channels.

    They have the opportunity to reply to comments by November 28.




    REGION THREE

    Quite often we have reported on a missing Indian discovered after
    intervention by the Ham Radio operators of Bengal.

    BUT listen up for this story!

    More than 500 tourists, scouts from Kolkata, Durgapur and Barrackpore,
    gone missing after the devastating glacial lake outburst leading to
    flash flood in North Sikkim, have been traced back by the Ham Radio
    operators of Bengal. The number in fact is a staggering 547.

    The kin of two tourist families remained clueless after the
    catastrophic disaster. The district administration had sought
    assistance from the state inter agency group. Ambarish Nag Biswas,
    secretary, West Bengal Radio Club said, "The marooned families were
    traced back by our licensed operators, including Soumik Ghosh.

    The families couldn't contact either their kin or the civil
    administration for want of telecommunications. The batteries of their
    cell phones were also exhausted." He added: "We've identified 547
    tourists from different parts of the country in Sikkim and we've
    uploaded their signatures in the public domain for their true
    identification and to facilitate their kin in the plains."





    WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

    THE ZOMBIE SHUFFLE is an annual evening event for QRPers, primarily in
    the USA and Canada to get on the air, have some fun, and rack up a
    really big score in spite of what the participants ( zombie) CW or
    operating skills may be.

    It is held the Friday nearest Halloween each year and to avoid the
    ARRL CW Sweepstakes contest.

    The Zombie Shuffle is administered strictly through the QRP-L mailing
    list and the website mentioned in the text edition of this WIA news

    zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.html

    The First Zombie Shuffle was held on Oct. 30, 1998 .


    CHANGES THIS YEAR:

    Nothing, really. Pretty much the same old pointless get-on-the-air
    QRP silly radio event as always.

    EXCHANGE includes your ZOMBIE number, If you don't have a Zombie
    number, email Grand Witches Jan ( n0qt@zianet.com ) to request one.
    If you've been issued a Zombie Number in the past, it is good for
    life, -- or death, -- whichever comes first.

    Why not have a listen out and although QRP power imagine those stateside
    hearing a Zombie number from "kangaroo land".

    (ar daily)


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    OCTOBER - Oceania DX Contest is ON NOW
    CW - October 14 - 15 from 0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

    --------------

    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's SSB leg is October 28-29
    with the CW test November 25-26.
    Both legs run 0000 UTC Saturday; Ending 2359 UTC Sunday


    ----------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday



    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    -----------------

    Remember VI 10 VKFF is running all year celebrating 10 years of the
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    NIUE, E6.

    Stan, LZ1GC and Dimo, LZ1ON are QRV as E6AM till October 23 on
    160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
    QSL via LZ1GC.

    (eHam)

    -----------------

    MAYOTTE.

    A large group of operators are on air as TO 8 FH 'till October 22 on
    160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8.
    QSL via F 5 GSJ.

    (eHam)

    ----------

    Kazu, M0CFW (JK3GAD) will again be active from Rodrigues island as
    3B9KW during the CQWW CW contest (November 25-26).


    --------------

    LUXEMBOURG

    LX 90 RTL is in use to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Radio
    Luxembourgs first long-wave broadcast.

    Listen for the callsign on the HF bands on SSB, CW, digital modes and
    via satellite.

    For more information see QRZ.com

    (rsgb)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    QNEWS WORK BENCH
    Measure twice cut once.

    WTF

    The round bottom of a proper wok is the key to a decent stir fry,
    but it also makes it hard to use on traditional stoves. Thats why many
    woks end up in a dark kitchen cabinet, unused and unloved.

    But wait:-

    It turns out that the round bottom of a wok is the perfect shape for
    gathering something else radio waves, specifically the 21 cm
    neutral hydrogen emissions coming from the heart of our galaxy, so,
    WTF - Work The Frontier.

    Turning a wok into an entry-level radio telescope doesnt appear to be
    all that hard, at least judging by what Leo W.H. Fung et al detail in
    their paper on WTH or Wok the Hydrogen.

    Measuring the woks shape and size, which in turn determines its focal
    point, is probably the hardest part of the build; luckily, the paper
    includes tips on doing just that. The authors address the controversy
    of parabolic versus spherical reflectors and arrive at the conclusion
    that for a radio telescope fashioned from a wok, it just doesnt
    matter.

    tinyurl.com/3jnz2xvx

    (hackaday)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    The Multimode Digital Voice Modem project, which supports most of
    the digital voice modes used by amateur radio, is about to get a
    software upgrade through the efforts of Jonathan Naylor, G4KLX, and
    funding from Amateur Radio Digital Communications.

    The open-source project supports D-STAR, Yaesu System Fusion, NXDN
    and more than 80 percent of the hotspots and repeaters on the
    Brandmeister-DMR network.

    Jonathan, who is a developer of digital voice software, has been hired
    full time to tackle a variety of issues including bug mitigation,
    the creation of a portable user interface on additional hardware
    platforms, and adding support for such industry standards as
    Message Queuing Telemetry Transport. According to a press release from
    ARDC, work has already begun in the development of packet modes for
    9600, 19200, and 38400, supporting narrow bandwidth using a modulation
    similar to DMR.

    The open-source project itself began in 2015.

    (ARNewsLine 2397)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Ham Satellites at Risk?

    In a move that underscores the significance of responsible space
    operations, especially as they pertain to satellite users, including
    we ham radio operators, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    has hit television provider Dish Network with a landmark fine for the
    mishandling of space debris.

    Dish Network was fined $US150,000 (AUS $238,000) after one of its
    satellites ran out of propellant and was improperly retired in February
    2022. This is a first-of-its-kind fine concerning the mismanagement of
    an already-launched satellite. Instead of reaching the required
    300-kilometer mark in its clean-up plan, the satellite was retired at a
    significantly lower orbit. This action led the FCC to determine that
    Dish Network had breached the Communications Act, FCC guidelines and
    the company's licensing terms.

    Loyaan Egal, the FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief, commented on the
    importance of the ruling, stating, "As satellite operations grow and
    the space economy propels forward, we must ensure that operators adhere
    to their obligations." Egal emphasized the FCC's dedication and
    capability to enforce critical space debris regulations, terming this
    settlement "ground-breaking."

    For amateur radio enthusiasts, this news underscores the importance of
    proper satellite management and the potential risks ham-operated
    satellites face amidst growing space junk.

    abc.net.au/news/2023-10-04/dish-fined-by-fcc-for-space-junk/102933966

    (Hank VK5XB)




    Amazon has officially joined the race to build massive constellations
    of satellites that can blanket the globe in internet connectivity a
    move that puts the tech company in direct competition with SpaceX and
    its Starlink system.

    The first two prototype satellites for Amazons network, called
    Project Kuiper, launched aboard a United Launch Alliance rocket
    from Cape Canaveral October 6.

    (ans)




    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23


    Hams in Serbia have not forgotten one of that country's pioneers in the
    Flora and Fauna program. Once again, they honoured him by doing what he
    himself loved to do. Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us the details.

    Search for the name Goran Savi on YouTube and you will find
    some compelling memorial video tributes along with the YouTube channel maintained by the late Serbian military test pilot, showcasing some of
    the dramatic and ethereal views he captured from the cockpits of various planes.

    The Air Force Major was known in the amateur radio community as YT2A and
    in the US as AD7JQ. The global ham community grieved when, in September
    2012, he became a Silent Key in a plane crash. According to news
    reports, the tragic accident happened as, rather than eject, he steered
    the plane to avoid crashing into homes in a residential area.

    Serbian hams most especially in the Worldwide Flora and Fauna community
    have not forgotten Goran. On Saturday 30th September, they worked
    international pileups during the annual memorial event for the family
    and outdoors man, who was also an active pioneer and advocate of the
    Flora and Fauna programme.

    This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH


    As always, there will be diplomas awarded, downloadable after the 1st of November -- and the friends of this much-loved Silent Key will begin
    planning their tribute for the 12th anniversary of his death in 2024.

    (ARNewsLine 2397)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    Ham radio operators will be at the Pentagon and other military
    sites around the United States next month to mark the 75th
    anniversary of a program in which hams support our national defence.
    Andy Morrison K9AWM has that story.

    The Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio System is marking its 75th
    anniversary of service to the US military with a special event on all HF
    bands using all modes during the first week of November. Stations in
    each of the system's 10 wings will be calling CQ, as will the MARS
    station located at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, using the callsign K
    4 A F. Another station at Travis Air Force Base will be using the
    callsign K E 6 U E U. Certificates are being awarded for contacts.
    Stations contacting five wings will receive a Bronze endorsement;
    stations logging all 10, plus the stations at the Pentagon and Travis
    Air Force Base, will receive Gold endorsements on their certificates.

    The event begins on November 5th and ends on November 11th - which is
    observed as Veterans Day in the United States. Certificates will be downloadable after the 30th of November.

    MARS radio operators are volunteer members of a civilian auxiliary
    providing communication assistance for the US military when needed. The organization was created in 1948. There are MARS volunteers serving the
    US Air Force and the US Army.

    This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

    (ARNewsLine 2397)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- STAMP COLLECTING RADIO AMATEURS

    Australia Post is set to mark 100 years of public broadcast radio
    by showcasing a new Australian stamp release.

    The new Centenary of Broadcast Radio stamp releases feature images
    from broadcast radios early years, with the 1st Day of Issue release
    set for this Tuesday, October 17 to mark the Centenary of broadcast
    radio in Australia.

    (vk2law)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070

    Oxley region ar club station VK2BOR will be active in JOTA, operating
    from McInherney Park on the banks of the Hastings River, Port Macquarie
    Saturday the 21st of October and members of The St George Amateur Radio
    Society will once again be setting up and operating the Societys
    station VK2LE over the weekend, as an activity of the Endeavour Boree
    Regatta at Kurnell, in Sydney.

    Guides and Scouts will have an opportunity to communicate with other
    youth members using the magic of radio.

    Now with "more magic' Alec VK2APC

    Thank you Col

    What the Heck is JOTA?

    JOTA is the national fold dance of Aragon, Spain, that came to be in
    the 1700s. However for Scouts, JOTA is part of JOTA/JOTI which is we
    all know as Jamboree on the air and Internet.

    A Jamboree means a celebration. And once a year Scouts celebrate their
    friendships and connections by keeping in touch through different means
    of communication.

    JOTA/JOTI is actually the worlds largest Scout event taking place on the Internet and over the airwaves. Many people still refer to it as JOTA however it has developed into JOTA/JOTI, which is communication over the internet as well as the airwaves.

    Held every October, this year it will take place from 20 to 22 October, which is next weekend!

    The event connects millions of young people around the world for a full weekend of online activities that promote friendship and global citizenship.

    JOTA-JOTI enables Scouts to participate in fun and engaging group activities over the Internet and amateur radio, that help them to develop and refine 21st-century skills through Scouting.

    So next weekend listen out for the various stations around VK and the world calling CQ JOTA and make a contact with a Scout so they may experience the wonderful hobby of Amateur Radio

    Have a look in our text edition of the W I A National News for links to further information and calling frequencies for JOTA/JOTI.

    For VK1WIA National News, I am Alec VK2APC in Sydney.

    Now back over to you Col




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    The latest issue of Amateur Radio magazine has the theme
    When all else fails, and contains 15 pages devoted to
    Amateur Radio benefiting the community during emergencies.

    If you don't received copies of AR in your letterbox, head out to
    your newsagent and bring a copy home, your shack will thank you for
    it.

    Now, if you run WinLink, you might like to participate in
    Shakeout 2023, "the world's largest earthquake drill, THIS Thursday
    October 19 at 10.19 am YOUR local time, that is, wherever you are.

    Participation involves sending a "Did You Feel It" report to the
    US Geological Survey, using WinLink. This takes only a couple of
    minutes, so it's quick and easy to do.

    The latest edition of WaveTalkers Live on YouTube discusses how to
    participate in the event and links are in the text edition.


    The Great Shakeout 2023 on WinLink site:
    winlink.org/content/shakeout

    The Great Shakeout 2023 detailed instruction sheet:
    winlink.org/sites/default/files/ShakeOutWinlinkExercise_cm6.pdf

    WaveTalkers net discussion of Shakeout 2023:
    youtube.com/watch?v=VpcLhMGp9eI

    (Richard VK2SKY)




    Earlier in this edition of WIA National News (the news you can trust)
    Jason had a story from IARU region 3 featuring activities of the West
    Bengal Amateur Radio Club.

    It's back to Kolkata for this story.

    For the first time, amateur radio enthusiasts ventured into an
    institution in the city, imparting training on setting up ham radio
    stations which come in very handy at times when communication systems
    go haywire due to natural calamities.

    The West Bengal Radio Club and Indian Academy of Communication and
    Disaster Management conducted a workshop for students and teachers of
    Kidderpore College, which is affiliated with Calcutta University. The
    lessons given were about the utility of ham radio and how one can be a
    responder in a group of people if they are struck by any disaster, with
    the help of ham radio. Some 100 students and 10 teachers joined the
    workshop.

    (eHam)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.

    Only the one event left this month, in VK6 then just about wrapping up
    the year, 3 in November, from VK3, 5 and 8.


    VK6 - PerthTech - October 28th (vk6pop)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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
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    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
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    Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will
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    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
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    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Oct 19 21:42:29 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-10-22.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 OCTOBER 22 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 OCT 22 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEKENDS NEWS:-

    Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA), the largest Scouting event in the world
    is taking place this weekend, October 20 - 22.

    This annual global operating event allows Scouts to use amateur radio
    to connect with other Scouts, Guides and hams around the world.
    The event is supported by many local amateur radio clubs and individual
    operators.

    JOTA started Friday and ends today, Sunday, but there are no official
    hours of operation, so you have the whole weekend to make JOTA
    contacts.


    So JOTA and MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    In a recent incident that has caught the attention of defence experts
    and the space industry, a near-collision was reported between an
    Australian commercial satellite and a suspected Chinese military
    satellite.

    Air-Vice Marshal Cath Roberts AO, CSC elaborated on the growing risks
    in space due to increased satellite launches and enhanced counter
    satellite capabilities.

    Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts is Australia's inaugural Defence Space
    Commander.

    This incident raises critical questions about the level of risk
    that space debris poses to satellite operations, including those on
    amateur bands, and whether a significant disruption in space-based
    communication could be on the horizon. The increasing congestion in
    low Earth orbit necessitates reconsidering our strategies for
    sustainable space activities, as the implications of such
    near-collisions could be far-reaching.

    Australian ABC reported the event at:
    tinyurl.com/bddtr7j9

    (Hank VK5XB)





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    Early last week WIA Director and Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ announced
    that nominations for three WIA Director positions will become vacant at
    the next WIA AGM. Three directors retire at the conclusion of the next
    Annual General Meeting which will be held in May 2024, namely myself,
    Lee Moyle VK3GK, Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY and Steven Green VK2TSG.
    Each of us as retiring directors are eligible for re-election.

    Nominations are therefore called for from persons seeking election as a
    director of the WIA.

    An appointed director must be a voting member of the WIA, must hold an
    Australian amateur radio license and hold a Company Director
    Identification Number.

    The WIA has received a number of enquiries relating to the Director
    Nomination Form and the requirement to hold a Company Director
    Identification Number. A director identification number (director ID)
    is a unique identifier you will keep forever and you only ever need
    one. It will help to prevent the use of false or fraudulent director
    identities. You need a director ID if youre an eligible officer or a
    director of a company and as the WIA is a registered Public company,
    therefore one is required. If you dont have a Director ID or are
    ineligible to hold one, unfortunately you cannot be a Director of the
    WIA.

    You must apply for your own director ID and the fastest way to apply is
    online. It is free to apply, just go to the Australian Business
    Services Register website and follow the instructions.

    abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number

    Once your Director ID is issued, just add it to the nomination form and
    submit it to the WIA office by post or in person.

    Over that last few weeks the WIA Directors have been out and about
    visiting several WIA affiliated Radio Clubs giving presentations.
    Peter Schrader VK4EA who recently gave a very informative online
    presentation to the Club Presidents, has been in Townsville presenting
    to the local club. Peter Clee VK8ZZ and myself, Lee Moyle VK3GK
    recently attended the RAOTC Luncheon in Melbourne and presented
    information about the upcoming Class Licence and the new ACMA Assessor
    program. Many questions were asked and were answered.

    Only last week I, Lee, VK3GK attended the North East Radio Club
    (or NERG) and presented and discussed in detail the WIAs recent
    submission to the ACMA re Class Licencing which should be in place by
    February 2024.

    The WIA directors are your elected directors and are quite accessible.
    Most would be happy to do presentations at your club when they are in
    your area. Even a zoom online session may be appropriate solution if an
    in-person meet is not possible. Their contact information can be found
    on the WIA website, under the WIA Information tab, The WIA Board of
    Directors.

    wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/board/

    For now, 73 From Lee VK3GK





    Hi this is Nathan Vk5DAD from the ADLRS you can hear the WIA broadcast
    at EVERY SUNDAY 9AM & 19:00 on the following *Adelaide Digital Linked
    Repeater System C4FM WiresX & YSF 69159 nodes, VK5RSV 70cm Willunga
    Hill , VK5RDF 70cm Crafers, VK5RBV70cm Barossa, VK5RKW 70cm Hermitage &
    VK5RWR 70cm Riverland, this is a joint program from SCARC ARC ,
    Barossa ARC , The Riverland ARC , the sponsors of Vk5RDF 70cm repeaters
    Nathan VK5DAD & Andrew VK5ONE and the sponsor of Vk5RKW Hermitage
    VK5ZEY Phil Kern.*

    *This has been Nathan VK5DAD on behalf of the ADLRS.*


    -----------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    As we get closer to the ITU World Radio Conference, WRC-23, which
    starts next month, the future of amateur radio, particularly the
    23cm band, is of key importance.

    The ITU News Magazine has a feature article by IARU President
    Tim Ellam, VE6SH regarding amateur activity in the 23cm band.
    This is the topic of a challenging agenda item at the Conference
    which calls for measures that protect primary radio-navigation services
    such as Glonass and Galileo from amateur terrestrial and satellite
    usage.

    You can read the article by visiting tinyurl.com/TimVE6SH

    In related news, the IARU also reports that the last formal preparatory
    meeting ahead of the WRC on this topic was difficult and could NOT
    achieve a consensus on measures such as power and bandwidth limits, or
    frequency restrictions. The IARU supports further efforts and will
    continue to try to find a solution regarding suitable recommendations,
    whilst opposing the unwarranted statutory imposition of such.

    You can read the IARUs post on this subject via
    tinyurl.com/ITUR23cm




    Are mysterious radio signals in space coming from aliens?
    Scientists believe theyre actually star quakes

    Mysterious radio signals from space, known as fast radio bursts
    have been intriguing scientists since their discovery in 2007.
    These fleeting signals, which last only milliseconds, once led some
    experts to speculate about extra-terrestrial life trying to reach out
    to Earth. However, a recent study offers a different fantastical
    explanation: star quakes.

    The exact origins and causes of FRBs remain uncertain, but these
    powerful bursts of radio energy, while invisible to the naked eye,
    are prominent on radio telescopes.

    A team from the University of Tokyo observed distinct differences
    between FRBs and solar flares. In contrast, they noted several
    resemblances between FRBs and seismic activity here on Earth.
    Their findings bolster the hypothesis that FRBs might be the result of
    star quakes on the surface of neutron stars. These findings could
    potentially provide deeper insights into understanding earthquakes,
    high-density matter behaviour, and facets of nuclear physics.





    REGION TWO NEWS

    WASHINGTON DC

    The FCC is back to having five commissioners, after the Senate in
    early September confirmed the nomination of Anna Gomez to fill a
    long-vacant seat. This allows the Commission to take action on
    significant issues, as it previously had been deadlocked with
    two commissioners from each major political party.




    CANADA

    Every day for more than 80 years, listeners to CBC Radios primary
    English and French services in Canada have heard a version of this
    message on the run up to 1 p.m. Eastern time:

    The beginning of the long dash indicates exactly 1 oclock eastern
    standard [or daylight] time. This statement, followed by beeps and
    a long tone separated by seconds, has relayed the exact time from the
    countrys National Research Council (NRC) to Canadians nationwide.

    However, as of Monday Oct. 9, 2023, the opportunity to accurately
    reset Canadas clocks is no more. CBC Radio has ceased broadcasting
    what was commonly known as the official NRC time signal.

    Back when the CBC began its time signal broadcasts on Nov. 5, 1939,
    the world was a very different place. There was no internet for people
    to access to get the right time. This meant that having access to a
    common national time synchronization signal every day was of vital
    importance to railways, ships and anyone else who needed to keep their
    clocks accurate.

    Today, things have changed as has CBC Radio and its French language counterpart Radio-Canada, which can be heard online and over the air on HD Radio, as well as AM and FM.

    And thats the problem: Apparently transmission delays over the web and HD Radio mean the NRC official time signal is being heard seconds late on these respective channels, negating the very purpose for which was established.

    This being said, it is still possible for Canadians with access to shortwave radio receivers to hear the right time anytime via the NRC time station CHU.




    The founder and Chief Executive Officer of a network operator for
    television stations offering a 5G broadcasting solution, which differs
    from ATSC 3.0-powered NEXTGEN TV, has confirmed the roll out of the
    first offering for the general public to receive an over-the-air
    5G broadcast signal on an SDR with downloadable software.

    SuperFrank Copsidas, the veteran entrepreneur and low-power TV leader
    who created XGen Network LLC (XGN), says the launch will be on Friday
    (10/13) at 11am Eastern.

    According to Copsidas, the SDR software download gives SDR owners, most
    notably ham radio operators, the ability to receive the over-the-air 5G
    Broadcast signal of WWOO-LD 28 in Boston.

    While SDRs are a specialty, every new platform must start somewhere and
    this IS just the start. This deployment is the first opportunity in the
    world for the general public to receive an over-the-air 5G broadcast
    signal

    Read more Streamline RBR: https://bit.ly/45ukhlZ




    REGION THREE NEWS

    NEW ZEALAND

    60m / 5 MHz Band

    Tucked away in NZART HQ INFOLINE ISSUE # 482 is a jotting that
    they will not be accepting any further applications for the 5 MHz band,
    as advise received is it will soon become part of the General User
    Radio License (GURL), therefore open for all to use.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    CHECKMATE QRT

    In our increasingly digital age, the thought of radio-based
    communication might sound a little strange or dated to the average
    high school or Uni student.

    In the USA, the W 7 YB Amateur Radio club is changing this perspective
    and promoting student interest in Amateur Radio services. As part of
    this effort, theyve been competing in the Inaugural Intercollegiate
    Radio Chess Tournament.

    A handful of different college Amateur Radio clubs across the U.S. are
    currently participating in the Inaugural Radio Chess Tournament,
    organized with support from the ARRL.

    Moves are conveyed and recognized through voice and then kept track of
    using both clubs respective physical chessboards, as well as logging
    techniques such as written lists or online programs otherwise known
    as taking notation.

    (arrl letter)


    --------------


    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's SSB leg is October 28-29
    with the CW test November 25-26.
    Both legs run 0000 UTC Saturday; Ending 2359 UTC Sunday


    ----------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    NOW CONTEST WISE:- ANOTHER SNEAK PEAK AT 2 TO BE IN 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.

    -----------

    NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE 24/25 Feb 2024.
    The rules have been tweaked slightly and are now up on the nzart
    website.
    Overseas contacts now score the same points as ZL contacts.

    (nzart info line 482)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    A few weeks ago we made mention of VI 4 ACRO, that will be activated
    during November to bring awareness of the medical condition known as
    Acromegaly, VI4ACRO operated by Bernie.

    Well now in WIA National News, Bernie, VI4ACRO / VK4KX with a brief
    story of interest regarding a recent 6m opening to Nippon.

    "During any opening to Japan on 6m you will have the usual flurry of
    activity on FT8, often with more stations you could possibly work in
    one sitting and it gets mundane after a while. This one on the first of
    October was different, signals from Japan were so strong, in some cases
    20db/9 on FT8 that I decided to QSY to the Phone section of the band to
    call CQ. I then worked many JA stations on 50.130 but heard a very weak
    signal coming in from Hide JG1SMD so after getting his call sign on the
    3rd attempt, I gave him his report of 4 by 3. He was so excited to work
    me and his reasons soon became apparent when he said he was using a
    Home Brew QRP transceiver with only 500 milliwatts and the antenna was
    a simple 2 element HB9CV.

    Now in hindsight I should have gone QRP as well to really test
    conditions but I was using 150 watts and my 6 element Loop Fed Array
    Yagi and after that QSO moved on to the next and the next etc. It later
    dawned on me that it was quite an achievement for Hide to make it all
    this way to VK on his QRP station.

    On the 17th of October I received his QSL card with a nice thank you
    letter and an explanation of his operating conditions, a home brewed
    transceiver with an RQA0009SXTL FET and the VFO was Arduino controlled.

    One gets so used to working stations on new commercial equipment with
    high power that its nice to see someone has gone to the effort to
    home brew both radio and antenna and despite the 500 milliwatts is
    still able to work VK at a distance of 17,019 km on 6m. I looked him up
    on QRZ.com and sure enough the antenna and transceiver are on his page.


    Now before I go I would like to remind you all of my Special Event
    Call sign VI4ACRO, that will be activated during the month of November
    to bring awareness of the debilitating medical condition known as
    Acromegaly.

    Hope to talk with you on the radio soon.

    73

    For VK1WIA national news this has been Bernie, VK4KX.


    -----------------

    MADEIRA.

    Listen and work Helmut, DF 7 EE, operating as CT9/DF7EE from Madeira,
    IOTA number AF-014. You can hear Helmut from today, Sunday 22 to the
    31st of October and during the CQ WW DX SSB Contest where he will be
    contesting as CQ 3 W. Outside the contest listen for him on 60, 30, 17
    and 12 metres where he will be using SSB and FT8. See QRZ.com for QSL
    details on both callsigns.

    (ARNewsLine)

    ----------

    NORTH COOK ISLANDS.

    SP9FIH is QRV as E 51 JAN from Manihiki, IOTA OC-014, until November 6.
    Activity is on the HF bands. QSL to home call which again is SP9FTH.

    (eHam)

    -----------------

    TUVALU.

    A large group of operators are QRV as T2C from Funafuti Island,
    IOTA OC-015, until October 30 on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY,
    and FT8 with four stations. QSL via DL 4 SVA.

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    AND FINALY, REPEATER NEWS

    John, VK5DJ from the South East Radio Group with some exciting news.

    The club is proud to announce that last weekend we saw the final installation and activation of the solar powered VK3RSW 2M repeater on Mt Richmond near Portland Victoria.

    Results have exceeded expectations. This project is the result of 4 years of frustration as various hoped for sites were knocked back by lawyers. A big thanks to Tim VK3TIM who arranged for the use of Mt Richmond. Thank you Tim.

    VK3RSW on 146.875/600kHz now joins the VK5 South East network of five other 2 Metre repeaters interconnected with UHF radio to provide a single network covering a distance of 400km end to end. No internet links, all amateur radio.

    Thanks for listening.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23


    NO LAVA OR ASH AT THIS VOLCANO'S ACTIVATION

    For this story, we visit an active volcano - active with the sound of
    hams calling CQ, that is.

    The notorious Mount Saint Helens volcano in Washington State USA was
    active last month in a way no geologist could predict:

    Six hikers, three of them SOTA activators - were not concerned about
    the likelihood of lava and ash spewing up from below. They were more
    interested in the radio contacts from above. At an altitude of more
    than 8,000 feet at the summit - a height reached after three hours of
    strenuous hiking - they called CQ.

    When the contacts came, it was not as a volcanic eruption but at a
    steady, amateur radio-friendly pace.

    With each first contact to the summit worth 10 SOTA points to chasers,
    Tim N7KOM, Tyler, ND7Y and Andrew, N7LFO, got busy, using a pair of
    hiking poles as two legs of a makeshift tripod that included the mast
    for the wire antenna. It was a busy afternoon.

    Tim told NewsLine that, by the end of the activation, he had logged
    20 QSOs on 2 meters FM, 6 QSOs on 40m SSB, 1 QSO on 30m CW, and 10 QSOs
    on 20m CW.

    A portion of that afternoon can be seen in the hams' YouTube video on
    the N7KOM Mountaintop Portable Radio channel.

    Many may still remember the deadly eruption from the volcanic peak in
    1980 - one of the deadliest of its kind in North America. But these
    three hams and any other activators with their sights set on SOTA
    Number W7W/LC-001, are grateful the mountain continues its long
    slumber --- for now.

    (ARNewsLine 2398)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    SCARC has begun implementing a packet Local Area Network (LAN)
    in Adelaide and with the info, Nathan VK5DAD from SCARC.


    We have set up 2 BPQ32 Packet Nodes, with 1 in the North
    [in Modbury Area] by Dave VK5LEX using VK5LEX-2 and another in the
    South [in O'Halloran Hill Area] by Stef VK5HSX using VK5RSV-2 Callsign.

    Access to these packet nodes can be made via RF using 1200bd AFSK on
    147.600 MHz, with telnet and axip access, plus forwarding ports also
    available.

    More information can be found at
    scarc.org.au/packet

    We are in the process of organising installation of a Packet Digipeater
    to allow greater access to Local Area Network via RF on the packet VHF
    port. Thanks goes to Stef VK5HSX, Tony VK5AH, Dave VK5LEX & Phil VK5ZEY
    plus the support from SCARC in helping get this operational.

    We look forward to users experiencing the fun of packet mail; with BBS,
    Node and Chat services available.

    If you require telnet/http access, please contact
    Stef vk5hsx@scarc.org.au
    or Dave vk5lex@scarc.org.au

    (Nathan Vk5DAD on behalf of the SCARC)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Only one Australian light seems to have been planned and advised
    to WIA for the 2024 event.

    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    "DREAM RIG" ESSAY CONTEST CHALLENGES YOUNG AMATEURS
    ALEC VK2APC JOINS US HERE ON WIA NATIONAL NEWS.

    For some people, it's the easiest question in the world.

    For others, it's one of the toughest.

    "What attracted you to amateur radio?"

    The Intrepid DX Group is challenging young radio operators to answer
    this question as part of its 4th annual "Dream Rig" Essay Contest.

    The two-page essays must be written by amateurs who are 19 years of age or younger.

    The top prize is an ICOM IC-7300.

    Second place is an ICOM ID 5100 AD dual band mobile radio with D-Star, and third place winners will receive an ICOM ID52A dual band hand held, also with D-Star.

    The winner must promise to use the radio on the air for at least one year and not sell or trade it.

    If I won, my problem would be trying to keep Pete, VK2LP, off my radio!

    BUT unfortunately we young Hams here in VK cannot answer, unless we hold a US or Canadian Licence AND live in either of those 2 countries.

    It is a great idea to encourage young Hams, and I think worth a mention here, in the Aussie Ham News.

    Currently I am wrapping up at Glenfield Scout Activity Centre for JOTA, and what a great weekend it has been.

    VK2SRA and VK2SHR at Glenfield have made some great contacts.

    Thank you to all of those Operators who have supported Scouts over this weekend by making contact with Scouts in VK, and the world!

    For VK1WIA National News, I am Alec VK2APC in Sydney.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    ALL official and also the best frequencies are to be found in the
    text edition of this weeks news, best read on wia.org.au

    To all the 'Scouters' enjoy your JOTA. !

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    SOUTH AFRICAS RADAR CHALLENGE.

    RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio.

    Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE in South Africa conceived the RaDAR concept.
    The RaDAR Rally adds movement to portable operating with a time
    constraint.

    Objective: Use ham radio knowledge, portable equipment, and physical
    skills to challenge yourself during an unforgettable four-hour
    experience. The four-hour duration creates an urgency that demands
    optimized equipment and operating strategies.

    When: The first Saturday of November and April.

    Where: The ZS hams choose any outdoor venue where they can legally and
    safely operate. Parks are a natural choice. Make it as scenic and
    exciting as you can. They combine RaDAR Rally with Parks on the Air,
    POTA or Summits On The Air, SOTA,

    Activity: Arrive at the first deployment, make five contacts, move to
    the next deployment, and repeat as quickly as possible for four hours.

    A nice idea that could possibly be expanded World Wide.

    (eHam)




    SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL

    This year's International ShakeOut Day was last Tuesday, October 19,
    when millions of people worldwide participated in earthquake drills
    at work, school, and home! this at the designated time of 10:19 a.m.
    local time.

    In the USA some 18 million citizens took part and globally close on
    20 million.

    While Shake out encourages participation with everyone, you can
    register your ShakeOut drill for any day of the year, and drill at
    a time of your choice.

    In New Zealand, yes the shaky isles, their national shake out drill
    attracted over half a million last Tuesday, the day to remind people
    of the right action to take during an earthquake. Drop, Cover and Hold.
    ZL also practice a tsunami hkoi (evacuation walk) if in a coastal
    area.

    getready.govt.nz/involved/shakeout/

    shakeout.org/





    FINAL FINAL

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio
    magazine.

    Again.

    Thats right!

    I'm back to remind you about celebrating 90 years of Amateur Radio
    magazine with our special event call sign VK 90 A R.

    Imagine getting on to 20 metres and calling CQ Victor Kilo Nine Zero
    Alpha Romeo. Theres a certain rhythm and rhyme to it. A historic call
    sign for a historic occasion. This month, Amateur Radio magazine has
    been published continuously since 1933. Thats why were marking the
    occasion by arranging for operators to get on-air and make some noise
    with VK90AR.

    The solar cycle is really crackling right now, so heres an opportunity
    to add to the noise on the bands.

    The call sign is for use by any member of the WIA as well as any
    affiliated club.

    Getting to use VK90AR is a simple process. Just apply on the WIA
    website Online Event Calendar, where you can book a roster to suit
    yourself.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/events/submit/index.php

    If you already know where that is, jump to it. Otherwise, look up the
    news item featured on the WIA website home page.

    VK90AR expires on 31st December 2023. So, get online, book a roster,
    and dont miss out.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20230921-1/index.php

    You might find me lurking on some band looking to put VK90AR in my log.
    Is it a date? Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.





    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - PerthTech - October 28th (vk6pop)


    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12 (vk3pdg)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

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    The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of
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  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Oct 26 19:39:54 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-10-29.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 OCTOBER 29 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 OCT 29 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    NOMINATE TODAY AS A WIA DIRECTOR

    NOW NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Election of Directors Call for Nominations

    A notice will be published in the November / December edition of the Institute's magazine "Amateur Radio" calling for nominations from members for election to join the Board of Directors of the WIA.

    Three directors retire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting which will be held in May 2024, namely Lee Moyle VK3GK, Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY and Steven Green VK2TSG. Each retiring director is eligible for re-election.

    A director must be a voting member of the WIA and must hold an Australian amateur radio license and a Company Director Identification Number.

    A nomination form is available on the WIA web site and at the link in the text version of this broadcast.

    Candidate information will be posted online and emailed to members.
    Members are requested to ensure that their email address is correctly recorded on the WIA membership register to ensure emails are not delivered to incorrect addresses.

    Delivery to the Returning Officer may be made by hand when the WIA national office is open or by mail to the Returning Officer. Detailed delivery information is available in the text version of this broadcast.


    Delivery to the Returning Officer may be made by hand when the WIA national office is open at:

    Wireless Institute of Australia National Office Unit 20
    11-13 Havelock Road
    Bayswater
    Victoria 3153

    or by mail to:

    The Returning Officer
    Wireless Institute of Australia
    PO Box 2042
    Bayswater
    Victoria 3153

    tinyurl.com/2s4adws

    Nominations received by facsimile, email or by other electronic means cannot be accepted.

    This communique is Authorised by:
    John Marshall
    WIA Returning Officer





    ALARA

    ALARAmeet 2023 only ONE week away!

    Indriz VK7ZIR joins us

    We will soon be welcoming many ALARA members and their partners into
    VK7 for the national meeting of ALARA that occurs every three years.
    The last time it was in VK7 was in 2008 in Ulverstone.

    It is centred on the Woolstore Motel in downtown Hobart and starts
    Friday the 3rd of November with some optional activities including
    a pre-conference cruise to Peppermint Bay for lunch and opportunity
    to attend the Tasmanian Symphony concert in the evening.

    On Saturday the 4th of November there is a welcome and trip to
    Salamanca Market. In the afternoon there is an afternoon of sharing
    and meeting for the Ladies and the OMs head off on a Mystery History
    Radio tour. There is a dinner with a wonderful guest speaker on the
    Saturday night.

    On Sunday the 5th of November there is a visit to the Female Factory
    in the morning then a visit to REAST, along with an EchoLink net,
    fox (or native animal) hunt, operating the club station with the
    special event callsign and BBQ. In the afternoon there is a visit to
    historic Richmond, finishing with a Dinner and another great guest
    speaker and awards.

    There are also a range of optional post conference tours on the
    Monday.

    A huge weekend of activities for ALARA participants.
    alara.org.au/alarameet/index.html

    Linda VK7QP from ALARA will join us a little 'further down the log'
    in todays National News from your WIA

    (VK7WI NEWS)





    WIRELESS WEATHER

    Earth was hit by the largest-ever detected solar storm 14,300 years
    ago, ancient tree rings reveal.

    If a storm of a similar magnitude hit our planet today, it could
    have potentially catastrophic effects on our modern technological
    society.

    This powerful solar storm was identified by an international team of
    scientists studying ancient tree rings preserved in the eroded banks
    of the Drouzet River, near Gap, in the Southern French Alps.

    Extreme solar storms known as Miyake Events are very rare. As
    far as we know, only nine have occurred in the last 15,000 years.
    The most recent confirmed Miyake Events occurred in 993 AD and
    774 AD, but this newly identified 14,300-year-old storm is the
    largest-ever recorded approximately twice as powerful as these
    two and 10 times more powerful than the famous Carrington Event
    in 1859.

    (space.com)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    The RSGB 2023 Convention brought together hundreds in person and as
    well as many more across the world who watched the livestream.

    RSGB General Manager and Convention Chair, Steve Thomas, M1ACB said:

    We saw presentations about taking amateur radio into schools, young radio amateurs travelling to YOTA camp, as well as the usual mix of fascinating technical talks about many aspects of amateur radio today.

    The Society will share a small number of Convention presentations on YouTube over the coming weeks and will provide many more for members to view as part of the benefit of RSGB membership.

    In addition, you will be able to watch a series of special interviews that were recorded over the weekend. The interview with the RSGB and IRTS Presidents has been released and you can see it on the RSGB YouTube channel and also on the RSGB Convention web page




    IRELAND

    Over the years weve reported on the passing of a few broadcasting
    technologies of yesteryear, such as analogue TV in Australia, or
    AM radio in Europe. Now its the turn of an early digital contender,
    as one of the few remaining holdouts of old-style teletext is to
    shut down its service.

    The Irish broadcaster RT is to turn off its teletext service
    which has been live in some form continuously since 1986.

    In an internet-connected world it seems quaint that a limited set of
    curated pages could once have been such a big deal, but its easy to
    forget that for many the teletext system provided their first ever
    taste of online information.

    As it shuffles away almost unnoticed we wont miss counting through
    the page numbers cycling by in the top corner as we waited for our
    page to load, but its worth marking its final passing from one of
    the few places it could still be found, Ireland.

    tinyurl.com/3bbz3vhd




    REGION TWO

    The AMSAT Board of Directors met Oct. 19 in Dallas, Texas in
    advance of their annual meeting and Symposium.

    Since Board members whose terms were expiring were all re-elected,
    the Board was as previously constituted. Frank Karnauskas was
    welcomed as the new Alternate Board member.

    All officers were re-appointed by acclamation:

    President Robert Bankston gave his President's Report. His focus
    was on improving transparency and accountability between AMSAT
    leadership and membership. This would include better reporting of
    finances, better standards for publishing accomplishments,
    more attention to Member Services for member satisfaction,
    and redesign of the AMSAT website.




    AI-Based Weather Service to cover USA.

    The use of AI-based content tools in radio broadcasting applications
    continues to proliferate. Westwood One and cloud-based technology
    supplier Super Hi-Fi announced an agreement under which Westwood One
    will market Super Hi-Fis recently introduced AI-generated
    weather service.

    Super Hi-Fi describes Weathercaster as the only AI-powered audio
    based weather report service for radio. Its content creation and
    audio production are automated.

    Weathercaster saves radio companies significant time and money,
    and allows for incredibly high-quality localized weather reports
    to be included with every linear radio broadcast, the company says.

    Westwood Ones syndicated content is heard on 9,400 affiliated
    broadcast radio stations as well as streaming and digital platforms.





    WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

    Strange anomaly in sun's solar cycle discovered in centuries-old
    texts from Korea.

    Aurora records in royal chronicles from Korea show that during the
    'Maunder Minimum' between 1645 and 1715, the sun's solar cycles
    became several years shorter than they are today.

    This new study, published October 3 in the journal AGU Advances,
    researchers analysed historic auroral records from Korea and found
    that solar cycles during the Maunder Minimum were only eight years
    long on average three years shorter than modern 11 year cycles.

    These aurora records were part of three separate books, chronicles,
    written on behalf of Korean Kings that contained detailed daily
    reports of royal business, state affairs, weather AND astronomical
    phenomena that occurred within the Korean peninsula for close on a
    thousand years, between 918 and 1910

    (eHam - livescience.com)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------*

    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's SSB leg is THIS WEEKEND
    October 28-29 with the CW test November 25-26.
    Both legs run 0000 UTC Saturday; Ending 2359 UTC Sunday
    Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted,
    the exchange is signal report and your CQ Zone.

    ----------------

    NOVEMBER VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)





    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au) -----------
    -----------
    DX WINDOW
    -----------
    -----------

    BOTSWANA

    Members of the Russian DXpedition Team will be QRV as A25RU from October 26 to November 13. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and mostly FT8 with up to nine stations active. QSL via LoTW.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    FRANCE

    Active is the special callsign TM 12 5ED between the 4th of November
    through to the 31st of December marking the 125th anniversary of a
    public demonstration by radio pioneer Eugene Ducretet, of wireless
    communication, between the Eiffel Tower France and the and the
    Pantheon in Rome Italy. All CW and SSB QSOs will be confirmed
    automatically via the bureau and eQSL.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine 2399)

    -----------------

    INDIA.

    Special event station AT 30 IIH is QRV until December 31 to
    celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Indian Institute of Hams,
    whose focus is to train and bring young people into our amateur
    radio community.
    QSL via bureau.

    (eHam)

    -----------------

    TAIWAN

    BM 0 QSO until December 31, using mostly digital modes.
    QSL station BM ZERO QSO Mvia BM 2 JCC.

    (arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    Linda VK7QP joins us as we start this weeks World Wide Special
    Interest Group News, and its a lil further re ALARAMEET 2023


    Next weekend, 4th and 5th November, we will be welcoming ALARA members to Hobart for ALARAmeet. It will be six years since we last got together so there will be lots of stories to share. Thanks to ICOM for a great raffle prize and REAST for their support for the event. Looking forward to a great weekend.

    For those not coming to ALARAmeet, you can still be part of it by checking in to the EchoLink net on Sunday 5 November. It will be on the ALARA conference node at 11.00am Tassie time, or 0000 UTC. Listen out for Shirley, VK5YL, who will be operating VI7ALARA.

    Linda VK7QP





    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    ARRL has a new book to help radio amateurs enjoy one of the fastest
    growing communities within the hobby, Parks on the Air (POTA).

    This Parks on the Air Book gives you a look at the setups and
    processes of 14 operators from a variety of skill levels and
    backgrounds and offers advice and motivation for taking your radio
    out to a park. Setups cover satellite operating, QRP, urban backpack
    portable, wire antennas for POTA, and more.

    parksontheair.com/




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station will
    conduct a spacewalk tomorrow, Monday October 30, to complete
    maintenance activities at the orbital complex. The spacewalk is
    scheduled to begin about 8:05 a.m., and last about six-and-a-half
    hours.

    Live coverage of the spacewalk begins at 6:30 a.m. US EDT on
    NASA Television, which can also be viewed on YouTube.

    NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli, KI5WSL, and Loral OHara, KI5TOM,
    will exit the stations Quest airlock to remove an electronics box
    called the Radio Frequency Group from a communications antenna on
    station.

    U.S. spacewalk 89 will be the first for both KI5WSL will wear a
    suit with RED stripes and KI5TOM an unmarked suit. A further space
    walk is planned this month due to a leakage aboard.

    The ISS experienced another coolant leak, this time on a radiator
    circuit that is part of the Russian Nauka modulethe crew and station
    are safe, and the spacewalk planned later this month will investigate
    the root cause.

    As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS
    radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

    ( AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-295 )





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    The logs for the IOTA Contest 2023 island stations have now
    been added to the IOTA database and are available for QSO matching.

    Record-holders who have made IOTA contacts in an IOTA contest after
    2003, can claim credit for them without submitting QSLs, provided
    that the contact details match.

    Go to iota-world.org, select "Add Contest QSOs" under the
    "My IOTA" tab, and choose either Upload Contest Log or
    Manual QSO Entry.

    (SARL)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian lights planned and advised to WIA :-
    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club

    National Maritime Museum of Ireland Special Event Station EI 80 MB.

    The National Maritime Museum of Ireland amateur radio club
    in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the extraordinary
    rescue, December 1943, of 168 German sailors in the stormy waters
    of the Bay of Biscay by the 10-man crew of the small Irish coaster
    MV KERLOGUE, will activate Special Event Call Sign:-
    EI 80 MB between November 2023 and April 2024.

    Full details and updates on QRZ.com

    (irts)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    Its no secret that the percentage of we young people who listen to
    radio has been on the decline for a decade or more. And while
    surveys repeatedly show that teens listen to music for at least
    two hours a day, they no longer tend to listen on terrestrial radio
    unless theyre in the car with their parents.

    So in a world ruled by YouTube, iTunes and Spotify, can teens learn
    to believe that radio is kind of cool after all?

    That was the challenge Jim Timm, president and executive director
    of Nebraska Broadcasters Association, decided to take on.
    The idea, to partner with local schools to create stations on which
    students would choose and announce the songs, record news and sports
    features, and be heard by a potential audience all over the country.
    The stations would use automation but could go live in certain
    circumstances. The state association would lend the gear and
    software to a school; after students time with the project ended,
    the school would ship the gear to the next participating school.

    So many students today are not even aware of broadcasting, we
    wanted them to see how much fun doing radio can be. Maybe a few of
    them will [decide] to be involved with media, where they werent
    before AND they'll discover Radio can be COOL..

    The initiative has now became a joint project of two state
    associations.

    (sourced to radioworld.com)





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    On October 8, 2023, more than 140 amateur radio operators from five Midwest states assisted 2,000 volunteer medical personnel at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. This is the 15th consecutive year that amateur radio operators have helped coordinate medical responses and arrange for medical resupplies at the Chicago Marathon. About 49,000 runners entered this year's event.

    The city-wide marathon uses six main repeater channels and deploys four temporary repeaters. New this year was official use of the
    Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) after organizers trialled it at their other events, including the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle and the Chicago 13.1. APRS radios were deployed to amateur communication teams in Chicago's Grant Park after the race was finished.

    A total of 30 radio operators worked in various capacities before and after the race. Also, there were 100 ham radio operators stationed at each of the 20 course medical tents and the medical hub. In Forward Command, 10 amateur radio operators served as net controls, traffic handlers, logging specialists, and expediters.

    (arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.


    VK6 - PerthTech - is happening this weekend
    (vk6pop)

    VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12

    This is Andrew, VK3CAH, from the Southern Peninsula Amateur
    Radio Club reminding listeners that the Rosebud RadioFest will
    be held once again this year on Sunday, the 12 th of November.

    As usual, the event will be held at the Eastbourne Primary
    School at Allambi Avenue, Rosebud, with outdoor displays open
    from 8 am and the main sales area open from 9.30 am,
    continuing through till 1.30 pm.

    If you have pre-loved equipment to sell, tables are still
    available at $10 and can be booked on-line at
    rosebudradiofest.com

    But be quick as only a few tables remain.

    Three great Technical forums will also be part of the
    Rosebud RadioFest and the event has full catering, plenty of
    off street parking, and great door prizes. Entry fee is only
    $6 with under 12s free.

    See you in Rosebud on the 12 th of November.

    73 from Andrew


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.



    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!



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


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    weekly feed)
    Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want
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    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Nov 2 23:35:29 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-11-05.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 NOVEMBER 5 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 NOV 05 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS AUSTRALIA'S LONGEST RUNNING

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB NOW BECAUSE SO MUCH IS HAPPENING SOCIALLY
    THIS MONTH, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE SOCIAL SCENE

    And with a reminer ALARAMeet2023 IS ON NOW, 4/5 November
    in HOBART. Then its off to Rosebud and Andrew VK3CAH, the Goldy and
    Paul VK4PY, Seaford in VK5. Nathan Vk5DAD and VK7 Double Scotch in
    "Lonnie", vk7WW but now to the Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio
    Club


    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12

    This is Andrew VK3CAH from the Southern Peninsula Amateur
    Radio Club with a reminder that the Rosebud RadioFest , will
    be held this year on Sunday, the 12th of November.

    In addition to sales of new and pre-loved equipment in the
    main hall,the Rosebud RadioFest sets itself apart with the
    excellent range of forums which are presented.

    This year, topics being covered are

    Multi-Operator Remote Amateur Radio Stations -
    Steve Kennedy VK6SJ

    M17 Open Source Digital Platform - Tony Langdon VK3JED

    Operation RADAR: "Rapid Deployment of Amateur Radio"
    supporting communities in times of crisis.
    Neil Patton VK3ZVX

    So come along and enjoy the equipment sales, great catering
    and excellent forums of the Rosebud RadioFest.

    See you in Rosebud. This is Andrew VK3CAH.


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST 8:30AM NEXT SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12.

    Hi I'm Paul VK4PY and if you are on the Gold Coast next
    weekend, why not pop into the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society
    Hamfest Sunday 12th November at Country Paradise Parklands,
    231 Beaudesert Nerang Road, Nerang.

    Entre ticket prices are still the same with $5 per person with
    the doors opening to the public from 08:30am

    Some of the tables that have be purchased for the event are
    suppliers to the industry along with other fellow amateurs
    and other Clubs.

    Once again we are having the very popular bacon and egg
    muffins, as well other items from the BBQ.

    To book a table or other info, go to www.gcars.com.au and
    look for the Hamfest tab or email hamfest@gcars.com.au

    See you hopefully at our Hamfest on the 12th November...
    I'm Paul VK4PY and you're tuned to VK1WIA and the
    National News Service.


    VK5 - Hi all this is Nathan Vk5DAD from the south coast Amateur
    radio club, on Thursday 23 November We have our annual
    general meeting from 7 pm at Seaford Meadows Scout Hall
    Railway Parade. All is welcome. Hope to see you there this
    is Nathan VK5DAD on behalf of SCARC.


    VK7 - NTARC MASSIVE RADIO AUCTION

    Hi this is Nic VK7WW. Has your Lancaster bomber lost its
    1155 transmitter?

    Has the RFDS missed a 1kw Codan Linear?

    Is the NZ Army looking for another ZC1?

    Or perhaps youre looking for something more modern?

    Well, we know where to find them; at THE MASSIVE RADIO AUCTION
    to be held on Saturday 25th November at the Northern Tasmania
    ARC Clubrooms in Rocherlea, Launceston.

    For a preview list of some of the items, please email
    secretary@ntarc.net

    See you there 73s from VK7 Double Scotch.

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    Gday this is Chris Dimitrijevic VeeKay3FoxYanky on behalf of the
    board of Wireless Institute of Australia for this week's VK1WIA
    National News

    The Topics for this week's broadcast are as follows;

    1. AGM 2024 in Bundaberg Queensland
    2. ALARAmeet 2023 Tasmania
    3. Approval to use VK5WIA for callbacks in SA

    Topic 1
    A reminder that the Annual General Meeting of the Wireless Institute
    of Australia will be held on the weekend of 4th to 5th of May 2024,
    and will be hosted by the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club, in Bundaberg
    Queensland.

    Set aside that weekend to attend the AGM and catch up with some
    mates, A tour of one of the distilleries is planned and that should
    be some fun.


    Topic 2
    The Wireless Institute of Australia passes on our congratulations to
    Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association more commonly known as
    ALARA who will be concluding their ALARAmeet 2023 in Hobart,
    Tasmania this weekend.

    ALARAmeet, happens every three years and it's an opportunity for
    YL's with-in the ALARA organisation and other Amateur Radio
    Operators to meet in person.

    Anyone wishing to seek further information on ALARA, can look them
    up at alara.org.au

    Topic 3
    Peter VK5JP has requested to utilise the callsign VK5WIA for use
    during the Weekly News Broadcasts call-backs on AUS REPEATER NET
    WiresX Room 24160. The board of the WIA have approved his request
    for the use of the callsign and you should hear the start of this
    following this week's news broadcasts.

    The WIA encourages any other news broadcasters should they wish to
    utilise WIA callsigns to put their request to the board of the WIA
    by emailing secretary@wia.org.au

    This has been Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY on behalf of the Board of the
    WIA for VK1WIA News.

    Regards
    Chris Dimitrijevic de
    VK3FY / W3YM / T30T / 3D2FY / DU8FY / 4E8T / 5W0FY / HK7T





    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio
    magazine.

    Heres a chance in a lifetime.

    Sign up to use VK90AR, the special event call sign celebrating
    90 years of Amateur Radio magazine. That call sign wont be coming
    around again not even if we are still publishing in another
    90 years!

    A historic call sign for a historic occasion.

    Last month, Amateur Radio magazine reached the milestone of being
    published continuously since October 1933. Thats why were marking
    the occasion by arranging keen operators to get on-air and make some
    noise with VK90AR. With the solar cycle really crackling right now,
    heres an opportunity to add to the noise on the bands.

    The call sign is for use by any member of the WIA as well as any
    affiliated club. Signing up to use VK90AR is a simple process.
    Just apply on the WIA website Online Event Calendar, where you can
    book a roster to suit yourself.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20230921-1/index.php

    If you already know where the Online Event Calendar is, jump to it.
    Or, go to the website address in the text version of this broadcast.
    Its also in a news item featured on the WIA website home page.
    (WIA Front Page News).

    VK90AR expires on 31st December 2023. So, get online, book a roster,
    and dont miss out. You might like to use VK90AR on AM on 7125 kHz,
    as a nod to our heritage!

    How about it, then? Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    HF Beacon CS3B (Madeira) destroyed in Wildfire.

    The radio beacon CS3B on the Portuguese island of Madeira was
    destroyed by fire on 12 October. Destroyed was radio (ICOM 7200),
    it had only been installed in September 2023.

    CS3B was part of the NCDXFs International Beacon Project, a series
    of HF beacons operating on 14,100, 18,110, 21,150, 24,930 and
    28,200 kHz.

    The site of CS3B is off the northwest coast of Africa and was an
    ideal location to test radio propagation on the HF bands between
    Europe and North America.

    The fire damage to the site is quite extensive, as the building that
    housed the beacon was also destroyed, as was the antenna. Given the
    extensive damage, this HF beacon is likely to be out of service
    for some time.

    iaru-r1.org/2023/hf-beacon-cs3b-madeira-destroyed-in-wildfire/




    26TH IARU REGION 1 GENERAL CONFERENCE

    The 26th IARU Region 1 General Conference opened last Tuesday 31st
    October in Serbia.

    The Opening Plenary was held Wednesday 1 November with the Closing
    Plenary yesterday Saturday 4 November.

    There are 89 delegates from 43 Member Societies attending together
    with the 33 officers from the IS, Region 1, 2, and 3.

    Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, the HF, EMC, Youth, and
    the VHF/UHF committees met, Thursday afternoon and Friday, the
    administration, financial, emergency communication, and spectrum and
    regulations committees met. There will also be various sessions on
    Shaping the Future of Amateur Radio




    Russian amateurs holding that country's highest class of radio
    licence are now being permitted to use the 6-metre band with up
    to 1 kilowatt, this under a verbal agreement with the Russian
    regulator.

    Hams with Russian callsigns have been using the band since 2014
    from Crimea when that territory was annexed. This was a privilege
    carried over from the time when 6-metre operation was permitted in
    Crimea when it was part of Ukraine.

    Russian amateurs had long contended that if authorities recognise
    6-metre operation from Crimea, the privilege should be extended to
    all Russian hams.





    REGION TWO

    FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel says the FCC plans to
    "incentivize innovation and experimentation in the amateur
    radio bands" by getting rid of outdated restrictions and providing
    licensees with the flexibility to use modern digital emissions.

    The commission at its November meeting is expected to take action
    on a Report and Order that would eliminate the baud rate limitation
    and establish a bandwidth limitation in the amateur radio bands
    below 29.7 MHz. The order being circulated for tentative
    consideration by the commission would remove the baud rate
    limitation -- the rate at which the carrier waveform amplitude,
    frequency and / or phase is varied to transmit information -- for
    data emissions in the amateur radio bands, the FCC says.

    The current baud rate limits were adopted in 1980.

    In other news from the FCC deadline for US Hams to file comments
    on their 60-meter band proposal has been extended to November 28,
    the comment period was originally to close October 30, 2023.




    The 18th Annual ARRL Online Auction, sponsored by RT Systems Inc,
    raised 31,000 dollars in support of amateur radio.

    The auction took place during October 13 - 19, 2023. In addition to
    hundreds of viewers, the auction saw 244 individual bidders vying
    for Product Review equipment, vintage books, mystery junk boxes
    from the ARRL Lab, and more.




    The National Association of Broadcasters has announced the
    preliminary attendance numbers for NAB Show New York, which
    was held Oct. 2426 at the Javits Centre.

    This year, NAB said the annual show drew 12,231 people to the
    Big Apple a 28 percent increase from 9,500 attendees in 2022.

    Nearly 270 exhibitors could be found across the show floor,
    including 60 first-time exhibitors. NAB said there were
    approximately 225 sessions featuring approximately 300 speakers.





    REGION THREE

    Seventy-two passengers, predominantly from South 24-Parganas
    district of West Bengal, who met with an accident in Tamil Nadu
    during their tour of South India were safely rescued from the
    accident site through prompt intervention from local amateur radio
    operators along with the local administration.

    A local ham radio operator who was travelling in a motorcycle first
    came across the injured tourists and informed the Indian Institute
    of Ham (IIH). Manjunath R and Sankar Satyapal of IIH contacted the
    local administration and the entire team reached the spot.

    The passengers were rescued and necessary arrangements were made
    for medical services.

    The IIH has a special event station, AT 30 IIH, QRV until December
    31 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Indian Institute of
    Hams.




    India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO),
    has taken a significant step forward in its ambitious Gaganyaan
    project by successfully conducting the first in a series of test
    flights. The project aims to send astronauts into space by 2025,
    making India the fourth country, after the Soviet Union,
    United States, and China, to achieve this milestone.

    The primary objective of this test flight, known as the Flight Test
    Vehicle Abort Mission-1, was to ascertain the spacecraft's ability
    to safely rescue the crew in the event of a rocket malfunction.

    The Chairman of ISRO, announced the success of the mission,
    eliciting cheers and applause from his colleagues.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    Last weekend was the CQ World-wide SSB Contest, and one entry in
    particular was a little different AND a fantastic idea, Ben VK4YT,
    Media officer for the Tablelands Radio and Electronics joins us to
    kick off this weeks operational news

    Saturday 28th of October, members from TREC were at Kairi State
    School on the Atherton Tablelands participating in the CQ World-wide
    SSB contest with a very enthusiastic group of grade 5 and 6
    students.
    9 students and a teacher who hold their foundation licences were on
    the air and we had some other teachers and parents on the radio
    putting out calls under supervision from the kids as well.

    We were using an IC7300 and Elecraft Amp into a tri-band yagi
    antenna on 10,15 and 20m on the clubs tower trailer. We were using
    the callsign VK4KSS and did a combination of hunt and pounce and
    calling CQ throughout the day.

    Last year the group came 3rd in Australia and 8th in Oceania in the
    category they entered with around 11,000 points. This year after
    scores were tallied we had over 82,000 points with 278 QSOs
    from 12 hrs of operating, so the kids really outdid themselves.

    Thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time to help set up
    and operate the contest station and to those who returned our calls.

    Ben VK4YT from Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club

    73 and good DX.



    NOW OUR NEXT 2 CONTESTS...



    VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)




    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's CW leg is also November
    25-26 on the 160 to 10m contest bands, exchange is
    signal report and your CQ Zone.


    ----------------------------------------------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    The special callsign VI7ALARA is active on the HF bands until the 8th of November, (that's Wednesday) commemorating the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association's meeting being held in Hobart. The callsign is being operated by a number of YLs in Tasmania and throughout Australia.

    -----------------

    Call sign VI4ACRO, activation this entire month, November brings
    awareness of the debilitating medical condition Acromegaly.

    (vk4kx)

    ------------------


    VI 10 VKFF running all year celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    VK 90 AR for Amateur Radio Magazine.

    October 2023, this year, saw your WIA celebrating 90 years of
    continuous publishing of Amateur Radio Magazine, the official
    journal of the Wireless Institute of Australia.
    The WIA are running the VK90AR activity until December 31.

    (wia)

    --------------

    Special Event Station VI 100 MB all year celebrates the centenary of
    the Manly-Warringah Radio Society


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY

    Starlink satellites are emitting RFI that is causing issues for radio astronomers, even in so-called "radio quiet zones," such as the outback of Western Australia.

    That is the finding of a research team that published their findings recently in the journal, Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters.
    Steven Tingay of Curtin University writes on the Cosmos magazine website that, using radio telescopes, the researchers detected signals at a number of licensed radio frequencies but their greatest concern was over intended and unintended emissions from elsewhere.

    They traced those to Starlink satellites.

    The scientists' tests were conducted at the site where an SKA-Low facility is to be built in Western Australia. The research paper's purpose was to demonstrate that Starlink emissions were easily detected by low-frequency radio antennas that the scientists were using to represent the SKA-Low station such as one intended for that site.

    Known as version 2 of the Engineering Development Array, the antennas were utilised at 137.5 MHz and 159.4 MHz.

    The scientists wrote in their conclusion that [quote] "Our results indicate that both intended and unintended radiation from Starlink satellites will be detrimental to key SKA science goals without mitigation." [endquote]

    The team recommends dialogue with SpaceX to work on a means of mitigation involving the use of version 2 of the Engineering Development Array at the site.

    (ARNewsLine)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is planning
    their 40th anniversary celebration conference for February 22 - 24,
    2024.

    The Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight:
    40th Anniversary Conference will be held at the Centre for
    Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation, adjacent to the
    NASA Kennedy Space Centre Visitors Centre in Florida.

    Organizers hope to gather volunteer teams, astronauts,
    space agency officials, educators, and space and
    amateur radio enthusiasts to attend the event

    (arrl letter)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian lights planned and advised to WIA :-
    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club

    To commemorate the November 10, 1975 sinking of the SS Edmund
    Fitzgerald, The Livonia Amateur Radio Club (LARC) will operate
    Special Event Station, W 8 F, at the Museum on Saturday Nov. 11,
    from 11 AM to 3:30PM US EST.

    Their aim, contacting other amateur radio operators around the
    globe, reminding them of the Fitz story.

    A special confirmation certificate to those hams who make contact
    with W8F.

    livoniaarc.com/edmund

    and

    qrz.com/db/W8F

    ( EHam)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo Everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that the
    November RAOTC bulletin goes to air tomorrow.

    This month we offer another historical broadcast by Allan Doble,
    VK3AMD, from February 2002. The latest Club news and information
    will be broadcast next month.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on
    the RAOTC website at www.raotc.org.au or just Google
    RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the
    audio file at any time from today, Sunday, from the club website.

    Members and Friends of the RAOTC in Perth are reminded that the next
    lunchtime meeting at the Woodbridge Hotel, East Guildford will be
    on Tuesday November 14th. All are welcome, full details are
    published on the clubs website.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the November RAOTC bulletin,
    enjoy the program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    How to Engage We Youth with Amateur Radio. - STEM Education.

    ARRL Education and Learning Manager, and IARU Region 2 Youth
    Coordinator, Steve Goodgame, K 5 ATA, gave the keynote address at
    the 2023 ARRL Pacific Division Ham Radio Convention, also known as
    Pacificon recently.

    Mr Goodgame was a public-school teacher for 21 years. He carries his
    experience of bringing ham radio into the classroom into his role at
    ARRL. "It is safe to say I've learned a thing or two about reaching
    you youth along the way," he quipped.

    His presentation, to a packed audience, was a highlight of the
    convention. K5ATA's passion and vision for promoting youth
    involvement in the hobby shined in his speech as he discussed STEM
    education and the importance of inspiring youth and teachers to
    engage in amateur radio and wireless technology.

    Now we too can watch "A Vision of the Future of Amateur Radio" on
    the ARRLHQ YouTube Channel.

    youtu.be/fTi8LDz4dS4?si=GQfSd3k2BS__ERMy




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    Hi, from the Gold Coast I'm Mark VK4DMH.

    Last Monday 30th around 3:40pm, a call for assistance was heard on
    the 146.7MHz Gold Coast repeater.

    There were three bushwalkers on the Border Track, near Binna Burra,
    just over 30 kms southwest of Surfers Paradise, and one male within
    the group required urgent medical assistance following a short fall.

    There was no mobilephone coverage along the track, which is in thick
    rainforest. Fortunately, two of the group were Amateur Radio
    operators .. Stuart VK4MSL and his father David VK4MDL, and they
    both had their handheld radios on them.

    Stuart VK4MSL had put the call out for assistance and Geoff VK2DLA
    replied. It was later established that four other local AR operators
    were also monitoring the situation right from the initial call.

    A Qld Ambulance was dispatched lights and sirens on the 36 km road
    trip up into the mountains, and backup from Qld Police. The PolAir
    helicopter was also sent to visually confirm the exact location of
    the patient.

    The police requested for PolAir to use the 146.7 repeater so they
    could talk direct to Stuart. Geoff was happy to provide the
    frequencies and tone access, as well as the option to use a simplex
    frequency, 146.5 MHz. But programming amateur frequencies into the
    chopper in flight proved to be a bit difficult. APRS also played
    an important roll as Geoff VK2DLA was able to receive regular
    updates on Stuart's Lat and Long.

    With Geoff relaying the communications, it was important that one
    operator only was involved with the exchange of messages.

    By 5:30pm, the patient was in the ambulance and on his way to
    hospital.

    Reports are that he's doing well.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.
    ATV SSTV and other forms such as YouTube.

    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN



    41st AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
    YouTube Videos Available, yes more than twelve hours of video
    recordings on their YouTube page.

    You can easily find these videos by clicking on the Live tab under
    The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation channel. Furthermore,
    YouTube offers Closed Captioning for these recordings; just click on
    the 'CC' icon in the video player's lower right corner. If you'd
    prefer, you can also enable subtitles in multiple languages.

    To help you quickly access video from the AMSAT Annual General
    Meeting along with the sixteen presentations given at this year's
    AMSAT Symposium, we have included, thanks to ANS and AMSAT, direct
    links for you in the text edition of this WIA National News.

    AMSAT 41st AMSAT Space Symposium Welcome Robert Bankston, KE4AL,
    AMSAT President
    youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs&t=380s

    A Survey of Small Satellite Propulsion Systems
    Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, AMSAT Assistant VP Engineering
    youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs&t=465s

    Microwave Ambitions for GOLF Satellites
    Zach Metzinger, N0ZGO, AMSAT Board of Directors
    youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs&t=2270s

    AMSAT Engineering Update
    Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT VP Engineering
    youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs&t=3825s

    ASCENT and Fox-Plus Updates
    Jonathan Brandenburg, KF5IDY, AMSAT Assistant VP Engineering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs&t=8575s

    PACSAT Update and Demonstration
    Bill Reed, NX5R, PACSAT Project Manager youtube.com/watch?v=pcO4-h7bbxs&t=10095s

    CubeSatSim Update and Demonstration
    Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT VP Educational Resources youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=720s

    ThinSat Project for High Schools
    Nick Pugh, K5QXY, and Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=4040s

    AMSAT Youth Initiative
    Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT VP Development youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=6595s

    Amateur Radio Spectrum Use in the Lunar Environment
    Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS-NA Executive Director youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=8650s

    Amateur Satellite Secondary Payloads
    Drew Glasbrenner, AMSAT Board of Directors/VP Operations youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=10500s

    AMSAT-HB Update
    Michael Lipp, HB9WDF, President, AMSAT-HB youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=12150s

    AMSAT-UK Update
    David Bowman, G0MRF,
    youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=13205s

    ARISS Update
    Dave Taylor, W8AAS, AMSAT US Delegate to ARISS International youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=18600s

    40th Anniversary of Hams in Space & 2024 Anniversary Event
    Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS-NA Executive Director youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=21305s

    Planned Non-AMSAT Amateur Satellites
    Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=22970s

    Space Qualified Antennas
    Kent Britain, WA5VJB
    youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=23880s

    AMSAT Annual General Meeting & Awards Ceremony
    Robert Bankston, KE4AL, AMSAT President youtube.com/watch?v=DzKKHTBxyY8&t=27575s

    [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK - ALARAMeet2023 THIS WEEKEND 4/5 November in HOBART

    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    November 12

    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST 8:30AM NEXT SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12.

    VK5 - Hi all this is Nathan Vk5DAD from the south coast Amateur
    radio club, on Thursday 23 November We have our annual
    general meeting from 7 pm at Seaford Meadows Scout Hall
    Railway Parade. All is welcome. Hope to see you there this
    is Nathan VK5DAD on behalf of SCARC.

    VK7 - NTARC MASSIVE RADIO AUCTION
    Saturday 25th November at the Northern Tasmania
    ARC Clubrooms in Rocherlea, Launceston.

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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

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  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Nov 9 18:31:12 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-11-12.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 NOVEMBER 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

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING NOV 12 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA DIRECTOR STEVE GREEN VK2TSG and the ART OF BEING PREPARED.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hello, this is WIA Director Steven Green VK2TSG, with a brief
    discussion of preparedness.

    In Australia, it is well known when Bushfire season begins,
    particularly, this is felt in rural areas and on the outskirts of
    our major towns and cities. Some seasons are worse than others, and
    it is known that if we have a number of years without a widespread
    problem, the fuel on the ground will have built up and increases the
    possibility of another catastrophic event.

    Backburning is often used to reduce leaf litter and other debris, but
    often does not cover as much area as needed. Bushfires cant be
    eradicated completely in a practical sense, and if we were able to do
    this, it would harm the environment here downunder; this is because
    many native trees, shrubs, and other life, use fire as a trigger for
    seeding and regeneration.

    Prior to the arrival of the first-fleet and a number of years after,
    many native peoples would set fires to help regenerate areas when
    needed.

    Today, we need to take precautions and prepare, enabling us to
    preserve life and limb, buildings and infrastructure, and so forth.
    So, in the hotter months, we must ask ourselves Are we ready?.
    In-short, and for most of us, I would say no, and that is a
    worrying thought.

    In New South Wales the Rural Fire Service have been promoting their
    updated Fire rating systems and signage, as well as locally running
    programmes to explain to households how to become prepared. No doubt,
    the Country Fire Authority in Victoria, and the Bushfire services in
    other states are doing the similar.

    As Radio Amateurs, we too must be ready. Although we should do this
    for our own homes, we should also be Radio-Ready. Often, we
    promote our ability to get messages through when the normal
    infrastructure is down, but would we be able to do this if called
    upon as you read this?

    Are your handheld or other batteries charged?

    Do you know where everything is if you had to load it into the car in
    the next 10 minutes?

    Is it all in working order?

    Would you have enough supplies to last a 24-hour period without your
    home, the local supermarket, service station, or fast-food restaurant
    to stop at?

    A year or two ago, I was invited to give a talk on Amateur Radio to
    an Australian Preppers group, if you have not heard Prepping is
    the act of preparing for major outages or problems during natural
    disasters, civil unrest , or and any other interruptions to society
    and the availability of goods, services, and normal infrastructure.
    It includes any topic considered off-grid, these can be food
    preservation and storage, alternate power sources, the caching of
    resources, equipment, tools, and information that would allow you to
    survive for a moderate to long period of time without support.

    Prepping groups are quite popular in the United States with Amateur
    Radio being seen as an effective backup to communications if the
    internet and phone services were to be lost. The Australian Prepping
    community has not yet taken this step, and in my talk, I detailed how
    easy it is to start in Amateur Radio and how it can be applied in
    these circumstances.

    Many of us came to Amateur Radio due to the technical aspects,
    others due to the ability to communicate, others come due to how it
    can be used to enhance other hobbies such as Four-Wheel driving,
    outback or marine travel, scientific experimentation, and many
    others. Prepping is an area that we have yet to engage and could
    also learn from.

    There are already many online videos, websites, books, and articles
    on emergency preparedness so I will not go into detail here,

    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
    Additional information (unspoken)

    Here are some basic first steps to consider..
    Ensure that the batteries on your handheld and other devices are
    charged at all times.

    Collect together all the items you may need to keep your radio/s
    running such as cables, chargers, etc. and keep them in the same
    place.

    Test your equipment to ensure that it is in good working order.

    Collect a list of frequencies that may be of use in an event or
    emergency locally. This includes common simplex frequencies as
    many repeaters are unlikely to have battery power lasting more
    than 24 hours. Have a number of them stored in your radio where
    possible.

    Get a small bag together ( a go-Bag ) with a change of clothing,
    medications you would need over 24 to 48hrs if deployed or
    evacuated, along with any other essential items, such as a torch
    and a broadcast receiver.

    Read up on your local Fire Service guides on how to prepare your
    home, family, and vehicle for a bushfire emergency, and encourage
    your neighbours, friends, and family to do the same. Also,
    look for Amateur Radio information on preparing for emergencies.

    Perhaps standardise some of your connectors with Anderson
    PowerPoles and carry some RF adapters to increase standardisation
    and interoperability with the equipment of others.

    Later, consider moving some of your equipment into a Go-Box
    arrangement, that is, a station in a box. Here, it can be all
    be setup and ready to go with just a power source and an antenna
    added, there are many examples online to look at.

    Ensure that you have a First-Aid kit and perhaps bottled water
    on-hand in-case its needed.

    //////////////////////////////////End additional information


    Amateur Radio is a hobby to many, but emergencies are one of the
    circumstances that shows how it is much more than that. Make
    yourself Radio-Ready, it may ensure your safety or that of your
    neighbours, town, or beyond. Amateurs are often community minded,
    and many are members of local BushFire brigades, perhaps invite them
    or their team to your club to discuss Fire preparedness or even join
    WICEN in your State to learn more.

    Steven Paul Green EN, VK2TSG
    National Director & Board Member
    The Wireless Institute of Australia, founded in 1910




    Gidday! this is David, VK4DN from the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.

    WIA Convention is happening in Bundaberg on May 4th and 5th next
    year and we would love it if you could attend!

    This is by far the #1 event in the calendar year for Amateur Radio
    in Australia! Its being held at the new State-of-the-Art Multiplex
    convention center and it promises to be an amazing weekend - full of
    interesting activities!

    We have the 2024 WIA Conference and AGM:
    Interesting discussions about the future of Amateur radio in
    Australia / Election of the WIA Board / Award presentations.
    The annual WIA Gala Dinner: Enjoy a tasty buffet meal and take some
    time to meet with other amateurs from all over Australia.

    Guest Speakers:
    Two days of interesting talks about the many different aspects of
    our hobby. A commercial EXPO over the weekend where you can discover
    cutting-edge offerings from industry-leading companies in Australia
    with great equipment for sale and lots of Show Specials.

    Bundaberg Hamfest 2.0:
    Buy and sell new and used radio and electronic equipment.

    BARC Open Day:
    Where you can immerse yourself with hands-on demonstrations featuring
    state-of-the-art radio equipment such as computer controlled
    satellite tracking systems and software as well as vintage radio
    equipment on display.

    We have also scheduled a contact with the International Space
    Station!: Communications with an astronaut on the ISS, involving
    students from the Bundaberg State High School. We will have Soldering
    Workshops for the kids with interesting kits the youngsters can build
    and take home! Lots of great giveaways and raffle prizes over the
    weekend.

    If youre planning to attend, make sure you book your accommodation
    soon. Bundaberg is an RV-Friendly Town and there are camping areas
    available if you are coming with your motorhome or caravan.

    If you are flying into Bundaberg , mini bus shuttles will meet you at
    the airport and take you to your accommodation and to and from the
    venue.

    Mark the date in your calendar! May 4th and 5th 2024

    We look forward to welcoming you to the 2024 Bundaberg WIA National
    Convention!

    73 this is VK4DN from the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will hold its
    2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) November 20 -
    December 15 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    The ITU is the United Nations' specialized agency for information
    and communication technologies. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the
    ITU includes 193 member states and several hundred Sector members
    and associates.

    WRC conferences are held every three to four years to review and
    revise, if necessary, the ITU Radio Regulations, which is the
    international treaty governing use of the radio frequency spectrum
    and geostationary satellite and non-geostationary satellite orbits.

    To learn more about the agenda for WRC-23, visit
    WRC-23 Agenda items - WRC-23 (itu.int).





    REGION TWO

    Earlier this year, the U.S. Coast Guard received numerous harassing
    radio transmissions. Falsely crying mayday and letting loose racial
    and homophobic slurs, the caller caused military personnel to
    search the Saginaw Ba, a bay within Lake Huron located on the
    eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan.

    Months after a voice analysis implicated him, an amateur radio
    operator from Huron County is facing federal charges for the
    ill-advised hoax.

    According to an affidavit, a special agent with the U.S. Coast Guard
    was assigned to investigate two incidents of false distress
    transmissions made via marine radio VHF Channel 16. Investigators
    believed the transmissions were made by the same person.

    Authorities went to the home of a 40 year old, a Ham, which they had
    tracked to Sebewaing, in the 300 block of 10th Street.

    Read more
    bit.ly/46Wxw0i




    FCC Eyes New Approach to Wireless Alerts

    The lifesaving communication known as the wireless emergency alert
    system in the US, let down residents in the Hawaii fires recently and
    so the FCC has begun rethinking exactly how these alerts should be
    transmitted not to rely solely on the Cellphone system.

    Colin Butler, writing in the ICQ podcast tells how the FCC is looking
    for alternative ways for delivery of wireless emergency alerts that
    do not rely on functioning cell towers. Calling cell networks
    unreliable, the commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security
    Bureau is seeking ways to get messages to the public that do not run
    the risk of cell towers being knocked out of service or having
    coverage dead zones.

    In a public notice, the FCC said it was looking for partners to test
    alternative technologies for emergency-alert use.

    According to a report in Radio World, the FCC is willing to consider
    satellites, high-altitude balloons, drones or similar technology to
    make up for gaps in wireless coverage. The FCC recalled one of the
    most recent incidents of cell coverage failing when in August,
    21 cell sites failed to function in Hawaii during the deadly
    wildfires in that state.




    ARRL DX Log Archive.

    This was founded by JA1BK, created, thanks to an endowment
    established by Kan Mizoguchi, JA1BK, to obtain, preserve, and
    utilize paper logs from rare and significant DXpeditions. Paper logs
    of prominent DXpeditions or logs from stations and operators active
    from more rare locations from the 1950s through the 1980s, are the
    main items which are being saved from the waste bin and archived at
    ARRL HQ.

    The archive includes pre-1950 paper logs as well as those from
    interesting operations, other documents from DXpeditions, and
    logs kept by long-time residents of rare entities.

    Logs which are now part of the Archive are indexed online and are
    being digitized and uploaded into Logbook of the World (LoTW).





    REGION THREE

    INDIA

    Special event station AU2JC will be paying homage to Indian scientist
    Jagadish Chandra Bose, this coming November 23 through December 11.

    Considered by some as the "Father of Wireless Communication," Bose
    was both a pioneer in microwave optics, and demonstrated wireless
    communication as early as 1895.

    VU2DSI is operating with this call, AU2JC, and if you kinda recognise
    the call, the same operator has 'fired it up' every year since 2005
    sign for the last 18 years since 2005.




    AUSTRALIA

    As our Aussie Bushfire Storm season rapidly approaches we see that
    TELSTRA are getting in early with forward planning

    Telstra say their payphones are vital for local community members
    wanting to make a call or get online, so over the next two years
    they're working to upgrade 1,000 payphones in disaster-prone areas
    with more capabilities you might need in a disaster.

    Capabilities such as USB charging for your devices and free Wi-Fi
    connectivity, and back-up power to these payphones so they're more
    helpful. BUT - keep note of where your nearest payphone is in case
    of an emergency, they are not on every street corner as they were
    till the 80's.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW OUR NEXT CONTEST...
    --------------
    ----------------

    VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's CW leg is November
    25-26 on the 160 to 10m contest bands, exchange is
    signal report and your CQ Zone.







    AND OF COURSE JANUARY NEXT IS
    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.

    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW
    --------------
    --------------

    VK 90 AR for Amateur Radio Magazine.

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio
    magazine.

    Again. That chance in a lifetime is still waiting.

    Sign up to use VK90AR, the special event call sign celebrating
    90 years of continuous publication of Amateur Radio magazine and
    have that experience yourself.

    Amateur Radio magazine was first published in October 1933. Featuring
    a bright, bold-red cover, that 24-page issue was priced at sixpence,
    which would buy you two ice cream cones in 1933! And about that
    todays 68-page magazine cover price still buys you two ice cream
    cones! Well it did the last time a bought some in Surfers
    Paradise.

    The WIA President in 1933, George Thompson VK3TH, said that the new
    magazine satisfied a long-felt want Amazingly, that want has never
    vanished.

    Signing up to use VK90AR is a simple process. Just apply on the WIA
    website Online Event Calendar, where you can book a roster to suit
    yourself. If you already know where the Online Event Calendar is,
    jump to it. Or, go to the website address in the text version of this
    broadcast. Its also in a news item featured on the WIA website home
    page.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20230921-1/index.php

    To borrow from old Will Shakespeare himself
    once more unto the DX bands, dear friends!

    Dont delay. VK90AR expires on 31 December 2023.

    And listeners if you hear VK90AR on AM on 40 metres, give our
    operator a shout! Get to it. Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for
    VK1WIA National News.

    -----------

    CHATHAM ISLANDS
    ZL7A is up on air till November 22 on 160 to 6 meters using SSB, CW,
    FT8, and FT4 with three stations.
    QSL via LoTW.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    Kazu, M0CFW (JK3GAD) will again be active from Rodrigues island as
    3B9KW during the CQWW CW contest (November 25-26).

    Activity before/after contest (November 19 to December 1) as
    3B9/M0CFW.

    QSL via LoTW.

    (dxworld)


    --------------

    PHILIPPINES.

    Special event station DU 37 EUDXF is on air until November 30
    celebrating 37 years of the European DX Foundation.
    QSL via operators' instructions.

    (eHam)


    --------------

    Switzerland.

    HB 8 DELOY is the special callsign for members of the Swiss Air Force
    Museum's Radio Club commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first
    transatlantic amateur two-way contact between Leon Deloy, F8AB and
    Fred Schnell, 1MO which took place on 28 November 1923.

    Look for activity until 31st December.
    QSL via HB9ACA (bureau preferred).

    (SARL HF update)

    --------------


    TAIWAN

    BM 0 QSO until December 31, using mostly digital modes.
    QSL via BM 2 JCC.

    (arrl)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    NASA has 'launched' ( pardon the pun ) a new app to make it easier
    than ever to spot the International Space Station in the night sky.

    NASA has long operated the "Spot the Station" website, but its new
    app, available on for both iPhone and Android, brings augmented
    reality features and a handy interface to learn more about our
    orbiting laboratory.

    Find the app at the Apple App Store or at Google Play.

    ( ANS-309 AMSAT News )




    SatDump, that popular piece of software used to decode imagery from
    weather satellites such as NOAA-18 and others, has gained significant
    updates to the way it processes and projects received images on maps.

    Imagery projections are now much more accurate as a result of recent
    code refactors. A detailed deep-dive into the changes have been
    published, obviously check out the link when you read the text
    editions of this, the WIA National News Service.

    Of course SatDump is available for all major platforms.

    satdump.org/posts/projection-story/





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    EIRSAT-1 is expected to launch on a Space X Falcon 9 rocket from
    Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA, on November 29. It will have a
    downlink on the IARU coordinated frequency of 437.100 MHz.

    EIRSAT-1 has been built by students from University College Dublin
    under the framework of ESA Academys Fly Your Satellite! programme,
    a fully hands-on initiative supporting university student teams in
    the development of their own satellites.

    The project began in 2017.

    amsat-uk.org/2023/11/07/eisat-1-cubesat/

    (AMSAT-UK)


    WHAT GOES UP - MUST COME DOWN


    After more than 15 years in orbit, Delfi-C3's mission is about to
    come to an end. The prediction is that re-entry will take place
    around November 16th

    Delfi-C3 is a CubeSat satellite, again constructed by students, this
    time from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

    Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG, says, "We would like to request all
    amateur radio operators / SWL's / satellite enthusiasts worldwide
    to listen for Delfi-C3's telemetry downlink on 145.867 MHz, 1200 baud
    AX.25 BPSK. We will hand out an award certificate to the person
    submitting the last Delfi-C3 telemetry frame." This can be done
    either through the RASCAL software, through the SATNOGS network or
    by sending decoded telemetry frames with reception time and location

    email to Delfi_at_tudelft.nl

    ( ANS-309 AMSAT News )





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military


    Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in USA) 2023 Special Events:

    Special event stations will offer many opportunities for we amateur
    radio operators to honour Veterans and make contacts Nov 11.
    YES IT MAY BE SUNDAY THE 12TH HERE NOW BUT IT'S STILL THE 11th
    UTC.

    K 1 USN Radio Club is on the air showing their appreciation for
    those who have served in the military.
    K1USN is on the HF bands on SSB, CW, and FT8, and K1USN QSL cards
    will be available for all who contact the station.

    The American Legion Post 111 Amateur Radio Club, KA 4 TAL, in
    South Carolina is also operating and on 14.255, 7.264, 14.275, and
    7.185 MHz.

    On the same day, the Liberty ship S.S. John W. Brown, K 8 JWB, are
    holding National Liberty Ship Day. The event honours those who served
    in the military and operated, protected, and built all 2,710 World
    War II Liberty ships, including the Merchant Marines, the Navy Armed
    Guard, and the female shipyard workers recruited during the war.
    Operations will be on 14.250, 7.225, and 21.300 MHz.

    Also November 11, the United States Marine Corps will celebrate its
    248th anniversary, yes 248th, it was officially formed in 1775.

    The USS Midway CV-41 COMEDTRA amateur radio station, NI 6 IW, is
    on the air on 14.320, 7.250, and 14.070 MHz. The station is using
    PSK31, D-STAR, the PAPA System repeaters, and a wide-area amateur
    radio network of 57 additional repeaters on 19 hilltops providing
    extensive coverage of the Southern California region and beyond.
    A QSL card will be available for every operator who contacts NI6IW.

    A complete list of Veterans Day stations, is available at
    arrl.org/special-event-stations

    Type "Veterans" in the keyword search bar to find the stations.

    (eHam)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - QRP

    QRP activity that has recently occurred in Tasmania.

    First item this broadcast is a congratulations to Nic VK7WW.
    He has been having quite a few successful long distance QRP Morse
    Code contacts. All using his 80 metre, 1 watt, transmitter project
    called the Cent, which he designed as a celebration of 100 years
    of Amateur Radio in Tasmania.

    Nic received a Milliwatts Per Kilometre Award from the
    CW Operators QRP Club Inc. of Australia. Being for a successful
    contact between Legana in Tasmania to Mark VK6QI in Bedfordale, Perth
    Western Australia.

    With a total distance of 2924 Kilometres this equates to 2.92 mW per
    kilometre! Not bad going for a 1 watt single transistor transmitter
    Nic.


    Peter VK7KPC has also had some luck. This time with his ex-military
    WS62 HF transceiver, circa WW2, that he is repairing and restoring.
    It appears Peter is having some success with repairs as he recently
    made a contact on 80 metres using 1 watt into Sydney NSW.

    Well I think QRP is certainly in good hands at the moment, thank you
    Nic and Peter for the updates.

    (vk7wi)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    The Radio Communications Foundation (RCF) is a small charity that
    seeks to promote radio engineering and amateur radio in the UK.

    Trustees have agreed to fund 60 Foundation exams each year.

    The funding will be available to anyone who is under the age of 21,
    in full-time education and who needs help with the exam fee.

    Fifteen exams will be funded every three months with the first batch
    of exams funded in January 2024. If any of the allocated funds are
    not used, they will be rolled over to the next quarter.

    Further details about the RCF, and how to donate, can be found on its
    website:-

    commsfoundation.org.




    In IARU Region 1, December is Youngsters on the Air, or YOTA, month
    and is an exciting opportunity for you, clubs, schools, or social
    groups to host an amateur radio station with the aim of getting more
    youngsters active on the amateur bands.

    RSGB will provide access to the special callsign GB 23 YOTA and a
    full list of operating slots will be made available on QRZ.com.
    If youd like further information, you can email
    yota.month@rsgb.org.uk

    (gb2rs news)




    And with even more YOTA News it's to the USA where Youngstown State
    University's amateur radio station K 8 YSU competed in the American
    Radio Relay League's School Club Roundup last month.

    The School Club Roundup is a nationwide, radio-based competition that
    challenges students in college, high school and elementary school to
    contact as many as possible radio stations across the world within
    one week.

    The competition is held each semester, usually in October and
    February.

    (eHam)





    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz


    Although wildfires near Chattanooga, Tennessee have been brought
    under control, the region's High Point Repeater site has been left
    disabled by cable damage left behind by the blaze.

    The 220MHz repeater, the Wires-X repeater and the APRS digipeater
    and iGate system of the Lookout Mountain Amateur Radio Community,
    N 4 LMC, will not return to use until further notice, according to
    the club's website. The damage also temporarily knocked a broadcast
    FM station off the air.

    The Lookout Mountain amateurs' website said the group will need to
    replace all cables at the site. They are also awaiting word from the
    tower owners about possible damage to the tower, guy wires and
    anchor points.

    (ARNewsLine 2400)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest at Eastbourne Primary School Sunday,
    This Sunday November 12 (vk3pdg)

    VK4 - ON NOW Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society HamFest 12th November
    Country Paradise Parklands, 231 Beaudesert Nerang RD, Nerang.


    VK5 - South Coast Amateur radio club, Thursday 23 November AGM
    7 pm at Seaford Meadows Scout Hall Railway Parade.


    VK4 - Ipswich Christmas BBQ, Kholo Gardens picnic area from 10am
    November 25 (vk4hit)


    VK7 - NTARC MASSIVE RADIO AUCTION Saturday 25th November
    Northern Tasmania AR Clubrooms Rocherlea, Launceston.

    Nic VK7WW

    Do these names mean anything to you?
    Pin your ears back and have a listen!

    AWA, Geloso, Johnson, Marconi, Bendix , Hallicrafters,
    Heathkit, GEC, Zenith, and Eddystone.

    Didnt recognise many? Lets go more modern:

    Codan, Realistic, Motorola, Kenwood, Drake, Icom, Phillips,
    KLM, Uniden, Yaesu, Racal, TYT, Radioddity, and Barrett.
    Well, all these manufacturers equipments are in The Tasmanian
    Massive Radio Auction in two weeks time.

    Email secretary@ntarc.net for the current list; and see
    you there on Saturday 25 Nov.

    73 from Nic, VK7WW (double scotch)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.




    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    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.


    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Nov 16 22:37:33 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-11-19.mp3
    Text edition:

    2023 NOVEMBER 19 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 NOV 19 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    ALARA PRESIDENT Michelle VK2AYL. -

    WIA DIRECTOR Giles Kirby VK5GK. -

    WIA AR MAGAZINE EDITOR IN CHIEF Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    ALARA

    Michelle VK2AYL joins us, fresh back from ALARAMEET in Tasmania.

    ALARAMeet 2023 Hobart Tasmania

    The 2023 ALARAMeet was a great success with 52 ALARA members and
    their partners travelling down to Hobart Tasmania from the 3rd to the
    5th of November. This was the first opportunity for ALARA members to
    meet face to face since our last get together prior to Covid.

    The members enjoyed a series of presentations over the weekend on
    topics including Chasing & Activating Parks, Contesting, Encouraging
    younger generations to get involved with amateur radio and joining in
    with nets. Members brought along displays of radio items of interest
    to view over the weekend and everyone enjoyed a Sunday lunch and
    Fox Hunt with the Radio and Electronics Association of Southern
    Tasmania. Formal dinners included guest speakers Alison Alexander on
    the history of the Tasmania Female Factory and Phil Tyson from the
    Sound Preservation Society of Tasmania were also really popular.

    There were also opportunities to explore the sites with visits to
    Salamanca Markets, Peppermint Bay, Richmond, the Tasmanian Symphony
    and the Cascades Female Factory during the week.

    Thank you very much to Linda VK7QP and her team for organising the
    event and to all the sponsors who helped make it possible. Of note
    attendees Mark and Dee were very excited to take home the major
    raffle prize of an ID-50A VHF/UHF Handheld Transceiver from ICOM.

    ALARA members are now looking forward to our 50th birthday
    celebrations in July 2025 in Victoria.

    For more information about ALARA visit
    alara.org.au





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Director Giles Kirby (VK5GK) and this is the directors
    comment.

    Three items today.

    Item 1. QSL cards seem more popular than ever and were currently
    seeking volunteers to help at the head office in Melbourne with
    card sorting. If youre interested in volunteering your time
    please drop us an email or contact us through the WIA website.
    Im literally always saying it but volunteers are our lifeblood
    and I have all the time in the world for anyone willing to offer
    theirs.


    Item 2 . The 2024 WIA AGM/Conference will be held on Star Wars Day
    (May 4th). The organising committee are currently preparing the
    program and are very keen to hear from members who would be able to
    do a special interest seminar. This Conference will be held in
    Bundaberg but Im sure we can make provisions for remote
    presentations. Please get in touch and well discuss.


    Item 3. Registrations for the WIA conference will open early in the
    new year. I look forward to meeting more of the community. QLD has a
    special place in my heart as my wife and I first moved there when we
    came to Australia in 2013. My first callsign was in fact VK4FAEI,
    quite the mouthful.

    Best wishes everyone. This was the directors comment from Director
    Giles Kirby (VK5GK). 73.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    REGION ONE

    IN GERMANY, AN EASIER WAY TO REPORT RFI

    Amateurs in Germany now have a direct means of communication with the federal regulator BNetZa when they want to report electronic devices that have caused radio interference or are inaccurately labelled as being safe. An online form allows a report to be made with relevant details so that the agency can more easily take action and determine if these devices are non-compliant, dangerous - or both. Customs agents and postal authorities will also be notified of imported devices that are found to be faulty so those items can be placed on the list of banned products.

    The form is designed to help expedite an official response, especially with regard to interference - be it on the amateur radio frequencies or on mobile phones or broadcast radio and TV.

    For online applications, you will need to prove your German identity.
    With the BundID, you have several options to do this. Then a YouTube
    video explains the functions and benefits of BundID in more detail.

    tinyurl.com/yprbw7by




    BRUSSELS

    On February 3 and 4, 2024, the FOSDEM conference will again be held
    in Brussels.

    FOSDEM (Free and Open Source Developers European Meeting) is the
    largest conference for developers of open source software and
    open source hardware in Europe. The conference has been held annually
    since 2001.

    The term open source includes open source software (also known by the
    term FOSS), open source hardware (OSHW), as well as open data and
    knowledge, think for example the widely known website Wikipedia.

    FOSDEM, in recent times attracts about 6000 visitors each year.

    What does this have to do with Amateur Radio?

    We amateur-radio uses are using more and more open source
    technology, .. and FOSDEM 2024 will , for the first time, have its
    own corner dedicated to the amateur-radio hobby.




    The Region 1 Programme for Disabled Radio Amateurs (PDRA)
    Coordinator, Riri, OD5RI invites member society to participate in
    and to promote the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
    on Sunday 3 December. This day is a global opportunity to raise
    awareness and promote inclusivity for individuals with disabilities.





    REGION TWO.

    WASHINGTON

    Federal Communications Commission have now adopted new rules to
    incentivize innovation and experimentation in the amateur radio bands
    by removing outdated restrictions and providing licensees with the
    flexibility to use modern digital emissions.

    The Report and Order adopted November 13 eliminates the baud rate
    limitation, instead, the Commission establishes a 2.8 kHz bandwidth
    limitation in the applicable amateur radio bands. The changes will
    enable the amateur radio community to operate more efficiently,
    including in support of emergency situations when appropriate, and
    foster experimentation, which is a core principle of the amateur
    radio service.

    The FCC also adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which
    proposes and seeks comment on the removal of the baud rate limitation
    in the VHF and UHF bands and in the 2200 meter and 630 meter bands.




    HD Radio Passes 100 Million Car mark

    Calling it a major milestone, Xperi says the number of cars
    incorporating HD Radio has surpassed 100 million. Xperi Inc. is an
    American multinational technology company that develops software
    solutions for consumer electronics and connected cars.

    The connected car is a key part of the companys business, and video
    is playing a growing role within that context. Xperi noted that the
    DTS AutoStage Video Service, Powered by TiVo, recently was
    integrated into the BMW 5-Series. These vehicles are now in showrooms
    across the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, France,
    Spain and South Korea. BMW will expand the AutoStage Video rollout in
    these regions to a broad range of additional models across various
    vehicle segments.

    Within the radio space, Xperi noted that, in the last quarter, it won
    a new HD Radio and DTS AutoStage program with Ford Motor Co. for its
    new radio platform unveiled at the North American Auto Show. It said
    that program is now in production for certain North American
    vehicles.

    At the 'older end' of the car radio market, The National Association
    of Broadcasters says the auto industry is overstating the cost of
    keeping AM radio in electric vehicles.

    The broadcast group believes the Alliance for Automotive Innovation,
    which paid for the 21-page report from the Centre for Automotive
    Research, misrepresents, distorts and spins the facts about
    interference mitigation found in the report.

    The auto industry puts the cost to carmakers at $3.8 billion over
    seven years. NAB replies that the material cost of addressing AM band
    interference in EVs is relatively low because mitigation measures are
    often necessary and implemented to support other electronic systems
    susceptible to EMI.





    REGION 3

    A very special (and close to home) special event has but 5 or 6 weeks
    left to run..

    Roger Harrison has the details

    Again. That chance in a lifetime is still waiting.

    Sign up to use VK90AR, the special event call sign celebrating
    90 years of continuous publication of Amateur Radio magazine and
    have that experience yourself.

    Signing up to use VK90AR is a simple process. Just apply on the WIA
    website Online Event Calendar, where you can book a roster to suit
    yourself. If you already know where the Online Event Calendar is,
    jump to it. Or, go to the website address in the text version of this
    broadcast. Its also in a news item featured on the WIA website home
    page.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20230921-1/index.php


    Dont delay. VK90AR expires on 31 December 2023.

    Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA National News.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------

    Caution: Software Updates before a Contest.

    A wise word from our SARL friends - in todays world of
    self-updating computers, be mindful of changes to your configuration
    that may inadvertently happen when software is upgraded.

    Microsoft Windows as an example can change port assignments,
    sound devices and so forth after updates, which could make radio
    control problematic. Updates to any software involved in your contest
    operation should be treated with caution just before a contest
    starts.

    A prudent person might spend a half hour or so before the contest
    verifying that everything is operating as it should be

    (sarl hf happenings)



    NOW OUR NEXT CONTEST...

    --------------


    ----------------

    VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    NEXT WEEKEND 25 - 26 November.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's CW leg is November
    25-26 on the 160 to 10m contest bands, exchange is
    signal report and your CQ Zone.




    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
    13 - 14 January.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au) -----------
    -----------
    DX WINDOW
    -----------
    -----------

    Tanzania.

    Maurizio, IK2GZU, is on the air as 5 H 3 MB during his spare time
    until December 8 from southern Tanzania where he works at a
    hospital and orphanage. He is active mostly on 20 to 10 m.
    QSL via home call IK2GZU, LoTW, eQSL.

    (sarl)

    --------------

    OMAN.

    A 43 ND celebrates the 53rd Omani National Day during November. The day itself was yesterday the 18th.
    QSL via EC 6DX, LoTW, eQSL, qrz.com.

    (eHam)


    --------------


    NORWAY

    LA 100 K is the special callsign in use by Akademisk [ACA-DEM-EESK]
    Radioklubb, LA1K to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its
    foundation.

    It is the oldest amateur radio club in Norway.

    The special callsign will be in use until the 31st of December and
    QSL route is VERY easy, via the bureau, or direct.

    (eHam)


    --------------
    --------------

    LUXEMBOURG

    LX 90 RTL is in use to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Radio
    Luxembourgs first long-wave broadcast.

    It will be used by various LX operators until the end of the year.

    Listen for the callsign on the HF bands on SSB, CW, digital modes
    and via satellite. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the
    DARC bureau.
    The logs will be uploaded to Club Log, Logbook of the World
    and eQSL on a regular basis.

    For more information see QRZ.com

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    MEDIA WATCH

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found
    Prime Television (Victoria) Pty Limited, a licensee of the Seven
    Network, in breach of the local content rules

    acma.gov.au/local-tv-content-regional-areas

    Seven has not broadcast any local content in Mildura during the
    16-month period since it has had a regulatory obligation to do so.

    The requirement for Seven to provide local content in the Mildura
    area was triggered when Seven acquired the Prime regional television
    network in December 2021. The local content rules began to apply to
    the Mildura service and to former Prime services acquired by Seven in
    other regional markets from July 2022. This was the first time these
    rules were triggered following a network acquisition. Seven met the
    local content requirement for its television services in seven other
    regional markets.

    Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, regional commercial TV
    licensees must broadcast a minimum amount of local news or other
    material of local significance. Seven is obliged to provide 100
    minutes of local content or 50 minutes of local news per week as a
    condition of its licence to broadcast TV in the Mildura area.

    (ACMA)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Disruption of SOTA Services Possible from Volcanic Eruption

    Andy (MM0FMF), a member of the SOTA Management Team, communicated
    to Amateur Radio Daily the potential for disruption of SOTA services
    such as the SOTA Cluster and SMS services should a volcanic eruption
    occur in Grindavik, Iceland.

    The data center containing SOTA services is located just outside the
    town of Grindavik.

    With thousands of small earthquakes occurring and large cracks
    appearing on roads over the past few days, experts warn that a
    volcanic eruption is possible.

    Andy, MM0FMF said on the SOTA reflector " It seemed like such a good
    idea at the time get a server in Iceland where theres lots of Green
    Data Centre cooling (just open the windows and let the cold air in)
    and lots of Green power.

    The data centre housing the SMS and Cluster services is only 31km
    from the town of Grindavik were there are signs of an imminent
    volcanic eruption. Who knows if the data centre will be affected or
    not. I do have an alternative site to move the services to if there
    are problems. Just be aware there could be disruptions to the
    service."




    With Christmas on the horizon, the UK Bunkers-on-the-Air awards
    scheme has introduced a special set of awards in the format of an
    Advent Calendar.

    Bunker activators will be on the air from UK bunkers in the official
    ROC reference list from December 1st through the 24th, and chasers
    can symbolically "open" a new bunker door each day by working that
    station - right up through Christmas.

    Bunkers on the Air is a rapidly growing amateur radio activity that
    centres around old Royal Observer Corps monitoring posts or bunkers.
    Unfortunately there still appears no "push" to allow ANY bunkers,
    other than ROC, to operate which would of course open this up around
    the world much like SILOS on the air and MUSEAMS.

    (story sourced to ARNewsLine 2402)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY

    Feel the power of the sun in an incredible new time-lapse of solar
    activity. Astrophotographer Miguel Claro of Lisbon, Portugal captured
    the entire full disc of the sun on Oct. 12, showing the sun streaking
    towards its maximum of activity in its 11-year solar cycle.

    The new video, Miguel wrote on his website, is "showing a lot of
    interesting features in motion, such as eruptive prominences,
    filaments, active regions with minor flares, small spicules dancing
    like hair in the wind, and a delicate waved line of plasma."

    The video shows the sun rotating over three hours with the plasma
    trapped in the sun's strong magnetic fields hundreds of kilometres
    above the surface, Claro said, "until it (the plasma) has been
    released into space in a blink of an eye."

    space.com/sun-timelapse-solar-activity-dark-sky-view

    (space.com)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    STRAIGHT KEY CENTURY CLUB CONTEST

    The Straight Key Century Club is holding a contest among its
    members -- but for this competition, you don't need your key -
    just a sense of style, as we hear from Randy Sly W4XJ.

    If you're a member of the Straight Key Century Club, there are a
    few ways you can get ready for the SKCC Anniversary and Straight Key
    Month being held in January 2024. You can, of course, practice and
    train at home to work on your sending and your copying - and perhaps
    even plan on being one of the operators for the K3Y event. If your
    talents extend to holding a pencil, a pen or even a paintbrush, you
    might want to submit a design to be considered for the official
    2024 QSL card.

    The club is once again holding a contest to select a design and SKCC
    members get the final say. They'll be voting on their top picks in
    mid-December and will be able to view all the qualifying submissions
    displayed on the SKCC website.

    Although only the most popular design will end up on the QSL card,
    many of the others will appear in the SKCC's print calendar.

    The club is also inviting members to resubmit updated versions of
    designs submitted earlier that weren't in the final pick.

    There are certain design guidelines and specifications that need to
    be followed, however. Please visit the SKCC website for detailed
    instructions on how to display your design and incorporate the
    required text elements.

    Designs are due no later than the 14th of December.

    (SKCC)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Jrme, F4DXV, set yet another distance record on October 15th
    when he worked Scott, N1AIA, on SO-50, a distance of 5,645.3 km.
    This eclipses the previous record of 5,548 km set in May.
    Additionally, Puneit Singh, VU2TUM, claimed the initial distance
    record on Tevel-2 with a 3,815 km QSO with BA 1 PK.

    (AMSAT)




    Back in June, the URESAT-1 satellite was launched. Developed by
    AMSAT-EA, the satellite carries an SSTV camera, and FM and digital
    repeater payloads providing services to amateur radio enthusiasts
    around the world.

    Signals have been received with the use of several large dish ground
    stations, and efforts continue to deploy the spacecraft antennas and
    improve the downlink strength.

    At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT has now designated URESAT-1 as
    Spain-OSCAR 120 (SO-120).

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    AF-017

    Rodrigues Island is on air with Kazu, active as 3B9/M0CFW
    from Rodrigues (AF-017) today 19th to first of December.
    He will participate in the CQ WW DX CW Contest as 3 B 9 KW.
    QSLs via LoTW and Club Log's OQRS

    (sarl hf happenings)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF AND ABOVE.

    The First Worked All US States Certificate Awarded for the
    33-Centimeter Band

    On November 4, 2023, Al Ward's, W5LUA, 38-year quest to contact all
    50 states on the 33-centimeter band ended when he received the first
    ever Worked All States certificate for (902 - 928 MHz).

    Ward started collecting states on the band shortly after it was
    opened in 1985.

    (ARRL)




    2023 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK5 - south coast Amateur radio club, Thursday 23 November AGM
    7 pm at Seaford Meadows Scout Hall Railway Parade.


    VK4 - Ipswich Christmas BBQ, Kholo Gardens picnic area from 10am
    November 25


    VK7 - NTARC MASSIVE RADIO AUCTION Saturday 25th November
    Northern Tasmania AR Clubrooms Rocherlea, Launceston.

    Nic VK7WW

    Do these names mean anything to you?
    Pin your ears back and have a listen!

    AWA, Geloso, Johnson, Marconi, Bendix , Hallicrafters,
    Heathkit, GEC, Zenith, and Eddystone.

    Didnt recognise many? Lets go more modern:

    Codan, Realistic, Motorola, Kenwood, Drake, Icom, Phillips,
    KLM, Uniden, Yaesu, Racal, TYT, Radioddity, and Barrett.
    Well, all these manufacturers equipments are in The Tasmanian
    Massive Radio Auction in two weeks time.

    Email secretary@ntarc.net for the current list; and see
    you there on Saturday 25 Nov.

    73 from Nic, VK7WW (double scotch)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Nov 23 20:34:42 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-11-26.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 NOVEMBER 26 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 NOV 26 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    Scott Williams WIA President - VK3KJ. -

    Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE INCLUDING:-

    Veronika: the universes most colourful cubesat, YES IT'S PINK!

    ALL THESE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
    AUSTRALIA.

    THE BLACK FRIDAY SALE EDITION, YEP THE PLACE TO BE IS AREFS SALE
    TODAY NOVEMBER 26.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    Scott Williams WIA President - VK3KJ

    Recording for Broadcast 26 November 2023

    Hi there, this is WIA Director and President Scott WilliamsVK3KJ and welcome to the WIA broadcast this week.

    This week I would like to talk to you about a very important strategic volunteer role within the WIA, known as Regulatory Counsel.
    The WIA has been very fortunate over many many years to have Peter Young (VK3MV) perform this role and what an outstanding contribution he has made. In fact, Peter was awarded honorary life membership of the WIA at the AGM earlier this year and there is no doubt much of the recognition Peter received was for his outstanding work on the Regulatory Counsel.

    Peter Young announced several months ago that he would he stepping down from the role, but would continue in a support role, so to hunt commenced to find someone that would do justice to this important role. Before I announce who has been appointed, let me just quickly talk to you about the role and what it involves.
    The role focuses on providing advice and interpretation to the WIA Board on Regulatory matters pertaining to the Amateur Service and the Amateur Satellite service.
    Areas of responsibility include advice on:

    Radio communications Act 2003
    Amateur Licence Conditions Determination
    Apparatus License Conditions Determination
    Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan
    and other legislative instruments

    The role provides advice to the WIA Board and members on Australian Communications and Media Authority Licensing and Compliance Policy that affects the Amateur Service.

    The role also represents the WIA at ACMA presentations, information sessions and meetings as required and has a key focus on matters pertaining to regulatory issues.

    There is a detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) that covers the responsibilities of the role.

    I am delighted to announce that Justin Giles -Clarke (VK7TW) and former WIA President has accepted the role.

    I can say that on behalf of the Board, we are delighted with this appointment, and we believe Justin is the perfect person to take on this very important role.

    With a transition to class licensing and significant reforms and consultation occurring on a regular basis, having Justin in the role supporter by Peter Young sure places the WIA is a strong advocacy position.
    Thats it for me this week and this has been Scott Williams, WIA President for this weeks WIA National News.





    Yes yes yes. Im back.

    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Dudes! Last Monday, the files for Issue Number 6 of AR magazine for this year the last one were uploaded to the printer's server in Bairnsdale, Victoria.

    I should not tell a lie.

    They went on Tuesday morning. We just had to make sure that everything we could possibly fit in, went in. Whats left over is for future issues.

    Look out for the issue landing late next week. In your letterbox, your Post Office Box, or your local newsagent.

    The theme for this soon-to-arrive issue is Antennas Feedlines, and Propagation!

    Something for everyone. Almost. Well, some of you anyway.

    If youre picking up your copy in the newsagent, look for the dramatic picture of an awkward looking, but totally awesome, vertical take-off and landing aircraft flying over Surfers Paradise beach here on the Gold Coast. The cover feature is about how a tight team of Gold Coast amateurs provided critical communications support to the first Pacific Airshow in Australia. A truly remarkable wide area UHF repeater network was pulled together and built especially for this phenomenal community event.

    The articles covering the theme will have to wait until you get a copy in your eager hands.

    Actually, Ive been told to keep it short. So thats it from me.

    Wait! Book your turn to put VK90AR to-air!

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 6 for this year.
    More guts. Less gab.

    Serving Australian ham dudes for 90 years.

    Proudly produced and printed in Australia.

    Also available online.

    Always published to a schedule, never random.

    Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.





    Hi Im John, VK2JPM.

    Heres a suggestion to expand your hobby in a way that you probably havent considered. There are over 460 Community broadcasting stations in Australia, and they all need technology support. Its the same skills you use to get on air: selecting stuff, connecting, building, testing, fixing more fixing. Every broadcaster has RF: transmitters, antennas and links; FM, AM and at serious power. We build skills with audio, computers, acoustics, lighting, aircon and generators putting together, operating, doing field events and emergency operation, and so much more.

    If it sounds like amateur radio on steroids, thats because it is - and theres a place for you.

    Technorama is the volunteer organization created to build our technologist community. We provide training, cross-pollinate skills, and have fun. Weve succeeded. And many broadcast techs started as, or became amateur radio operators.

    Next weekend 1-3 December is our annual gathering TR23, in Chatswood Sydney. Youre invited. The TR23 theme is building your next facility; our guest of honour is one of the industrys most senior technologists, and wed love you to come along, hang out with, learn from, and pass your skills to people just like you.

    All the info is at technorama.org.au

    Its not too late to register; and we are gender and age-friendly.

    Follow the technorama.org.au links to look at the TR23 program.
    If you get lost, contact us via info@technorama.org.au

    TR23 Registration is quick, painless and online. If youre not already a member of Technorama, then join first because youll save more than the cost of membership.

    TR23 kicks off on evening of Friday 1 December. Registration for TR23 is only $130 for the full weekend, which is staggering value. Your registration includes the welcome function, all sessions, lunch on Saturday, and the gala dinner/quiz night on Saturday evening. Theres parking on site at the Chatswood Club, or you can travel to Chatswood Station and walk four minutes to the venue.

    One big announcement at TR23: were very close to kicking off the first formal radio tech training offered in Australia since 1990. Yes, were working to help you get a shiny formal Certificate IV that says you know stuff and which will nicely interlock with your amateur radio skills.

    Bonus: if youre interested in learning about Raspberry Pi, come to Education Day on Friday 1 December from 0900-1700. Only $50 for TR23 attendees: the class covers soup-to-nuts on Pi; every student will have their own hardware to use during the day, and we show you how to build some practical projects that will be useful in Amateur Radio.
    Community radio stations all over the country (and a few community TV stations) need the skills that you have as an amateur radio operator, and the experience will teach you so much more thats guaranteed.

    Check technorama.org.au, and even if you cant make it: become a member of Technorama and stay in touch.

    Look forward to meeting you at TR23.

    73 John VK2JPM.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam, Radioworld.com
    Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    WRC 23

    Monday November 20 saw a hugely well attended opening ceremony,
    speeches and initial plenaries as WRC-23 got underway. Around 3500+
    delegates were present; and on the sidelines some 23cm news emerged
    from IARU.

    IARU were able to confirm the progress on 23cm in the preceding ITU
    Radio Assembly. The draft text of an ITU-R Recommendation had been
    agreed after some long and difficult hours seeking a usable
    compromise. Most of the recent difficulties had been in the lower
    1250MHz part of the band, as well as power and antenna angles
    profiles for 1260-1262MHz amateur satellite uplinks. However as the
    detailed IARU report indicates, achieving consensus on what will
    become ITU-R Recommendation M.2164 is just the first vital step.

    How it is referred to (if at all) by the ITU Radio Regulations is
    the critical challenge to come.





    REGION ONE

    Our Irish friends have a 'cute' activity about to hit the airwaves.

    It's where kids can talk with 'the Big Man' himself.

    Yes Santa is coming to Shannon Basin Radio Club.

    Santa is taking time out from his busy schedule to have some QSOs
    with junior ops on Saturday December 9th. He will be QRV on the
    EI2SBC (Echo Icicle Two Santa Before Christmas repeater

    As the club says " Junior ops are welcome to have a QSO with Santa in
    his home QTH. It will be an opportunity to confirm you're on his good
    list (or not) and that the correct presents are in the bag!




    The October edition of the IARU Monitoring System Region 1 Newsletter
    has been published. In amongst the illegal fishing buoys, over the
    horizon radars, and taxis, they also report observing an intriguing
    unknown digital signal that they had never received before.

    The monthly newsletters also demonstrate the highly interesting and
    diverse range of signals that encroach on our amateur radio bands.

    The newsletters may be downloaded from the monitoring system page on
    iaru-r1.org





    REGION TWO.

    Out of IARU region 2 but of immense benefit to all regions is a
    massive $200 million US dollar gift to SETI.
    Yes a $200 million philanthropic gift from the estate of
    Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, co-founder of Qualcomm and a long-time
    supporter of SETI's work.

    Franklin is probably recognised by many viewers as author of the
    Instant Track orbital tracking software.

    The funding will boost initiatives such as postdoctoral fellowships,
    global research expansion, educational programs, and innovative
    observational technologies, impacting all domains of SETI research.
    N6NKF's legacy is expected to provide lasting financial stability and
    foster new partnerships for the Institute, founded in 1984 to explore
    the origins of life and intelligence in the universe.




    A NEW NODE FOR THE REVERSE BEACON NETWORK

    In a news release dated 13 November, the Yasme Foundation is pleased
    to report that a new African node has been added to the RBN,
    Reverse Beacon Network, with the activation of 7Q6M in Malawi.
    The node was funded through a grant from ARDC, managed and
    implemented by Yasme. The Yasme board also approved, at its November
    board meeting, funding for a node in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of
    Argentina.




    With the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement (PIRATE)
    Act, signed into law in 2020, a new era dawned for the FCC and its
    ability to issue larger fines against the operators of pirate radio
    stations in order to deter illegal operations.

    In continuing that mission, the FCC has issued $6.4 million in
    proposed fines against several pirate radio operators located in
    the Bronx and Brooklyn in New York City, and in the neighboring city
    of Mount Vernon, according to a news release last Wednesday November
    15.

    FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said: In the PIRATE Act,
    Congress upped the ante. It increased the penalties for those who
    transmit unauthorized signals over the FM and AM radio bands because
    they can compromise public trust in this service and jeopardize the
    broadcasting of emergency alerts. This means higher fines and more
    regular enforcement sweeps in our largest radio markets.





    WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

    You never know when youll be called upon to dig your way out of an
    emergency. I cant imagine what kind of situation would call for
    whipping up a satellite ground station for NOAA weather satellites
    from junk, but hey, it could happen.

    And when it does, youll be ready as long as you have an umbrella,
    some foil tape, and various bits and bobs like wire and an RTL-SDR
    dongle.

    Hackaday are reporting on this umbrella build that, as you can
    imagine, takes a lot of tweaking to get right.

    The umbrella and foil tape form the main reflector for the antenna,
    with a pie tin, a scrap of wire, and some random twigs being used to
    build the antennas helical feed. Attached to a RTL-SDR plugged into
    a dodgy second-hand phone, the experimenter was able to get at least
    some kind of data from one of the GOES satellites.

    tinyurl.com/3mnu53rc


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:-
    --------------
    --------------


    VHF-UHF Spring Field Day.
    THIS WEEKEND 25 - 26 November.
    (wia.org.au)


    75th CQ World Wide DX Contest's CW leg is also
    November 25-26 on the 160 to 10m contest bands,
    exchange is signal report and your CQ Zone.




    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
    13 - 14 January.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au)
    -----------

    NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE 24/25 Feb 2024.

    The rules have been tweaked slightly and are now up on the nzart
    website.

    Overseas contacts now score the same points as ZL contacts.

    The definition of acceptable overseas contacts has changed to
    "Oceania" as defined by the DXCC list.

    These changes have been made to better align the rules with the
    contest objective, simplify scoring and to use a defined geographical
    boundary.

    (nzart info line 482)



    ----------------------------------------------------



    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st 2024

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)


    -------------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18 2024

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------


    --------------

    DX WINDOW

    --------------
    --------------

    ANTARCTICA.

    Special event station L 36 Z marks the 36th anniversary of the
    Argentine Antarctic Base 'Esperanza.' Activity is on the HF bands
    using PSK31 and FT8. QSL via LU 4 DXU.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    CAMBODIA.

    QRV is XU 7 GNY today, November 26 on 80 to 6 meters.
    This includes being an entry in the CQ World Wide DX CW contest.
    QSL via DJ 6 TF.

    (eHam)

    ------------

    LAOS.

    A group of operators are QRV as XW4DX from Vientiane until tomorrow
    November 27. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters, except 80, 60, and
    30 meters, using CW, SSB, and FT8 with five stations.

    QSL via F4BKV.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    LUXEMBOURG

    LX 90 RTL is in use to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Radio
    Luxembourgs first long-wave broadcast.

    It is being used by various LX operators until the end of the year.

    Listen for the callsign on the HF bands on SSB, CW, digital modes
    and via satellite. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the
    DARC bureau.
    The logs will be uploaded to Club Log, Logbook of the World
    and eQSL on a regular basis.

    For more information on LX 90 RTL see QRZ.com

    (rsgb)

    ---------------

    NAMIBIA.

    QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April 2024.
    Activity is on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the
    world able to use that band.

    V51WH.

    QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH

    (eHam)





    MEDIA WATCH


    HER RADIO, HER LIFE - AND HER MOVIE

    The story of an influential YL, happy among her family of hams and
    inspiring others around the world, would make a great subject
    for a feature film -- and now it has. John Williams VK4JJW tells us
    about her and the new documentary.

    Even if she doesn't feel like a movie star, Bharati Devapullavi is
    generating a lot of excitement on the film screen in a new one-hour documentary, "My Radio, My Life," that premiered on Friday the 10th of
    November at the Africa International Film Festival. The team of
    filmmakers from Pune [Poo-Nay] India take a sweeping yet very personal
    view of the medium in all its varied forms, from shortwave enthusiast to commercial broadcaster to amateur radio operator, focusing on a
    handful of its most ardent practitioners.

    As someone who has been a radio amateur for more than half of her life, Bharati VU2RBI, plays a central role in the film, giving the camera crew access to her shack in Hyderabad (Hydra-BOD) earlier this year and introducing the many members of her very large ham radio family, including her husband, VU2DBP; her daughter, VU2DTR; and her son, VU3DVS. The veteran DXpeditioner, who has assisted widely in disaster management communications and received many awards worldwide, is an advocate and educator for amateur radio education, particularly for YLs.

    The documentary, which is expected to arrive in India sometime in 2024, is scheduled to appear at other festivals around the world, where it will be among many films vying for awards. For Bharathi, the title couldn't be more perfect: "My Radio, My Life" is her story.

    This is John Williams VK4JJW.

    [DO NOT READ: https://vimeo.com/840719183 ]



    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Veronika:
    Spacemanic's Pink CubeSat Successfully Launched.

    Veronika, a 1U CubeSat was launched on SpaceX's Transporter-9 mission
    marking the third Slovak satellite to venture into space.

    Boris Procik, a financier from Slovakia, had approached Spacemanic to
    construct and launch the CubeSat, making it the first "family
    satellite" of its kind. Veronika, named after Boris's daughter, went
    beyond being a CubeSat with a personal touch; it was a
    technologically advanced mission designed to support the Slovak and
    international amateur radio community.

    The CubeSat features an array of technical capabilities to serve its
    primary objectives:

    9k6 G3RUH AX.25 telemetry

    digipeater

    CW beacon

    SSDV transmissions.

    The IARU coordinated downlink frequency is 436.680 MHz.

    dashboard.satnogs.org/d/abEVHMIIk/veronika.

    Veronika will be operated by amateur radio club OM3KSI, which will
    actively participate in its mission:

    om3ksi.tuke.sk/en/home/

    In an unconventional move, Veronika was not only the first-ever
    family-named satellite but also the first-ever pink satellite,
    adding a personal and distinctive touch to its appearance.

    (AMSAT NEWS SERVICE-323)




    LOST IN SPACE (DANGER WILL ROBINSON)

    NASA's newest satellite in orbit some 200 miles above Earth isn't one
    you can contact by radio. In fact, it's not an official satellite at
    all but a bag of tools lost from the International Space Station.

    Kent Peterson KCDGY tells us how it got lost in space.

    NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli, KI5WSL, and Loral O'Hara, KI5TOM,
    were conducting a spacewalk on November 1st. They were tending to a
    solar alpha rotary joint that helps the ISS track the sun and they
    were conducting maintenance work on a communications antenna.

    That's when it happened:

    A suitcase-size tool bag they were using slipped free of Moghbeli's
    grasp and went off into space on a mission of its own. According to
    various media accounts, the bag, which has an exterior that reflects
    the sun, is now hurtling along at a few thousand miles an hour on a
    journey that is expected to end when, just as with another toolbox
    lost in 2009, it enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.

    So no, you can't make radio contact with this particular rogue
    satellite but a number of people, including Japanese astronaut
    Satoshi Furukawa, have been able to see it -- and at one point it was
    directly over Mount Fuji. It is apparently not difficult to find if
    you have a telescope or high-power binoculars. If you've seen this
    free-floating toolbox and captured its image, the website EarthSky is
    hoping you'll share it with them. All images can be uploaded using
    the link that appears in this week's text version of the newscast.

    earthsky.org/community-submissions/

    (ARNewsLine 2403)





    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

    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    Following record flooding in NSW last year, which impacted
    communities across the state and resulted in more than 80,000 calls
    to the State Emergency Service (SES), the NSW state government has
    announced a $25 million upgrade to the SESs flood rescue fleet.

    More than $14.7 million will go towards 142 additional boats, rafts,
    trucks, cars and trailers in response to recommendations from the
    independent flood inquiry.

    All new vehicles are being equipped with vehicle-as-a-node
    technology, allowing crews to communicate using 4G and satellite
    networks in addition to regular radio networks.

    tinyurl.com/mtxh83mk

    (CRITICAL COMMS)




    INDIA

    Kolkata: The state government has set the ball rolling for setting up
    a temporary ham radio station at Mousuni Island. This to be used
    considering its vulnerability to frequent cyclonic weather conditions
    as well other major natural disasters.

    Whenever there is a natural calamity, the normal communication system
    there goes 'haywire' and so the district administration cant
    establish contact with the local administration in different remote
    islands of the Sundarbans, including Mousuni Islands where
    transportation is a major challenge and waterways being the only
    option.

    The state Disaster Management department joined hands with the
    West Bengal Radio Club and Indian Academy of Communication and
    Disaster Management and hosted a two-day demonstration regarding
    setting up of radio station, placing of the antennae for proper
    communication, the harnessing of solar power in the establishment
    of communication and other nitty gritties for the local residents
    of Mousuni Island just days ago

    tinyurl.com/yfphn4uy

    (millennium post)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Amateur radio in schools Convention presentation

    As part of its commitment to outreach and the growth of amateur
    radio, the RSGB has released a presentation from its 2023 Convention,
    called "Taking Amateur Radio into Schools."

    Lyall Smith, GM4XID; Chris Leviston, M0KPW; and Simon Harris, G4WQG,
    share their experiences of inspiring we school pupils to explore and
    have fun with amateur radio.

    Lyall set up an amateur radio club in his school.

    Chris started an afterschool club at his daughters primary school.

    Simon, with the help of friends at his amateur radio club, created
    links with his sons technical college that have snowballed to other
    schools in the area.

    The presentation shows how individual radio amateurs and clubs can
    make positive and productive links with schools and give tips and
    encouragement for getting involved with your local schools.

    youtube.com/watch?v=YBL22CRyS_Y


    AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE END OF THIS WEEKS SPECIAL INTEREST
    NEWS MY TIME IS UP.

    Speaking of time, fans of keeping Universal Coordinated Time, or UTC,
    intact, take note: The International Telecommunications Union is
    discussing one prominent timekeeper's proposal for global standard
    setters to institute something called the "leap minute" - and whether
    it should be introduced in light of the recent decision to eliminate
    the "leap second."

    ARNewsLine are reporting how at the ITU's World Radiocommunications
    Conference in Dubai an ambitious agenda that includes discussion
    of a US timekeeper's proposal to address the planned elimination of
    "leap seconds" starting in 2035.

    Leap seconds were originally implemented to synchronise the Earth's
    irregular rotation with the ultra-precise method of atomic
    timekeeping. It is this form of timekeeping that is reflected in UTC
    the very time standard that radio amateurs, scientists and many
    others depend upon worldwide.

    The leap second was marked for elimination in a vote last year by the
    International Bureau of Weights and Measures to address its complex
    impact on technology and other fields.

    An alternate timekeeping method discussed in Dubai suggests that
    "leap minutes" be used instead, every 50 years or so, as needed,
    to align clocks more closely with the variable movement of the Earth.
    This alternative form of time adjustment is a concept from Judah
    Levine of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the
    United States.

    It is unclear what kind of reception this new controversial remedy
    may ultimately receive by from the International Bureau of Weights
    and Measures itself.

    We will know, of course, in, --- wait for it, -- DUE TIME




    2023 Social Scene

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    is today, November 26 (vk5qi)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Nov 30 20:04:15 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-12-03.mp3
    Text edition:
    NOTE

    We have not produced a 32k version for some time and as of January we no longer will send a file called wianews_32 out so if you have an automated system please change the file you download to wianews_64

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    2023 DECEMBER 3 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 DEC 03 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA SECRETARY PETER CLEE VK8ZZ. -

    Editor-in-Chief of WIA Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison
    VK2ZRH.




    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    REPORT FILED BY WIA SECRETARY PETER CLEE VK8ZZ

    World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) are held every three to
    four years to review, and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations,
    that is the international treaty governing the use of the radio -
    frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and
    non-geostationary-satellite orbits.

    One of the outcomes of previous WRC was the introduction of the 10MHz,
    18 MHz and 24 MHz bands, better known as the WARC Bands.

    The WRC-2015 developed consensus around a new 15 kHz-wide global
    secondary 60 metre Amateur Radio allocation at 5351.5-5366.5 kHz.
    This allocation is yet to be adopted in Australia by the ACMA.

    WRC-19 concluded with several international agreements including the
    following:-

    International Mobile Telecommunications (5G)

    The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

    Communication over wireless access systems, including radio
    local area networks (WiFi)


    WRC-23 is currently being held from 20 November to 15 December 2023
    in Dubai. Australia is represented at WRC by the Department of
    Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and
    the Arts.

    As the peak national body for Amateur Radio in Australia, the WIA have
    sent two members in the Australian Delegation to represent and lobby
    on behalf of all Australian Amateurs. Our representatives are
    Dale Hughes VK1DSH and Peter Pokorny VK2EMR.

    WRC-23 has an agenda item 9.1 on the future of the 23cm band.
    This band intersects and overlaps with the Radio Navigation Satellite
    Service. In the lead up to WRC-23 the WP5A was unable to come to a
    consensus recommendation for this issue because of some hard
    resistance from several states. So, the final decisions on this item
    will be up to debate inside of WRC-23.

    The President of the IARU, Tim Ellam KC, was interviewed and that link
    is available here.

    tinyurl.com/yc3a9cbp

    So we all anxiously await reports from our delegates and ultimately
    the outcomes of this World Radio Conference.





    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison
    VK2ZRH.

    I believe Issue 6 has begun to circulate in letterboxes and
    newsagents, much to the chagrin of the clickerati inhabiting
    social media, apparently.

    While attending the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Societys annual HamFest
    here the other week, I was accosted by a fellow ham as often happens
    at hamfests who revealed that he rather liked Issue 5, but before I
    could ask him why he said, How do you do it how do you keep
    turning them out?

    I replied as I generally do its a team effort the Publications
    Committee, the production graphics guy, and I all working together.
    And so, that became the theme of my Editorial in Issue 6.

    Turning to the centre pages, once again, Issue 6 this year carries
    the 2024 Contest Calendar, which Alan VK4SN compiles and produces
    each year, and posts on his website. Being the centre pages, you can
    lift them out and stick the calendar to the wall on your shack, on the
    kitchen fridge, or wherever takes your fancy.

    Lou VK3AQZ continues detailing his three-band HF rig for the road.

    Justin VK7TW provides a makers viewpoint of his short vertical for the
    160 metre band.

    Don VK6JDM explains how to make open-wire ladder line from low-cost
    agricultural parts.

    For something more celestial, Kevin VK4UH explains the joys of
    Meteor Scatter propagation.

    Newcomers Notebook this issue covers the matter of forward, reflected
    and standing waves. Speaking of which, on page 5, Board member
    Giles VK5GK offers some worthy reflections.

    Naturally, its timely for the 2024 Rules for the Ross Hull Memorial
    VHF-UHF contest.

    Theres more besides!

    Just let me POP this in here why not book a turn to put VK90AR
    to-air! Instructions are on the WIA website Online Event Calendar.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/events/

    So.

    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 91, Issue Number 6.

    All guts. No gab.

    Serving Australian hams for 90 years.

    Proudly produced and printed in Australia.

    Also available online working together with the webmaster.

    Always published to a schedule, never random.

    Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.








    ACMA





    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    SOME NEWS RELATING TO WRC-23

    Discussions on 40-50 MHz radar sounders continues with some progress.

    After merging various proposals, multiple satellite-borne radars with
    ~10dB gain Yagi antennas would be free to transmit over polar regions
    at any time day, not just at ~3am, with restricted operation outside
    the defined areas, unless agreed to by the countries concerned.

    IARU is particularly concerned that these have wideband transmissions
    and will cause an issue in the adjacent 50MHz weak signal DX segment.

    For technical reasons the radars dont fully turn off, so there is a
    complex set of power flux density limits in/outside polar regions and
    in the adjacent 50-54MHz band that are yet to be decided.




    USING RADIOWAVES TO DIAGNOSE CLIMATE ISSUES

    Our first story this week asks the question:

    Can radio waves help diagnose climate issues?

    A team of researchers says "yes!"

    The atmosphere has a message for us and it's possible that we may
    be able to receive it thanks to the 6G networks of the future.
    This next-generation form of telecommunications is already being
    eyed for cellular deployment -- but its range from 100 GHz into the
    terahertz frequencies positions it for another - unintended -- use.

    According to an Amateur Radio NewsLine report re an article in the
    IEEE Spectrum, waves utilized by 6G are easily absorbed by gases in
    the atmosphere. As such, scientists may be able to use the radio waves
    to discern what kind of atmospheric gases are present - especially
    the kind that imperil the well-being of the planet and those of us
    who live on it. Boston researcher Josep Jornet suggests that because
    different molecules absorb electromagnetic radiation differently,
    scientists can employ 6G transmissions in much the same was
    spectroscopy is used: to identify which molecules are present and
    what their concentration is. Jornet, in fact, calls it
    "over-the-air spectroscopy.

    Although 6G networks are not yet ready for prime time, the study's
    authors believe a dual-purpose 6G network of the future could have
    immense benefits.





    REGION ONE

    Hams throughout IARU Region 1 have set aside a day to celebrate
    radio's growing accessibility for persons with disabilities.

    AND THAT DAY HAS NOW ARRIVED!

    United Nations has declared the 3rd of December to be the
    International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This is the day to
    recognise and celebrate the accessibility that amateur radio provides
    to everyone, either through special equipment designed to be used by
    hams with various disabilities, or recognising nets organised by
    disabled amateurs. Activities on this day celebrate the inclusion that
    radio offers despite many individuals' personal challenges.

    The Region 1 coordinator, Riri OD5RI, has said many member societies
    will be getting on the air with special callsigns. There will also be
    other on-air events to raise awareness of the ongoing need for ham
    radio to be an inclusive community. Individual operators and members
    societies will be honoured for their participation. Bahrain Amateur
    Radio Society is but one station QRV with the Special Event Station
    A 91I DPD for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

    Riri said the activities support the global programme's sustainable
    development goals which include the removal of inequality.






    REGION THREE




    Shimla is the capital of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in the Himalayan foothills and in a bid to promote Amateur Radio as an
    effective tool for alternate communication during emergencies, the Himachal Pradesh government has announced a subsidy up to 60,000
    Indian Rupee for basic equipment to all persons who have passed the licensing examination to be HAM operators. That's some $1,000 Australian Dollars.

    A wireless communication network through Amateur Radio is one of the most effective and alternative means of communication. The skills of a trained amateur radio operator can be used for public service in times of need and emergency, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a statement issued here on Sunday.





    WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

    LAST WEEK I TOLD YOU OF THE McIver TYPE UMBRELLA ANTENNA, THIS
    WEEK A LITTLE ANTENNA WITH A LOT OF CAN-DO

    What can you do with a can of ham? Well, you can make a sandwich,
    for one thing - or you can make a contact on a local repeater.
    John Williams VK4JJW explains.



    Viewers of his YouTube channel, Ham Radio Rookie, now know that
    Ben Eadie VE6SFX has become a man with a can and a plan. The can once
    contained ham -- and the plan for the can was grand: Ben first ate the
    ham, washed the can and got to his plan. He turned it into an antenna.

    That's right, an antenna. It was Ben's latest experiment on his
    channel's new feature called "Will it ham?" The 7-minute video shows him attaching a PVC pipe, adding a few 3D printed pieces to the assembly and putting a jumper on it to turn it into a slot antenna. After finding a likely feed point, he checks it with a NanoVNA and declares it beautifully resonant on 70cm and ready for a radio check on a local repeater with the help of a friend. He tells his friend "I am talking to you via a can of ham" and the good signal report that comes back is clearly no baloney. His friend asks: Would the antenna be as resonant if the ham were still inside? Ah, that's a question Ben could surely sink his teeth into.

    This is John Williams VK4JJW.


    Meanwhile, he tells YouTube viewers that he is in search of other
    possible projects that are too absurd for anyone else to do. What's in
    his future? Perhaps he'll turn a tin of tuna ........ into a -- tuner.



    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------

    ARRL 10 Metre Contest

    The ARRL 10-Metre Contest is one the air from 00:00 UTC on Saturday 9
    December until 23:59 UTC on Sunday 10 December using CW and SSB and
    operating for a maximum of 36 hours out of the 48-hour period.

    Off times must be at least 30 minutes long.

    All stations exchange a signal report, while US Canadian and Mexican
    stations send their state or province, DX stations send a serial
    number and Maritime mobile stations send the ITU Region (1 - 3).

    Your log must be uploaded within seven days after the contest.

    Get the rules at www.arrl.org/10-meter.

    (sarl)



    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest running on VHF and above for the month of
    January.

    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day 13 - 14 January.

    (wia.org.au)


    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.
    Some VK operators will be using the AX prefix to celebrate Australia
    day.

    (wia.org.au)
    -----------

    NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE 24/25 Feb 2024.

    (nzart info line 482)


    ----------------------------------------------------

    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest July 21st 2024

    (wia.org.au)


    -------------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18 2024 Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II.

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------


    --------------
    --------------
    DX WINDOW DECEMBER

    --------------
    -----------------

    VI 10 VKFF running all year celebrates the 10 year anniversary
    of the VKFF group.

    (vk5pas)

    --------------

    VK 90 AR for Amateur Radio Magazine.
    The WIA will be running the VK90AR activity until December 31.

    )

    --------------

    Special Event Station VI 100 MB celebrates the centenary of
    the Manly-Warringah Radio Society

    --------------

    FRANCE

    Active is special callsign TM 12 5ED through to the 31st of December
    marking the 125th anniversary of a public demonstration by radio
    pioneer Eugene Ducretet, of wireless communication, between the
    Eiffel Tower Paris and the and the Pantheon in Rome.
    All CW and SSB QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the bureau
    and eQSL.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine 2399)



    --------------

    Switzerland.

    HB 8 DELOY is the special callsign for members of the Swiss Air Force
    Museum's Radio Club commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first
    transatlantic amateur two-way contact between Leon Deloy, F8AB and
    Fred Schnell, 1MO which took place on 28 November 1923.

    Look for activity until 31st December.
    QSL via HB9ACA (bureau preferred).

    (SARL HF update)

    --------------
    --------------

    TAIWAN

    BM 0 QSO until December 31, using mostly digital modes.
    QSL via BM 2 JCC.

    (arrl)

    --------------
    --------------

    LUXEMBOURG

    LX 90 RTL is in use to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Radio
    Luxembourgs first long-wave broadcast.
    For more information see QRZ.com

    (rsgb)

    --------------

    INDIA.

    Special event station AT 30 IIH is QRV until December 31 to
    celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Indian Institute of Hams,
    whose focus is to train and bring young people into our amateur
    radio community.
    QSL via bureau.

    (eHam)



    --------------

    NORWAY

    LA 100 K is the special callsign in use by the oldest amateur radio
    club in Norway until the 31st of December.

    (eHam)


    ---------------


    NAMIBIA.

    QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April 2024.
    Activity is on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the
    world able to use that band.

    V51WH.

    QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH

    (eHam)


    --------------
    --------------


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    QNEWS WORK BENCH
    Measure twice cut once.


    HAM RADIO WORKBENCH GOES ON THE AIR FOR 200TH SHOW

    The Ham Radio Workbench podcast is approaching its 200th show
    and it's going to celebrate today, December 3rd with a big
    HRWBOTA.

    No, I didn't just mispronounce another really large word; that's what
    the organizers are calling the event - it's short for Ham Radio
    Workbenches on the air and the hosts are marking the occasion with a
    four-hour activation on HF, DMR and AllStar that allows listeners to
    make contacts with each of the presenters and to score points.

    Be listening between 1800UTC and 2200UTC.

    No one's looking to make this difficult: If you work at least two
    hosts, you get a certificate of participation. There are bigger
    certificates too. See details on the website h r w b o t a dot com

    hrwbota.com

    (ARNewsLine 2404)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    The VK2RPM RadNet DMR repeater is now on air from Middle Brother
    Mountain. Its providing excellent DMR mobile and hand-held radio
    coverage in a large area between Port Macquarie, and Taree.

    There is now almost continuous DMR coverage along the Pacific Highway
    from south of Kempsey to south of Sydney.

    The VK2RPM DMR Repeater has filled in the gap that previously existed
    between the coverage areas of the VK2RCN DMR repeater at Telegraph
    Point and the Great Lakes VK2RGL DMR repeater.

    (vk2wi)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Happy 10th Birthday FUNcube-1

    November 21, 2023, marked the tenth birthday of our very first
    CubeSat mission, FUNcube-1.

    A very short time after the launch from Russia and within a few
    minutes from deployment, the very first frame of data from the
    low power transmitter on board, was detected and decoded by ZS 1 LS
    in South Africa. He relayed the data over the internet from his
    Dashboard to the Data Warehouse and the numbers, appeared, as if by
    magic, at the launch party being held at the RSGB National Radio
    Centre at Bletchley Park.

    After a brief check out, the FUNcube team were able to switch the
    transmitter to full power, again at the very first attempt, and were
    quite amazed at the strength of the signal from the 300mW transmitter
    on 145.935 MHz. The transponder was then switched on, the first
    contact? Between G6LVB and M5AKA.

    The team finished the day with a request to AMSAT-NA for an Oscar
    number and were delighted to receive the AO73 Oscar 73 designation!

    Since then, FUNcube-1, has operated with in excess of 53,500 orbits,
    1.3 billion miles travelled, 61 million telemetry data packets
    transmitted, and with more than 10.9 million unique data packets
    downloaded and stored in the Data Warehouse.

    (ans)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    The FCC has issued a waiver to allow US ham radio operators to
    communicate with federal stations on and around Pearl Harbor Day.
    The American Radio Relay League requested the limited four-day waiver
    from the Mobility Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

    The waiver request is for the limited purpose of a short-term event
    relating to National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, commemorating the
    82nd anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, and to allow amateur
    licensees to practice communication techniques with the United States
    military from Dec. 69, 2023, the commission explained.

    The waiver is conditioned on participating stations monitoring the
    three identified federal frequencies of 14.375 MHz, 18.1625 MHz and
    21.856 MHz; responding on spectrum allocated to the amateur service
    and only at the request of event organizers; operating consistent with
    the privileges of their amateur licenses; and limiting communications
    to the period Dec. 69.

    The annual commemoration remembers the 2,403 service members and
    civilians killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7,
    1941. Another 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which
    permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships and destroyed 188 aircraft.
    In 1994 congress designated Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor
    Remembrance Day.

    (radioworld.com)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is
    the first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers
    Club of Australia's December bulletin to go to air.

    This month as well as the latest Club news

    * Ill be relating a recent story about some pitfalls when
    hiring a Tesla EV.

    * This will be followed by an AI-generated discussion on the
    history of the transistor and its early development.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on
    the RAOTC website, raotc.org.au or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the
    audio file at any time from today from the club website.

    The next lunchtime meeting for Members and Friends of the RAOTC in
    Perth at the Woodbridge Hotel, East Guildford, will be on Tuesday
    December 12th. All are welcome, full details are published on the
    clubs website.

    Therell be no broadcast in January, however we will return on the
    first Monday in February.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the December RAOTC bulletin, enjoy
    the program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    December YOTA Month from IARU region one.

    A reminder to all viewers and listeners that December is once again
    Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) month. This is a busy time of year
    especially for we young ham radio operators across the world. This
    December, many YOTA teams will light up the bands in the interests of
    giving even more youngsters a taste of our great hobby.

    A full list of participating stations can be found on the website in
    the text and video editions of this weeks WIA National News.

    events.ham-yota.com.

    For the entire month, several youngsters will become active with
    YOTA as the call-sign suffix. The idea for this is to show the amateur
    radio hobby to the youth and to encourage youngsters to be active on
    the radio waves. Therefore, if you happen to hear a YOTA station
    active on the bands over the month of December, please take a few
    minutes to give them a call as it's a great way to help promote the
    service to the next generation of DXers, contesters, and rag-chewers.
    One such YOTA call is from the S.A.R.L., the special events callsign
    ZS 9 YOTA.



    With a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) for
    almost $307,000 AUD and private donations of more than $30,000, the
    University of Scranton Amateur Radio Club in Pennsylvania, has
    installed new amateur radio equipment and antennas for its station,
    W3USR.

    The station features state-of-the-art operating positions with
    heavy-duty controllers, all-mode transceivers, speakers, desktop
    microphones, and other components. A 40-foot tower with a
    high-frequency antenna for 14, 21, and 28 MHz has been installed, as
    well as VHF/UHF satellite and microwave antennas.

    The impact of the new station means everything to the club. "When you
    can bring a group of students into a new facility like this one, the
    impact makes a lasting impression that will allow them to fully
    experience amateur radio."

    An additional room near the radio shack holds equipment and antenna
    connections and, will be used as a lab for controlled HamSCI space
    research projects.

    (eHam)




    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


    Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

    Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz

    WICEN NEWS courtesy VK2WI

    Dementia Australia has started to advertise its "Memory Walk and Jog"
    events for 2024 and WICEN will be providing communications for these
    events all over VK2, VK1 and beyond, so there will be opportunities
    for members outside of Sydney to participate.

    These are great starter events for new or even 'rusty' WICEN
    members, as they take only a couple of hours. WICEN also provides the
    radios for these events, so you dont even need to bring your own
    gear. Why not give one a go? Youll find a link to the events list in
    the text edition of this weeks WIA NATIONAL NEWS.

    WICEN NSW web site: https://nsw.wicen.org.au/
    WICEN NSW facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WICENNSW
    WICEN NSW X: https://twitter.com/wicennsw

    "National" WICEN on Facebook:
    facebook.com/groups/124735400158

    MWRS Fire Season Toolkit:
    mwrs.org.au/2019/12/14/your-fire-season-toolkit/



    Imagine being missing from your family for 24 years.

    An alert amateur radio operator in India was able to end one man's
    long absence from home by simply keeping his eyes open, asking
    questions and - yes - using his radio.

    We hear the details from Jim Meachan ZL2BHF.

    It was not an amateur radio contact but a visit to a tea vendor at
    a bus station that led hams in West Bengal to bring a former military
    engineer and his family together after the man went missing 24 years
    ago. The family had last seen him when he was 44 years old and his son
    was 15. According to news reports, the father disappeared while enroute
    home to Uttar Pradesh from a military camp in Assam where he had been
    posted with the military's engineering services department.

    According to a report on The Statesman website, the family was so
    certain he had died that in 2006 that they held a funeral ritual for
    him. His son, Rajkumar, told local news media that in spite of that, he
    and his two sisters never gave up hope that they would see their father
    again. The man's wife, however, died a year and a half ago as the search for him continued.

    The secretary of the West Bengal club, Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, told the Statesman that he'd spotted a man repeatedly during his frequent visits to a tea vendor at a bus station during the past few months. He began inquiring about the elderly man, who apparently had only limited information about his family and their whereabouts. The ham shared with his own club what little information he could gather about the man's connections to Uttar Pradesh. West Bengal hams contacted hams in Uttar Pradesh and they located the man's remaining family members.

    This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*




    2024 Social Scene

    Clubs are welcome to submit 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.



    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.








    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Dec 15 02:51:06 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-12-17.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 DECEMBER 17 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

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    YES THIS IS THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK AND IT COMES FROM
    YOUR WIA for week commencing DECEMBER 17 2023

    This is the ALARA presentation which we do several times each year including very close to Christmas, I'm ALARA President VK2AYL Michelle.

    Lesley VK5LOL with the operational news covering contests and a look
    through the "DX Window".

    Presenting the news with me this week will be Shirley VK5YL who will
    be covering the International Desk and we'll also have A.R.Newlines
    Editor Caryn Eve Murray KD 2 GUT.

    Linda VK7QP will handle special Interest Group news but to start
    todays Broadcast WIA Directors Lee VK3GK and Chris VK3FY.



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Thank you Michelle VK2AYL

    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    Earlier this week the ACMA announced their new arrangements for
    amateur radio. These include changes to licensing, qualifications,
    call signs, charges, examination assessors and overseas visiting
    amateurs.

    On 19 February 2024, the following aspects of the new arrangements
    will commence:

    the Radiocommunications (Amateur Stations) Class Licence 2023
    (amateur class licence)will be introduced. This will replace the
    current LCD Link

    The revised qualifications framework will have the ACMA recognition
    Certificate replace the current AOCP

    new call sign arrangements will be managed by ACMA

    ACMA will now be allocating qualification and call sign services

    ACMA will start accepting new applications to be an ACMA accredited
    assessor

    revised arrangements for overseas visiting amateurs will be
    introduced.

    ACMA have advised that for most amateur operators, no action is needed
    to transition to the new arrangements. Upon the commencement of the
    amateur class licence on 19 February 2024, non-assigned amateur
    apparatus licensees may wish to surrender their licence, and some will
    be eligible for a pro-rata refund.

    The main benefits:

    -The annual renewal licence fee charged by ACMA has been removed.

    -Every 5 years, the ACMA will check with call sign holders whether
    they still require the call sign.

    -Call signs with the prefix VK0 or VK9, special event call signs and
    contest call signs will have a designated assignment period of
    12 months.

    -Amateur exams conducted by ACMA volunteer assessors will be free of
    charge and results will be known on the day.

    -Reciprocal licencing is to be simplified. HAREC licence holders will
    be deemed to have an Equivalent ACMA Recognition certificate
    (Advanced)

    -Appropriately qualified overseas amateurs visiting Australia will be
    authorised to operate amateur stations under the proposed new amateur
    class licence for a period of up to 365 days.

    It is important to note that if you wish to receive ACMA updates
    please subscribe. Details are on the ACMA website.

    acma.gov.au/subscribe-our-newsletters

    Keep a watch on the WIA website and the official WIA facebook page for
    up to date news releases.

    The WIA website news page has the recent ACMA article in full with
    links to the relevant reading of the class licence changes.

    For now, 73 From Lee VK3GK and now over to you Chris VK3FY




    Thanks for the introduction Lee.

    This is Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY with this weeks WIA Board Comments.

    News from the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 which concluded Friday December 15, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    IARU's primary effort focused on Agenda Item 9.1 topic b to address amateur use of the 23-centimeter band and co-frequency use by several radionavigation satellite service systems in the 1240 - 1300 MHz band.

    IARU's work that began 4 years ago and WRC preparatory meetings ensured that the amateur services were properly represented during the development of two published ITU-R reports which formed the basis for the discussions at WRC-23.

    During the WRC-23 deliberations, strong positions were expressed by all parties involved. The result is a well-supported compromise for a footnote in the Radio Regulations. This footnote reminds administrations and amateurs of the need to protect the primary RNSS from interference, and it provides guidance for administrations to allow both services to continue to operate in this portion of the
    spectrum.

    Administrations are the bodies that govern amateur radio in their respective countries, such as the ACMA here in Australia.

    The Conference Plenary compromise was formally adopted on December 8 and was not subject to further consideration during the final week of WRC-23.

    IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, noted, "This is a very good result for the amateur services. The decision reached at WRC-23 on this agenda item makes no change to the table of allocations nor incorporates by
    reference M.2164 into the Radio Regulations. The addition of a
    footnote that provides guidance to administrations in the event of interference to the RNSS is a good regulatory outcome for amateurs and the primary users of this band."

    The WRC also agreed to suppress Resolution 774, which closes the issue and satisfies the agenda item.

    The IARU team included our own Peter Pokorny VK2EMR, and VK1DSH Dale Hughes, for the Wireless Institute of Australia.

    This has been Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY on behalf of the WIA Board of Directors for WIA National Newss.

    NOW BACK TO THE SPECIAL ALARA CHRISTMAS EDITIION OF VK1WIA NATIONAL NEWS


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    Value of Contest Clubs

    "Contesting encompasses so much of the hobby," says seasoned contester
    Craig Thompson, K 9 CT, in the current episode of the On the Air
    podcast.

    arrl.org/on-the-air-podcast


    "From station building, learning how to operate, understanding
    propagation, knowing the rules, learning from your peers," that
    there's something in it for every ham radio operator.

    As current member and former president of the Society of Midwest
    Contesters, K9CT knows the ins and outs of running a contest club and
    ensuring that the value proposition makes sense to the average member.
    In this episode, Craig talks about why you might want to get involved
    with a contest club, what it entails, and how these specialized clubs
    stir up on-air activity that benefits every ham.

    (ARRL)


    --------------
    --------------
    CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
    13 - 14 January.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    When you get your amateur license, it's been said that you've gotten
    your ticket. But what does it mean if you receive a "golden ticket?"

    One ham in the US organized a special event station, on air right now,
    that answers the question.

    It's no accident Shane Manzara's vanity callsign is W N K A.

    He's a diehard fan of the 1971 movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
    Factory," in which golden tickets provide children with admission to a
    place of magic and unending supplies of chocolate.

    Since then, Shane hasn't lost his taste for chocolate - or the
    storyline - so as Warner Bros. releases the prequel to theatres,
    Shane and two friends Brian, KB9TBB, and Dan, KD9OIV, are on the air
    calling QRZ using SSB and FT8 until days end, UTC time, today 17 of
    December.

    Work them - or send a short-wave listener's report - if you include a
    stamped, self-addressed envelope and a fee to cover the printing
    costs, you'll be getting a golden ticket, a shiny QSL card that
    Shane designed to look like the ticket in the original movie.

    Now that's a sweet deal.

    (ARNewsLine 2406)

    --------------

    In the Christmas Spirit, members of Radio Club Lliria, EA 5 RCL, based
    in Valencia, Spain, are on the air as EH 5 XMAS for the Christmas
    season, ending on the 7th of January.

    See QRZ.com for QSL details.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    Christmas station PA 2 3XMAS leads a group of stations on the air from
    the Netherlands until the 31st of December.

    Certificates will take the place of QSL cards for anyone who works at
    least two of the stations. Stations operating include PD 23 SANTA,
    PH 23 XMAS, PH 23 HNY and PD 24 HNY.

    The two stations with the HNY suffix will remain on the air until the
    24th of January. Short-wave listeners may also send in their reports.
    See QRZ.com for details.

    (ARNewsLine 2406)

    --------------

    LEAVING THE BEST FOR LAST.

    BOUVET ISLAND DXPEDITION 2025

    Operators are being sought who want to dedicate some of their time
    being a remote operator at 3Y0K.

    George AA7JV will design, test and supply 4 remote radios that will be
    accessible via Starlink to any operator worldwide.

    Sought are remote operators:

    Who have DXpedition experience.

    FT8/CW operators.

    Team players.

    Dedicated.

    Preferably experience from remote operation.

    Want to dedicate their time to remote operation and want to be part of
    the Bouvet team.

    You have to commit to operate like any other on island operator but
    you dont have to travel for 50 days!

    Remote operators from all over the world in different time zones.

    You want to experience how it is to operate from Bouvet, and have fun
    while running the Bouvet pileup?

    There will be a small operator fee for remote operators.

    Please contact kenneth @ opskar.no

    73, 3Y0K

    (DXworld.net)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    If you've tuned in late this morning, I suggested you replay the news
    from wia.org.au to hear Director Chris, VK3FY's short wrap of
    the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) which
    concluded Friday December 15, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    In brief the good news was a footnote reminding administrations and
    amateurs of the need to protect the primary RNSS from interference,
    and it provides guidance for administrations to allow both services
    to continue to operate in this portion of the spectrum.

    Administrations are the bodies that govern amateur radio in their
    respective countries, such as the ACMA here in Australia.

    The IARU team included our own Peter Pokorny, VK2EMR, and
    VK1DSH Dale Hughes, for the Wireless Institute of Australia.





    MEET YL RAISA, R1BIG, INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAKER FOR THE YEAR 2023

    For our first story here at the International Desk we have an awards
    presentation.

    The Amateur Radio NewsLine International Newsmaker of the Year award
    celebrates a clever and creative innovator in this, its fifth year:

    She is YL Raisa R 1 BIG / OH 7 BG.

    Through social media and various websites she has given the world a
    window into what it means to struggle and grow as a ham. Newlines
    Editor Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT spoke with her.


    CARYN: Congratulations to Raisa Skrynnikova, R1BIG, who began in 2018 to channel her enthusiasm and humour to show how a newly licensed ham learns to put up antennas, enter a contest, activate a SOTA summit and handle some incredible pileups. Her blogs, livestreams and YouTube videos are a source of information and good will. Raisa told NewsLine why she decided to put her own story in the spotlight.

    RAISA: To show step by step that it is not very difficult to get and to pass the exam, to make your own equipment. You can also make your antenna yourself and set it up yourself also. I try to do all these videos to show that the ham radio hobby is not so difficult and you can do simple steps and know more and more information. Why I like the ham radio hobby is because every day, every time, you need to learn something new - and this is the best thing, I think.

    CARYN: In 2021, Raisa advocated for greater friendship among the world's hams by taking another bold step. Building on the earlier work of two hams, she enlisted help from friends in different countries and assembled an easy-to-use interactive online practice guide offering commonly used QSO phrases in 11 different languages.

    RAISA: It is so nice, you feel a very nice feeling, when someone talks a little bit in your language and I thought, "Oh I would like to know some phrases in the different languages and to say hello buon giorno, buona sera." It's so wonderful and make people a little bit more happy.

    CARYN: Her humour and her relentless optimism about ham radio's future have provided a bright spot by using the technology that is guiding the next generation's amateurs.

    RAISA: I think that the new technology and the internet and social media will not kill the hobby. I think that they will help the hobby because we can use them for promoting the hobby and make this hobby more popular. And that is exactly what I try to do.

    CARYN: We are proud of this year's International Newsmaker,
    Raisa R1BIG. I'm Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT.






    REGION ONE

    WIA National News made mention last week of the Science Forum
    South Africa 2023 gathering.

    Well, the SARL AMSAT SA display at Science Forum South Africa
    was awarded a special mention award for the best display and audience
    interaction.

    The award was presented at the closing ceremony of the forum.

    Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV and Brian Jacobs ZS6YZ, who were
    responsible for developing and executing the display, received the
    framed certificate from the Director-General of the department of
    Science and Technology and Innovation. The forum at the CSIR
    convention centre was attended by over 4000 delegates.

    The joint display, with the theme Science in Amateur Radio, featured
    the AMSAT SA dual band Yagi antenna, a proto type of the AfriCUBE
    satellite, the SARL RF Noise monitoring system and the SARL two metre
    Karoo beacon project.

    The RF noise monitoring system output was displayed on a large screen
    showing in real time the RF noise level at the convention centre.
    It was significate to see the drop in the RF noise level at night when
    all the LED lighting and computers were switched off.





    REGION TWO.

    Radio Amateurs of Canada received the sad news that former RAC
    President Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA, became a Silent Key December 2,
    2023, at the age of 79.

    RAC offered its sincere condolences to his family and friends.

    In addition to being president of RAC, Daniel was also a member of the
    administrative and financial committee for several years. He had also
    been involved in the administration of RAC as IARU Region 2
    President and International Speaker.

    He had been president of RAQI for several years from the mid-1990s to
    the early 2000s.




    USA

    Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) and The ARRL Foundation
    announced a three-year commitment with over $2.1 million in combined
    funding to support scholarships for radio amateurs, radio technology
    for classroom teachers, and amateur radio club grants.

    This commitment reinforces a strong shared vision between ARRL The
    National Association for Amateur Radio and ARDC to invest in the
    future of amateur radio through programs supporting the next
    generation of radio amateurs. The renewed commitment will result in
    over 200 total scholarships, awarded over the next three years, for
    radio amateurs pursuing higher education.




    HamSCI Publishes Initial Observations from October Annular Solar
    Eclipse.

    Hundreds of amateurs participated in the HamSCI event by getting on
    the air. Combining their data with contacts from other amateur contest
    activities, citizen-science cooperation contributed to one of the
    largest participatory days ever in amateur radio history.

    300+ logs are helping yield data for the HamSCI team led by Nathaniel
    Frissell W2NAF. The QSO Party helped flesh out the overall picture,
    along with data collection from more than 7 million QSOs spotted on
    the air and a variety of experiments to study the solar eclipse's
    effects on the ionosphere.

    Observations show that signals from medium wave AM stations located to
    the north across the annular eclipse path showed significant signal
    strength enhancements associated with the eclipse, whereas signals
    from AM stations to the south did not.





    REGION THREE

    Hyderabad

    The Lamakaan Amateur Radio Club has just held a most successful
    Amateur Radio Convention at Mufakkam Jah College of Engineering
    and Technology.

    This years event marked a significant milestone in the club's
    history, bringing together over 500 amateur radio enthusiasts from
    across the nation.

    Amateur radio, being a hobby and service which brings people,
    electronics, and communication together certainly did just this.





    Still in India, Agartala is the capital city of Tripura, a northeast
    Indian state.

    There was a time when the use of amateur radio sets in the entire
    Northeast region was banned due to the insurgent movement that
    persisted for decades. The Indian government took this drastic step
    because the unauthorised use of radio sets for communication had
    substantially increased.

    However, in December 2018, the ban was lifted, paving the way for a
    significant transition in the field of communication for emergency
    situations in Tripura.

    Ham radio is now Tripuras second line of emergency communication.

    Speaking on the significance of Ham Radio, Tripuras first licensed
    operator, Ham Biswajit Saha, explained that radio operation is a
    scientific hobby that drives individuals towards social service.

    With around 500 licensed amateur radio operators, Tripura is one of
    the leading states in the Northeast, successfully developing a second
    line of communication channel for public service during natural
    disasters.

    Almost all districts in Tripura now have radio stations in the
    district-level headquarters of the Emergency Operation System Centres.
    Additionally, repeater stations and block-level stations are being
    installed to overhaul the disaster management response system.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Is it lonely at the top for some of we YLs?

    Maybe that might be true a little bit in SOTA. But one YL in the USA
    hopes to get more YLs involved in the awards scheme that has
    activators hiking and climbing to their destination.

    Paula, K-9-eye-R is a proud Mountain Goat in the SOTA awards scheme.
    Three years ago, she had a tally of 1,000 points earned from more than
    150 summit activations, qualifying her for the award. Two years later,
    she achieved her second Mountain Goat designation.

    It shows her commitment to traveling to recognized summits and it
    shows her effectiveness achieving the required number of contacts to
    qualify a summit. Writing on the SOTA reflector, Paula announced
    recently that a number of events are planned for the coming year that
    focus specifically on YLs. She is reaching out to YLs who are
    activating summits now or have an interest in trying it out.

    She announced that a survey will be going out shortly to find out what
    events in particular would get more YLs into SOTA, with the hope of
    re-engaging those YLs who are no longer active or not active yet.

    (ARNEWSLINE 2406)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    Do you want to telegraph your support of the World Radiosport Team
    Championship, which will be held in England?

    You don't HAVE to be a CW operator to support WRTC 2026, but it helps,
    especially if you want to become the owner of one of the limited
    edition paddles designed for the event organisers by CT 1 ILT.

    Each key sold in this limited-edition design will have its own unique
    serial number. Display it in your shack or, better still, use it on
    the air during the event in July of 2026 as 50 qualifying teams arrive
    in the UK to represent their home countries in what is viewed as the
    Olympics of amateur radio.

    wrtc2026.org/product/wrtc-uk-2026-morse-key/

    (ARNewsLine 2406)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Congratulations to all the men and women in space and all the students
    and educators who have connected with them over the years.

    In November, amateur radio communications between space and the Earth
    marked its 40th year. These dialogues began in 1983 with the program
    known as the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment, or SAREX. SAREX was
    replaced in the year 2000 by Amateur Radio on the International Space
    Station.

    According to NASA, these high-flying QSOs have touched people in
    63 nations and every continent, drawing participation of more than
    1 million students, opening up the world of science, technology,
    engineering and mathematics to them.

    (ARNEWSLINE 2406)




    GEO Satellite Proposal.

    In response to the recent GEO satellite proposal outlined by the
    European Space Agency, AMSAT-UK, British Amateur Television Club,
    AMSAT-NA, and the UK Microwave Group have outlined their own proposal
    that suggests potential satellite coverage areas, microwave bands,
    laser communications, and more.

    The proposal illustrates several coverage scenarios with a focus on
    including as much population as possible across Europe and Canada
    simultaneously. Depending on the satellite's position, the majority to
    very little of the overall North American landmass could be included.
    The proposal states that the entirety of Canada and Europe cannot be
    covered simultaneously.

    In addition, the proposal also explores an experimental laser based
    high-speed data link pointed at central western Europe.

    Additional highlights include:

    5.6GHz to 10GHz transponders up to 1 MHz bandwidth at 20 Watts

    Optional SDR block

    47 GHz or 76 GHz multimode beacon

    High definition camera used for educational outreach

    (ARD)




    IRELAND

    To coincide with the launch of EIRSAT-1, the recently formed teacher
    support body "OIDE" has with the assistance of South Dublin Radio
    Club, developed a learning pack for 2nd level students based on
    "Radio Communication".

    The pack, which forms just part of the great initiative, also
    contains a SDR receiver station which can be put together in minutes
    and students can see a visual display of the radio spectrum.

    Castleknock College in Dublin was amongst five to receive this
    pack during the week where it went down as a great success amongst
    students.

    scoilnet.ie/learning-path/ref/22901

    (irts)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FLYING HAMS

    WX5WX recently established a multi-mode "watering hole" for amateur
    radio operators interested in aviation. Pilots and enthusiasts alike
    are welcome to discuss a wide range of topics including both manned
    and unmanned aircraft.

    Flying Hams can be found at the following locations:

    TGIF DMR: 3120664
    YSF: 20664
    AllStarLink: 515422
    Echolink: AE5ME-R
    Facebook: facebook.com/groups/150317821699759/

    (ARD)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    TEXAS USA

    Part of the Greater Austin metropolitan area has a town called Liberty
    Hill, Mark Hensley and his daughter, Irasemi, a sophomore at Liberty
    Hill High School, are a lot like most fathers and daughters who share
    a common interest.

    Together, the pair have spent the last year donating shortwave sets
    to an infantry unit of the Army of The Gambia, West Africa.

    The Hensleys involvement in this endeavour is driven by their shared
    love for amateur radio and a deep appreciation for the soldiers need
    to stay informed through local and international radio broadcasts.
    This connection was initiated online when Mark began talking to a
    Lance Corporal of The Gambian Army via Facebook.

    The shortwave receivers go to the officers who sit behind a desk and
    the troops out in the field, Mark said. It gives them AM, FM and
    short-wave capabilities. When I met the Corporal online, he told me
    about the conditions there. I like soldiers, as Im a retired U.S.
    Army Sergeant First Class, and I learned the Gambian Army does a
    little of everything, like border guard, coast guard, infrastructure
    and airport. Theres even a whole battalion that guards their
    president.

    Mark and his Daughter decided to send a short-wave receiver, because
    they hadnt had access to the technology before. Since then, he and
    Irasemi have sent several more packages to the battalion with even
    more short-wave receivers.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Many youngsters in schools across the world get to talk, via ham radio
    to astronauts aboard the International Space Station, but not ALL
    get to build their own communicator to do so.

    Erie County, in Pennsylvania, is where Harborcreek High School
    students got to chat in real time with astronauts at the
    International Space Station, using equipment they built from the
    ground up.

    It was the moment these high schoolers worked so hard for over the
    past nine months.

    The teenagers are part of a robust amateur radio program at the
    school. On Monday last, they captured the interest of the classmates,
    teachers, and the entire Harborcreek community as they asked
    thoughtful questions about life in space, lessons learned, and future
    missions of the astronauts

    When the mission of the students completed, and after speaking to
    several of the students in the Advanced Technologies Group, it was
    clear that this is just the beginning. For these incredibly bright
    kids in this program, the sky is the limit.

    (eHam)







    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.



    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Dec 21 17:35:47 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-12-24.mp3
    Text edition:


    2023 DECEMBER 26 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 DEC 26 2023
    IN OUR 128th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS


    Peter VK4EA. -
    Roger, VK2ZHR WIA AR MAGAZINES EDITOR IN CHIEF. -
    Trent, VK4TS, Past WIA Director

    And a SPECIAL hello to the Ladies of ALARA who along with
    Caryn Eve Murray KD 2 GUT and Raisa, R 1 BIG, presented last weeks
    WIA NATIONAL NEWS.

    NOW, NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hello from Gubi Gubi country, this is Peter, VK4EA, bringing you the
    good oil from the WIA board.

    News from WRC23 well, the news is, good! Representing Australian
    amateurs is are are our hard working volunteers, Peter Pokorny VK2EMR
    and Dale Hughes VK1DSH.

    The WIA and IARU Region 3 co-funded Dale and Peters attendance where
    they report a successful WRC23 and in particular good news for the
    23cm band where no new ITU radio regulations have been agreed on by
    the member states, so, for moment, us, Australian Amateurs retain
    secondary access to the 23cm band. We have had no indication from the
    ACMA that any changes to the 23 cm band are being considered.

    The board are extremely grateful for Dale and Peters contribution,
    WRC23 has now concluded and preparations for the next WRC are already
    underway.

    The long and winding road to WRC-23

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20231217-1/index.php>

    In other IARU news, the three regional and governing associations are
    commencing discussions on merging the regions into one monolithic
    international body. As with everything it makes sense to combine
    efforts into one organisation, a bit like what happened with the
    National WIA some time ago. The restructure has been planned to
    take place in 2025.

    While these discussions ensue, the IARU business continues and this
    week we learn that Timothy Ellam (VE6SH / G4HUA) and Ole Garpestad
    (LA2RR) have stood for re-election as President and Vice-President.
    Subsequent to that announcement Ole decided to stand down and in his
    place Thomas Wrede, DF2OO has been appointed after some period of
    consultation.

    The importance of the International Amateur Radio Union cannot be
    understated, the ITU hold the IARU in high regard. With that in mind
    the WIA is committed to support the Region 3 committee and in the
    future, the consolidated IARU organisation.

    The board wishes everybody listening a good holiday season and we look
    forward to a productive 2024 advancing Australian Amateur radio.

    Cheers for now, this has been Peter, VK4EA, on behalf on the
    WIA Board.





    A very special (and close to home) special event has but 7 or 8 days
    left to run..

    Roger Harrison has the details

    Again. That chance in a lifetime is still waiting.

    Sign up to use VK90AR, the special event call sign celebrating
    90 years of continuous publication of Amateur Radio magazine and
    have that experience yourself.

    Signing up to use VK90AR is a simple process. Just apply on the WIA
    website Online Event Calendar, where you can book a roster to suit
    yourself. If you already know where the Online Event Calendar is,
    jump to it. Or, go to the website address in the text version of this broadcast. Its also in a news item featured on the WIA website home
    page.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20230921-1/index.php


    Dont delay. VK90AR expires on 31 December.

    Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA National News.

    ________________________________________________

    DISCUSSION POINT

    TRENT SAMPSON VK4TS

    As members of the Wireless Institute of Australia, we are committed to fostering a vibrant community passionate about amateur radio.

    However, our efforts to introduce youngsters to this enriching hobby are hindered by a crucial gap: the absence of Working with Children cards for our dedicated volunteers.

    These cards are essential to ensure the safety and well-being of the young enthusiasts we aim to mentor and guide.

    Our commitment to nurturing the next generation of amateur radio operators requires us to create a secure and welcoming environment for them.

    By obtaining these cards, our volunteers demonstrate their commitment to the safety and protection of the children they engage with.

    Moreover, these cards are not just a regulatory requirement; they are a symbol of our dedication to the values of responsibility, accountability, and ethical conduct.

    They affirm our commitment to providing a positive and supportive space where young minds can explore and thrive in the world of amateur radio.

    I urge our associated clubs and committees to recognize the critical need for these cards and to support our volunteers in obtaining them.

    By doing so, we pave the way for a seamless and secure introduction of youngsters into our beloved hobby, ensuring its continuity and growth for years to come.

    Together, let us prioritize the safety and development of the next generation of amateur radio enthusiasts by ensuring our volunteers possess the necessary Working with Children cards.

    Thank you.

    Trent
    VK4TS
    VK4T WW7TT M0HTT
    PO Box 275
    Mooloolaba 4557


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    ARLB036 WRC-23 Concludes with Wins for Amateur Radio and Agenda Items Designated for the Next Two Events

    The following report comes from International Amateur Radio Union Secretary Joel Harrison, W5ZN:

    After 4 hectic weeks of the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), and a preceding week of Radiocommunication Assembly meetings, WRC-23 concluded on Friday, December 15. Amateur radio fared very well overall, despite the enormous pressures across the radio spectrum from LF to terahertz. This is a tribute to the effort of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) team, who at times had to work from 8:00 AM to as late as 2:00 AM the next morning, as well as on the weekends.

    At the top of the amateur radio priority list was Agenda Item 9.1b, regarding the coexistence of the secondary amateur and amateur-satellite allocation with the primary radionavigation satellite service in the 1240 - 1300 MHz band. This had seen 4 years of strenuous effort prior to WRC and resulted in a recommendation being agreed upon at the Radiocommunication Assembly, followed by WRC-23 participants agreeing to mention the recommendation in a new footnote for the allocation. Both the recommendation and the footnote are an excellent outcome for the amateur services.

    Other items were relevant to the amateur service and were prioritized beforehand and included topics such as:

    * AI 9.1a: Space weather sensors was an item of major interest. A clear definition for such sensors was confirmed, with frequency protection being agreed upon as an agenda item for WRC-27.

    * AI 1.2: More broadband in the 3.3 GHz and 10 GHz bands (in Region 2). This is a difficult challenge, as the amateur services are secondary with numerous (mainly South American) countries allocating mobile broadband by way of footnotes. Instead of a region-wide designation for IMT at 10.0 - 10.5 GHz in Region 2, there is a footnote limited to a dozen countries.

    Every WRC agreed to an agenda for the next conference under AI 10. This AI had an unprecedented number of proposals for WRC-27 and preliminary ones for WRC-31. Following the relatively quick agreement on AI 9.1b, the IARU team switched most of its efforts to the following future proposals to reduce the impact on the amateur services, as numerous amateur bands were under consideration.

    The numerous changes dont formally take effect until 1 January 2025 and preparations are already underway to agree the agenda for future WRC events.




    REGION ONE

    The UK Meteor Beacon project is now in its second phase, and both phases have been supported by the RSGB Legacy Fund.

    At the RSGB 2023 Convention, Brian Coleman, G4NNS outlined the plan for the second phase. A network of receivers will be developed, streaming their data via a central server for detailed study of individual meteor events. This is a cooperation between the worlds of amateur radio and astronomy. You can now watch Brians presentation on the RSGB YouTube channel. The RSGB Legacy Fund supports a wide range of amateur radio projects. You can find out more and download an application form on the RSGB website




    Ofcom in the UK have sweeping changes proposed for everything related
    to amateur radio -- from call signs and power levels to the terms
    under which a Notice of Variation is needed.

    Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us an overview.

    JEREMY: A general notice from Ofcom has alerted radio amateurs in the UK to various licence changes the regulator is proposing. Licence variations are being proposed starting in February, affecting the use of Regional Secondary Locators, suffixes and unlicensed individuals' use of an amateur radio. Power limits would also be raised under certain conditions for Foundation, Intermediate and Full licensees.

    Additional changes proposed for later in the year include more flexible approvals for special event stations and replacement of the issuance of the Intermediate licence series "2" callsign with "M8" and "M9" instead. Changes to occur in late 2024, or early 2025, include the ability to change one's callsign periodically but no more than once every five years.

    A full list of the vast array of changes - introduced in June of this year- is available on the regulator's website. Ofcom is encouraging representations to be submitted on these proposals no later than 5 p.m. local time on the 22nd of January.

    This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.




    REGION TWO.

    ARRL and Hamvention have announced that Hamvention will host the 2024 ARRL National Convention, May 17, 18, and 19 at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio. Hamvention is the world's largest annual gathering of radio amateurs and has been sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) since 1952.
    "The theme is 'Expanding our Community'. This is in support of the growth of amateur radio worldwide."

    Hamvention Awards Chair Michael Kalter, W8CI, also shared a reminder that the nomination period is open to submit nominations for 2024 Hamvention Awards, including the Amateur of the Year, Technical Achievement, Special Achievement, and Club of the Year awards. More information about the awards can found on the Hamvention website, and nominations will close on February 15, 2024.

    Hamvention urged "everyone to purchase their tickets and make their room reservations early to avoid the rush." Visit the Hamvention website for more information and to order tickets at hamvention.org





    Long-time HamSCI Advisory Board member Dr. Philip Erickson, W1PJE, was recently named as the Incoming Director at MITs Haystack Observatory.
    Haystack is a radio science and technology research centre, well known for astrophysical research using astronomical instrumentation at the cutting edge of technology. Of particular interest to HamSCI members are Haystacks Geospace projects, including remote sensing of the ionosphere and other atmospheric regions utilizing a wide range of electromagnetic frequencies.

    HamSCI serves as a means for fostering collaboration between professional researchers and amateur radio operators. It assists in developing and maintaining standards and agreements between all people and organizations involved. Its goals are to advance scientific research and understanding through amateur radio activities and encourage the development of new technologies to support this research.

    For more information about HamSCI, please visit the HamSCI website
    hamsci.org.




    REWIND

    The History of Two Way Radios.

    Today we are viewing a new film, The History of Two-Way Radios:

    In the hands of executive producer Mark Abrams WA 6 DPB,
    producer/director Keith Salmon and co-producer and drone photographer
    Mark Lidikay KE 6 TNM, the fascinating story of two-way radio
    technology comes to life. Their film presents an engaging narrative on
    the progression of radio systems, from the simplicity of original
    designs to the complexities of modern networked trunking.

    The team dedicated over two years to the film's production, grappling
    with how to present the material entertainingly.

    The film introduces fascinating characters, early developers who
    pioneered two-way radio technology, and modern technicians and
    engineers who persistently advance two-way radio communication.

    Viewers are guided through the technological principles of radio
    systems, they encounter key historical moments, and gain insights into
    the capabilities and operations of modern communication systems.
    The film's success includes winning a Silver Dolphin award at the
    Cannes Corporate Media and TV Film Festival.

    mra-raycom.com/film/

    (ARD)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    What exactly is the World Radiosport Team Championship?

    If your club or other group wants to hear about it directly from the
    amateurs who are preparing to host it in the UK in 2026, you now have
    that option.

    The event's committee is making speakers available in person or via Zoom for club meetings to promote the event and answer questions about it. The 10th international radio contest event will be held in July 2026 in East Anglia with the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire hosting 50 operating sites for qualifying teams. It is often referred to as an Olympic-style event for amateur radio, occurring as it does every four years.

    If your club would like to know more, contact chairman Mark Haynes at his Gmail account

    mdxr1@gmail.com

    (ARNewsLine 2407)



    -----------------------------------


    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
    13 - 14 January.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au)
    ---------

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    --------------

    Wireless operators in Finland are happy to report that Santa Radio
    OF9X - took to the air on the 11th of December and will continue the
    journey until 2159 UTC on the 31st of December.

    OF9X is of course the annual Old Father Nine Xmas station

    Be listening for the radio elves as they guide their sleighs on all
    bands, using CW, SSB and FT8. This annual event has the support of
    Radio Arcala, not far from the Arctic Circle. See QRZ.com for details.

    (ARNewsLine 2407)

    --------------

    Sagar Island DXpedition

    On the auspicious occasion of Ganga Sagar Mela. the West Bengal Radio
    Club will be active from Sagar Island, West Bengal from January 9th
    through January 16th.

    Special Event Station AT24GSM will be activating Island On the Air
    AS-153, Beaches On the Air Gangasagar Island Beach 60572 and
    World Lighthouse on the Air Sagar Island WLOTA 2262

    (qrz.com)

    --------------

    GUATEMALA.

    QRV is TG 9 AWS.

    Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using mainly FT8 but plans to soon be
    active using CW and SSB as well.

    His length of stay is unknown.

    QSL via N2OO.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    FALKLAND ISLANDS.

    Special event station VP 8 FLY is QRV to December 31 commemorating
    the 75th anniversary of the Falkland Islands Government Aviation
    Service.

    QSL direct to VP 8 LP.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    ROMANIA.

    Special event station YR 8 XMAS is QRV until January 10 and you QSL
    via operators' instructions.

    (arrl)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    International Women's Day YL POTA Party March 8th

    Location: Any POTA park (or hunt POTA from home!) and use any amateur
    radio frequency within your license class, and any mode.

    How do you participate?

    Activate a park during the 24-hour event window.

    Submit your POTA activations to the POTA database.

    Share your experiences and photos on social media using the hashtag
    #YL_POTA_Party.

    It's encouraged you to wear pink and/or decorate your station to show
    your support for International Womens Day March 8 !

    Spread the word and invite your friends to join the party!

    (ylrl)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    USA:-

    Symbol Rate Limitations Expire January 8th 2024

    FCC rule changes regarding symbol rate limitations being removed from
    the HF bands will go into effect on January 8th.

    In November, the FCC put forth a Report and Order removing the symbol
    rate limit and in its place implement a 2.8 kilohertz bandwidth
    limitation. Those rules were adopted in a final Report and Order
    published December 7. The rules outlined in the Report and Order go
    into effect on January 8th, 2024.

    (ARD)




    TAPR has published the December Digital Communications Conference
    presentations on YouTube.

    Presentations include:

    TAPR SDR Development Progress and Challenges.

    Developments in ka9q-radio

    An Open Source Wideband HF Receiver Design

    An Inexpensive GPSDO for HF Receivers

    Current Open Source Digital Voice Techniques

    A Low Cost FreeDV-based ESP32 Radio Interface

    ESP32 APRS and LoRA Hardware.

    youtube.com/watch?v=31KjMKXDR0k

    (ARD)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    AO-73 back in transponder mode

    After a yearlong period of battery management, AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL have restarted the transponder on AO-73.

    After 10 years in orbit, the battery on the satellite has reduced capacity and until recently, has been unable to charge to the nominal 8.3V.

    Although the battery voltage is varying between 8.13 in sunlight and 7.8V at the end of eclipse, this is much improved on the situation earlier in 2023.

    Low power BPSK telemetry is transmitted on 145.935MHz

    The inverting mode U/V transponder input is 435.130 to 435.150MHz

    The transponder downlink is 145.970 to 145.950MHz

    At the moment the satellite has a high spin rate of apx. 30 rpm and if youve not used AO-73 before, the downlink can be Doppler tracked successfully, but the input on 70cms is best tuned manually due to temperature drift of the receiver.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    AN-004

    Peter 1 Island 2026

    Plans are underway for a DXpedition to Peter 1 Island (AN-004).

    A proper Antarctic vessel" equipped with two helicopters has been
    secured, and plans are for 19 operators to stay on the island for
    14 days in February 2026.

    LA7GIA will be the team leader, with KO8SCA, VE3LYC and WD5COV as
    co-leaders


    US ISLANDS AWARD PROGRAM. (USi)

    NOT to be confused with the RSGB's IOTA program, USI is an amateur
    radio award program cantered around chasing and activating river,
    lake, and ocean shore islands within the 50 United States and its
    Territories and Protectorates.

    US Islands Awards Program have organised a special 30th anniversary
    award for hunters and activators throughout 2024. Hunters and
    activators are tasked with activating, or working 30 different islands
    in 2024. Individual and club awards will be available.

    usislands.org/

    (ARD)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Youth on the Air (YOTA) Summer Camp in the Americas will be held July
    7 - 12, in Halifax, Canada, at Mount Saint Vincent University.

    Online applications for our licensed US amateur radio operators aged
    15 - 25 in North, Central, and South America are now being accepted at
    YouthOnTheAir.org

    The goal of the 2024 camp is to enrich the campers' amateur radio
    experience. They can refine their skills; participate in unique
    experiences with radio-related technologies, including kit builds,
    contesting, satellite operations, and a special event station, and
    meet other young hams through workshops and social events.

    Although no word has reached WIA National News we will keep viewers
    readers and listeners informed as to any Region 3 camp for YOTA .

    The 2024 YOTA Americas Camp is hosted by Radio Amateurs of Canada.

    (ARRL)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    Radio Scouting Update

    Radio Scouting Ireland teams have been busy since JOTA-JOTI.

    Firstly, Albert EI6KO and John EI3ISB visited Rathdrum Scouts for a
    ham radio demo at their weekly meeting. Following a presentation
    explaining Amateur Radio and Radio Scouting to a very enthusiastic
    bunch of scouts and leaders, they then took part in making their first
    QSOs using the EI10JOTA callsign. On Saturday 25th November.

    The event was especially relevant given the awful scenes in Dublin
    City just two days before.

    The Scout and Ukraine Friendship Day invited over 200 young people
    from Ukraine and youth members of Scout Groups in Dublin to make new
    friends through fun, play, and adventure in scouting.

    Both events were very uplifting due to the enthusiasm and appreciation
    from all the youth and leaders involved.

    (irts)


    -----------------------------------------------------------------


    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)

    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.



    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Dec 28 12:50:28 2023
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2023-12-31.mp3
    Text edition:

    -------------------------------------------------------------------69

    2023 DECEMBER 31 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 DEC 31 2023
    IN OUR 28th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    WOW WE GET AN EXTRA DAY THIS YEAR!
    Last week I signed off by saying that it was the last broadcast of the
    year, NOW I am told TODAY is the last day of the year...>
    so we gained a day!


    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA director, Steven Green, VK2TSG .-

    Wireless Institute of Australia Technical Advisory Committee Chairman
    Grant VK5GR .-

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hello, this is one of your national WIA directors, Steven Green,
    VK2TSG, with the final 2023 Board comment this New Years Eve.

    Not only do we have the New Year to contend with as we move into
    2024, but here in Australia and its territories, we also have the
    new class licence arrangement starting from the 19th of February.
    This will include a revised qualifications framework, new call sign
    arrangements, the ACA managing qualifications and callsign services,
    as well as accrediting examiners.

    Further details will be available on the WIA website, although there
    were reservations held over class licencing. The WIA have worked
    closely with the ACMA to ensure that amateurs retain equivalent
    privileges, and we thank the ACMA for their efforts.

    As a volunteer organisation, member contribution to our activities is
    essential and we are presently seeking expressions of interest for
    several roles, including... Digital Modes Advisor, QSL volunteers,
    Application Developers, and graphics or web designers.

    I myself recently attended the Amateur Radio New South Wales site at
    Dural; they had requested additional people for their broadcast
    roster. Although I tend to have limited time, I'm looking forward to
    helping out where possible, to try to ease-the-load for this hard
    working and dedicated team.

    Even if you are far away, differently abled, or unsure how you could
    help, get in touch with the WIA, your state or territories' amateur
    radio group, or affiliated club to see what you can do. Often, the
    experience you gain in these roles can help towards furthering your
    career or other prospects and interests. And if you can't contribute
    directly, why not see if there are a few people close by that you
    could bring into Amateur Radio?

    We are looking forward to seeing attendees at the WIA AGM in May 2024
    in Bundaberg, Queensland. Here I'll be presenting a short talk on what
    I've learned in brief from the prepping community here in Australia.
    And I must say thank you to those who offered feedback recently on my
    last broadcast news on the topic. Making some corrections that were
    quite helpful.

    Lastly, tomorrow is a special day for my family, with my Grandmother
    Dulcie celebrating her One-hundred-and-sixth Birthday, yes 106..
    although not an Amateur, Dulcie wound thousands of coils for AWA
    Aircraft Radios as part of their military work in world war two, and
    has many fond memories of the contributions of 'Wireless' in her
    lifetime. This leads me to wonder what Radio stories all of your
    families may have to share... Happy Birthday Dulcie !!

    This has been Steven Green VK2TSG closing the Board comments for 2023.
    Until next time 73, and Happy New Year.





    WIA - TAC

    Hello all from Grant VK5GR, your new Wireless Institute of Australia Technical Advisory Committee Chairman.

    Firstly I just wanted to say thanks to the WIA board for accepting my nomination. I also wish to acknowledge the many years of work put into this role by my predecessor, John Martin VK3KM, whom was one of my very early amateur radio mentors (and now is sadly a silent key). Hopefully I can fill his very big shoes!

    I also wish to thank several of the departing TAC committee members for their contributions over the years, including Rex VK7MO, Wally VK6KZ, Barry VK2AAB and Peter VK3PF. They are now seeking to retire from the committee, opening the way for new blood to join the team. Thank you all for your efforts over many years.

    Now, to start the process of replenishing the team, we wish to welcome Hayden VK7HH who will take over the VK7 regional representative as well as Kevin VK4UH who is taking on the Microwave advisory role. After a further review of the committee structure and responsibilities, other roles will be opened in the coming months. Stay tuned for more details.

    Next up, with 2024 almost upon us, it is time to consider the current issues before the TAC.

    One of the early projects we have identified was a need to update several of the band plans, following several recent regulatory changes. The bands we studied include 6 metres (following standard grade licenses getting access to the entire band), 9 centimetres (3.4 GHz) following the complete withdrawal of 3400-3600 MHz in populated parts of Australia, and 70 centimetres where some clarifications have been proposed for repeater station allocations.

    In order to develop appropriate changes, the TAC has prepared a consultation paper, which is accessible via the WIA news website. The paper discusses the proposals for each band and welcomes feedback on these from all licenced amateur radio operators. We encourage you to take the time to read the paper, consider the impacts on your activities, and share your feedback! The closing date is the 31st of January 2024. We look forward to hearing from you.

    Well thats all from me this week. 73 from Grant VK5GR, for the WIA Technical Advisory Committee




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    REGION ONE

    JAMMING.

    FPV drones are a signature weapon of the Ukraine conflict, and jammers
    to stop them are a matter of life and death.

    Both sides have fielded jammers and drone guns firing beams of radio
    waves to knock out drone communications, these jammers are said to
    take out thousands (YES THOUSANDS) of drones a month. Now a Russian
    group claims to have developed a magic radio for FPVs which is
    highly resistant to jamming. A physicist with the handle DanielR
    evaluated the device minutely in a detailed Twitter thread.

    From a technological perspective there is nothing surprising here,
    DanielR said, but the device does make efficient use of cheap,
    off-the-shelf components.

    Racing quadcopters converted into cheap kamikaze drones are used by
    both sides. They are capable of diving into foxholes and bunkers,
    chasing down trucks, and even destroying main battle tanks from
    five or more miles away. Often jamming is the only protection, but
    this device claims to nullify it.

    bit.ly/3ty5XMA





    REGION 2

    Status of CQ Magazine:

    ARRL has heard from many members concerned about their print
    subscriptions to CQ magazine.

    CQ magazine is not an ARRL publication, however ARRL members enjoy the
    ability to pursue earning the CQ Worked All Zones and Worked All
    Prefixes awards through Logbook of The World.

    CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, acknowledged the delays in delivering
    CQ magazine. He indicated that the November and December issues are
    delayed but plans are to get them out to the readership as soon as
    circumstances permit.

    HOWEVER

    In another message circulating on some mailing lists, a reply to an
    inquiry explained that due to funding issues they have
    temporarily suspended publication at this time.

    "Our apologies for this inconvenience and we hope to be back up and
    running soon."

    It is unknown exactly what funding issues the magazine has
    encountered, but CQ Communications, Inc. has discontinued other
    publications within their operation over the last few years.
    CQ-DATV ceased its free online publication in 2021. CQ VHF ceased
    publication in 2013 along with Popular Communications magazine and
    merged with WorldRadio into an online digital Publication in 2014.




    While it is Santa Claus who delivers toys to good boys and girls around
    the world on Christmas Eve, and is even tracked by NORAD each year, the United States Air Force also does its part to provide goods to islanders throughout Micronesia as part of what is now the Pentagons longest-running humanitarian airlift operation.

    The tradition began during the Christmas season in 1952 when a B-29 Superfortress aircrew saw islanders waving at them from the island of Kapingamarangi, 3,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. In the spirit of Christmas, the aircrew gathered some items they had on the plane, attached the bundle of supplies to a parachute, and dropped it to islanders below, giving the operation its name.

    At the time, the island had no electricity or running water and was periodically hit by typhoons.

    While certainly meant to be good deeds, the first Christmas Drops that followed werent exactly a success. Some containers fell into the water, while others werent discovered for months, but the Air Force honed it skills and the program has continued to grow over the past seven decades.

    Today, airdrop operations include more than 50 islands throughout the Pacific.


    CONDUCTED FROM GUAM NOT THE NORTH POLE

    While Santas base of operation remains in the North Pole, Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam, has been the base camp to airlift donated goods to the islanders throughout Micronesia.

    Operation Christmas Drop is a PACAF event that includes a partnership between the 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan; the 36th Wing, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; 734th Air Mobility Squadron, Andersen AFB of the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; the University of Guam; and the Operation Christmas Drop private organization which leads the fundraising and donations for the operation.

    C-130J Super Hercules crews airdrop food, supplies, educational materials, and toys to islanders throughout the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. These islands are some of the most remote locations on the globe spanning a distance nearly as broad as the continental U.S. Though Santa can travel around the globe, the PACAF has proven also to be up to the challenge of reaching the far-flung islands.

    STILL FAIRLY LOW TECH
    Operation Christmas Drop relies on C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft rather than a reindeer-powered sleigh, but the airlift operation remains rather low-tech, as aircrews are linked to the village via ham radio as they fly overhead and drop supplies.




    On Christmas Eve, Brian Justin Jr., WA1ZMS operated his experimental
    station WI2XLQ on 486 kHz AM for the Reginald Fessenden commemorative
    transmission.

    Another transmission will take place today, December 31, starting at
    approximately 21:00 UTC and will run for 24 hours.

    All transmissions will only consist of the two Christmas songs claimed
    to have been played by Fessenden on his violin, during his historic
    broadcast on Christmas Eve in 1906, as well as a brief bible verse.
    WI2XLQ's voice ID and transmission description will be broadcast via a
    computer-generated voice.

    The story of Fessenden's alleged first voice transmissions, using an
    Alexanderson alternator on December 24 and December 31 in 1906, has
    never been proven to have taken place. "While doubt remains that such
    a transmission ever took place, Fessenden did perform some crude voice
    transmissions over a few miles distance in early December of that year
    near Washington, DC, as a demonstration for the US Navy."

    Fessenden is credited for his early pioneering work of human speech
    using RF rather than the typical spark generated CW operations of the
    time. Long wire antennas with a simple, modern software-defined radio
    are recommended to copy WI2XLQ.

    SWL reports can be sent via email to WA1ZMS@ARRL.Net and an email
    confirming the reports will follow. Audio samples of the reception
    are also welcomed at the same email address.





    REGION THREE

    China has released one of its spaceplanes into the sky once again.

    The top-secret spacecraft, dubbed Shenlong, was released December 14
    but no one really knows why. It's the spaceship's third mission into
    space and, in regards to why its up there, Chinese media has given
    quite a vague explanation.

    Amateur radio operator Daniel Estevez has since looked into the signal
    being emitted and says it's 'clear' that it 'doesn't have much data in
    it', as per IFLScience. What the signals contain remains unclear, but
    Tilley says that the mysterious objects seem to the strongest signals
    while passing over North America.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    ARRL's Straight Key Night (SKN) is held on January 1, from 0 hours
    UTC through to 2359 UTC.

    Many of we hams look forward to SKN as one of the highlights of our
    operating year.

    Wireless Men and Women participate using Morse code. All you need is
    your favourite straight key or bug. Many participants tend to dust off
    vintage radios and keys and put them back into service each year just
    for the fun of it during this event.

    All hand keys, regardless of age, are welcome. The number of
    contacts you make is not important. The reward is meeting new friends
    as you get together on the air.

    arrl.org/straight-key-night

    (eHam)

    --------------


    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
    13 - 14 January.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)


    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.
    --------------

    SWITZERLAND.

    Special event station HB 8 DELOY is QRV until THE END OF TODAY, utc
    DATE / TIME. This outfit has been commemorating the first
    transatlantic contact that took place on November 28, 1923 between
    stations 8 AB and 1 MO.

    QSL via HB9ACA.

    Another "cross the water" commemorative station hails from right here
    in AUSTRALIA.

    Members of the Wireless Institute of Australia are QRV as VK 100 ZL
    also until todays end to commemorate the first wireless contact
    100 years ago between Australia and New Zealand. QSL via bureau.

    (eHam)

    --------------

    GREECE.

    Special event call sign SZ 65 RAAG is QRV until todays end (Dec 31)
    to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Radio Amateur Association of
    Greece.

    Activity has been heard on all bands using CW, SSB, and various
    digital modes.

    QSL via LoTW.

    (eHam)


    --------------


    EAST KIRIBATI.

    Members of the Rebel DX Group are QRV as T 32 TT from Christmas
    Island, IOTA OC-024, until January 12. Kiritimati (Christmas Island)
    Time is UTC + 14 and it's a bit of a giggle when you look at how the
    old time keepers mapped out that time zone, check out a map !

    Not to be confused with a couple of better known Christmas Islands,
    this one, T32, is actually Kiritimati, a rather straightforward
    respelling of the English word Christmas in the Kiribati language,

    The island has the greatest land area of any coral atoll in the world,
    about 388 square kilometres and is part of Kiribati, a country
    encompassing 33 Pacific atolls and islands.

    OK so that's your geography lesson class!

    T 32 TT is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4.

    QSL via OQRS.

    (eHam and vk4bb)


    --------------


    MOROCCO.

    Yannick, F6FYD is QRV as CN 2 YD until March 15.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

    ASTRONOMY

    The 10-year amateur radio special event and countdown to the 100th
    anniversary of the discovery of Pluto will continue February 11 - 19,
    2024 (UTC), and celebrates Clyde Tombaugh's discovery from the Lowell
    Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona of Pluto.

    Members of the Northern Arizona DX Association will operate from
    Lowell Observatory and their home stations using the special event
    call sign W 7 P.

    The annual QSL cards, the event certificate, and more information
    about the event can be found at W7P 2030 (nadxa.com).

    (arrl)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    December 6 marked the 25th anniversary of the International Space
    Station.

    On December 6, 1998 the first two elements of the station, Unity and
    Zarya, were mated by the crew of space shuttle Endeavours STS-88
    mission.

    Since then, 273 people from 21 countries have visited the station.

    (ANS)




    Voyager 1 has stopped returning useful data to Earth due to a problem
    with the spacecrafts Flight Data System computers. It could take
    several weeks for engineers to develop a new plan to remedy the issue.

    Launched in 1977, the spacecraft and its twin, Voyager 2, are the two
    longest-operating spacecraft in history [behind AO-7, that is].

    In addition, commands from mission controllers on Earth take
    22.5 hours to reach Voyager 1, which is exploring the outer regions
    of our solar system more than 24 billion kilometres from Earth. That
    means the engineering team has to wait 45 hours to get a response from
    Voyager 1 and determine whether a command had the intended outcome.

    (ANS)




    NASAs Mars Rover, Perseverance, recently marked 1,000 sols, i.e.
    Martian days on the red planet, after landing at Jezero Crater on
    February 18, 2021.

    Its companion Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, the first robot ever to
    explore the skies of a world beyond Earth, made its 70th flight on
    Friday, December 22.

    (ans)




    QRP SATELLITE ALOFT.

    HADES-D satellite has been commissioned. After a trial period in which
    its behaviour has been tested at the radioelectric, systems, and
    energy performance levels, the FM repeater is left active for general
    use.

    At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT has designated HADES-D as
    Spain-OSCAR 121, i.e. SO-121.

    The repeater works with FM/FSK with an uplink frequency of 145,875 MHz
    and a downlink frequency of 436,663.5 MHz. It is recommended to use
    Narrow Band FM.

    AMSAT-EA is drafting a use and operation manual, which will indicate
    in detail some of the characteristics of the satellite and its working
    modes. Although it is not definitive, Amsat-EA is considering some
    special operating options such as reserving a day of the week
    exclusively for digital communications following the example we know
    with the AO-92 bird.

    HADES-D is the first satellite with FM repeater service mounted on a
    pocket cube platform. This standard is the smallest in terms of
    normalized satellite sizes. HADES-D size is 8x5x5 cm. Its panel
    surface and battery size are much smaller than the rest of the
    satellite repeaters in use, so HADES-D is not comparable to most of
    them either in radiated power or signal strength.

    HADES-D should be considered a QRP satellite.

    (AMSAT-NA)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    In the World of IOTA DX, listen for 3B9AT from Rodrigues Island,
    IOTA Number AF-017, now until the 6th of January.
    SSB, CW and FT8 on 80-10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.


    Listen for J8TT from St. Vincent, IOTA Number NA-109, until the
    5th of January, SSB, CW and digital modes on 40-6 metres.
    Again see QRZ.com for QSL details.


    PJ7/VA3ITA from Saint Martin, IOTA Number NA-105, until today the
    31st of December on SSB and the digital modes on 40-10 metres.
    QSL via LoTW only.

    (iota from ARNewsLine 2408)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo Everyone, This is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that in accordance
    with tradition there is no Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club broadcast in
    January. The first RAOTC bulletin for 2024 is scheduled for Monday
    February 5th.

    However, Members and Friends of the RAOTC in Perth are reminded that
    the first monthly lunchtime meeting for the New Year will be held on
    Tuesday January 9th, at the Woodbridge Hotel in East Guildford
    starting at 11.30 am.

    Everyone is welcome to join in and have an eyeball QSO.
    Full details are published on the RAOTC website raotc.org.au
    under the sub-heading Luncheons.

    There is adequate car parking at the hotel but if arriving by train be
    sure to alight at Guildford East, repeat Guildford East station.

    On behalf of the RAOTC, I hope everyone has had an enjoyable
    Christmas and best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe New Year.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    The Intrepid-DX Group has announced the winners of their Fourth Annual
    Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest.

    The first-place winner is Abigail, KK7CFJ; in second place is
    McKenzie, KO4GLN, and the third-place winner is Cameron Frey, KD9VGV.

    The recipients' ages range from 11 to 19 years old.

    Thirty essays were received from young amateurs in Canada and the US,
    and the judges reported that each essay was unique in thought and very
    well written. Extra consideration was given to the essays with correct
    grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

    The essays gave interesting perspectives on how to reach out and
    connect with us, we today's youth, and those ideas will be shared in
    subsequent postings.

    The Intrepid-DX Group is a US-based non-profit organization that
    promotes amateur radio activities around the world. The Youth
    "Dream Rig" Essay Contest is designed to gather the views and ideas
    of young people involved in amateur radio.


    And as I leave you this week, (and year) a reminder Youngsters on the
    Air month is nearly at a close. This month has been filled with some
    brilliant activity from young people using special callsign GB23YOTA,
    among many other "YOTA" suffix special event callsigns.

    We thank everyone who has been involved, from those who have been
    supervising we younger amateurs, to those making contact on the air.

    (arrl/rsgb)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.
    ATV SSTV and other forms such as YouTube.

    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    NASA has released a three minute video retrospective of its
    accomplishments in 2023. The video may be viewed at the link
    in this weeks text edition of WIA NATIONAL NEWS.

    youtube.com/watch?v=YQWespzOtzI

    (ANS)




    As NASA advances toward using laser light instead of radio to enable more rapid, efficient deep-space communication, a Jet Propulsion Lab scientist's tabby cat helped prove that this option has real possibilities.

    A 15-second, ultra-high-definition video of the cat named Taters was successfully beamed from NASA's Psyche spacecraft, traveling
    30 million kilometres - in less than two minutes to Caltech's Palomar Observatory. The images travelled at 267 megabits per second - the maximum rate to show that data can be sent from space at rates that are
    more than 100 times greater than radio systems now in use.

    Of course, no one asked for Taters' opinion about laser but the cat's feelings were evident from the video: The graphics contained in the images displayed include the cat's heart rate, colour and breed - while showing Taters engaged in a favourite activity - chasing a beam of light from - what else? - a red laser pointer.

    (ARNewsLine 2408)


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.



    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (vk3pdg)





    FINALY A FINAL REMINDER, ACTUALY ITS REMINDER NUMBER 13 TO SAY AS OF 2024 THERE IS NO AUDIO FILE WITH THE NUMERAL 32 IN IT. SO AGAIN IF THATS THE FILE YOU USED FOR ANY AUTOMATED REPLAY OF THIS OR QNEWS.. CHANGE IT PRONTO!






    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jan 4 23:53:34 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-01-07.mp3
    Text edition: -------------------------------------------------------------------69

    2024 JANUARY 7 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 so it's welcome, welcome, welcome
    How do you do hellow
    We'll give you all the pertinent facts in this
    The first edition for 2024 of
    NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING JANUARY 7
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA Director and President Scott Williams VK3KJ. -

    WIA Returning Officer John Marshall. -

    WIA Director Giles Kirby VK5GK. -

    WIA's manager of VHF-UHF Field Days Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hi there, this is WIA Director and President Scott Williams VK3KJ
    and welcome to the WIA broadcast for the first time in 2024.

    I hope all WIA members and broadcast listeners had a very enjoyable
    Christmas and celebrated the commencement of the New Year.
    Our thoughts certainly go out to all of those that have been impacted
    by these adverse weather events leading up to Christmas and in the
    past week.

    I know Queensland has been hit very hard with of course cyclone Jasper
    causing significant damage and flooding in the region around Cairns.
    And then just to top things off, Christmas day brought significant
    damage to the Gold Coast region with monsoon type rain fall and severe
    damaging winds. I know the Tamborine mountains and slightly inland
    from the Gold Coast was most impacted with many houses lost and many
    tens of thousands of people without power for many many days. In fact,
    I have a friend on the Gold Coast in the Hinterland who is still
    running on generator power whist they try and rebuild the electricity
    supply network in his area.

    Let hope these extreme weather events end soon and we can all enjoy
    this holiday and festive season a little more.

    I want to share some very sad news that we have received at the WIA
    in the past days. Patrick Emery (Manager, Licensing Allocation
    Section) of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA),
    experienced a medical event on Christmas Eve and was subsequently
    diagnosed with an advanced brain tumour. He was rushed to Austin
    Hospital in Melbourne however, Patrick passed away peacefully
    surrounded by his beloved family. Our thoughts and condolences are
    with Patricks wife, two daughters, family, friends and colleagues
    at this tragic and very sad time.

    Patrick was 52 years of age, a qualified Lawyer and someone that at
    the WIA we respected tremendously. He has been instrumental in leading
    the recent consultations in class licensing and someone that we at the
    WIA considered very engaging, professionally competent and fair.

    Patrick was also a well-known music writer and published articles in
    The Australian, The Age and a range of other print media. I know the
    music industry are in shock with Patricks passing and of course at
    the WIA we will miss him immensely.

    Thats it for me this week and I will keep it short and sharp. I am
    still on annual leave and enjoying some time around the property and
    of course making that odd contact on air.

    The new DXCC and awards year has kicked off for 2024 and already I see
    some VKs have worked over 100 countries within 24 hours. There is
    plenty of activity on the bands so hopefully between thunderstorms,
    bolts of lightning and heavy rain, you will find a moment to enjoy
    this great hobby.

    I hope everyone has a prosperous and safe 2024.

    Thats it for me this week and this has been Scott Williams, WIA
    President for this weeks WIA National News.





    DECLARATION of ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

    Clause 14 of the Constitution of the WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
    (WIA) specifies the way in which Directors of the WIA are to be
    elected to that position.

    Three (3) directors will retire at the conclusion of the next Annual
    General Meeting which will be held in May 2024, namely Lee Moyle
    VK3GK, Steven Green VK2TSG and Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY. Each retiring
    director was eligible for re-nomination. A call for nominations for
    the position of Directors of the WIA was made in the WIA National News
    Broadcast and in Amateur Radio Magazine in accordance with the
    Election Regulations.

    I advise that I have received Three (3) valid nominations from WIA
    members for the position as director of the WIA by the advertised
    closing date for nominations, as follows:-

    Steven Green VK2TSG
    Lee Moyle VK3GK
    Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY

    As advised in the Call for Nominations there will be three (3)
    vacancies at the conclusion of the AGM to be held in May 2024 and
    therefore no election will be necessary. I therefore formally declare
    these Three (3) nominees as having been elected to the position of
    Director of the Wireless Institute of Australia. These Directors elect
    will take up their role at the conclusion of the Annual General
    Meeting in May 2024. They will remain in that role for a period of
    two (2) years.

    The existing four (4) continuing Directors are:-
    Scott Williams VK3KJ
    Peter Schrader VK4EA
    Peter Clee VK8ZZ
    Giles Kirby VK5GK

    These continuing four (4) directors will retire at the conclusion of
    the Annual General Meeting in 2025.

    I, John Marshall, the duly appointed returning Officer of the
    Wireless Institute of Australia confirm that these results are valid
    and in accordance with the Constitution of the Wireless Institute of
    Australia and the Election Regulations.

    The Constitution and Election Regulations of the WIA provide that it
    is mandatory for the announcement of the incoming directors be made at
    the Annual General Meeting. However, is has been the norm to announce
    the results prior to the AGM once they have been finalised by the
    Returning Officer.

    I wish the incoming directors well in there forthcoming 2-year term.
    This is John Marshall, WIA Returning Officer





    This is WIA Director Giles Kirby VK5GK.

    Happy 2024 to everyone. Just a short one from me today.

    Wed like to remind members that nominations for the WIA Merit Awards
    to be presented at this years AGM in Bundaberg should be submitted to
    the WIA secretary ( secretary@wia.org.au ). Nominations for this award
    will close on March 1st 2024. Details are available on the WIA web
    pages.

    wia.org.au/members/wiaawards/about/

    I look forward to meeting many of you in Bundaberg this May 4th.

    It will also be interesting to see what solar cycle 25 holds for us
    this year. Will it be larger than predicted or just sooner. Hopefully
    the New Years Eve solar flare was a good omen.

    Best wishes everyone. This was Director Giles Kirby (VK5GK). 73s.



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    WIRELESS WEATHER AFFECTING THE PACIFIC OCEON AREA.

    Mere hours after emerging over the sun's eastern limb on Dec. 31st,
    big sunspot AR3536 erupted, producing a major X5-class solar flare.

    This is the strongest flare of Solar Cycle 25 (so far) and the most
    powerful eruption the sun has produced since the great storms of
    Sept. 2017.

    Radiation from the flare caused a deep shortwave radio blackout over
    the Pacific Ocean.

    spaceweather.com/images2023/31dec23/blackoutmap.jpg

    Ham radio operators noticed loss of signal at all
    frequencies below 30 MHz for more than 60 minutes after the flare's
    peak.

    It was too soon to know for sure, but this explosion probably
    launched a coronal mass ejection into space. Because the blast site
    is located near the extreme eastern edge of the sun, the CME was
    unlikely to have a significant Earth-directed component.

    Update: This explosion caused a solar tsunami. You can see the shock
    wave in this animation from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

    spaceweather.com/images2023/31dec23/tsunami_red_strip.gif




    Last week on the news we, whilst doing an item on CQ Magazine
    mentioned how CQ-DATV ceased its free online publication in 2021.

    Although that IS still to be read on the net, clarification re
    'Status of CQ-DATV is in error.

    Terry Mowles VK5TM, as the PDF editor for the magazine, made contact
    to advise that CQ-DATV is an independent publication out of the UK and
    has no association at all with CQ Communications, Inc.

    The free magazine is still produced every month by Ian Pawson G8IQU,
    Trevor Brown G8CJS, Terry Mowles VK5TM and Jim Andrews KH6HTV.

    Now even further...

    Mark WC3W from dxmarathon.com says the annual DX Marathon Program will
    remain viable with or without CQ Magazine.

    The program does not receive any financial support from CQ nor do they
    draw any resources to operate the DX Marathon program from them. They
    do publish the rules in usually the November issue (still to be
    printed) for the following year, and the program results in the June
    issue.

    Bottom linedo not be concerned with regard to the DX Marathons
    viability, Mark WC3W says, "We will do just fine with or without
    CQ Magazine."

    In this weeks operational news from the WIA National News Service,
    Felix VK4FUQ will have more on this current years DXMARATHON...
    Stay Tuned.

    dxmarathon.com/




    Hams Help Community Radio Station Get Back on Air

    ICQPODCAST have reported that because of amateur radio, community
    radio station KNYO, is going to start this new year very differently
    from the way it did last year.

    Eleven months ago, the low-power FM station in Fort Bragg, California
    lost its antenna after the collapse of the 70-foot pine tree which was
    being used as its tower. The FCC authorised a temporary fix that
    authorised the antenna to be installed on a mast, but, only one-third
    that height, but it did get the all-volunteer station back on the air.

    Then an October thunderstorm struck and the signal went silent again.

    That's when hams from the Mendocino County Amateur Radio Communication
    Service, NC 6 MC, stepped in.

    After station volunteers could not determine what had gone wrong, the
    club's president Derek, KE6EBZ, sent a team over to help investigate.
    These hams discovered that lightning had struck the antenna during the
    storm. The lightning arrestor was damaged and several connectors had
    been knocked out. Repairs quickly got underway.

    Hopefully, 2024 will begin with smoother operation - and better
    weather - for station KNYO.

    If not, amateur radio is standing by.




    WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

    The Lost Cosmonauts of the USSR: dramatic transmissions picked up from
    outer space.

    Have you heard about the secret space programs of the USSR?
    Lost Cosmonauts in Space?

    It is almost a plot out of a science fiction movie. There are hundreds
    of books and publications around the world which have talked about the
    space race and the numerous incidents that occurred. The Story about
    'Lost Cosmonauts' begins with two Italian Brothers, Giovanni and
    Achille Judica-Cordiglia who were amateur radio operators with an
    incredible passion for picking up transmission from space: specifically
    transmission between Russian cosmonauts and Soviet Ground control.

    Utilizing a very limited set up, the two Italian brothers allegedly
    intercepted signals which were sent by the Sputnik Satellite and even
    eavesdrop on Laika, the canine explorer aboard Sputnik II.

    Some believe that somewhere in the vast darkness of space, currently
    over 9,000 million kilometres away from the Sun, the first human being
    is reaching the limits of our Solar System. The Cosmonauts body,
    perfectly preserved, is frozen at 270 degrees below zero, and the tiny
    spaceship drifted for over 50 years away from Earth at a speed of
    almost 30,000 km per hour. This would mean that this is the first
    cosmonaut lost in space, forgotten in the secret history of
    mankinds attempt to conquer space.

    According to many conspiracy theories, early missions of the Soviet
    Space Program experienced terrible accidents in their attempt to
    conquer space. These failures resulted in loss of life: many
    Cosmonauts made it to space but never actually made it back home.

    A mysterious signal picked up May 1961, is a dramatic transmission
    where the voice of a woman can be heard the transmission features
    the last minutes of a Russian female cosmonaut as her capsule burned
    up during re-entry into Earths atmosphere.

    During a period of four years, the Cordiglia brothers released a total
    of nine recordings but THAT ONE is the most interesting of all.

    Links to the story and to the recordings are in this weeks Text
    Edition.

    tinyurl.com/4jkvdd7y


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    The 2024 CQ DX Marathon

    The CQ DX Marathon is designed to promote DXing activity throughout
    the year. Credit is given for contacts on all amateur bands
    (160 to 6 metres) including those not normally used for contesting
    (60, 30, 17 and 12 metres). Contesting QSOs can be used as long as
    they are made from the same station operation.

    The CQ DX Marathon is a yearlong activity, it began at Zero Hours
    UTC Monday last, the first of January and ends at 23:59 UTC
    Tuesday 31 December 2024.

    Contacts through repeaters or satellites are not allowed for credit,
    nor are contacts with maritime or aeronautical mobile stations. All
    contacts must be made entirely over amateur radio frequencies.

    EchoLink-type, DMR, All-Star, etc., contacts do NOT count.

    Modes for which the operator is licensed may be used.

    Examples of the modes to be used in the DX Marathon programme are
    CW (utilises the International Morse Code)
    Phone (USB, LSB, DSB, FM (voice), AM)
    Digital: PSK, RTTY, FT8, FT4

    (SARL)




    VKCC The VK Contest Club have just held their annual luncheon, VK4TS
    Trent Sampson joins us:-

    Hello everyone! Despite Mother Natures fury hitting the Gold Coast
    with tornadoes and heavy flooding, a resilient group defied the odds
    to gather at Mango Hill Tavern for our annual meet-up on Saturday,
    December 30th, 2023.

    In the face of adversity, these intrepid souls embraced the day:
    VK4CT, John, accompanied by his partner in crime, XYL Liz; VK4CZ,
    Scott; VK4DX, Mike; VK4TS, along with his better half, XYL Lorraine;
    VK4XU, Sonny; VK4UH, Kevin, and VK4UV, Colin formed the core of our
    indomitable group. Not forgetting VK4DI, Di, and VK4ZD, Bill, who
    added their vibrant personalities to the mix.

    The weather might have tried to dampen our spirits, but it couldnt
    deter this bunch of enthusiasts passionate about all things radio.
    We might have been fewer in number, but the camaraderie and enthusiasm
    were undiminished. Stories were shared, knowledge exchanged, and the
    day was a testament to the resilience and determination of our
    community.

    While some couldnt join due to the adverse conditions, the spirit of
    togetherness and passion for our hobby burned bright in Mango Hill
    Tavern. Here's to the unbreakable spirit of the amateur radio
    community, weathering storms both literal and metaphorical, always
    coming together stronger.

    Until next time, keep those radios buzzing and spirits high!

    (Trent VK4TS)


    --------------


    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
    13 - 14 January.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, manager of the VHF-UHF Field Days.

    The Summer 2024 event will proceed as planned.

    In the meantime, renewed efforts to catch up preparing results for past contest are under way thanks to a small team of volunteers. Keep an eye on the Field Days web page.

    So, get your gear together for the Summer VHF-UHF Field Day and enjoy it!

    This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.



    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au)

    --------------
    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.
    --------------

    FRENCH AMATEUR'S SPECIAL EVENT HONOURS POLISH MARTYR

    Several special event stations go on the air from around the world
    each year in August, coinciding with the anniversary of the death of
    St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. He was born, however, in January and an
    event is on marking the 130th anniversary of that day.

    He was a Polish priest, Maximilian Maria Kolbe, martyred in Auschwitz
    during World War II.

    Hams often hold special event stations in August to mark the date of
    his death. One ham in France -- Jeff, F 4 IIQ chose to mark his
    birth on January 8th. He is on air with callsign TM 130 SMK to the
    9th of January, Tuesday this week.

    The Franciscan priest, who was canonized in 1982, is considered the
    patron saint of amateur radio for having founded a monastery in Poland
    dedicated to communications. The monastery housed a short-wave radio
    station with the callsign SP 3 RN. When the monastery was shut by the
    Nazis in 1941, Maximilian Maria Kolbe was arrested and sent to
    Auschwitz where he volunteered to take the place of another man who
    was marked to die. The priest was executed by lethal injection after
    having been placed in a starvation bunker.

    Father Kolbe is also the inspiration for the Saint Maximilian Kolbe
    Net, which was founded by two amateurs in the US in 1998. It meets on
    80 and 20 metres Sundays.

    (ARNewsLine)

    --------------

    EAST KIRIBATI.

    Members of the Rebel DX Group are QRV as T 32 TT from Christmas
    Island, IOTA OC-024, until January 12 on 160 to 6 meters using CW,
    SSB, FT8, and FT4.

    QSL via OQRS.

    (eHam and vk4bb)

    --------------

    MOROCCO.

    Yannick, F6FYD is QRV as CN 2 YD until March 15.

    --------------

    THE VAAL DAM CELEBRATES ITS 85TH BIRTHDAY

    The Sasolburg ARC will be operating ZS 85 VDAM now to 1 April
    to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the opening of the Vaal Dam.

    There is a special QSL Card available - send your QSL card to the
    Sasolburg ARC to receive the ZS 85 VDAM QSL Card.

    --------------

    NAMIBIA.

    QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April Activity is on
    160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the world able to
    use that band.

    V51WH.

    QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH

    (eHam)

    --------------

    MALAWI.

    Don, 7Q6M is QRV until May 13, 2024 and has also been active on 160
    meters. QSL via LoTW.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Midway through last month, December, we brought you news of SOTA's
    2024 10 Metre SOTA Challenge.

    Yes Summits on the Air are holding a year-long challenge taking place
    on the 10 metre band from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.
    SOTA is encouraging the use of 10 meters as solar cycle 25 is
    projected to peak.

    NOW AN UPDATE.

    This in from SOTA.

    There will be a special 10m Challenge results page but note, lots of
    you said you DON'T WANT SOTA contests and we listened. There will NOT
    be an overall winner or association winners.

    BUT

    Have fun climbing and working... the mountain tops if not the winning
    ladder.

    (sourced to icqpodacst)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS LOW DOWN

    A TREASURED TRANSMITTER'S ENDURING MESSAGE

    As we step across the threshold of a new year, it's a comfort to know
    that some things endure. They were built to last - and in fact, they
    DO last. One example is the tradition of a message of Christmas peace,
    transmitted from a historic transmitter in Sweden.

    On Christmas Eve morning, the World Heritage Grimeton Radio station
    carried a message to the world, older than the 100-year-old
    transmitter herself. It was a message of peace sent via Morse Code.
    Hams and non-hams alike from around the world tuned in via SDR or
    other means to hear the code being sent via the Alexanderson
    Alternator SAQ signal on 17.2 kHz long wave.

    Others simply witnessed the event on YouTube, where spectators from
    Poland, Belgium, Colombia, Brazil and Australia left words of support
    and appreciation.

    The history behind this transmitter is as cherished as the message it
    carries several times each year: With every transmission it
    underscores the progress we have made over the years in wireless
    communication -- while affirming the progress the world still needs to
    make in so many other areas.

    (ARNewsLine)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian lights planned and advised to WIA :-
    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club

    SO If YOUR VK ZL club has plans for this years ILLW let us now PRONTO
    so we can help promote to the world, SURELY (Shirley) they is more
    than just Darwin already to pop on air lighting up the bands August
    17.




    Maritime Radio Historical Society old KPH Over the Air Cryptographic
    Challenge.

    January 20, KPH will transmit a coded message consisting of 5-digit
    groups. The message will be encrypted using typical Cold War numbers
    station cryptographic procedures. All KPH listeners are invited to try
    their hand at receiving and decrypting the message. Certificates will
    be awarded to those who successful decode the message. Additionally, a
    special certificate will be awarded to the first person to decode it.

    Broadcast frequencies for the January 20 event, starting 2100 UTC
    are:-

    CW: 425.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8, and 22477.5

    RTTY: Following the CW transmission: 6324.5, 8427.0 and 12585.5

    Additional details and rules can be found on the Maritime Radio
    Historical Society website.

    radiomarine.org/mrhs-events

    (ard)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Just as Youth on the Air month ended on the last day of December,
    Ham Radio Kids Day was just getting warmed up.

    The annual ARRL event took place yesterday, Saturday the 6th of
    January as a way of showing youngsters the kind of fun they can have
    on the air - and to interest them in science and technology. One
    group, The New Providence Amateur Radio Club in New Jersey operated
    the event with the youngsters at the Salt Brook School.

    During the event, youngsters were on the air under the supervision of
    licensed hams. Kids called "CQ Kids Day" and the kid-friendly exchange
    was name, age, location and favourite colour.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2024 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.

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.



    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jan 11 21:23:43 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-01-14.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 JANUARY 14 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 JANUARY 14 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA Director and President Scott Williams VK3KJ .-

    WIA CONTEST MANAGER OF AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST Alan Shannon VK4SN .

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Director and President Scott Williams VK3KJ and welcome
    to the WIA broadcast this week.

    The WIA Regulatory Counsel, consisting of Justin Giles-Clarke (VK7TW)
    and Peter Young (VK3MV), along with fellow Director and Vice
    President, Lee Moyle (VK3GK) and myself met with the Australian
    Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) this week to kick off our
    first meeting for 2024.

    The first order of the meeting was to acknowledge and pay tribute to
    Patrick Emery of the ACMA, who tragically passed away on Christmas
    Day. As outlined in the broadcast last week and both published on our
    website and through social media channels, Patrick sadly suffered a
    medical event on Christmas Day and passed away peacefully that
    evening. As President, and on behalf of the WIA, I passed on our
    sincere condolences and thoughts to all Patricks work colleagues
    that were on that call.

    The meeting then focused on the transitional arrangements to class
    licensing, which of course in approaching quickly.

    The ACMA confirmed that a letter on the transitional arrangements is
    in the process of going out to all license holders. In fact, letters
    started circulation to your preferred delivery method, either postal
    or email on Friday 12 January, so it is possible you might have this
    letter in your possession already if your delivery method is via
    email. This letter will confirm transitional arrangements and will
    also confirm both callsign and the qualification level that you hold.

    On another matter, the ACMA confirmed that if your license is about to
    expire, please do not wait for the commencement of class licensing and
    delay the payment of your license fee. It is highly recommended to not
    let your license lapse and make sure your license is valid and you are
    operating legally.

    The ACMA have confirmed that if you have just paid or are about to pay
    for your license renewal, you will be eligible for a part refund. The
    ACMA have published information on how to obtain a refund on their
    website.

    The WIA discussed a range of other matters with the ACMA in regard to
    the introduction of class licensing and in general, the WIA are very
    satisfied that the ACMA remain very engaging and consultative on all
    matters. We are confident the transition to class licensing will be
    fairly smooth and please remember, read the information provided by
    the ACMA as many of the concerns raised to date have already been well
    documented.

    Thats it for me this week and this has been Scott Williams,
    WIA President for this weeks WIA National News broadcast.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    Western Europe's 1st vertical spaceport is cleared for launch and
    hopes to see rockets fly this year.

    The SaxaVord spaceport on the Shetland Islands off the northern coast
    of Scotland has officially become western Europe's first licensed
    spaceport capable of launching rockets vertically. SaxaVord received
    the license from the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

    The SaxaVord license allows the spaceport to host up to 30 launches
    per year. The U.K., which has a strong small-satellite manufacturing
    industry, hopes that the convenience of having a U.K.-made satellite
    launched from a U.K.-port on possibly a U.K.-made rocket could put
    SaxaVord and its counterparts at an advantage with customers compared
    to their foreign competitors.





    YASME Foundation Grant

    The Board of Directors of the Yasme Foundation has announced a
    supporting grant of $7,500 to the World Radiosport Team Championship
    United Kingdom 2026 organizing committee.

    As the committee states, WRTC is a means to demonstrate international
    goodwill and friendship in the true ham spirit. It also allows youth
    operators to demonstrate their skills within this highly competitive
    event. WRTC UK 2026 will focus not only on providing a fair and
    enjoyable event for those who qualify either as a competitor or
    referee but will also provide engagement to spectators all over the
    world.

    Further information about WRTC 2026 can be found at wrtc2026.org.





    MOBILE BASE STATIONS TO EXPAND FREQUENCY USE WORLDWIDE

    Mobile band communication gained new parts of the spectrum at the
    World Radiocommunication Conference late last year.

    The designated parts of the spectrum are at 700 to 900 MHz, 1.7 GHz and 2.5 GHz. This is intended to give greater flexibility to operators around the world making use of HAPS mobile broadband communication, also known as High Altitude Platform Station communication. According to the International Telecommunication Union, any fixed-point radio station situated 20 to 50 kilometres above the Earth is a high-altitude platform station.

    The company that has led the spectrum-expansion proposal for the past few years is the SoftBank Corporation. The Japanese company has been studying international standardization for such use since the issue was put on the WRC 2023 agenda four years ago during WRC 2019. HAPS technology has also been recognised as useful for communications during disaster recovery, especially when storms or other events have left terrestrial networks damaged.





    STUDENT PROJECT PROVIDES NEW SATELLITE FOR INDIA

    India's HAMSAT, the microsatellite decommissioned in 2016, has been
    replaced following the New Year's Eve launch of a small satellite
    created by students.

    The Somaiya (SO MAYA) Beliefsat- takes its name from the
    K.J. Somaiya Institute of Technology. With the launch of this
    satellite, Somaiya Beliefsat-0 pays tribute to 100 years of ham radio
    in India and endeavours to succeed its predecessor.

    The project's faculty coordinator, VU3CDI, told the Hindu Times
    Newsgroup he expected it to become " a crucial player in the realm
    of global amateur radio."

    The satellite has a UHF to VHF-FM repeater and VHF digipeater
    sending APRS standard telemetry every 30 seconds.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
    THIS WEEKEND CONTESTERS! ie 13 - 14 January.
    0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
    little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
    end times.
    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above NOW, the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    HI This is Alan VK4SN with info for the Australia Day contest.

    Amateurs in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs around the
    world using SSB CW and FT8.

    Most VK operators will be using the AX prefix to celebrate Australia
    day, as it's wanted by many amateurs around the globe.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    Times for the contest on Australia Day, the 26th of January are
    2200 UTC 25th to 1000 UTC 26th January.

    Categories for DX and VK
    Single Operator
    Multi-Single
    Multi-Two

    Sub-Category Modes for Single Operators
    Phone (Includes AM, FM & SSB)
    CW
    Mixed
    DIGI - FT8/FT4 (Separate digital section)
    An operators Log can contain all 3 modes or mixtures there-of.
    Due to FT8/4 operation gaining massive numbers over Ph and CW, all
    logs will have digital contacts scored separately and added into
    the digital section automatically by the log checker website.
    Example: If a log contains phone and digital contacts, the log will
    be valid for the phone category and the digital category. Enter the
    log as mixed category.
    * WSJT-X users can operate as normal and use the .adi file to create
    their log. No contest mode setup isn ecessary with in the WSJTX
    program.

    Exchange
    A valid exchange consists of RS(T) or SNR followed by a 4 character
    grid square.

    Permitted Bands
    160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands only.


    **** Stations using the 2x1 contest calls CANNOT substitute AX as a prefix.

    Please see the WIA Contest website pages for more information. wia.org.au/members/contests/australiaday/

    Best 73
    de Alan VK4SN

    -----------

    ARRL DX CW Contest Feb 17-18.

    ------------



    NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE 24/25 Feb 2024.

    The rules have been tweaked slightly and are now up on the nzart
    website.

    Overseas contacts now score the same points as ZL contacts.

    The definition of acceptable overseas contacts has changed to
    "Oceania" as defined by the DXCC list.

    These changes have been made to better align the rules with the
    contest objective, simplify scoring and to use a defined geographical
    boundary.

    (nzart info line 482)



    ----------------------------------------------------



    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st 2024

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)


    -------------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18 2024

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    --------------

    The special 6-month event designed to celebrate the 90th anniversary
    of the first official transmission of Radio Luxembourg Broadcasting
    has concluded. The event gave amateur radio operators and shortwave
    listeners around the world the opportunity to work or hear special
    event call sign LX 90 RTL. Overall, 27,922 contacts were made with 214
    DXCC entities, and they included all 40 CQ zones.

    (arrl letter)

    -------------

    Today, the 14th of January, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the Second
    will abdicate and leave the throne to her son who will become
    His Majesty King Frederik the Tenth, when he is sworn in as the
    new King of Denmark.

    At the same time, HRH The Crown Princess will be known as HM Queen
    Mary. The royal couple will officially bear the title King and Queen
    of Denmark. Mary, born Mary Donaldson, famously met Crown Prince
    Frederik here in Australia during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

    Amateur radio associations F.R.A. and E.D.R. have activated Special
    Event Stations within The Kingdom of Denmark including Greenland and
    Faroe Islands. OZ 24 QUEEN is active 12th till today, the 14th.

    OZ 24 KING will be active from January 14 until the 16th.

    These callsigns, and others, will be active on many amateur radio
    bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and several digital modes. All amateur bands
    and all modes may be used. For more information see QRZ.com

    (vk4bb/rsgb)

    -------------

    In the World of DX, be listening for members of the Zurich City Police
    Radio Amateur Club throughout the year, operating as HB 2 SP the club
    is marking its 20th anniversary. Unfortunately no Bureau QSL's but you
    can use Logbook Of The World, and HB20SP runs until December 31.

    (sourced to arnline 2410)

    --------------

    Listen throughout the new year for the special callsign 9 A 1 RKZ
    marking the 100th anniversary of the Radioklub Zagreb which was
    founded the 24th of March 1924.

    QSL via 9A1ADE.

    (arnsline 2410)

    --------------

    This year marks 150 years since the birth of Guglielmo Marconi
    during 1874. The Cornish Radio Amateur Club is again organising
    International Marconi Day, this year on 27 April.

    Some 16 plus stations have already registered To be registered as an
    official station but you MUST operate from a site which has a
    connection with Guglielmo Marconi himself, not a business etc. created
    after his work. This must be somewhere Guglielmo Marconi has
    personally operated from, lived or set up experimental stations.

    For more information and updates, visit the GB4IMD Facebook page.

    facebook.com/gb4imd

    gx4crc.com/imd/imd-registration/

    ( thanks VK2MOH for the heads up )


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    REPEATING NEWS>

    VK7RHF 29.580 MHz. Repeater on the air!

    After a few years of hiatus, the VK7RHF 10 metre repeater has now been
    recommissioned and is back on the air.

    T system runs over the VKLink VOTER system and will incorporate
    3 diversity voted receivers, including a DX receiver at a remote
    quiet location. There is currently a receiver on trial running at the
    REAST clubrooms on the Domain and another on VK7HHs workbench.

    The transmitter operates from Mount Nelson running 50W into a 5/8 wave
    vertical.

    Already in the past few weeks whilst it has been on test, there has
    been VK2s, 3s and 4s heard using it whilst the summer Sporadic E
    season rolls around.

    Hayden VK7HH would appreciate any signal reports to be sent through
    and for those in the Hobart area to add it to their radios and/or
    scan groups so that when DX stations call, they have someone local
    to reply.

    The repeater details are as follows:

    TX: 29.680 MHz
    RX: 29.580 MHz
    Tone: 91.5 Hz

    (sourced to vk7wi news)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    TURKEY

    Turkish space traveller Colonel Alper Gezeravc, who will serve on the
    International Space Station within the scope of Turkey's first manned
    space mission and will communicate with the national call sign
    TC 100 ISS.

    In a written statement, Turkish Parliamentary Minister Uralolu
    reminded that Turkeys space planning and strategy was announced
    with the National Space Program announced by their President.

    If it goes as planned, Alper Gezeravc, who will gain the title of
    being the first Turk to go into space, will break another first by
    using his own amateur radio certificate with TC1001SS call sign, and
    will start his space travel with This national call sign.

    bit.ly/425w3Dz

    (TWIAR)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN

    DLARC Continues to add Rich History of Ham Radio Content

    The continued stream of rich content and history being donated to
    the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC) seems
    never ending.

    The real fun, in the eyes of many leaving comments on their web pages,
    comes with radio magazines, which add art, advertisements, and really
    shows the fun of the radio hobby in 1928. Start with the November 1928
    edition of Science and Invention with an article about how an airplane
    transmitted a photograph via radio. Then enjoy the November 1928
    edition of Radio Listeners' Guide and Callbook, the ads are amazing!
    You can read a whole year of Radio magazine, and The General Radio
    Experimenter, and Radio News, and QST.

    Where do you get it?

    Google Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications

    archive.org/details/dlarc

    ( Amateur Radio Daily )





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    YEMEN DX-PEDTION TO AF-028

    Active from Socotra island, Yemen will be 7 O 2 WX (seven oh two wx)
    January 25 to February 12. Focus will be, after a survey on the web
    site was conducted, will be low bands CW together with the 10m band.
    LoTW certificate for this Yemen DXpedition has been granted.

    Also keep an eye on the official 7O2WX website for the latest news and
    relevant info.

    Participation by 7 O 2 WX in the CQ 160m DX Contest CW will occur from
    AF-028.




    FRENCH POLONESIA - AUSTRAL ISLANDS

    Haru, JA1XGI plans to be active from Raivavae, Austral Islands as
    TX 5 XG March 27 to April 3 on 160-6m, CW and Digi + Greencube SAT.

    However a call from some IOTA chasers has asked Haru to consider SSB
    as a mode to also include.

    QSL via Log Book of the World.

    (dxworld)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    A student-led contact with astronauts through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program was a great success.

    Here's Alec

    On Monday, December 11, students at Harbor Creek High School in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, used amateur radio to talk with Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, K G 5 G C Z.

    The students are part of the Advanced Technologies Group, K C 3 S G V, an after-school club at Harbor Creek.

    Fifteen of the students are licensed radio amateurs.

    Their faculty advisor, Assistant Principal Drew Mortensen, A C 3 D S, is a graduate of the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology.

    He utilized what he learned in the program and brought it back to the school. The ARISS contact is just one of the many successes the program has had.

    ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K 5 A T A, was on hand for the contact, and he was impressed by the skills demonstrated by the students.

    Goodgame recalled, "From antenna assembly and installation to the actual control operator function of the radio during the contact itself, students were at the helm.

    Every student who asked a question of Commander Mogensen was a licensed amateur radio operator.

    When I asked what they had planned next, the response was, 'Well, the logical step would be to build and get a CubeSat launched.'

    This is exactly the type of program we hope to help create as an outcome of the Teachers Institute," said Goodgame.

    ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the ISS.

    More on this story can be found through the link in our text edition of the WIA National New.

    For VK1WIA National News, I'm Alec, VK2MV in Sydney. Now back to you Bruce

    From ARRL News:
    arrl.org/news/student-led-ariss-contact-a-success



    Congrats Alec on your upgrade! And a thank you to Peter, VK2EMU for
    supporting Alec and providing him with the two letter callsign!
    Now from Alec to Paul over at ARNewsLine where he reports on the
    ARRL awardeding its prestigious Hiram Percy Maxim Award for 2023
    to a Texas teenager for his leadership in a youth net and his
    promotion of amateur radio among members of his troop in the
    Trail Life USA organization.



    PAUL: Recognizing youth in Amateur Radio is something near and dear to our hearts here at NewsLine. The ARRL just announced the winner of this years Hiram Percy Maxim award, and its Sam Lovett, KI5RSV of Texas.

    I spoke with Lovett, and asked him how he got interested in ham radio:

    LOVETT: My dads always had a radio in his truck - never transmitted, never got licensed because we always storm chased. Also got into this book called Backwoods Home Magazine and I found one from 1992 that mentioned ham radio and it sounded really interesting.

    PAUL: As to what in particular interested him the most about amateur radio, he told me:

    LOVETT: I mean, there are so many aspects of ham radio. So far, the ones that have interested me most is contesting, improving my speed with CW, and vintage and classic equipment.

    PAUL: Lovett is very active in attracting other youth to the hobby. I asked what his plan was, and he said:

    LOVETT: Lead by example, and I try to promote ham radio wherever I can. Ive also done a lot of demonstrations of ham radio, like every campout I bring out my radio gear and do a little demonstration of HF and how you can get QSOs around the world.

    PAUL: Congratulations, Sam, on a job well done. We here at NewsLine encourage you to keep up the efforts and keep spreading the word about our wonderful hobby. For Amateur Radio NewsLine, Im Paul Braun, WD9GCO.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO

    First up fellow club memebr and WIA News Reader VK3GTV joins me ..



    It's always good hearing how various clubs around the world prepare for emergency's etc.

    In the USA the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club communications
    trailer has 3 HF stations plus 6 additional radios for VHF, UHF, and DMR. All radios do all modes and are powered by 300 amp hours of battery. The computers run off a Renogy 3500 watt inverter & charger with the batteries also charging from the same inverter. A 200 watt solar panel array on the roof of the trailer helps to keep the batteries charged.

    They use the trailer for public service events, special events, and Field Day. The VHF/UHF radios have dual band antennas on the roof. In addition, we have a marine radio and a tempest weather station.

    The HF radios run through filters and a triplexer for 10-15-20 meters. We also have a repeater in the trailer which we use at events. The trailer even has heat and AC.

    The radios are three Icom IC-7100s, two Icom IC-5100s, one AnyTone AT-878UV for DMR, and a Motorola CDM1250 for GMRS. We can run for 8 to 10 hours without the generator running which makes the trailer always ready for operation.


    Thanks Col oh and the club also built a TOWER trailer which holds a
    tri-bander and vertical for the portable UHF repeater. The tower
    trailer has a 30 foot crank-up antenna with a power winch.

    (various web reports)




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2024 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.



    VK5 - SCARC history lesson Feb One 7.30pm (vk5dad)
    Seaford Meadows Scout Hall

    Hi all this is Nathan VK5DAD from the SCARC. On Thursday 1st February 2024 at 19.30hrs at Seaford Meadows Scout Hall Railway parade
    Seaford Meadows Bernie VK5ABS will be doing a talk on SCARC history
    and changes that has happened since the club was formed.
    We look forward to seeing you there for our 1st tech talk for 2024.
    73 Nathan VK5DAD of the SCARC.


    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)


    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Jan 18 23:36:26 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-01-21.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 JANUARY 21 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 JANUARY 21 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA YOTA committee member Alec VK2MV. -

    WIA Affiliated Clubs Coordinator Angelo VK2NWT. -

    WIA Director and Company Secretary, Peter Clee VK8ZZ.

    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ.

    Please excuse my rough voice as I was hospitalised for 2 weeks over
    Christmas with Covid and related issues. Having now been out of
    hospital for 3 weeks my voice has still not totally recovered at this
    stage.

    MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

    The membership database that issues the renewal notices for the WIA
    has been plagued with issues in the past. The WIA have moved to
    utilise a new domain name for renewal notices and you should see
    renewal notices being issued from our @wia.au domain name already.
    Membership anniversaries will now shortly be moved to the beginning of
    the following month currently noted on the database. So that all
    renewals will fall on the first day of the month. Please log onto your
    membership account using the memnet portal to check the current
    status of your membership.

    WIA CALLBOOK

    The current database used by the ACMA to record amateur licenses will
    no longer be used for individuals and clubs callsigns once they move
    to a class license on 19th February. The WIA are now looking at
    producing a callbook for use by amateurs. The Board of the WIA are
    currently considering what information will be included in the
    callbook and the option of opting in or opting out of inclusion in
    future editions of the callbook.

    AMATEUR RADIO MAGAZINE.

    The September / October edition of Amateur Radio magazine had some
    issues which have been referred to the printer. These issues included
    paper creases, ghost images, poor colour reproduction, and a number of
    other issues. The Board apologise for these issues and have noted an
    improvement in the November / December edition. Please email the
    editor of AR with any issues that you may wish to raise about the
    quality of the magazine.

    editor@wia.org.au


    INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

    The WIA are currently looking for an application developer to assist
    the IT committee with a number of projects. Any members who are
    proficient in application development are encouraged to contact the
    secretary.

    secretary@wia.org.au

    Finally, I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and New Year,
    this has been WIA Director and Company Secretary, Peter Clee VK8ZZ
    wishing everyone a happy healthy and prosperous 2024.





    Hello, this is Angelo VK2NWT WIA Affiliated Clubs Coordinator.

    Well with the New Year already well underway Id once again like to
    remind all Club secretaries to please ensure that your Clubs
    committee contact details currently displayed on your WIA webpage
    are indeed accurate.

    In the coming months, the WIA will be contacting all Affiliated clubs
    with notice and instructions for your club to apply to renew its
    Public Liability Insurance policy which will be due in early April.

    Now a reminder to all clubs that in order to qualify as well as
    maintain your WIA Affiliation status at least 25% of your clubs
    membership are required to be current members of the WIA. Most clubs
    easily comply with this requirement; however, some may have fallen
    behind and will put your club at risk of losing WIA Affiliation and
    subsequent access to the significant premium savings the WIA has
    negotiated on behalf of all Affiliated Clubs. So, in order to not miss
    out on this significant WIA benefit please ensure your Clubs WIA
    membership numbers are at the required level and that your club
    contact details are up to date so that we dont miss out on contacting
    you.

    You can view the link the WIA Policy on Club Affiliation in the text
    version of this segment.

    wia.org.au/members/clubs/about/

    If you have any questions about this issue or WIA Affiliation in
    general, please dont hesitate to contact me by email on
    vk2nwt@gmail.com

    This has been Angelo VK2NWT for WIA National News.



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    DONT USE REGIONS FROM HERE ON IN

    IARU Monitoring System Region 1 December Newsletter

    Last months edition of the IARU Region 1 Monitoring System newsletter
    has been published. From this issue onwards, they announce that some
    videos about the discussed signals recorded during the issue's month
    will be included. This adds a new and welcome dynamic to the reports
    enabling you see to see the characteristics of the intruder and/or
    interference source for yourself.

    The newsletter and further information about the IARU activities may
    be found at www.iaru-r1.org




    Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, mentioned amateur radio in her speeches at the WRC-23. In the opening remarks, Doreen recalled emergency communications: It is amateur radio operators who are able to send damage reports in the epicentre of an earthquake when all other communication channels were down. At the closing remarks, she reinforced the technical-experimental aspects of the service: We also saw a well-supported compromise for amateur radio community and, of course, it is always terrific to see how active that community is. These WRC outcomes will help them continue to experiment and explore with new technologies, as well a supporting technical competence development.

    A total of 151 Member States signed the WRC-23 Final Acts, a record of the decisions taken at the conference including both the new and revised provisions of the Radio Regulations. It represents the agreements on revisions to the global treaty governing the use of the radio frequency spectrum, both on Earth and in space. The agreements reached at WRC-23 are a testament to the unwavering spirit of cooperation and compromise among all of our members, said Mario Maniewicz, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau. Navigating the complexities of spectrum sharing to update the Radio Regulations has helped us forge a path that provides a stable, predictable regulatory environment essential for the development of innovative radiocommunication services for all.




    Amateurs in Germany who are using temporarily allocated frequencies
    on 160 metres, 6 metres and 4 metres - as well as Class E licence
    holders being allowed to use the 13cm and 5 cm bands - have been given
    a six-month extension from the telecommunications regulator BNetzA.

    The announcement was made in the regulator's newsletter which noted
    that the extension expires on the 30th of June 2024. Until then, all
    licence, class, polarisation and power restrictions remain in place
    and use continues to be on a non-interference basis.

    The extension permits the use of 1.8 and 2.0 MHz on weekends for
    contests. It also grants continued use of 50 to 52 MHz and
    70.150 to 70.210 MHz.




    Vulcan Centaur Triumphs in Maiden Voyage, Peregrine Lander Faces Lunar Setback

    Vulcan Centaur, a new heavy-lift booster, successfully completed its
    inaugural flight. However, the mission took a bittersweet turn as the Peregrine lander, set to be the first American spacecraft to touch down on the lunar surface since 1972, faced significant challenges shortly after separation from the Centaur upper stage.

    Originally planned for launch in 2019, the Vulcan program encountered delays, however, the January 8th launch marked a significant
    achievement. Powered by liquid methane and liquid oxygen, the
    Vulcan Centaur demonstrated successful flight, a milestone for
    American orbital rockets using this propellant combination.

    While the Vulcan Centaur celebrated success, the fate of the Peregrine lander took a dramatic turn. Initial reports suggested a promising start when Peregrine separated from the Centaur and established communications with ground control. However, soon after enabling its propulsion systems, the lander faced difficulties maintaining its orientation, leading to a rapid depletion of its batteries.

    January 8th showcased both success and setbacks in space exploration. The Vulcan Centaurs triumphant launch demonstrated progress in rocket technology, while the Peregrines struggles highlighted the inherent difficulties of space missions. As technology advances, the moon remains an enticing destination, with the upcoming Nova-C landers launch in February offering renewed hope for successful lunar exploration. The events of this day remind us that despite the challenges, the pursuit of space exploration continues unabated.




    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above NOW, the month of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

    This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
    around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
    and help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

    Amateurs here in 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.

    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    (wia.org.au)
    -----------


    The 2024 CQ Worldwide 160m CW contest takes place from 10 p.m. on
    January 26th until 10 p.m. on January 28th. Times are UTC. This
    test is intended for we amateurs around the world to contact other
    amateurs in as many U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and countries as
    possible on the 160-meter band.

    (irts)


    -----------


    ARRL DX CW Contest Feb 17-18.

    ------------


    NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE 24/25 Feb 2024.

    The rules have been tweaked slightly and are now up on the nzart
    website.

    Overseas contacts now score the same points as ZL contacts.

    The definition of acceptable overseas contacts has changed to
    "Oceania" as defined by the DXCC list.

    These changes have been made to better align the rules with the
    contest objective, simplify scoring and to use a defined geographical
    boundary.

    (nzart info line 482)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    --------------
    --------------

    Clipperton Island is an 8.9 km uninhabited French coral atoll in the
    eastern Pacific Ocean, well of Honduras.

    Well it is inhabited until about Feb 1 and you can talk with TX 5 S.

    Look for TX 5 S QRV for 16 days from January 17 on 160 to 6 meters
    using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, 6 meter EME, and active on various birds.

    QSL via the TX 5 S instructions.

    (sourced to eHam)


    -------------


    The World Wide Award 2024 has been running since the 1st of January
    and will finish on the 31st of January.

    The event is being held in celebration of the 150th anniversary of
    the birth of Guglielmo Marconi.

    The World Wide Award combines CW, SSB and digital mode activity from
    special event stations around the world. Real-time award tracking for
    chasers is available at the link in this weeks text version of
    WIA NATIONAL NEWS

    Special event call signs include stations from
    Canary Islands EG8WWA;

    England GB2WWA; Greece SX0WWA; Kazakhstan UP7WWA; Northern Ireland
    GB8WWA; Oman A43WWA; Poland SN1WWA; Scotland GB4WWA; Spain EG3WWA;
    Wales GB6WWA; Italy II0WWA, II1WWA, II2WWA, II3WWA, II4WWA, II5WWA,
    II6WWA, II7WWA, II8WWA, II9WWA and IR1WWA; Sardinia IR0WWA; USA N0W,
    N1W and N9W; Indonesia 8A0RARI; China BA3RA, BA7LOK, BG0DXC, BY1RX,
    BY2AA, BY4DX, BY5EA, BY6QS, BY8DX and BY9NX; Cape Verde D4M;
    Kyrgyzstan EX0DX and Venezuela YW6CQ

    hamaward.cloud/wwa

    (RSGB/SARL)

    -------------

    VI 100 MB is a callsign for the Manly-Warringah Radio Society to
    celebrate the 100th anniversary of its formation. The station closes
    next month, the 25th of February.

    QSL via Logbook of the World and eQSL.

    -------------

    Listen throughout the year for the special callsign 9 A 1 RKZ
    marking the 100th anniversary of the Radioklub Zagreb which was
    founded the 24th of March 1924 in Croatia

    QSL via 9A1ADE.

    (arnline 2410)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Up in the UK, Paul Athersmith, M0PLA, has achieved the coveted
    Mountain Goat award for gaining 1,000 activator points in the
    Summits on the Air scheme.

    M 0 PLA completed his mission on the summit of Pole Bank, on the
    Long Mynd in Shropshire. The feat took Paul over seven years,
    following his debut activation in December 2016.

    For more information about SOTA, visit sota.org.uk or check out the
    many adventure group, including VK SOTA shown in this weeks wia
    national news script.

    (RSGB)



    GET YOUR POTA ON

    In the World of Parking, listen for 8 P 9 CB from Barbados,
    IOTA Number NA-021, until the 25th of January. Many of his activation
    sites are also POTA sites. Listen on 20-10m where he will be using
    CW and SSB.

    Now parks a little closer to home:- Marty VK4KC joins me

    The Administrators for Parks on the Air in Australia continue adding
    more locations to activate from. The focus recently has been state
    forests as well as National and State trails.

    We now have 700 State forests in the system and will continue to add
    as not all have been entered. We have only scratched the surface with
    30 trails in the system and we have many more to add. The advantage of
    the tails is that most of them are over 50 km in length so there are
    many locations along the trail to choose from for the activation site,
    even from the comfort of your vehicle as the rule for trails states
    that you have an activation zone of 30 metres from the trail.

    Total number of activation locations in Australia now is just over
    7500.

    All are welcome to participate as an activator, hunter or both. If you
    would like to participate, start by creating a free account at the
    POTA.APP website.

    Get your POTA on!

    pota.app/





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    RE-VISITING WRC.

    Lunar Communications

    Set at WRC23 is a future item worth keeping our eyes on.

    This future agenda item first will look for new allocations to the
    Space Research Service in the Moon, that initially included 70 cm and
    bands where some applications like EME potentially could be
    restricted.

    Again, due the teamwork shown in December, the UHF aspect of this item
    was modified to exclude the 70 cm.

    By this way, the educational and experimental Moon sounders build in
    partnership between universities and amateur radio institutions will
    continue to be developed on this band.

    (iaru R2)




    SatNOGS is an ambitious project to catalogue satellites and collect
    the data they transmit. October last, SatNOGS logged their
    200 millionth telemetry capture from the French research satellite
    UVSQ-SAT.

    This 200 millionth frame was received by ground station M0GKK.

    Now you too can explore the network and recent observations or even
    build your own satellite receiver with a Raspberry Pi and RTL-SDR
    and then contribute to the SatNOGS project which is brought to life
    and expanding because of the unceasing collaboration, devotion, and
    ongoing contribution of its community comprised of a vast network of
    space enthusiasts, radio amateurs, university teams etc.

    tinyurl.com/yc24fz4b
    daily.hamweekly.com/2024/01/satnogs-reaches-milestone/





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Mat, DL4MM is active from Aruba now until January 31.

    Participation in the CQ 160 CW contest will be as P 40 AA.

    Outside the contest, activity on all bands 160-10m; CW, FT8/FT4, SSB.

    QSL via Club Log OQRS, using home call again which is DL4MM




    CB 0 ZA DXpedition Equipment Cleared for Shipment to Robinson Crusoe
    Island

    The CB0ZA DXpedition to Robinson Crusoe Island, part of the
    Juan Fernandez Archipelago, #58 on ClubLogs Most Wanted List
    set for February 10-24 cleared a major hurdle Friday Twelfth.

    The DXpeditions Chilean logistics leader Guillermo, XQ 3 SA reports
    that the teams two air freight shipments cleared Chilean customs and
    are now at the port in Valparaiso and scheduled for shipment by cargo
    vessel out to the Island.

    As regular viewers of WIA National News may recall, DXpedition leader
    and organizer Marco, CE1EW tragically became a silent key back in
    November and the continuation of the project was in doubt. Members of
    the team made the decision to proceed with the project in celebration
    and honour of Marcos memory.

    Stay tuned for CB zero ZA coming to a band near you February.

    (dx world)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian and New Zealand lights planned and advised to WIA :-

    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club -

    NZ 0001 Cape Campbell - - ZL6CC





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - QRP

    QRP Self-Spotting Website

    The QRP Cluster enables hams operating low power to self-spot for
    others to work them.

    Low power is fun, but especially if we manage to make QSO's or
    contacts. QRP signals are usually weak and easily missed in noise and
    interference. That's where the idea of creating a QRP self-spotting
    Cluster, where every QRP broadcasting enthusiast can announce on which
    frequency they are working, in which mode, or with what equipment and
    power they are working came to be.

    Check it out - QRP CLUSTER.COM ( in lower case )

    qrpcluster.com/

    (ARD)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    The WIA YOTA committee is tasked with building a pathway to amateur radio for our youth, as well as encouraging our own membership to welcome youth to the hobby.

    Currently the committee consists of Steve VK6SJ, myself VK2MV and Pete VK2LP.

    WIA Director Peter Clee, VK8ZZ is involved as the Board representative.

    The goals of the committee are to coordinate the WIAs efforts into encouraging youth to enter our hobby and more importantly to remain in the hobby.

    The Committee is doing this by building a strategy to help clubs encourage youth into the hobby and their membership, engage with the Scouting and Guide Movement, and to engage with education departments across the nation to bring awareness and encourage participation in our great hobby.

    The WIA YOTA committee is looking to expand its membership to include a representative in each VK call area, including VK9.

    We need individuals in each state to assist in forming our strategy and to engage locally with clubs, scout/guide groups and education departments towards our goals.

    Anyone who would like to be more involved in this initiative and the WIA YOTA committee, Please contact Steve VK6SJ, the WIA YOTA coordinator on the details in our text edition of the news.

    For VK1WIA National News, I'm Alec, VK2MV in Sydney. Now back to you Col

    email Steve VK6SJ at Steve@kennedy-sj.com.au or call on mobile 0447767518 (preferably outside WA normal business hours of 0800 to 1600 WST).




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
    VKJOTAJOTI.COM
    scouts.com.au
    scout.org/jota
    international.scouts.com.au
    jotajoti.info/

    Brett Nicholas VK2BNN Scouts Australia National co-ordinator
    for JOTA.
    Lorraine OHare VK2FICQ is Girl Guides Australia National
    JOTA-JOTI Co-ordinator.

    Jota always 3rd weekend in October so 2023 = October 20 - 22

    CALLING FREQUENCIES
    Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing
    communication.

    Australian voice calling frequencies:
    3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

    World CW calling frequencies:
    3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

    World voice calling frequencies:
    3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
    24.960, 28.390, 50.160

    Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
    3.630, 7.033, 14.227

    Calling Frequencies for PSK31
    14.070


    This is David, VK2DU.

    As a member of the Hume Region Scout Fellowship, setup specifically to
    get more Amateur Radio into the Scouting program year-round, I
    attended the Adventurous activity summer camp in the ACT at
    Camp Cottermouth over the weekend of 13th and 14th of January, with
    activities such as hiking, canoeing, white water, rock craft
    activities and horse riding over 8 days. My role was to support
    scouting members through training for their Foundation License.

    Supported by Zane VK2ZZS with his scout hall on wheels, fully equipped
    with Amateur Radio station and antennas. There were 4 youth members
    and 1 adult who were keen to do the training and sit the assessment.
    Coming from as far afield as South Australia, Newcastle,
    Southern Sydney and even Queanbeyan. They participated well, learned
    and really enjoyed the activities, even going back after we had finished the exam to play some HF with Zane into the evening.

    I wish them all the greatest of success, with the exams on their
    way to AMC for processing.

    Yours in Scouting and Amateur Radio, 73 from David VK2DU

    (David E R Uzzell Secretary Hume Region Scout Fellowship)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.
    ATV SSTV and other forms such as YouTube.

    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN


    There are podcasts available for just about every aspect of Ham Radio
    these days but who would have thought to having one to explain how to
    build a JUNK BOX. Not only BUILD but MAINTAIN.

    Maintaining a "junk box" -- a collection of odds and ends that can be used in future projects and repairs -- is a time-honoured practice among hams. Every ham radio junk box has to start somewhere, though, and the cover story of the January/February 2024 issue of On the Air, "A Fine Mess: Starting Your Junk Box," by Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ, offers advice about how to do just that. The January 2024 episode of the On the Air podcast digs deeper by going on location to the workshop of W1AW, ARRL's Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station. Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, welcomes us into this working space to show us some real-life junk boxes and discuss how they come in handy.

    You can view this podcast on YouTube, details in the text edition of
    WIA NATIONAL NEWS

    youtu.be/IjJpbKqjlPc
    blubrry.com/arrlontheair/

    (arrl)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    2024 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.



    VK5 - SCARC history lesson Feb One 7.30pm (vk5dad)
    Seaford Meadows Scout Hall


    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)


    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Wed Jan 24 21:05:49 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-01-28.mp3
    Text edition:

    2024 JANUARY 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 JANUARY 28 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK. -

    WIA AGM NEWS with David VK4DN from the Bundy Amateur Radio Club.


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK

    The Ross Hull VHF UHF contest is all but over, conditions on 6m have
    been amazing with consistent openings to the USA, Central and
    South America, Oceania, Asia and even Europe from the east coast.

    Also over for another year is the Australia Day contest where we all
    got to swap out our VK prefix for AX if we so desired. Rules and
    previous years results can be found on the WIA website on
    wia.org.au/members/contests/australiaday/

    Currently Steve VK6VZ is planning to get operators for the 87th BERU
    Contest. BERU is short for British Empire Radio Union, a CW Contest
    and it is also known as the Commonwealth Contest. This year their
    will be two teams each with five operators and the WIA will again
    approve the use of the WIA suffix callsigns for use in the contest
    as special HQ stations. The WIA is hoping to get every state and
    territory represented with Australian HQ Stations operating in the
    2024 RSGB Commonwealth Contest. We are looking for operators for
    VK7WIA and VK8WIA. Please contact Alan VK2GR if interested.

    The ACMA recently had another Assessor update online session. Again
    the attendance was excellent and I would comfortably say that all
    assessors are awaiting the smooth transition to the new exam
    structure. Another is scheduled for next Friday, 2nd of February.
    This session will demonstrate functionality of the new ACMA online
    accredited assessor portal. During this session, ACMA will outline how
    to use the portal to download examination papers, record examination
    results, and provide relevant correspondence with candidates and
    completed examination papers to the ACMA.

    The WIA has a very solid working relationship with the ACMA and we are
    always pleased to assist ACMA as their need arises. The WIA continue
    to have regular scheduled meetings with the ACMA to discuss important
    and relevant topics, the main being the Class licence and its finer
    technical details which are generally addressed by our very
    professional WIA Technical Advisory Committee, chaired by
    Grant Willis VK5GR.

    The WIA AGM will soon be upon us and its where awards are given to
    deserving recipients that have gone above and beyond for Amateur
    Radio. If you consider someone as worthy, then please nominate them
    for a WIA award highlighting their contribution to amateur radio in a
    short brief and submit to secretary@wia.org.au

    Nominations must be received no later than March 31st 2024 to be
    considered.

    Thats all for this week, for now, 73 From Lee VK3GK





    Gidday, this is David VK4DN from the Bundy Amateur Radio Club.

    Just a quick update about the huge WIA Convention and HamFest
    happening this year on May 4th and 5th in Bundaberg.

    We're thrilled to announce that table bookings are now available for
    you to sell your used radio and electronic equipment. This is a great
    opportunity to declutter your shack and find good homes for your
    unwanted gear. Whether you're into vintage radios, cutting-edge
    transceivers, or experimenting with the latest SDR technology, there's
    a spot for you at the Bundaberg WIA Convention and HamFest.

    The event promises to be a great opportunity to buy and sell new and
    used equipment but also an amazing weekend for visitors to the
    Bundaberg region. Network with other amateurs from all over Australia
    and from as far as New Zealand who will be attending the weekend.

    To secure your spot, book your table now. Spaces are limited so get in
    early!

    So, VK stations, mark your calendars for May 4th and 5th and book your
    tables for the 2024 Bundaberg WIA Convention and HamFest.

    This is David VK4DN from the Bundy Amateur Radio Club. 73.



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    DONT USE REGIONS FROM HERE ON IN


    Chris Deacon, G4IFX has been awarded a PhD from the University of Bath
    after completing research on propagation.

    His thesis was entitled: "Radio propagation through ionospheric
    Sporadic-E". This part-time work over many years involved looking at
    Sporadic E on six metres, including making novel measurements of
    signal amplitude, phase and derived doppler, polarization and
    potentially time delay to discover the nature of sporadic-E
    propagation at VHF.

    researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/chris-deacon




    This years British Science Week runs from the 8th to the 17th of
    March with the theme of "Time."

    This event is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of amateur
    radio across the UK and for our G friends, the RSGB has some great
    activity ideas you could try at your local school, Scout or Guiding
    group or even local youth club.

    Go to the web page at rsgb.org/bsw

    In a similar idea of promoting our hobby, the RSGB is looking for
    four licensed radio amateurs to help raise the profile of wireless
    communication amongst young people across the UK. RSGB say they have
    had a good response, but still like to hear from prospective
    volunteers in Northern Ireland and Wales. These volunteer Youth
    Country Representatives will represent the RSGB at externally
    organised events and will plan and deliver outreach activities.




    6 O 3 T (six oh three tee) Somalia.

    Now that's a call sign we CAN'T tell you when you may hear it on your bands.

    During operational news with Felix, VK4FUQ he is always super careful
    not to promote a lot of DXpeditions which tend never to make it on air, let alone their destination.

    THIS DXPEDITION IS SUPPOSEDLY PLANNED FOR THE HORN OF AFRICA SOMAILAND.

    Somaliland is one of the 5 states that make up the de-facto country called Somalia. A difficult territory that has never been spared from war and famine.

    An exciting and complicated DXpedition, in a turbulent territory, and not always easy to activate.

    Date: TO BE ADVISED (due to security reasons)

    According to Club Log rankings, Somalia ranks 53rd on the most wanted List, and with various requests on digital modes, NA / JA area, 6 meters and low bands.

    The 6 O 3 T website is currently being prepared but check out the FaceBook group DxExplorer

    facebook.com/Dxexplorernet




    Radio Help Wanted: Must Like Geysers, Bison, and Helicopter Rides
    Occasionally, The ARRL Letter shares job postings that may be of interest to radio amateurs, and this one may be the most scenic job yet -- Yellowstone National Park is looking for three radio technicians, according to posts on the park's social media and a listing on the USAJobs website.

    Maybe beyond the reach of most of we VK hams but an interesting
    position non the less.

    The job listing says that the electronics technician (radio) positions are "located in Yellowstone National Park, in the Technology Services Radio Shop within the Administrative Division." There's even a provision for hazard-duty pay for mountaintop repeater helicopter flights and tower climbing.

    On Facebook, the park has some fun with their post: "Does your idea of taking your career to new heights involve flying in a helicopter to 10,000 foot peaks? How about hiking, snowmobiling, and even skiing your way to telecom sites? Well... do we have the job for you! We are hiring not one, but 3... yes THREE, Electronic Radio Technicians," it says.

    The lucky three who are hired for these positions will have their work cut out for them; the system has eight repeaters, more than 20 base stations, and 500 mobile and 1,000 portable radios -- all in a national park with 500 geysers and 5,900 American bison.





    Country music station K95.5 suddenly and unexpectedly went silent on
    the 15th of January, its tower in ruins in a field not far from its
    Oklahoma studio.

    As the Choctaw County Sheriff's office began its investigation,
    Will Payne of the Payne Media Group, which owns the station, assessed
    the scene, which he described in a Facebook video as one of
    "catastrophic damage." The video showed the tower down in the field,
    its guy wires cut as a means of taking its top section down. The
    nearby generator had been totalled. Wires were ripped out everywhere.
    The transmission lines, containing a wealth of copper on the inside,
    had been cut in several places.

    Thieves once again seeking copper.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
    Running on VHF and above BUT for just a couple of days.
    Yes ends the end of January.
    You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

    For more information visit the contest page at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

    (VK2TBC)

    -----------------------------------


    ARRL DX CW Contest Feb 17-18.
    Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

    New for 2024 is the Limited Antenna Overlay:

    Any Single Operator or Single Operator Unlimited entrant can enter
    using the Limited Antennas Overlay. Operation is limited to the use
    of single-element antennas such as a single vertical, end-fed wire,
    or a single dipole antenna no more than 50 feet above ground at its
    highest point. The antenna(s) may cover multiple bands, as in the case
    of multiband verticals and dipoles with fan or trap constructions.



    -------------

    NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE 24/25 Feb 2024.

    The rules have been tweaked slightly and are now up on the nzart
    website.

    Overseas contacts now score the same points as ZL contacts.

    The definition of acceptable overseas contacts has changed to
    "Oceania" as defined by the DXCC list.

    These changes have been made to better align the rules with the
    contest objective, simplify scoring and to use a defined geographical
    boundary.

    (nzart info line 482)


    ------------

    ARRL DX Phone Contest March 2-3
    Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX

    --------------

    CQ Pride 2024 Special Event!

    (With a few changes)

    CQ Pride will be transitioning from a contest format to a week long
    event with several special event callsigns for you to log.

    From Friday June 7th 0200 UTC to Monday June 17th 0200 UTC, the
    callsigns of Pride will be operating on various bands and modes.
    When you make contact with all four of the LGBT stations, the QSL
    cards join together to form a poster celebrating Pride!

    Representing the L of LGBT is station N6L, then N6G, N6B and finally
    the letter T is N6T. Of course the BIG one to listen and work,
    VI2024PRIDE

    (sourced to ARD)


    --------------


    Clipperton Island TX 5 S.

    Look for TX 5 S QRV for 16 days from January 17 on 160 to 6 meters
    using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, 6 meter EME, and active on various birds.

    QSL via the TX 5 S instructions.

    (sourced to eHam)

    --------------


    JORDAN.

    Nart, JY5IB has been active on 30 meters using FT8 around 0300 to
    0400z. QSL direct to home call JY 5 1B

    (arrl)

    --------------


    ARGENTINA.

    Members of AMSAT Argentina are QRV as LU7AA and with other call signs
    until January 28 celebrating the 34th anniversary of the launch of
    Satellite LO-19.

    Activity is on all bands using CW, SSB, SSTV, UHF voice, and on
    FM Satellites. QSL direct to LU 7 AA.

    (arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------------


    MEDIA WATCH

    Why We Need Shortwave 2.0

    AUTHOR KIM ANDREW ELLIOTT WRITES IN RADIOWORLD.COM

    The author argues that radio is the ultimate internet circumvention
    tool

    Because of the internets ability to move uncensored news and opinion
    within nations and across boundaries, it was seen as a transformative
    tool for democracy. But, soon enough, regimes developed methods to
    block information they did not want coming into their countries.
    Prominent among these are Chinas Great Firewall and
    Irans Halal Internet.

    Circumvention tools and VPNs have emerged to allow access to websites
    and platforms that have been blocked but circumvention tools work only
    as long data is on the lines. Radio is the ultimate internet
    circumvention tool because it is not the internet and this brings us
    to Shortwave 2.0.

    Shortwave 2.0 wont reach the audience of millions as in the heyday of
    shortwave decades ago. It will reach those who seek comprehensive,
    reliable, credible information. This audience will be technically
    inclined: radio amateurs, hobbyist shortwave listeners, scholars,
    technology enthusiasts and government and military personnel with
    access to receivers. They will pass on the information they have
    received to the larger audience.

    In the meantime it's suggested, international broadcasters should not
    close any more shortwave transmitting sites. They are essential
    facilities to relay information when the internet is blocked, which
    will happen in more places, more frequently and more thoroughly.

    On those transmitters, text should be broadcast at least once a week.
    This will enable early adopters to become familiar with the concept.
    It will also get the attention of receiver manufacturers and software
    developers.

    Shortwave 2.0. read Kim Andrew Elliott's article in radioworld.com


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)

    TUESDAYS STRONG DOUBLE SOLAR FLARE:

    What are the odds? Jan. 23rd two sunspots separated by 500,000 km
    erupted simultaneously. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the
    double ultraviolet flash AND the combined intensity of the two
    explosions reached category M5.1.

    This is called a "sympathetic solar flare.

    Sympathetic flares are pairs of flares that occur almost
    simultaneously in different active regions, not by chance,
    but because of some physical connection. A statistical analysis of
    such flares in 2002 proved that they are real and linked by magnetic
    loops in the sun's corona. An even bigger 40-year study of sympathetic
    flares found that the pairs can be separated by more than 90 in
    latitude.

    Tuesday's sympathetic flare caused a shortwave radio blackout over
    Australia and Indonesia: Ham radio operators and mariners may have
    noticed a loss of signal at frequencies below 30 MHz for as much as
    30 minutes after the flare's peak.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    IO-117 Code of Conduct

    A group of amateurs who regularly work the IO-117 satellite has worked
    to develop a code of conduct for using this popular digipeating
    resource.

    The purpose of the IO-117 Code of Conduct document is to provide
    suggested operational guidelines that will hopefully optimize
    everyones access to the limited resource single channel digipeater
    aboard IO-117. If better messaging discipline can be adopted as well
    as a better understanding of what operating techniques improve or
    diminish the success of a stations transmission being digipeated by
    IO-117, then the entire group of operators on an individual pass will
    benefit from implementing these standards.

    THE CODE OF CONDUCT INCLUDES:-

    LISTEN MORE TRANSMIT LESS

    STATIONS SHOULD USE THE MINIMAL POWER NECESSARY TO ACCESS THE
    SATELLITE.

    AVOID CALLING CQ MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 5 MINUTES.




    DIGITAL SMS FROM SPACE

    Newly launched Starlink satellites have successfully been put to the
    test, making text-messaging from space a reality for SpaceX.

    The test of the direct-to-device, or D2D, service took place on the
    10th of January using the network of T-Mobile USA.

    The company declared shortly afterward "The system works," adding that
    it has partnerships as well with mobile operators in Australia, Japan
    and Canada. Commercial availability is expected to begin later this
    year and the company is hoping voice, data and service for the
    Internet of Things will commence in 2025.

    Apple's iPhone already make this service available with the iPhone 14
    in partnership with satellite operator Globalstar.

    (ARNEWSLINE 2411)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Microwave Ambitions for GOLF Satellites

    Zach Metzinger, NZGO, AMSAT Director and Volunteer Engineer says
    AMSAT did have microwave capabilities in earlier satellites such as
    AO-10 and AO-40 and only a 1.2GHz downshifter on the newer CubeSats,
    that is the Fox series of satellites.

    GOLF (Greater Orbit Larger Footprint) satellites are currently under
    development.

    GOLF-TEE is the first of these satellites and is the technology
    demonstrator for the GOLF series, which is in turn the successor to
    the FOX satellites. GOLF-TEE will have more capability as AMSAT
    increase the capability and functionality of our satellites, including
    adding microwave bands.

    GOLF-TEE will have the usual 2m uplink and 70 cm downlink bands, but
    it will also have a 10 GHz downlink transmitter. AMSAT also use a S
    Software Defined Radio this will enable many simultaneous uplink
    bands, for example 1.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.7 GHz, etc. The whole system is
    very flexible. For example, the microwave antenna will support
    frequencies from 1 GHz to 26 GHz.

    (AMSAT-NA)




    All-Ham Axiom Crew Launched for Commercial Visit to ISS

    With retired NASA astronaut Michael Lpez-Alegra, KE5GTK, and
    Italian co-pilot Walter Villadei, IURWB, at the controls, flanked by
    Turkish mission specialists Alper Gezeravci, KJ5DIY, and Marcus Wandt
    of Sweden, KJ5COO, a SpaceX Falcon 9 thundered to life and climbed
    away from historic pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre atop a
    brilliant jet of flaming exhaust.

    Adding to the spectacle, the boosters first stage, heralded by twin
    sonic booms, flew itself back to a rocket-powered landing at the
    Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, chalking up SpaceXs 43rd landing
    in Florida and its 265th overall.

    A few minutes later, the Crew Dragon capsule was released to fly on
    its own. SpaceX Chief Engineer Bill Gerstenmaier radioed
    congratulations to the crew on a great ride to orbit. I think youre
    demonstrating the ultimate in reuse a reused commander, reused
    Dragon and a reused Falcon, he said.

    (AMSAT-NA)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN

    The FCC is giving greater privileges on 6 GHz to very low power
    devices.

    This spectrum will become "home of IOT"

    The rules for short-distance operation over high-connection speeds
    take effect on the 4th of March. Businesses including Amazon,
    Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and Google have been eager to make use of
    this part of the spectrum, which will become home for IOT, or
    internet of things, applications. These include wearable devices,
    short-range mobile hotspots, healthcare monitors, virtual reality
    devices and in-car connectivity.

    (ARNEWSLINE 2411)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian and New Zealand lights planned and advised to WIA :-

    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club -

    NZ 0001 Cape Campbell - - ZL6CC



    Amateur radio operators will have an opportunity to contact the USS Iowa during the ship's 81st anniversary celebration. USS Iowa (BB-61) is permanently moored at the National Museum of the Surface Navy in San Pedro, California, and was first commissioned during World War II on February 22, 1943.

    The on-air event will be held on February 22, from 1600 to 2400 UTC.

    The Battleship Iowa Amateur Radio Association (BIARA) will activate
    NI 6 BB the ship's original call sign, utilizing BIARA's amateur gear and a circa 1980s legacy station with an AN/URT-23 transmitter and an R-1051G/URR Navy receiver. To help operators looking for NI 6 BB, the band plan shown in this weeks WIA National News Text Edition, read on wia.org.au has been suggested to qualified associate operators. These bands have been screened to minimize conflict with other modes or known nets, but are subject to change due to existing traffic, contests, or band conditions. FT8 or FT4 operations will be on the standard frequencies for those modes.

    Band A1A/CW J3E/SSB

    40 meters 7.061 MHz 7.261 MHz
    30 meters 10.116 MHz ----------
    20 meters 14.061 MHz 14.261 MHz
    17 meters 18.073 MHz 18.161 MHz
    15 meters 21.061 MHz 21.361 MHz
    12 meters 24.900 MHz 24.943 MHz
    10 meters 28.061 MHz 28.361 MHz

    For updates and additional information, contact BIARA.

    (arrl)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Great ideas don't just grow in our own backyards!

    In the USA the Carole Perry Educator of the Year and the Gordon West
    Ambassador of the Year awards will be presented at the 2024 Orlando
    HamCation in February.

    Lewis Malchick, N2RQ, is the recipient of this year's Carole Perry
    Educator of the Year Award. Malchick is co-founder of the ARRL School
    Club Roundup, of which he's been active with for more than 25 years.
    He formerly taught chemistry at Brooklyn Tech High School, where he's
    an advisor to the school's Amateur Radio and Wireless Tech Club.
    Malchick is the trustee for the Stuyvesant High School Amateur Radio
    Club, chairperson of the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club
    Education Committee and has participated in five ARISS contacts.
    He's spent his lifetime educating children and adults about amateur
    radio.

    The 2024 Gordon West Ambassador of the Year Award winners are
    Fred, AB1OC, and Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB.

    The Kemmerer's hold Amateur Extra-class licenses and are active in the
    Nashua Area Radio Society promoting amateur radio instruction, youth
    outreach, and STEM education. Together, they've created and helped
    grow Ham Bootcamp, a program encouraging more than 900 hams to learn
    new skills. Their participation in STEM activities includes
    high-altitude balloon launches, foxhunts, and ARISS contacts for many
    schools.

    HamCation has been sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club, W4PLB,
    since 1946, and is held annually on the second weekend of February.

    (sourced to arrl letter)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.
    ATV SSTV and other forms such as YouTube.

    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2024 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.



    VK5 - SCARC history lesson Feb One 7.30pm (vk5dad)
    Seaford Meadows Scout Hall


    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)


    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Feb 2 02:32:36 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-02-04.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 FEBRUARY 4 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 FEBRUARY 4 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA's Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine Roger VK2ZRH. -

    WIA Board Member Chris VK3FY

    WIA's 2020 Technical Excellence Award winner Roger VK3KYY and the
    OpenGD77 radio firmware project.


    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    This is Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY on behalf of the Board of the
    Wireless Institute of Australia for VK1WIA National News.

    Today's Topics

    1. ACMA Assessor Accreditations are currently being sent out
    2. A reminder that the WIA AGM for 2024
    3. WIA Directors Club Visits
    4. WIA Merit Awards Nominations



    Topic 1
    On the 29th of January 2024, the Australian Communications and Media
    Authority or ACMA has begun issuing its Accreditations for the ACMA
    Assessor Accreditation. Those assessors who have previously applied to
    the ACMA should have begun to receive their notifications.

    Topic 2
    A friendly reminder that WIA AGM will be held on weekend of May 4th
    to 5th 2024 in Bundaberg Queensland. Those wishing to attend can look
    up details on the WIA website.
    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20231117-1/index.php

    Topic 3
    The WIA Board of Directors are happy to try and arrange Club visits
    either in person when they are in the area or virtually via a video
    conference. Clubs wishing to participate are urged to contact the
    WIA Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ.

    Topic 4
    Its time to submit your nominations for this year's WIA Merit Awards.
    Nominations close 31st March 2024 with the WIA Award recipients being
    announced at this years WIA AGM in May.

    This has been Chris VK3FY on behalf of the Board of the Wireless
    Institute of Australia for WIA National National News.



    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    For once, I have to speak to you seriously.

    For the two weeks leading up to last Monday, those involved in the production of the magazine worked industriously to prepare the pages of Amateur Radio Issue 1 to load to the printers computer server on deadline.

    The issues cover had been printed the previous week and lay awaiting for the guts to be printed.

    But. A hiccup, an unforeseen circumstance . . . blocked the way.

    So, it came to pass that . . . diligent efforts on Tuesday last averted, diverted, or inverted the threat and Issue 1 of Amateur Radio magazine rolled off the press on Wednesday, on time and ready for trucking to the mailing house and the newsagent distributors.

    This was achieved by . . . you may have guessed . . . working together.

    Talking about working together this issue, I must introduce to you someone new, whose role is to prepare the photographs for each issue, to balance the colours and clean up the images to achieve the best presentation.

    Phil White VK3 Mike Bravo, knowing that things could be better, stepped forward and volunteered to do this pre-press image processing for the magazine. After all, thats his day job! Give him a round of applause.

    We look forward to working together over 2024.

    So. This issues features focus on Pioneers of the past and Marketing the hobby.

    The technical feature is a transverter for the 134 gigahertz band from Andrew Anderson VK3 C V. Actually, it covers both 122 and 134 gigahertz! He invites you to join the action on the 2mm bands. You can build the system yourself. I am reliably informed that kits will be available thanks to the efforts of Tim Tuck VK2XAX and his XYL.

    How about that, another great example of Working Together

    More next week. Keep your eye out for:
    Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 92, Issue Number 1 for 2024.
    More guts. Less gab.
    Proudly produced and printed in Australia. Also available online.
    Always published to a schedule, never random.
    Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    DONT USE REGIONS FROM HERE ON IN


    In an effort to engage young hams, the ARRL board has approved two new
    initiatives. Full-time students aged 21 and younger are now eligible
    for a free membership. ARRL will also establish a Student Coding
    Competition in which students aged 21 and under will design software
    applications with awards up to $25,000.

    In addition ARRL approved a number of other items, including The
    reintroduction of ARRL Life Membership and 70+ Life Membership




    The creator of the protocol that eventually came to govern
    synchronized timekeeping on billions of devices around the planet
    has become a Silent Key.

    Computer scientist and unstoppable tinkerer Dave Mills, W3HCF, was a
    professor at the University of Delaware when he first tackled the
    question of how to synchronize the time on billions of devices around
    the world, including computers, switches, satellites, servers and
    clocks. He ultimately addressed this question through the development
    of Network Time Protocol, or NTP, which he introduced to the world as
    the internet began emerging as a global force.

    Dave became a Silent Key on the 17th of January.




    Radio and TV broadcasting, mobile communications and other elements of
    the so-called wireless revolution can have all their roots traced back
    to amateur radio, according to a recent article in the IEEE Xplore
    written by Theodore Rappaport, N 9 NB.

    Communications Magazine, IEEE Xplore's article, which is in Volume 61,
    Issue 11, credits amateur radio inventiveness that was incubated in
    the earliest amateur radio clubs growing on college campuses in the
    early 20th Century. It singles out the Wireless Telegraph Club on
    Columbia University's New York City campus, noting the student
    members' propensity for wireless experimentation -- and singles out
    one club member, Edwin Howard Armstrong, considered the father of
    FM radio.

    At the same time wireless enthusiasts were being born in Australia,
    the UK and elsewhere in the world.

    The article traces how the advent of FM led to the development of
    mobile phones and how amateurs' bottomless curiosity continues to be
    the driving spirit behind more and more inventive ways of
    communicating.




    To help fight pirate radio, the Federal Communications Commission
    hired four full-time people in fiscal 2023 and is in the process of
    hiring more.

    The FCC has also ordered six vehicles to support the hires with mobile
    direction-finding equipment. These six vehicles will be outfitted in
    the 2024 and 2025 calendar years and will include specialized
    hardware and software for the detection for pirate radio operators.

    The Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement or PIRATE Act,
    increased the maximum monetary penalties for pirate operators,
    those caps now are $119,000 per day and $2.4 million total.

    bit.ly/3Sc14B8




    Amelia Earhart's long-lost plane possibly detected by sonar
    16,000 feet underwater. This story sourced to CBS News America.

    Amelia Earhart's disappearance over the central Pacific Ocean 87 years ago remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. Countless theories about her fate have emerged in the decades since, but now a deep-sea exploration team searching for the wreckage of her small plane has provided another potential clue including a new video released Monday.

    Deep Sea Vision, a Charleston, South Carolina-based team, said this weekend that it had captured a sonar image in the Pacific Ocean that "appears to be Earhart's Lockheed 10-E Electra" aircraft.

    The company, which says it scanned over 5,200 square miles of the ocean floor starting in September, posted sonar images on social media that appear to show a plane-shaped object resting at the bottom of the sea. The 16-member team, which used a state-of-the-art underwater drone during the search, also released a new video of the expedition
    showing the team reviewing images taken by a submersible.

    "After an extensive deep-water search, a talented group of underwater archaeologists and marine robotics experts have unveiled a sonar image that may answer the greatest modern mystery the disappearance of Amelia Earhart," Deep Sea Vision wrote on Instagram.

    Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared on July 2, 1937, while flying over the Pacific Ocean during Earhart's attempt to become the first female aviator to circle the globe. They vanished without a trace, spurring the largest and most expensive search and rescue effort by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard in American history. Earhart and Noonan were declared dead two years later.

    Multiple deep-sea searches using high-tech equipment have tried but failed over the years to find Earhart's plane.

    Romeo told that his team's underwater "Hugin" submersible captured the sonar image of the aircraft-shaped object about 16,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean's surface less than 100 miles from Howland Island, where Earhart and Noonan were supposed to stop and refuel before they vanished.

    Romeo's team didn't find the image until about three months into the trip, and at that stage it was impractical to turn back, so they
    intend to return for a closer look.

    Sonar experts say that only a closer look for details matching Earhart's Lockheed aircraft would provide definitive proof.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    ARRL DX CW Contest Feb 17-18.
    Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

    New for 2024 is the Limited Antenna Overlay:

    Any Single Operator or Single Operator Unlimited entrant can enter
    using the Limited Antennas Overlay. Operation is limited to the use
    of single-element antennas such as a single vertical, end-fed wire,
    or a single dipole antenna no more than 50 feet above ground at its
    highest point. The antenna(s) may cover multiple bands, as in the case
    of multiband verticals and dipoles with fan or trap constructions.

    -------------

    NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE 24/25 Feb 2024.

    The rules have been tweaked slightly and are now up on the nzart
    website.

    Overseas contacts now score the same points as ZL contacts.

    The definition of acceptable overseas contacts has changed to
    "Oceania" as defined by the DXCC list.

    These changes have been made to better align the rules with the
    contest objective, simplify scoring and to use a defined geographical
    boundary.

    (nzart info line 482)

    ------------

    ARRL DX Phone Contest March 2-3
    Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.


    ----------------------------------------------------


    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st 2024

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    --------------

    February 8 marks the 61st anniversary of the YL System, known as the
    YL International Single Side-band System founded by Vera Tallman
    K4ICA (SK), in 1963.

    The YLISSB net operates on 14.332 MHz every day of the year.

    February 8 - 11, special event station K4ICA will operate on
    14.240 - 14.340 MHz and 7.230 - 7.260 MHz to commemorate the
    system's anniversary.

    (sourced to arrl)


    --------------

    MOROCCO.

    Yannick, F6FYD is QRV as CN 2 YD until March 15.

    --------------


    THE VAAL DAM CELEBRATES ITS 85TH BIRTHDAY

    The Sasolburg ARC will be operating ZS 85 VDAM now to 1 April 2024
    to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the opening of the Vaal Dam.

    There is a special QSL Card available - send your QSL card to the
    Sasolburg ARC to receive the ZS 85 VDAM QSL Card.

    --------------


    NAMIBIA.

    QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April.
    Activity is on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the
    world able to use that band.

    V51WH.

    QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH

    (eHam)



    --------------


    MALAWI.

    Don, 7Q6M is QRV until May 13, 2024 and has also been active on 160
    meters. QSL via LoTW.


    --------------

    --------------

    In the World of DX, be listening for members of the Zurich City Police
    Radio Amateur Club throughout the year, operating as HB 2 SP the club
    is marking its 20th anniversary. Unfortunately no Bureau QSL's but you
    can use Logbook Of The World, and HB20SP runs until December 31.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine 2410)


    --------------



    MEDIA WATCH

    New Indian Documentary is a Collection of Nostalgic Stories of Radio
    Enthusiasts:

    Librarian Vijay Deodhar's radio has shut shop.

    The Pune resident calls one technician after another, disappointed
    each time they tell him that they have moved on; they dont repair
    radios anymore. Its a fitting way to start My Radio My Life, a film
    by Pune-based TimeCap Documentaries, which as its co-founder, and the
    film's director-producer Makarand Waikar, says, was launched during
    the pandemic to document "traditions and habits that are going to
    vanish soon".

    Its release also perfectly timed as World Radio Day is set to be
    celebrated on February 13. The day was announced in 2011 by UNESCO
    and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012 as a UN International
    Day. Radio, as a technology, science, means of communications and
    system of programming audio elements has roots all the way back to the
    1800s so it can be safely said that the medium is already well into
    its second century, says the UNESCO site, and this years theme is
    A Century of Informing, Entertaining, and Educating.

    Waikars documentary is a collection of nostalgic stories of radio
    enthusiasts, features restorers, announcers, and of course, listeners.

    The treatment is one that focuses on a slow life, accentuated by
    memories shared by men and women who saw the radio as a friend.
    It [the film] works as a time capsule. Thats why this documentary is
    important to have made; it can exist as part of archives all over the
    world, because the radio affected the lives of so many people.

    mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/all-hail-the-radio-star-23332113

    (eHam)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23


    There are no prizes, no awards, no certificates - really nothing
    except bragging rights - in a newly organized special interest group
    that focuses instead on activations at racing events - any kind of
    racing events.

    Races on the Air is a program that is purely for fun, not for points.

    Hams are being encouraged to activate from any type of formal race,
    whether the competitors are bicycles, horses, boats, airplanes,
    cars - even off-road motorsport. The objective is to show amateur
    radio in action and to increase its visibility at places where the
    public gathers.

    Callers simply use "CQ ROTA" or "CQ Racing on the Air" to attract
    attention to whoever is on the bands. Attracting attention at the
    event itself is as easy as finding a place to set up.

    The Racing on the Air forum on the WorldWide DX Radio site has all the
    details at worldwidedx.com Even locations such as the Indianapolis
    Motor Speedway, which already has an association with ham radio
    activations, are eligible to participate.

    The ROTA organizers ask only that hams post the details of their
    planned activation, including modes and frequencies, and then upload
    the log afterward to their website.

    Ladies and gentlemen, start your rigs.

    (arnewsline 2413)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF
    WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www@wia.org.au
    users.mackay.net.au/~ron/
    homingin.com
    ardf.org.au

    "Find Your Food Fox Hunt and Social.

    A neat idea, and challenge, for all hungry Fox Hunters, or wannabe
    Fox Hunters or Socialites comes out of South Africa where on Friday
    afternoon 2 February we understand a VHF Fox ran. We also understand
    that if you fond the Fox, you Fond Your Food, which is pretty
    awesome.

    A slight twist in this cunning Foxes repertoire.

    (sourced to SARL news)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    I was awarded the WIA Technical Excellence Award for this firmware in 2020, because in
    addition to making a load of Chinese radios Ham friendly, also has features specifically to make it easy to use by blind or partially sighted operators because
    of its extensive use of voice prompts.



    This is Roger VK3KYY, with news from the OpenGD77 radio firmware
    project.

    OpenGD77 is replacement radio firmware, for many Chinese VHF/UHF
    radios, that is designed from the ground up for Ham radio use.
    This firmware is mainly written by me Roger VK3KYY, with help from
    F1RMB and G4EML.

    Last week we released the first version of the firmware, for the
    TYT MD-2017 and Retevis RT-82, which are dual band, VHF/UHF FM and
    DMR handhelds.

    This brings the total number of supported radios to 11

    All radios have the same functionality when running the OpenGD77
    firmware, including Voice Prompts for blind and partially sighted
    operators, AMSAT satellite prediction, tracking, and Doppler shift
    correction for satellite operation, FM APRS transmission, and many
    other features specifically designed for Ham radio operation.

    All radios running the OpenGD77 firmware use the same CPS and
    codeplug, meaning you dont need to make a different codeplug for
    each radio, so if you have any of the following radios:

    Radioddity GD-77 or GD-77S,

    Baofeng DM-1801, RD-5R, DM-5R Version 2 or DM-1701

    TYT MD-2017, MD-UV380, MD-UV390 or MD-9600

    Retevis RT-82, RT-84 or RT-90

    Visit the OpenGD77 website, at OpenGD77.com

    73 from me, Roger VK3KYY





    ROC-HAM Radio Network ask the question, "Do you like Pie?"

    Well I am talking Raspberry Pi.

    The official Raspberry Pi Net takes place each Sunday at 22:00 UTC on
    the ROC-HAM EchoLink Conference node 531091.

    Oh and ROC-HAM? it's the Ham Radio network emanating from Rochester
    New York State in the USA.

    ( and on AllStar node 2585, 47620, 47918, 531310 )

    Join W2JLD/John, GW8SZL/Dave, or W4RFJ/Chief each Sunday where they
    talk about Raspberry Pis, Linux, AllStar, Supermon, programming and
    everything else Raspberry Pi.

    With a wide cast of characters and plenty of Pi to go around, join in
    as they sit back and enjoy great fellowship and most of all have fun
    while learning something new. They often have a question and topic to
    get the net started. Loads of info is to be had.

    You bring the coffee, they will supply the Pi....

    roc-ham.net/

    (ard)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    OC-047

    Bernhard will be active again as H44MS in the Solomon Islands
    from Malaita, IOTA Number OC-047 from around the 10th of February
    every day on 160-6 metres until the 25th of April.

    See QRZ.com for QSL details.


    (arnewsline 2413)



    NA-011

    For the last two weeks of January, the Vatican City State flag flapped
    in the strong sea breeze on Clipperton Island, one of the most
    isolated islands in the world, IOTA number NA-011.

    Francesco Valsecchi, an Italian who operates the amateur radio call
    sign of Vatican City, HV 0 A, brought the flag. It was the first time
    the Vatican flag has ever been unfurled on such a mission, and the
    first time Vatican City made radio contact with the island.

    Valsecchi and more than a dozen others travelled to the desolate coral
    atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean as part of an international
    expedition for long-distance amateur radio operators and listeners.

    (eHam)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MEDICAL

    EI 25 HEAL On the Air for WORLD CANCER DAY FEB FOUR.

    Anthony based in Ireland is operating a special callsign EI25HEAL.

    This callsign is dedicated to all those heal from cancer and not
    forgetting loved ones who have passed away. He will be active on the
    20m, 15m, and 40m bands.

    Special QSL cards are available and any donations from the QSL cards
    go to his cancer charity.

    ei9gmbqsl.weebly.com/



    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is
    the first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers
    Club of Australia's February bulletin to go to air, our first for this
    year..

    This month as well as the latest Club news

    Ill be discussing Making the connection the story of the London
    Underground railway map.

    This will be followed by Part 2 on the history of the transistor and
    its early development.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on the
    RAOTC website
    raotc.org.au
    or just Google RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the audio
    file at any time from today from the club website.

    Members and Friends of the RAOTC in Perth are reminded that the next
    lunchtime meeting at the Woodbridge Hotel, East Guildford is on
    Tuesday February 13th. All are welcome, see the Club website for
    full details.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the February RAOTC bulletin,
    enjoy the program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    USE FEB 4



    Thank you Col

    In line with the WIAs efforts in encouraging youth to participate in our hobby, the WIA has established our first radio bank in VK6.

    The bank consists of various radios including HF rigs, commercial VHF/UHF radios capable of access to 2m and 70cm and a variety of accessories such as power supplies, coax, etc.

    The goal is to get youth on air with a minimum of expense.

    The first bank has been established by Steve VK6SJ and Stu VK6BG both whom started in this hobby as students and appreciate the value of encouragement.

    They were the recipient of similar assistance in their youth from older hams.

    We hope that this will be the start of similar initiatives from clubs and others to help provide an easier entry to our hobby.

    For VK1WIA National News, I'm Alec, VK2MV in Sydney. Now back to you Col

    email Steve VK6SJ at Steve@kennedy-sj.com.au or call on mobile 0447767518 (preferably outside WA normal business hours of 0800 to 1600 WST).





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.
    ATV SSTV and other forms such as YouTube.

    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    The RSGB has released a further three presentations, on YouTube,
    from its 2023 Convention.

    In the first, Professor Simon Watts, G3XXH gives a fascinating
    presentation about VHF airborne radar and the design and performance
    of these early systems in World War II. The other two presentations
    focus on the World Radiosport Team Championship which the UK will be
    hosting in 2026 At the RSGB Convention, WRTC Chair Mark Haynes, M0DXR
    gave an overview of what is being planned and how people can get
    involved either as a spectator, volunteer, competitor or referee.
    John Warburton, G4IRN gave his perspective on what it is like to be a
    WRTC referee.

    You can see all of these presentations on the RSGB YouTube channel.

    youtube.com/theRSGB

    (rsgb)



    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.


    TODAY

    VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
    at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
    barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)


    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Feb 8 15:38:50 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-02-11.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 FEBRUARY 11 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 FEBRUARY 11 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    PETER SCHRADER VK4EA DIRECTOR WITH ALL THE LATEST GOING ON, AT
    BOARD LEVEL .-

    ROGER HARRISON WITH ALL THE LATEST GOING IN, TO AR MAGAZINE . -

    AND A HUGE THANK YOU GOES OUT TO -- OUT TO YOU! FOR READING, TUNING,
    VIEWING THIS WEEKS WIA NEWS, ISSUE FOR WEEK COMMENCING FEBRUARY 11
    2024.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y


    PETER SCHRADER VK4EA DIRECTOR

    Gidday this Peter, VK4EA, recording this on Mulgumpin, Eastern Moreton Bay, on behalf of the W I A Board.

    This week I received my general assessor acreditation from the A C M A, so it appears the transition of the exam service from the A M Cto the A C M A is happening
    smoothly. The A C M A has given notice of an information session showing off the
    new online assessment portal for those that missed the first sessions, next session
    is the 19th of February. Also note, all of the exams conducted from the changeover
    date will be free.

    Some new information re High Power permits, the A C M A have advised that all High
    Power permit holders will have to re-apply via the Scientific License pathway, note,
    its not a requirement to acquire a Scientific License, rather the application process follows the same path as the Scientific License. We understand a high power
    permit holder has already gone through the process and has been successful in renewing their high power permit.

    And finally I understand Lee Moyle, our illustrious vice president, has visited the
    Ballarat Hamfest last weekend and answered a number of questions in relation to the
    class license and what the W I A are doing. We invite any organisation holding an
    event to invite one of us along for a chat. Im planning on attending the Redcliffe
    & Districts Radio Club REDFEST, 6th of April, helping the Brisbane VHF Group deliver
    a presentation on microwave equipment and operating but also available for any queries what what the W I A are doing.

    Cheers for now and farewell from Mulgumpin, this has been Peter, VK4EA, on behalf of
    the W I A board.





    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

    Dudes! A new year has begun and were back in the saddle . . . again.

    But, Ill not foist upon you the strains of Back in the Saddle Again from that ancient RomCom movie, Sleepless in Seattle.

    I believe that the first issue for this year is now appearing in saddle bags here and there. Or, it is at least wending its way to post boxes across the country in the saddle bags of Australia Post. Also appearing in newsagents and available online since Thursday last.

    On last weeks broadcast, I gave you a few snippets, a little taste (so to speak), of what to expect in this issue. Today, I have pretty much the main course.

    Under our Pioneers of the past theme, the leading feature is on Pioneering women in amateur radio, compiled by Jen Wardrop VK3WQ. She reveals the goss on the Callawadda Clan and the matriarch of the Moncurs.

    Amid details on the pioneering efforts of leading women of the past, theres some wry amusement with a little vivant verse.

    Naturally, Jen covers the foundation of ALARA the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association, to advocate for all women engaged in the amateur service.

    I understand that the founding females had the sense to sidestep an early proposal for the name, rejecting Ladies Amateur Service Association . . . lassa . . . too close to the Scottish colloquialism, lassie, apparently. Jen didnt cover that, its something from the Harrison family archives. Removes tongue from cheek.

    Justin VK7TW details the life and times of Tasmanian telephony, telegraphy, and wireless pioneer, Frederick Medhurst, whose name is woven into the very fabric of the annals of the WIA Tasmanian Division.

    Heres a question how can amateurs market amateur radio to others?

    Well, WIA ex-president Phil Wait VK2ASD tackles this thorny question . . . using artificial intelligence, plus a little help from friends. Look for the picture that heads the article showing a happy ham at home in a well-appointed shack. But . . . waaiit a minute! Is that gear for real?

    Amusement aside, marketing our hobby presents serious challenges.

    Moving on In the why is it so? department, Dr George Galanis VK3EIP, has an intriguing article on why dish antenna patterns have lobes. Dont miss Of lobes and dishes.

    Lou VK3AQZ completes more modules for his 80-40 and 20 metre rig for the road.

    For contesters, we have a report of last years Remembrance Day contest and some things to note about the Contest Champion rules.

    Be sure to catch the nail-biting story on how amateur radio survived W-R-C 23, by Dale VK1DSH and Peter VK2EMR.

    At this point, I must address a complaint from a reader.

    Last week, Greg Bain VK2OX, wrote to me, complaining as follows quote You and the team still cause me a problem . . . not enough time . . . with an abundance of high quality material to read. Keep up the great work end of quote.

    Thanks Greg, I can only promise that there is more pain coming.
    Issue 1 of Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 92.
    More guts. Less gab.
    Proudly produced and printed in Australia.
    Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.





    OUR VERY LAST WEEK AS WE KNOW IT.

    ACMA makes new amateur radio arrangements. These include changes to
    licensing, qualifications, call signs, charges, examination assessors
    and overseas visiting amateurs.

    On Monday 19 February the following aspects of the new arrangements
    will commence:

    the Radiocommunications (Amateur Stations) Class Licence 2023 (amateur class licence)Link

    revised qualifications framework

    new call sign arrangements

    ACMA allocating qualification and call sign services

    ACMA receiving accredited assessor applications

    revised arrangements for overseas visiting amateurs.

    Just again, to make sure we are all clear on what these changes from next week mean may I strongly suggest you revisit the WIA News Releases from December last year and the ACMA web page.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2023/20231212-1/index.php

    tinyurl.com/44hp46sd


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
    ICQPodcast, Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources
    of the WIA.

    Heil Sound Donates Equipment to W1AW:

    The Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, has received a generous donation of equipment from the Heil Ham Radio division of Heil Sound.

    The company's founder, Bob Heil, K9EID, is a pioneering audio engineer and avid radio amateur. At his direction, the company donated four Heil Pro Set Elite HC-6 headsets, three Heil Pro Set 3 stereo headphones, two Heil FS-3 press-to-talk foot switches, one Heil iCM microphone, one Heil PR 30 microphone, and various adapters. The equipment has been placed into service at the station for use by visiting operators, and for the voice bulletins transmitted each weekday evening by W1AW.

    W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says the gear is going to be of great use. "We are fortunate to host many visiting operators each year, but all that use takes a toll on the gear," he said. "The generosity of Heil Ham Radio to help us keep the equipment fresh is greatly appreciated."




    UK amateur radio licences are changing, as previously noted by OFCOM
    and as a result their amateur radio licence examinations will need to
    change to reflect these changes.

    The scale of the licence changes will have an impact on both
    licensing and operating.

    Ofcom is currently reviewing representations and will publish its
    final decision, including the final version of the licence, before
    February 21.

    In parallel with the Ofcom consultation and representation periods,
    RSGB have been working on the syllabus and published an early draft
    on the RSGB web site. They expect the final version of the syllabus
    to be ready a few weeks after Ofcom publishes the final version of
    the licence and we have also had time to consider comments from
    trainers.

    However the new licence will come into effect before work on the
    syllabus and examination question bank is completed. RSGB have,
    sought and gained approval from Ofcom to continue to examine to the
    current licence conditions for a period of six months following the
    publication of the new licence.




    Young DXPeditioners Prep for Guyana

    A quartet of four young friends - all in their 20s, all seasoned DXpeditioners - can at last fulfil the dream they have shared since before the pandemic shut that dream down: A trip to Guyana to activate as 8R7X.

    Whoever believes there arent enough young amateurs in the hobby need only look at this group of active amateurs, which includes some already prominent and involved young hams: Philipp Springer, DK6SP, Jamie Williams MSDV, Sven Lovric, DJ4MX and Tomi Varro HA8RT. Listen for them from the 14th to the 24th of February. They will be operating CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY on the HF bands.

    Co-leader Philipp has been a ham since the age of 10 (so half his life already!) and is active in the IARU 1 Youth Working Group and has served on the board of the Worldwide Radio Operators Foundation. He and Tomi HA8RT were on the youth team Y82D at the WRTC 2018 in Germany.




    New Indian Documentary is a Collection of Nostalgic Stories of Radio
    Enthusiasts:

    Librarian Vijay Deodhar's radio has shut shop.

    The Pune resident calls one technician after another, disappointed
    each time they tell him that they have moved on; they dont repair
    radios anymore. Its a fitting way to start My Radio My Life, a film
    by Pune-based TimeCap Documentaries, which as its co-founder, and the
    film's director-producer Makarand Waikar, says, was launched during
    the pandemic to document "traditions and habits that are going to
    vanish soon".

    Its release also perfectly timed as World Radio Day is set to be
    celebrated on February 13. The day was announced in 2011 by UNESCO
    and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012 as a UN International
    Day. Radio, as a technology, science, means of communications and
    system of programming audio elements has roots all the way back to the
    1800s so it can be safely said that the medium is already well into
    its second century, says the UNESCO site, and this years theme is
    A Century of Informing, Entertaining, and Educating.

    Waikars documentary is a collection of nostalgic stories of radio
    enthusiasts, features restorers, announcers, and of course, listeners.

    The treatment is one that focuses on a slow life, accentuated by
    memories shared by men and women who saw the radio as a friend.
    It [the film] works as a time capsule. Thats why this documentary is
    important to have made; it can exist as part of archives all over the
    world, because the radio affected the lives of so many people.

    mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/all-hail-the-radio-star-23332113

    (eHam)




    Thieves have been known to target radio towers for their copper.
    Only last month WIA National News reported on copper thieves toppling
    the tower of Payne Media Group's country K95.5 in the USA,
    knocking the station off the air and causing nearly half a million
    dollars in damage, but this one 'takes the cake' or should that be
    this one 'takes the TOWER.'

    Thieves have toppled and stolen the 200-foot tower of classic hits
    WJLX-AM in Jasper, Alabama. The theft was discovered late last week
    and also included the transmitter and other equipment.

    (Geography 101: - Jasper is about an hour and a halfs drive from
    Huntsville where the Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio
    NewsLine Young Ham of the Year award is traditionally presented
    during the Huntsville Hamfest.)

    Station owner and GM Brett Elmore broke the news saying:-

    "I have heard of thieves in this area stealing anything, but this one
    takes the cake, my bush hog crew went down to a tower site we have,
    When they arrived, they called and notified me that not only was my
    building vandalized, but my TWO HUNDRED FOOT TOWER WAS GONE! They
    stole every piece of equipment out of the building, cut the guy wires
    and SOMEHOW managed to down AND REMOVE the 200 foot tower and take it
    from the property.

    Jasper Police is investigating but if you see a strange new tower
    'pop up' call the Jasper Police Department at 205-221-2121.

    tinyurl.com/2p8sx9me


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    DUST THOSE KEYS OFF FOR NEXT WEEKEND:-

    ARRL DX CW Contest Feb 17-18.
    Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

    New for 2024 is the Limited Antenna Overlay, an interesting twist
    to this long running ARRL contest.

    Any Single Operator or Single Operator Unlimited entrant can enter
    using the Limited Antennas Overlay. Operation is limited to the use
    of single-element antennas such as a single vertical, end-fed wire,
    or a single dipole antenna no more than 50 feet above ground at its
    highest point. The antenna(s) may cover multiple bands, as in the case
    of multiband verticals and dipoles with fan or trap constructions.


    -------------


    NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE 24/25 Feb 2024.

    The rules have been tweaked slightly and are now up on the nzart
    website.

    The definition of acceptable overseas contacts has changed to
    "Oceania" as defined by the DXCC list.

    These changes have been made to better align the rules with the
    contest objective, simplify scoring and to use a defined geographical
    boundary.

    (nzart info line 482)

    ------------

    ARRL DX Phone Contest March 2-3, yes the Phone version of next
    weekends CW section.

    Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st 2024

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18 2024

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    --------------

    TURKEY.

    Special event station TC 6 EQ is QRV until February 29 to commemorate
    the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey on February 6, 2023.
    QSL via LoTW.

    (ARRL)

    --------------

    Listen throughout the new year for the special callsign 9 A 1 RKZ
    marking the 100th anniversary of the Radioklub Zagreb which was
    founded the 24th of March 1924 in Croatia

    QSL via 9A1ADE.

    (ARNewsLine 2410)


    --------------


    ESWATINI (KINGDOM OF)

    Hans, 3 DA 0 AQ has been QRV on 15 meters using digital modes between
    1800 and 2000z.

    Eswatini is also incorrectly referred to by its former official name
    Swaziland, a landlocked country in Southern Africa.

    3 DA 0 AQ, QSL via EA5GL.

    (sourced to arrl)

    --------------

    INTO 160 METER DX?

    LISTEN UP.

    ECUADOR.

    Rick is QRV as HC1MD/2 and is generally active from 0100 to 0300z
    and will soon be QRV on 160 meters using FT8.

    QSL via K 8 LJG.

    (sourced to arrl)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)

    Northern Arizona DX Association will be continuing with year four of the 10-year special event countdown to the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. This annual 9-day event is held each February through to the 2030 anniversary.

    This year's event is taking place February 10-18 (UTC).

    Club members will be operating from Lowell Observatory and their home QTHs using the special event callsign W7P. Again, this will feature a new QSL card. The annual cards have subjects cantered around Clyde Tombaugh, his discovery, the moons of Pluto, some of his early telescopes, lenses used, etc., with lots of great information.

    Doug Tombaugh N3PDT, Clyde Tombaugh's nephew, will be operating during
    the event as W7P/0 and a contact with Doug or his team counts as an
    additional endorsement on the certificate that can be used as a wild
    card for any previous year.

    nadxa.com/w7p_2030_2024.html

    (nadxa)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    The First Amateur Radio Station on the Moon is JS 1 YMG

    The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully landed their Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) on January 19, 2024. Just before touchdown, SLIM released two small lunar surface probes, LEV-1 and LEV-2.

    LEV-2 collects data while moving on the lunar surface, and LEV-1 receives the data.

    The JAXA Ham Radio Club (JHRC), JQ1ZVI, secured amateur radio license JS1YMG for LEV-1, which has been transmitting Morse code on 437.41 MHz since January 19. The probe uses a 1 W UHF antenna with circular polarization and is transmitting "matters related to amateur business."

    Moreover, the transmission of UHF band radio waves from LEV-1 as part of outreach efforts has encouraged participation from amateur radio operators globally, and JAXA have been receiving reports of successful
    signal receptions. This initiative provided an opportunity for the public to be directly engaged in lunar exploration missions. JAXA
    extended sincere gratitude to everyone involved in the LEV-1 mission.

    SLIM was launched on September 6, 2023, and landed on January 19, 2024, with the mission of analysing the composition of rocks to aid research about the origin of the moon. SLIM's landing made Japan the fifth country to achieve a soft touchdown on the moon. The landing was achieved with exceptional precision -- within 180 feet of its targeted touchdown location.

    (arrl - amsat-na)




    After just over six years in orbit, Fox-1D, designated as
    AMSAT-OSCAR 92 (AO-92), re-entered the Earth's atmosphere early Feb.

    AO-92 was a 1U CubeSat developed and built by AMSAT. It carried a
    single-channel transponder for mode U/v in FM and also had an L-band
    converter which allowed the FM transponder to be switched to an uplink
    in the 23 cm band.

    The distance record on AO-92's U/v mode was 5,011 km - a transatlantic
    QSO between F4DXV and VE1VOX that took place on August 10, 2020. The
    record via the L/v mode was 4,202 km between OA4/XQ3SA and XE1MEX on
    June 3, also 2020.

    By every measure, AO-92 was a tremendously successful amateur radio
    satellite, providing educational and research benefits to AMSAT's
    university partners, as well as providing several years of reliable
    FM communication for amateurs. Its useful life far exceeded the
    average operational lifespan for commercial or educational CubeSats.

    [ANS}




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    I have mentioned Elmers in a previous news contribution.

    What are they?

    Say the word Elmer to a non-Ham and two thoughts spring to mind: glue for primary school students and a bald-headed rabbit hunter who has trouble pronouncing his Rs.

    In our hobby, Elmers hold a high place of esteem.

    The word means an experienced operator who takes a novice under their wing to give them guidance and answers to the thousands of questions that confront the newbie.

    The word within the Ham world has relatively recent origins.

    It first appeared in a 1971 QST article by Rod Newkirk, W 9 B R D, in which he calls out how it is common for an eager student to lose interest in the hobby once their mentor moves away.

    He wrote, Too frequently one hears a sad story in this little nutshell: Oh, I almost got a ticket, too, but Elmer, W9XYZ, moved away and I kind of lost interest.'

    Lets prevent this from happening to us and encourage young, prospective and new Hams to reach out for an Elmer.

    How can we do this? I encourage clubs to have a YOTA coordinator role for those who dont have one.

    Part of that role may be to gather and keep information about what special interests members may have, and are willing to share their knowledge in that interest with others, including us youth.

    I am lucky to say I have a few Hams who are my Elmers.

    Thank you, you know who you are.

    For VK1WIA National News, I'm Alec, VK2MV in Sydney.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    AF-028

    Not the best place in the world at the moment but YEMEN is on air.

    Vlad is QRV as 7 O 2 WX (Seven Oh Two wx) from Socotra Island
    IOTA AF-028, until Tomorrow February 12 on 160, 80, and 40 meters.
    QSL via IZ 8 CCW.

    (arrl)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian and New Zealand lights planned and advised to WIA :-

    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club -

    NZ 0001 Cape Campbell - - ZL6CC

    UP PERISCOPE!

    February 17 marks the 160th anniversary of the sinking of the
    USS Housatonic by the H.L. Hunley submarine.

    The event took place in 1864 in Charleston, South Carolina, and was
    the first successful sinking of a warship by a submarine.

    The Trident Amateur Radio Club will commemorate the submarine by
    operating special event station N 4 HLH on Saturday, February 17
    from Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island from 3pm UTC until 7pm UTC.

    Proposed frequencies are 7.117 (CW), 7.262, and 14.262, as well as
    28.462 MHz. A QSL card will be available upon receipt of a SASE for
    US requests and a SAE with $2 US for international requests.

    (sourced to arrl letter)




    Although maritime use of Morse Code is pretty much only found in
    history books these days, radio listeners around the world enjoyed
    a tribute recently to that long-gone practice.

    You'll recall several weeks back we told you of the challenge - as
    radio listeners copied a series of Morse Code messages that employed
    methods once used by Cold War-era stations. Numbers in clusters of
    five were sent over commercial HF frequencies using RTTY and CW from
    historic maritime California station KPH.

    This was the third such cryptography event by members of the Maritime
    Radio Historical Society, which was created in 1999 to preserve the
    tradition of maritime Morse Code.

    The society estimates that about 150 people participated from around
    the seven seas.

    Of course the society doesn't have to wait for one of its events to
    send Morse Code. Volunteers get on the air on the society's amateur
    station K6KPH where they send CW the old-fashioned way - by hand.

    (wia - ARNewsLine 2414)




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    2024 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.


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)


    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Mar 1 14:24:12 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-03-03.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 MARCH 3 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 3 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    David VK4DN from the Bundy Amateur Radio club with further on
    the WIA Convention Expo and HamFest. -

    WIA President Scott Williams VK3KJ talks 'club insurance'.




    PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB




    CQ CQ - calling All VK Stations!

    Gidday! I'm David, VK4DN from the Bundy Amateur Radio club!

    Just a reminder that the WIA Convention Expo and HamFest happening
    here in Bundaberg is now less than 10 weeks away!!

    If you are interested in setting up a display with items for sale or
    to promote your business or special interest, now is a good time to
    reserve your spot!

    The weekend of Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th promises to be an
    amazing weekend attracting amateurs from all over Australia!

    Make contact with the Secretary of the Bundy Amateur Radio Club to
    book your display.

    secretary@barc.asn.au

    73 from David VK4DN - Bundaberg Amateur Radio club.





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA President, Scott Williams (VK3KJ) and welcome to all l
    Listeners wherever you might be to the National News Broadcast this
    week.

    As many of our WIA Affiliated Clubs are aware, on 1 April each year
    sees the commencement of the new insurance period for those Affiliated
    Clubs who have progressed Liability Insurance and other insurances
    through the WIA preferred insurance partner in GippsInsure. Around 130
    Affiliated Clubs hold some type of insurance coverage through
    GippsInsure ranging from Public & Products Liability, Association
    Liability, Professional Indemnity, Management Liability, Volunteer
    Workers Insurance, General Property Insurance to name a few.

    GippsInsure will be in contact with all Affiliated Clubs who hold
    insurance shortly to commence to renewal process for this year.

    The WIA is aware that not all insurance requirements and activities of
    clubs can be satisfied by the general Public & Product Liability
    Insurance that GippsInsure has put in place with the current
    Underwriter. GippsInsure continues to go to market approaching
    different Underwriters, continually looking for enhanced policy
    conditions and additional insurance coverage. The difficulty is that
    Underwriters have an appetite for a certain amount of risk only and of
    course this is balanced against the premiums that are charged. Despite
    GippsInsure uses it best endeavours to negotiate the best outcomes for
    all Affiliated Clubs, the reality is there are some activities that
    the Underwriters will just not insure under a general policy.

    The arrangement with GippsInsure continues to be price attractive and
    enables clubs to consolidate their insurance needs, making
    administration of insurance simpler.

    All Clubs are encouraged to carefully consider your insurance
    requirements and ensure adequate insurance is in place commensurate
    with your activities.

    Thats it for me this week and this has been Scott Williams,
    WIA President on behalf of the WIA Board Best Wishes.






    ACMA




    ALARA












    ________________________________________________




    DISCUSSION POINT




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ICQPodcast,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    HOUSTON WE HAVE 4 MARTIANS!

    NASA has opened the call for a simulated yearlong Mars mission.

    If youre looking for an extended vacation next year, NASA is seeking
    applicants to participate in its Mars surface mission to help inform
    the agencys plans for human exploration of the Red Planet.

    Called CHAPEA, acronym for Crew Health and Performance Exploration
    Analog) is scheduled to kick off in spring 2025. The CHAPEA mission
    involves a four-person volunteer crew living and working inside a
    1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat based at NASAs Johnson Space
    Centre in Houston. The habitat, called the Mars Dune Alpha, simulates
    the challenges of a mission on Mars, including resource limitations,
    equipment failures, communication delays, and other environmental
    stressors.

    Crew tasks include simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat
    maintenance, exercise, and crop growth.

    tinyurl.com/ANS-056-Mars-Mission




    UK - POWER UP.

    Ofcom the UK regulator, has released its final decisions following its
    consultation on the amateur radio licensing framework last year.

    The changes to licence conditions include the optional use of Regional
    Secondary Locators, increased transmitter power levels and provide
    greater opportunity to bring newcomers into amateur radio. There are
    approximately 100,000 amateur radio licences issued by Ofcom in the
    UK. Ofcom says that it will shortly be contacting all licensees to
    provide each with their new licence document. Ofcom is aiming to
    reissue all UK amateur radio licences by the autumn of 2024.

    Given that increased transmitter power limits are now available, all
    amateurs are reminded that they are required to carry out EMF
    assessments. Advice and an online EMF calculator can be found on
    rsgb.org/emf




    NORTH TO ALASKA

    HAARP Transmit Experiments on now till today, March 3.

    The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) has been
    conducting a research campaign on various frequencies, but all HAARP
    transmissions are between 2.8 MHz and 10 MHz.

    These experiments will help lead to a greater understanding of the
    production and enhancement of ELF/VLF waves, as well as lay groundwork
    for future studies of satellite interactions with space plasma.

    For more information on ELF/VLF wave generation with HAARP, see the
    online HAARP FAQ.

    haarp.gi.alaska.edu/faq




    FROM THE LAND OF THE FREE - TO THE LAND OF THE FEES

    The South African Radio League has engaged with their regulator,
    ICASA, about the new ICASA licence fees for the year 1 April 2024
    to 30 March 2025.

    As soon as the SARL gets a copy of the new licence fees, it will be
    communicated to their members.

    ICASA has indicated that the electronic system must be updated with
    the new fees, then the process of generating the invoices will begin.
    Licence holders will be notified by e-mail when their invoices are
    ready to be downloaded from the ICASA Customer Portal.




    NEW ZEALAND BLAST OFF

    Astroscales ADRAS-J spacecraft, a demonstration satellite that could
    inform future space junk clean-up efforts, is now in orbit after a
    successful launch from New Zealand Sunday last. The satellite was sent
    to space atop an Electron rocket from the Rocket Lab. spaceport in the
    Hawke's Bay Region of the North Island's east coast.

    Its mission, which was selected by Japans space agency (JAXA) for
    Phase I of the Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration program,
    will see ADRAS-J rendezvous with an old Japanese rocket upper stage
    thats been in orbit since 2009.

    Over the next few months, itll make its way to the target and
    eventually try to get close enough to take images and assess its
    condition to determine if it can be removed. ADRAS-J is officially on
    duty and ready to rendezvous with some space debris! the company
    tweeted. Let the new era of space sustainability begin!

    The accumulation of waste in Earths orbit from decades of spaceflight
    is an issue of growing concern.





    Across Europe, there are about 413 million vehicles, about 28% of the
    worlds total, according to automotive research agency Hedges &
    Company and radio is an important part of the European in-car audio
    ecosystem.

    Given the importance, its no surprise the European Broadcasting Union
    is thinking strategically about how the driverradio interface works.
    Writing on the EBU Blog, Tomas Granryd, head of digital partnerships
    at Sveriges Radio, outlined what is being called The Playbook.
    Despite its popularity with the public, it can be increasingly
    difficult to find the radio in modern cars. Too often the radio is
    hidden behind a confusing maze of buttons and menus. Or radio is
    listed along with connectivity standards such as USB and Bluetooth,
    Granryd writes.

    He noted that the issue isnt simply the in-dash interface, but also
    the proliferation of digital apps broadcasters have created for
    nonlinear listening, especially if the driver is interacting with the
    cars entertainment system through voice controls.

    Granryd and the EBU are calling for the radio industry as whole to act
    together to ensure radio including broadcasters apps are easily
    found by drivers. The Playbook effort is beginning with EBU members
    assuming a common, clear map of who are the key players (including
    broadcasters) and what is required to ensure that audiences can
    continue to easily find and listen to the content they love.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    ARRL DX Phone Contest March 2-3
    Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.


    ----------------------------------------------------


    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------------------

    44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
    last FULL weekend of August.

    ELIGIBILITY?

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    take part using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    CONTEST: Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    STARTS: Saturday 25th August 2024 at 0600 hours UTC
    ENDS: Sunday 26th August 2024 at 0559 hours UTC

    SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES: All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    Contacts made on ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web page)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    ----------

    BE LIKE STEVE ADLER VK5SFA AND BE AWARE!

    Steve has received a spam email in the form of an eQSL.

    Main thing to look out for is the spelling, as an example card is spelt
    with a DOUBLE A

    As with ANYTHING you receive which you are not expecting or rings
    warning bells, NEVER EVER click links or attachments.

    --------------

    MOROCCO.

    Yannick, F6FYD is QRV as CN 2 YD until March 15.

    --------------

    SOLOMON ISLANDS

    H44MS Bernard, is operating in the Solomon Islands until the end of
    April on HF, using SSB and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

    (ARNewsLine 2416)

    --------------

    THE VAAL DAM CELEBRATES ITS 85TH BIRTHDAY

    The Sasolburg ARC will be operating ZS 85 VDAM now to 1 April 2024
    to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the opening of the Vaal Dam.

    There is a special QSL Card available - send your QSL card to the
    Sasolburg ARC to receive the ZS 85 VDAM QSL Card.

    --------------


    NAMIBIA.

    QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April.
    Activity is on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the
    world able to use that band.

    V51WH.

    QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH

    Another operator is Frank, DL7ATA who is on a road trip until 23rd of
    March operating during his evening hours as V5/DL7ATA using SSB.

    QSL via home call

    (eHam)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    NET ADVICE

    NewsLine recently looked at start-up net for hams who take radio
    seriously enough to know there's also a time for laughter.
    As Ralph Squillace KK6ITB tells us, this is no joke - or....is it?

    The multi-mode digital network known as the QuadNet Array doesn't just unite fans of D-STAR, DMR and C4FM Fusion. Starting next month, a new mode will be added to the mix once a week: Pun Mode. Pun Mode is neither digital nor analogue and it's not the exclusive practice of ham radio operators. Hams who have a reputation for groan-inducing wordplay now have a refuge in which to practice their craft. The Pun in Life Net is starting up on the QuadNet array beginning on Saturday the 2nd of March at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, 1 p.m. Pacific Time. The net control and punster-in-chief is Daryl Stout, N5VLZ, a past participant in the World Championship Pun-Off held every May at the O. Henry Museum in Austin Texas. Humour must conform to on-the-air standards of decency -- and because this is a digital mode, the only QRM you are likely to hear are the loud groans from everyone else.

    Visit the website openquad dot net (openquad.net) to check it out before you check in. Daryl is hoping for a big enough crowd to make this a pun-in-a-million experience.

    This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

    (ARNewsLine 2417)


    ________________________________________________



    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    New Parks for VK7

    101 new Worldwide Flora and Fauna park/reserve reference areas have
    recently been added to the VK7 directory which now lists over 300
    references ready to be activated.

    All of these new WWFF reference areas fall within the International
    Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protected area
    category system.

    The list of the new VK7 park/reserves can be found in the WWFF online
    directory or the WWFFAustralia website and will soon be added to the
    ParksnPeaks website.

    wwffaustralia.com/ <https://www.wwffaustralia.com/>

    parksnpeaks.org/ <https://www.parksnpeaks.org/>

    While we are at it a reminder a World Wide Flora and Fauna parks group
    meets twice weekly in the Apple Isle, Mondays and Fridays 10.30AM
    at the Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry Street, Launceston.

    For more information contact Al on 0417 354 410.

    (vk7winews)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)

    Strongest Flare of the Current Solar Cycle

    On February 22nd, the strongest solar flare of the current solar cycle
    was detected.

    Flares are classified according to their strength and the smallest
    ones are B-class, followed by C, M and X, which is the most extreme.

    The largest flare in recent days, an X6.3 flare was the sun's most
    powerful outburst since 2017. What makes this more notable is that it
    was the third X-class flare in 24 hours from our very active sun at
    the moment.

    (IRTS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is
    the first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers
    Club of Australia's March bulletin to go to air.

    This month, instead of the usual broadcast, we offer an historical
    broadcast from years past by Allan Doble, VK3AMD, now SK. The usual
    latest news and information will be broadcast next month.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times and modes can be found on the
    RAOTC website

    raotc.org.au

    Or just search RAOTC broadcasts in your favourite browser.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the audio
    file at any time from today from the club website.

    Members and Friends of the RAOTC in Perth are reminded that the next
    lunchtime meeting at the new venue, the Woodbridge Hotel, East
    Guildford is on Tuesday March 12th. All are welcome, further details
    are published on the clubs website.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the March RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the
    program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    FUNcube:-

    After a good period of transponder activity FUNcube batteries need a
    short rest so the plan is to switch the transponder OFF between
    March 3rd (today) to 15th subject to operational conditions.

    FUNcube will be placed in "Safe mode" and will still provide
    low power telemetry

    (ans)




    FINAL FRONTIER in more than one way.

    NASA is developing a plan to deorbit the International Space Station
    currently scheduled for 2030.

    Since the approximately 110 metre wide laboratory is too big to
    completely vaporize if left to naturally burn in Earths atmosphere,
    the space agency intends to send a US spacecraft to help deorbit the
    station and direct its re-entry over the unpopulated area of the
    South Pacific.

    The goal is to give the ISS an extra space tug to help it move more
    than it could with its own thrust, and guide the final burns for ISS
    to re-enter Earths atmosphere. The space tug is expected to cost
    $1 billion US dollars. Russia has agreed to stay on board ISS through
    till 2028, after which it may focus on building its own station in
    low-Earth orbit. Other partner countries have agreed to continue
    their presence through 2030, but it is not clear precisely how they
    will contribute to retiring the ISS.

    tinyurl.com/ANS-056-ISS-Tug.

    [ANS]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    IOTA Number OC-065 Pigeon Island, H40WA

    Listen for the Intrepid DX Group's DXpedition to Pigeon Island, IOTA
    Number OC-065 until March 7. The team are operating CW, SSB and FT8
    in fox and hound mode on 160 through 6 metres with as many as six
    stations operational as H 40 WA

    H40WA Pigeon Island is one of the Reef Islands in the Solomon Islands;
    in Temotu Province, 360 nautical miles from Honiara, not the WA island
    also called Pigeon, which lays well of the coast NW of Geraldton.

    Watch the team's Facebook page for updates. See QRZ.com for QSL
    details.



    OC 144 7B4K Ketawai Island

    The Bangka Belitung DXpedition Team, signing as 7B4K, will be active
    from Ketawai Island, OC-144 (Bangka and Belitung Islands) during
    May 24-26, 2024. QRV on HF bands. Check QRZ.com entry for more info
    including QSL manager.

    QTH is an Island between Singapore and Jakarta





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian and New Zealand lights planned and advised to WIA :-

    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club -

    NZ 0001 Cape Campbell - - ZL6CC

    Maritime Radio Day 2024

    Registration is now open for Maritime Radio Day 2024 which takes place
    annually on the 14th and 15th of April to commemorate the almost 100
    years of wireless telegraphy service for seafarers which ended with
    the closure, in the UK, of Portishead Radio on the 30th of April 2000.

    This event is a great opportunity to QSO with ex-Marine Radio Officers
    and Coast Station Professionals who exchange details of their previous
    ships and coast stations. The mode of operation is CW, and all the HF
    bands are used including the WARC bands.

    A certificate of participation will be issued to all who submit
    results.

    Amateur Licence holders are invited to register and take part as
    Friends of MRD. SWLs may also submit logs.

    For more information, you can visit their web site, found in this
    weeks text edition and shown on screen in our video version of
    WIA NATIONAL NEWS

    radioofficers.com/mrd-2024/

    (IRTS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Particularly for our European friends tuned today, the European Space
    Agency Academys CubeSat Summer School is open for applications.

    Taking place over four weeks from 5 to 30 August 2024 in Belgium,
    applications are now open for university students with engineering,
    physics and business management backgrounds.

    During Summer School, ESA and external experts will deliver an
    extensive mix of lectures and hands-on activities. The entire project
    lifecycle of a satellite mission will be covered, from design to
    verification, launch and operations, including typical milestone
    reviews and new methodologies. Students will be introduced to legal,
    cybersecurity, and economic aspects of space projects.

    The Summer School will even introduce space entrepreneurship skills,
    offering support in devising methods of turning a CubeSat into a
    viable and profitable business opportunity.

    tinyurl.com/ANS-056-ESA-Summer-School.

    [ANS]




    YOTA Contest 2024

    Organized by the IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group in co-operation
    with the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society, the aim of the YOTA Contest
    is to increase youngsters activity on the air, strengthen the
    reputation of the YOTA programme, and demonstrate support for
    youngsters across the world in all regions.

    The three sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00 to
    21:59 UTC on 10 March, 21 July and 29 December on the five classic
    bands CW and SSB.

    Everyone can work everyone.

    The complete rules can be found on
    ham-yota.com/contest.

    (sarl)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO

    HAM Operators from Cyclone Shelters of India's Nachugunta Island,
    promoted Emergency Communication Preparedness by Engaging Local
    Schools and Villages and using self-designed and locally developed
    communication equipment, showcasing the "Make in India" initiative.

    This was the opening paragraph in a story written and released by the
    Indian Ministry of Communication.

    Advocating last mile connectivity and a ham in every village,
    alongside the readiness of hams to aid in communication failures, this
    dedicated team of amateur radio operators embarked on a significant
    journey from the cyclone shelters of Nachugunta Island, in Andhra
    Pradesh, to participate in the expedition.

    It aimed at integrating ham radio education in primary and secondary
    schools for widespread adoption and enhanced disaster response across
    the country. Despite facing the challenges of a very difficult and
    remote location, these enthusiasts showcased the spirit of innovation
    and resilience that truly embodies the 'Make in India' ethos in the
    communication sector.

    The Ministry of Communications went on " The In-charge of
    the Wireless Monitoring Station in Vijayawada and the Head of the
    International Monitoring Earth Station in Jalna, accompanied by an
    official from the Department of Telecommunications headquarters,
    visited the remote site. During the visit, they commended the
    steadfast dedication of the amateur radio operators, acknowledging
    their efforts as a reflection of India's excellence in communication
    technology.

    Five Amateur High Frequency stations and one Amateur Satellite station
    were set up from the disaster-prone village of Nachugunta Island,
    IOTA NUMBER AS-199 and also used the cyclone shelters along the
    Bay of Bengal coastline as their base for communication.

    (Amateur Radio Daily)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SOFTWARE DEVELOPEMENT

    Now in its fifth year, the Amateur Radio Software Award recognizes the
    contributions that free, open source software has made to enhance the
    experience of ham radio. The international award's judges are now in
    search of this year's recipient from anywhere in the world.

    Last year's winner was Stephen Loomis, NTTL, whose development of
    GridTracker has helped hams simplify the tracking of contacts by
    visualizing radio traffic on such modes as FT8.

    Earlier winners were David Rowe, VK5DGR, for his Codec 2 project,
    which gives digital voice communications access to other software
    and hardware projects without the need for licensing, fees and other
    concerns and the first award recipient was Anthony Good, K3NG, for the
    K3NG Arduino CW Keyer.

    In addition to receiving the award, winners are also celebrated later
    in the year with a special event station calling attention to the
    innovative spirit they represent.

    arsaward.com

    (sourced to ARNewsLine 2417)


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK4 - Gladstone Amateur Radio Club BBQ 9th March (vk4xmc)


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK5 - SCARC BUY and SELL 21st April Seaford Meadows (vk5og)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.


    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 31 (still to be advised ) (vk4DMH)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)


    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Mar 7 14:07:18 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-03-10.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 MARCH 10 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 10 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA SECRETARY PETER VK8ZZ. -

    WIA CONTEST MANAGER FOR THE JOHN MOYLE FIELD DAY VK4AE DENIS. -

    WIA AFFILIATED CLUBS CO ORDINATOR ANGELO VK2NWT. -

    BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE, MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS
    FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    WIA Callbook

    The current database used by the ACMA to record amateur licenses is no
    longer being used for individuals and clubs callsigns, now that we
    have moved to a class license. The ACMA have ruled out maintaining any
    such database of amateurs in Australia.

    I have been contacted by many dissatisfied amateurs that have written
    to their local federal member to request the reinstatement of amateur
    callsigns in the ACMA RRL database. Whilst the Board do not have any
    formal position, I too have written to my local federal member urging
    them to reinstate this essential service.

    The WIA are now looking at producing a callbook for use by amateurs.
    The last callbook was printed over 5 years ago. We would like to hear
    from amateurs as to the method to be utilised for inclusion or
    exclusion of details in a callbook. Such things as:-

    Should we include an amateurs Name?
    Should we exclude an address?
    Should we just include a postcode?
    Amateur License level of proficiency.
    Should it be an OPT IN or an OPT OUT model?

    Please send your thoughts for consideration to secretary@wia.org.au
    The Board of the WIA will be considering what information will be
    included in the callbook and the option of opting in or opting out of
    inclusion in future editions of the callbook.

    Amateur Radio Magazine

    The September / October edition of Amateur Radio magazine had some
    issues which were referred to the printer. These issues included paper
    creases, ghost images, poor colour reproduction, and a number of other
    issues. The Board apologised for these issues and have noted an
    improvement in recent editions. Please email the Board and the Editor
    with any issues that you may wish to raise about the quality of the
    magazine.

    Information Technology Committee

    The WIA are currently looking for an application developer to assist
    the IT committee with a number of projects. Any members who are
    proficient in application development are encouraged to contact the
    secretary.

    WIA Merit Awards

    WIA Merit Awards to be awarded at the Annual General Meeting to be
    held in Bundaberg over the long weekend of 4 and 5 May 2024 will close
    shortly. If you know someone that has made a contribution to Amateur
    Radio that you feel should be recognised with an award then please let
    us know. A nomination form is available on the WIA web site.

    wia.org.au/members/wiaawards/about/

    This has been WIA Director and Company Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ..





    INSURANCE.

    Hello, this is Angelo VK2NWT WIA Affiliated Clubs Coordinator.

    As mentioned by WIA president Scott Williams in last weeks Broadcast,
    the commencement of the new insurance year for WIA Affiliated clubs
    starts on the 1st of April which is now only three weeks away.
    Accordingly, this is another reminder that WIA Affiliation on an
    ongoing basis requires that at least 25% of your clubs membership are
    also current members of the WIA.

    The process for advising the WIA of your membership is easy.

    The nominated person in your club should log onto your WIA club page
    and navigate to the bottom where you will find the Club Membership
    List now appears. In the dropdown box enter the callsigns of all your
    club members. Those club members that dont have a callsign should
    have the letters SWL entered alongside their name. The WIA can then
    cross-reference the callsigns to determine your clubs WIA membership
    level. An email detailing this process will be sent to all WIA
    Affiliated clubs shortly. As I have banged on in the past it is
    therefore vital that that your clubs contact details are in fact
    up to date and accurate so that you dont miss out on the
    correspondence that both the WIA and GippsInsure will be sending you.

    Finally, something for all clubs to consider: With the transition to
    Class Licensing and the abolition of annual licence fees, we are all
    better off now by at least $55 every year. So why not encourage other
    members in your club to put those savings to good use and join the WIA
    and bolster those numbers in your club?


    You can view the WIA Policy on Club Affiliation and how to join on the
    WIA Webpage or follow the links.

    Affiliation:
    wia.org.au/members/clubs/about/

    WIA Membership:
    wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/aboutjoin/

    As always, if you have any questions about this issue or WIA
    Affiliation matters in general please contact me via email on
    vk2nwt@gmail.com

    This has been Angelo VK2NWT for WIA National News.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ICQPodcast,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    Bob Heil, K9EID, Silent Key

    The man who defined the sound of live rock n roll music and brought audio engineering principals into mainstream amateur radio use, Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID, has passed away at the age of 83. He was an ARRL Life Member and in the ARRL Maxim Society. A Facebook post from Heil Ham Radio paid tribute to their founder: Bob fought a valiant, yearlong battle with cancer, and passed peacefully surrounded by his family.

    Heil founded Heil Sound in 1966, through which he created the template for modern concert sound systems for musicians like the Grateful Dead, The Who, Joe Walsh, and Peter Frampton. The talk box used on iconic live record Frampton Comes Alive! was of Heils design. His audio engineering products have been featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and he was honoured in 2007 with the Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his impact on the live sound industry. My life has been about achieving great sound, whether on the concert stage or in the amateur radio world, Bob Heil recounted in 2022. Ive watched Heil Sound go from a regional sound company to a world-class microphone manufacturer. This company has been my passion, he said.





    A fire has destroyed a transmitter building serving WCMU Public Media,
    knocking off the air one of its FM signals and one of its TV stations
    in the USA.

    It may take months to get them back up.

    Licensed to Central Michigan University, the organization serves the
    central and northern parts of the state. The fire took down the
    signals of THE 92 kW FM station WCML and its TV station WCML
    Channel 6.

    We anticipate it may take several months to restore full service to
    northeast Lower Michigan, the organization posted on its website.

    It also said the cause of the fire was unknown.





    IRELAND and the WORLD.

    St. Patricks day is almost upon us. In fact Sunday March 17.

    and THAT means GB3SPD will be on air from the Emerald Isle.

    12 noon on the 15th March to 12 noon on the 18th March.

    Many people worldwide, annually celebrate St Patrick's Day by
    going green, with many amateurs running special event stations
    as part of the festivities. St Patrick's Day is a celebration of
    legendary Irish saint and a national holiday in Ireland that is about
    fun and celebration.

    So join the fun and GB 3 SPD (St Patricks Day)





    FLORIDA - USA

    Amateur Radio on the International Space Station - had a big
    celebration recently in Florida, and Newlines Neil Rapp WB9VPG was
    fortunate to attend. Neil filed this report while he was still
    there -- giving listeners a sense of all the excitement.

    "ARISS celebrated the positive impact of 40 years of amateur radio on human space flight at its conference held late last month at the Centre for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation near the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. One hundred and ten leaders, volunteers and fans of the program gathered to hear and see memorabilia from the past four decades and got a look into how to rocket into the future. Keynote speaker Richard Garriott, ex-W5KWQ, inspired the group toward a bold future and passed his license exam at the conference to become re-licensed. His previous license had lapsed not long ago. ARISS also had a few announcements, including a new partnership with Estes model rockets and expansion of the SPARKI radio kit availability for school classrooms. HamTV will return on the next ISS supply mission, SpaceX 30, scheduled for mid-March and be returned to service soon after. Lou McFadin, W5DID, received a special achievement award for his work in building amate!
    ur stations in space since the very first one on STS-9, which carried the first Spacelab mission and the first astronaut representing the European Space Agency 40 years ago. Of course, the crowd was treated to a live contact with astronauts on the ISS as three youths presented their questions to the astronauts.

    From Kennedy Space Centre Florida, this is Neil Rapp WB9VPG"





    India has named four Air Force pilots who have been shortlisted to
    travel on that country's maiden space flight scheduled for 2025.
    Then mission aims to send three of the astronauts to an orbit of
    400km and bring them back after three days.
    When it succeeds, India will become only the fourth country to send a
    human into space after the Soviet Union, the U.S. and China.

    Still in India, we learn that 2 Amateur radio operators have come to
    the rescue of a patient on board a train and provided him with
    medicines, which he needed urgently.


    A Bengali man and his Brother boarded the Secunderabad Shalimar
    Express Train but as the journey began, The man's condition worsened
    and he complained of pain in the neck, forehead and could not speak.

    A doctor on board the train checked him and suggested some medicine,
    which could not be obtained by any means as the train could not be
    stopped.

    A few phone calls and internet exchanges saw , yes you've guessed it
    because this 'life saver' has been mentioned MANY a time on WIA
    National News, West Bengal Radio Club secretary Ambarish Nag Biswas
    VU2JFA and member of the IAG, responded to the message.

    He then contacted a Hyderabad-based ham operator, VU2EFN and requested
    his help explaining the situation. The train was scheduled to halt at
    as close to VU2EFN's QTH at 3.10 pm. The time in hand to procure the
    medicine and catch the train was one hour.

    Biswas gave Likhith the details of the train coach, berth number etc.
    and he bought the medicine he was told to procure and reached the
    railway station just in time. He handed over the medicine to the
    Doctor, much to the relief of the patient.

    Both train travellers reached their destination, safe and sound.

    Ham radio operators, always dependable in times of emergency.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Africa All Mode International DX Contest

    12:00 UTC on Saturday 16 March to 12:00 UTC on Sunday 17 March.
    Both single and multi-operator stations may operate for the entire
    24-hour period. There are no mandated breaks in operating time
    required whatsoever.

    The objective of this all-mode contest is to stimulate contesting from
    Africa and all participating stations worldwide may work any country
    during the contest period.

    Bands? 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres, in accordance with your
    country and specific licensing requirements governing the portion(s)
    of these bands that you may use. No contest QSOs are allowed on
    12, 17, 30 or 60 metres.

    Africa All Mode International DX Contest March 16-17

    usercontent.one/wp/www.edr.dk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ea4gst-AllAfricanContest-300x188.png?media=1667436611

    (sarl via Danske Radioamat0rer)


    --------------

    JOHN MOYLE CONTEST LOOMS:-

    This is Denis VK4AE, contest manager for the John Moyle 2024.

    This years contest will be held between 0100 GMT Saturday 16th March
    to 0059 GMT 17th March.

    This year we have the problem of even getting together in the same
    place due to recent fires or even earlier flood damage. The purpose
    of the Field Day is to provide training and experience in emergency
    operation. So, I hope that besides a little inconvenience that all
    will go smoothly when operating the station in the field.

    Amateurs are a mighty resourceful lot and no doubt many may have
    operated with WICEN and SES over the last few months, so this contest
    provides just more practice.

    As the contest nears for this year, I can only hope that the dreary
    weather in many parts of Australia has not been too cruel and that
    good activity on the bands and the propagation will be rewarding as
    even the sun is cooperating this year.

    Dont forget that once the dismantling and packing up of all of the
    equipment has been completed there is still a most important part of
    the contest to be finished. Yes! You must submit your stations log.
    This has two major purposes;

    1. It informs me of your ACTIVITIES on air and enables me to score
    your entry.
    2. As importantly it confirms the contacts you had with other stations
    and verifies their logs.

    So even if your log is only small it does verify the contacts you made
    and those of other stations.

    Best of luck for the contest and do not forget to submit your log.

    Denis Johnstone VK4AE


    ------------


    YOTA Contest 2024

    Organized by the IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group in co-operation
    with the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society, the aim of the YOTA Contest
    is to increase youngsters activity on the air, strengthen the
    reputation of the YOTA programme, and demonstrate support for
    youngsters across the world in all regions.

    The three sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00 to
    21:59 UTC on 10 March, 21 July and 29 December on the five classic
    bands CW and SSB.

    Everyone can work everyone.

    The complete rules can be found on
    ham-yota.com/contest.


    ------------


    ----------------------------------------------------


    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.


    ----------------------------------------------------


    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st 2024

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au) -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 2 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    21 July and the 3rd contest 29 December on the five classic bands
    CW and SSB.

    (yota)

    -------------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18 2024

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------------------


    44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
    last FULL weekend of August.

    ELIGIBILITY?

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    take part using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    CONTEST: Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    STARTS: Saturday 25th August 2024 at 0600 hours UTC
    ENDS: Sunday 26th August 2024 at 0559 hours UTC

    SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES: All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    Contacts made on ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web page)

    -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.


    --------------

    Coming Soon

    World Autism Awareness (Acceptance) Week 2024 Special Event
    April 1 through 7 because it's OK to be Different.

    World Autism Awareness Week - Special Event Stations include
    W2A - W2A/KL7 - W2A/KH6 - GB0AAW - GB5AAW - 4X0AAW - HI8AUT -
    PA23WAAD - ZL1KFM and VK2's LQ and WE.


    --------------

    ITALY

    Special event station IY 9 MM is QRV until March 31 to memorialize
    the experiments conducted by Guglielmo Marconi from the ship
    Regina Elena in the port of Augusta.

    QSL IY9MM direct to IT 9 MRM.

    (arrl)


    ----------


    CAMBODIA

    QRV is XU7GNY until March 15 on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and
    FT8.

    The XU7GNY QSL route is via DJ6TF.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    LESOTHO 7P8EI

    Lesotho formally the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country in
    Southern Africa, in fact it is encircled by South Africa.

    A LARGE group of Irish Hams, belonging to the EIDX Group have an
    upcoming DXpedition to Lesotho from March 20th to the 29th.

    EI2II, EI2JD, EI3ISB, EI3IXB, EI4HH, EI5GM, EI5GSB, EI6FR, EI8KN,
    EI9HQ, EI9FBB, DJ9RR and PA3EWP will be QRV as 7P8EI.

    They will operate up to eight ( 8 ! ) stations from 160m through 10m
    on CW, SSB, and digital. You will be able to QSL 7P8EI via M0OXOs
    online QSL request system.

    m0oxo.com/oqrs/

    ((m0oxo))


    --------------


    REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

    Z 36 T is on the wireless until March 25 and you QSL Z36T direct
    to DJ 0 LZ.

    (arrl)


    --------------

    ROMANIA

    Special callsigns including YR95AR, YR95CC, YR95CH and YR95IN are
    among those calls active until the 31st of May.

    The operators are celebrating the 95th anniversary of the first
    amateur radio association in Romania's Arad County. This is being
    organised by C.S. Radio-club Admira.

    See QRZ.com for QSL details.

    (ARNewsLine 2418)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    BEACONS

    The RSGBs Propagation Studies Committee has released a new HF beacon
    list, with the 10m band listings completely revamped.

    The old list, which was started by Martin Harrison, G3USF Silent Key,
    had been added to over the years but was getting out of date. The only
    way to make it more accurate was to start again.

    The Propagation Studies Committee made use of the Reverse Beacon
    Network which wasnt available when the list was originally created,
    plus listeners contributions from around the world.

    The new beacon list can be found at rsgb.org/beacons



    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    MEDIA WATCH

    Today it's a look at Society magazines.

    Interesting to note its not just our own AR Magazine that can have a
    hurdle or THREE to overcome from time to time.

    Following complaints from some members, the RSGB has investigated a
    problem with non-delivery of RadCom on Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

    It seems that following changes at Royal Mail, the labelling
    requirement for these copies was incorrectly applied by the printers
    and these copies didnt go through the postal system correctly.
    RSGB has, of course, asked its printers to ensure that there is no
    repetition of this problem, and the printer has paid for the missing
    copies to be sent to each RSGB member in those areas.

    (sourced to GB2RS)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*



    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)

    and dare I say this? This is the WIA News, the news that "eclipses"
    them all.

    The results from HamSCI's first Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric
    Science event have been released.

    Held during the October 14, 2023, North American annular solar
    eclipse, the challenge was designed to recognize operators of
    digital mode stations who contribute valuable data to ionospheric
    research. Receiving stations uploaded their records to sites such as
    WSPRnet.org and reversebeacon.net Transmitting stations were received
    by stations worldwide who uploaded their results to the same
    databases, creating records of the transmitting stations' activities.

    The next event will be held on April 8, 2024, during the
    North American total solar eclipse.

    tinyurl.com/4revcwj8

    (arrl)





    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Marty VK4KC joins us on behalf of Park-Fest

    (photo 1) The park-fest organising committee is pleased to promote the 3rd annual park-fest which will be held on 4th & 5th of May 2024.

    (Photo 2) Park-fest is where ham radio operators who enjoy portable
    operations in designated parks and forests come together at a regional
    location where there is a concentration of such parks.

    (Photo 3) This year Park-fest will be held in two locations, Bundaberg QLD,
    and Dorrigo NSW.

    (photos 4a & 4b) The 4th & 5th May is also the weekend of the WIA annual general meeting and the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club HamFest so for those heading up to Bundaberg you may want to participate in both events and
    activate a few parks in the region when you have some free time.

    (photo 4c) For the diehard activators there are over 20 parks and forests within a 1 hour drive from Bundaberg.

    (Photo 5) The 2nd location is Dorrigo located west of Coffs Harbour. This region also has over 30 parks and forests nearby including a few mountain
    peaks for SOTA activators.

    (Photo 6) All are welcome to attend and if you want to get started in park activation programs such as POTA and WWFF what a great opportunity to get
    your feet wet.

    (Photo 7) For more information including accommodation options please take
    note of these contacts :
    For Dorrigo contact Alan McDonald VK1AO

    (Photo 8) and for Bundaberg please contact myself, Marty Nelson VK4KC
    Our contact details are listed at QRZ.com

    (Photo 9) Alternatively you can join the Facebook group called "Bundaberg
    and Dorrigo Park-fest"

    (Photos 10,11,12) And remember park activators need park hunters, so those operating from home as hunters are essential and we would love to have more involved.

    (photo 13) Go to websites Parksnpeaks.org and POTA.app to see a list of
    current and upcoming activations.

    (photo 14) I'm Marty VK4KC on behalf of the Park-fest organising committee.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Troubles with the first US-built lunar lander in 50 years have not
    kept the spacecraft from staying in touch.

    Builders of the private moon lander that made its historic touchdown
    on the 22nd of February, said the spacecraft is successfully sending
    and receiving communications despite having tipped over during its
    final descent near the moon's south pole.

    Flight engineers have told the company that Odysseus is now resting on
    its side, propped up on a rock, but that the mission is not imperilled.
    Intuitive Machines of Houston, Texas has given assurances that five of
    the six NASA payloads designed to conduct experiments are on sections
    of Odysseus that can send and receive communications.

    These NASA payloads will collect space weather and lunar surface
    information as well as conduct demonstrations of communication and
    navigation.

    The lander is the first US-built spacecraft to land on the moon in
    five decades.

    (ARNewsLine 2418)




    The International Space Station took more than a quarter-century,
    42 space launches, and $150 billion to build. Now Voyager Space is
    cooperating with multiple companies and space agencies, including
    Europe's Airbus, Northrop Grumman, and -- intriguingly -- Hilton
    Hotels, to build a "Starlab" commercial space station to replace the
    aging ISS.

    The Starlab space station team announced that it had hired SpaceX to
    launch its entire Starlab space station to Low Earth Orbit in a
    single mission prior to the decommissioning of the ISS.

    Furthermore, "Starlab will ... be fully outfitted on the ground, and
    ready to permanently host four crew members in LEO to conduct
    microgravity research and advanced scientific discovery," say the
    companies.

    (ANS)





    Noirmoutier island - IOTA NUMBER EU-064 - TM4J

    F4DXV Jrme and EA4NF Philippe announce that they will be activating
    Noirmoutier island from April 1 to 4, with the special callsign
    TM 4 J.

    In an exciting initiative, they are preparing for an exceptional
    expedition to the island and this experienced team will devote
    themselves entirely to exploring satellite possibilities, offering a
    unique opportunity to radio enthusiasts the world over.

    This international expedition will focus entirely on the LEO, GEO
    and MEO (GREENCUBE IO-117) satellites, with a variety of modes and
    operators. Jrme and Philippe, experts in the field of portable
    satellite communications, will provide 24-hour coverage over several
    days, offering an unrivalled experience from this picturesque island
    in the Vende.

    This International DXpedition is the 1st 100% SATELLITE from this
    French island, EU-064.

    (ANS)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Astronauts and Air Balloons! Hello I'm Alec VK2MV.

    Paula Labonte, writing in Canada's "Seaway News" told how late
    February, 8AAT coordinated local schools Blue Sky Academy and
    Laggan Elementary School Ontario and Carleton Aerospace Astrophysics
    Radio Club to participate in Canadian Space Agency Astronaut,
    David St. Jacques virtual presentation.

    8AAT is a student operated business that aims to educate and empower
    students as future innovators in Science Technology Engineering
    Mathematics, STEM. Their executive is an amateur radio community and
    STEM supporters possessing both academic and private industry
    experience.

    In another ongoing project North Dundas High School and 3 other high
    schools in Ontario and one in Qubec City are participating in an
    academic STEM CubeSat project. Students will spend 4- 8 months
    designing, building, testing and then deploying a CubeSat satellite
    model on a high-altitude balloon, 30km altitude.

    The students scientific experiments on board the CubeSat will be
    collected when the CubeSat returns to Earth and the data will be sent
    for a research publication.

    (eHam - SeaWay News)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO

    FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced she will submit a
    proposal to add a new missing and endangered persons alert code
    to the nations Emergency Alert System.

    The alertsimilar to an AMBER Alert to help locate missing children
    would notify the public over television and radio about missing and
    endangered persons.

    Law enforcement agencies successfully use AMBER Alerts to help
    mobilise public attention and recover abducted children. But we do
    not have a similar code in the Emergency Alert System dedicated to
    sounding the alarm over other missing and endangered persons,
    particularly the thousands of missing native and indigenous women who
    have disappeared from their homes never to be seen again, said
    Chairwoman Rosenworcel. Creating a new Missing and Endangered
    Persons alert category can close this gap, help ensure no person who
    is missing and in danger is left behind, and save lives.

    The chairwoman plans a vote on it at the agencys March 14 meeting.

    bit.ly/49wY3md

    (twiar)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    2024 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.


    VK3 - MARCH 15 - BAREC

    Hi, Im Graeme VK3GRK from sunny Bendigo.

    Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club invites you to our March
    meeting in Castlemaine, where Richard Hosking VK3BFX, will provide us
    with an interesting presentation on the principles of Microprocessors.
    Richard will show us how to get started using the Arduino platform.

    The evening starts at 7.30 pm, Friday March 15th at the 1st
    Castlemaine Scout Hall, 16 Reckleben St, Castlemaine.

    A gold coin donation would be appreciated and a light supper will be
    provided.

    The presentation will be available live via Zoom, subject to local
    internet performance. Join Zoom Meeting:

    us06web.zoom.us/j/84406531024?pwd=dkNUYXlDWnFNbmk4MDhxQ21HZTBpZz09
    Meeting ID: 844 0653 1024
    Passcode: 535376

    The presentation will be made available at a later date on the
    BAREC YouTube channel.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------


    Graeme Knight
    VK3GRK.


    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.


    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 31 (still to be advised ) (vk4DMH)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)


    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (vk3pdg)




    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.


    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Mar 14 16:16:07 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-03-17.mp3
    Text edition:

    2024 MARCH 17 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 17 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK. -

    ACMA to search for QRM in Batesman Bay area. -

    Denis VK4AE contest Manager for the John Moyle Field Day. -

    Congratulations due to VK5DG in the top 50.

    BUT WAIT, THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Vice President Lee Moyle VK3GK.

    Are you planning on attending the 2024 WIA AGM and Conference in
    Bundaberg on the weekend of the 3rd, 4th and 5th of May? If so keep a
    lookout for the Bundaberg Radio Clubs promotion in AR magazine next
    month as it details whats on and where. It will be a long weekend in
    VK4 so plan and book your accommodation soon. Registration and AGM
    booking links should be on the WIA website shortly.

    Last weekend was the BERU Contest, the WIA board thank all amateurs
    that participated and a special thanks to the two VK teams of
    operators and also the WIA members that took up the opportunity and
    operated a Head Quarters Station using the WIA prefix. We had
    operators from VK2 to VK7, no VK1 or 8 this year. Lets try for a
    clean sweep in 2025.

    Its nearly a month ago that the Class licence was introduced.
    All is well and we press on with minimal impact to operating on air.
    Meanwhile, in the background, ACMA continues to update and hone the
    assessor facilities for providing free Amateur examinations utilising
    the volunteer assessor network. From all reports, the ACMA Assessor
    portal is functioning very well and once a callsign is applied for,
    it is issued within a few days.

    Were you previously a WIA assessor?
    Have you considered returning to rejoin the Assessor cohort?
    ACMA are accepting applications for new and previously qualified
    assessors to join with the current ACMA assessor group. Of course
    there are some simple criteria that you need to meet just like when
    the WIA conducted exams so nothing new there. Apply via email to:
    ARassessors@acma.gov.au

    If you are an assessor and on Facebook, Marc Hillman VK3OHM has set up
    an assessor group for discussions and general help. You can find it by
    searching Facebook for ACMA assessors ( and also using the
    following link: facebook.com/groups/2092573064431607 )

    The WIA through its working groups and Board continue to engage with
    ACMA on a regular basis. The relationship is robust as discussions
    continue on topics such as High Power Permits, Operational
    improvements and other matters. If you have topics or issues you would
    like tabled to ACMA, please email the WIA office for its
    consideration.

    Keep in mind that WIA Affiliated Clubs will need to consider insurance
    renewals by April 1st with the Insurance broker GippsInsure.
    We expect they will be issuing renewals soon if not already.

    Thats all for this week, for now, 73 From Lee VK3GK





    ACMA

    Peter - VK2AN has lodged a complaint with ACMA about interference
    affecting the whole of the Batemans Bay area. It sounds, he says,
    like distorted 50Hz harmonics and affects frequencies from 100Khz to
    over 4Mhz.

    ACMA relied saying "an ACMA Field Officer will contact you and if you
    have a further query please contact our Service Centre."

    So if anyone else has a problem with QRM, be like Peter and contact
    ACMA.

    (sourced to wia secretary)


    ________________________________________________



    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ICQPodcast,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    IARUMS Wiki

    An IARU Monitoring System Wiki has been published to assist users in
    recognizing and identifying the most usual modes used by non-amateur
    radio stations in the HF amateur radio bands.

    It contains a discreet technical description for each mode, as well as
    audio recordings, waterfall screenshots, and video captures of the
    transmissions. This Wiki will be updated as new signals are received
    and processed, and as better screenshots / audio / video recordings
    of them are received.

    The IARUMS Wiki can be directly accessed via thee link in this
    weeks WIA National News Service.

    iaru-r1.org/spectrum/monitoring-system/iarums-wiki/




    APRIL 18

    Every year on April 18, Radio Amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves
    in celebration of Amateur Radio and to commemorate the formation of
    the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) on April 18, 1925.

    The IARU has announced that the theme for this years World Amateur
    Radio Day will be:-

    A Century of Connections:
    Celebrating 100 years of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community
    and Advocacy.

    No doubt Felix will soon start letting us know of world special event
    stations during forth coming Operational News segments here on
    WIA National News.




    SARLINK IN UKRAINE

    Starlink receivers need positioning and precise timing information to
    function, and currently the best way to get that information is the
    use of global navigation satellite system such as GPS.

    Unfortunately, the antenna used for this secondary satellite
    connection leaves something to be desired. Of course, when it comes to
    solving Starlink problems, theres no one better than Oleg Kutkov,
    whose duty is to fix and improve upon Starlink terminals used in
    Ukraine and when the specific problem is GPS bands getting jammed by
    the invading military, you better believe that a fix is due.

    Oleg sets the scene, walking us through the evolution of GPS circuitry
    on the Starlink terminals. Then he shows us the simplest mods you can
    do, like soldering an improved passive antenna in place of the chip
    antenna currently being used.

    According to the blog from Oleg what he has come up with, well
    differences are impressive, Starlink terminals with active antenna
    mods were able to get GPS signal in areas with active jamming going
    on, while the unmodified ones could not.

    Hopefully his blog is still available as it's a must read for anyone
    wondering about GPS antenna reception problems in customer-accessible
    devices. This is not the only Starlink hardware mod Hackaday have
    seen Oleg make, they recently covered his Starlink Ethernet port
    restoration journey that meticulously fixes Ethernet connectivity
    oversights in the newer models, and the blog also has an article about
    powering Starlink terminals without the need for PoE.




    ISRAEL

    Need to 'RE'-charge your batteries?

    ARNewsLine have reported on a company in Israel doing just that.

    It seems technology developed 10 years ago in Israel to permit
    wireless transfer of power has begun showing up in some world markets.
    The over-the-air system uses infrared sent from transmitters that
    transform electricity into infrared beams which they then send to
    nearby devices that need their batteries recharged.

    Line of sight is necessary for the transmission to be successful and
    one transmitter's signal can cover about 130 square meters of area.
    For it to work, each device needs to have receivers attached to
    convert the infrared signals back into electricity.

    The company, Wi-Charge, has trademarked this far-field wireless
    technology under the name "AirCord." It is designed to replace the
    traditional need to plug devices in using cords to recharge them.
    According to the company website, the technology is already in use in
    some countries in the retail, commercial and industrial sectors.

    Wi-Charge states that AirCord sends narrow beams that focus only on
    the devices equipped with receivers and has been certified as safe by
    the Food and Drug Administration and Underwriters Laboratories in the
    US and by the International Electrotechnical Commission in the UK.




    Finally, if you're planning to visit us down under here in Australia
    anytime soon and want to get on the air, listen up.

    Whether you are a US Technician class operator, a Foundation licence
    holder in the UK or a ham with entry-level privileges in certain other
    countries, the new class licence arrangements here in Australia now
    permit you to get on the air - up to a maximum of 365 consecutive
    days. Visitors from a list of countries no longer need to make a
    separate application for a licence; they need only append VK slash
    before their home callsign.

    The ACMA has posted a list of countries with currently recognised
    foreign licence equivalents who may operate under Australian licence
    conditions. Visit the ACMA page at the address given in the text
    version of this weeks news

    acma.gov.au/overseas-amateurs-visiting-australia

    The ACMA makes it clear, however, that hams seeking to relocate
    permanently to Australia still need to apply for a licence in VK
    and receive a new VK home call.


    Speaking of 'home calls', I'm VK2LAW reporting from the international
    news desk here in Sydney.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Africa All Mode International DX Contest ON NOW

    12:00 UTC on Saturday 16 March to 12:00 UTC on Sunday 17 March.


    --------------

    Also on now, well, let Denis VK4AE contest Manager for the John Moyle
    Field Day tell us..

    "As this news goes to air the contest is nearing completion, and as
    many stations will still be active, I wish them well in the remainder
    of the contest,

    Logs have been arriving steadily. There does not seem to be not as many as the number received at this point of the contest last year.

    It is highly recommended that once you have submitted your log you should check a bit later that your callsign has been added to the list of logs received. If your call is not on the list, then it might not have been received.

    A couple of logs have been submitted as a PDF which is just a picture and contains no more useful information to the contest than a picture of a flower as the data is not accessible electronically and hence usable to me.

    In the same way a couple of logs were submitted using a N1MM format that does not contain all of the information required by the JMMFD VHF/UHF rules and requires much extra work for the Contest Manager and entrant to attempt to fix those logs.

    It is timely to remind you all that while there is not a lot of time left to submit the log and it will pass quickly and the final date is the 7th April 2024. This is required by the very long lead times now for the AR Magazine.

    Following this date all of the logs will be processed and the results prepared and made available soon after. The results will be shown on the WIA contest page as soon as they are ready.

    So, check that your call is on the list, resend the log if it isnt. It might also be a good idea to submit your log now as you never know what can happen to delay you in the next few days."


    -------------


    YOTA Contest 2024

    Organized by the IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group in co-operation
    with the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society, the aim of the YOTA Contest
    is to increase youngsters activity on the air, strengthen the
    reputation of the YOTA programme, and demonstrate support for
    youngsters across the world in all regions.

    The next 2 sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00 to
    21:59 UTC on 21 July and 29 December on the five classic bands
    CW and SSB.

    Everyone can work everyone.

    The complete rules can be found on
    ham-yota.com/contest.


    ----------------------------------------------------


    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.


    ----------------------------------------------------


    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)
    -------------------

    NOT SO MUCH A CONTEST BUT YOU COULD CLAIM A CERTIFICATE!

    Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again holding a Get on the Air on
    World Amateur Radio Day special event in which encouraged as many
    Amateurs as possible get on the air and contact as many RAC stations
    as possible.

    RAC official stations will operate across Canada from 0000Z to 2359Z
    on April 18.

    The RAC official station call signs and there are some 14 and all end
    with suffix RAC

    VA2RAC, VA3RAC, VE1RAC, VE4RAC, VE5RAC, VE6RAC, VE7RAC,
    VE8RAC, VE9RAC, VO1RAC, VO2RAC, VY0RAC, VY1RAC and VY2RAC.

    Those contacting one or more of these stations will be eligible for a
    special commemorative certificate noting their participation in RACs
    Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day Event.

    Participants simply need to complete one or more contacts, on any band
    and mode, with RAC official stations to earn their certificates. No
    logs need to be submitted; simply check back on the RAC website when
    instructed and enter your call sign to download your certificate.

    (RAC)


    -------------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------------------

    44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
    last FULL weekend of August.

    ELIGIBILITY?

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    take part using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    CONTEST: Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    STARTS: Saturday 25th August 2024 at 0600 hours UTC
    ENDS: Sunday 26th August 2024 at 0559 hours UTC

    SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES: All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    Contacts made on ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web page)


    -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.


    --------------
    --------------

    Active is 5 R 8 IC from Sainte Marie Island, AF-090, until the 31st
    of March mainly using CW on the 40 to 10m bands and via the QO-100
    satellite. QSL station 5R8IC via Logbook of the World or via home
    call F 6 ICX.

    (RSGB)

    --------------

    Wireless station 4 S 7 KKG from Sri Lanka is working until the 30th
    of March. FT8, FT4, RTTY and sometimes CW on the 20 to 6m bands.
    QSL 4S7KKG via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or direct to
    home call DC 0 KK


    (RSGB)

    --------------

    In the World of DX, be listening for members of the Zurich City Police
    Radio Amateur Club throughout the year, operating as HB 2 SP the club
    is marking its 20th anniversary. Unfortunately no Bureau QSL's but you
    can use Logbook Of The World, and HB20SP runs until December 31.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine 2410)


    --------------

    Listen throughout the year for the special callsign 9 A 1 RKZ
    marking the 100th anniversary of the Radioklub Zagreb which was
    founded the 24th of March 1924 in Croatia

    QSL via 9A1ADE.


    (ARNewsLine 2410)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Congratulations VK5DG who is in the top 50 Rovers in the GridMasterMap
    rankings (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by
    @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released.

    The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities
    activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number
    of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a
    third party.

    ( gridmaster.fr )




    NASA has identified a growing air leak on the International Space
    Station located at the end of the Russian service module.

    The leak, situated in Russias Zvezda service module, initially
    released one pound of air per day but accelerated to over two pounds
    daily in early February. Despite the increased rate, NASA assures that
    it does not currently jeopardize the safety of the ISS crew or impact
    the stations operations. Collaboration between the United States,
    Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada is underway to address the
    situation.

    Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, confirms ongoing monitoring and
    asserts that there is no immediate threat to the crew or the station
    itself. The leak is in a three-foot-long area and has prompted
    precautionary measures, including sealing off the affected vestibule
    to mitigate further air loss from the rest of the space station.

    (ANS)




    HAS VOYAGER ONE "GONE DARK"

    The 46-year-old probe, which flew by Jupiter and Saturn in its youth
    and inspired we mere earthlings with images of the planet as a
    Pale Blue Dot, hasnt sent usable data from interstellar space in
    months.

    When Voyager 1 launched in 1977, scientists hoped it could do what it
    was built to do and take up-close images of Jupiter and Saturn.
    It did that and much more.

    Voyager 1 discovered active volcanoes, moons and planetary rings,
    proving along the way that Earth and all of humanity could be squished
    into a single pixel in a photograph, a pale blue dot, as the
    astronomer Carl Sagan called it. It stretched a four-year mission into
    the present day, embarking on the deepest journey ever into space.

    Now, it may have bid its final farewell to that faraway dot.

    Voyager 1, the farthest man-made object in space, hasnt sent coherent
    data to Earth since November last year. NASA has been trying to
    diagnose what the Voyager missions project manager, Suzanne Dodd,
    called the most serious issue the robotic probe has faced.

    Read more New York Times:
    bit.ly/438M9ws

    (twiar)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Oceans separate us but because of one amateur radio programme, oceans
    have also been uniting us.

    Sixty years ago, the first amateur radio Islands on the Air operators
    began calling CQ from remote ocean islands around the globe. That
    spirit of adventure is being celebrated this summer at Europe's
    largest amateur radio event.

    Ham Radio Friedrichshafen has chosen IOTA's 60th anniversary as the
    theme for its 47th amateur radio event taking place June 28th to the
    30th in southern Germany. In the words of the promoters, it is a
    celebration of "60 years of Islands on the Air: technology meets
    adventure!"

    (ARNewsLine 2419)




    Noirmoutier island - IOTA NUMBER EU-064 - TM4J

    F4DXV Jrme and EA4NF Philippe announce that they will be activating
    Noirmoutier island from April 1 to 4, with the special callsign
    TM 4 J.
    This International DXpedition is the 1st 100% SATELLITE from this
    French island, EU-064.

    (ANS)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    And in this segment, a military retreat- retreating back to the 60's
    and Vietnam.

    But today, Radio Vets Look to Honour Chris Noel With Presidential
    Medal of Freedom.

    Chris Noels voice on the radio not only brought hope to troops
    serving in Vietnam, but her nightly program titled A Date With Chris
    also served as testament to the strength of AM during times of crisis.
    Now, three radio professionals moved by her story have launched a
    petition with hopes of honouring Noel with the Presidential Medal of
    Freedom.

    One solider moved by her broadcasts was Harry Simons, who, after
    enlisting in the Marine Corps was ultimately stationed in late 1967
    in Saigon, Vietnam, where he became the chief engineer of AFVNs
    Saigon AM and FM facilities, as well as the networks night-time rock
    n roll DJ.

    Only after the experience did I realize how much influence AFVN had
    on particularly we Americans in Vietnam, Harry said.

    AFVN could be heard via a 50 kW non-directional antenna, broadcasting
    on 540 AM from a transmitter near to the Aussie base at Vung Tau on
    the South China Sea. If you were a veteran and you served in
    Southeast Asia, you knew who Chris Noel was, said Simons. She was
    the most famous broadcaster in the world at the time.

    The group is asking veterans and other interested parties to express
    support of Noels service through their petition. The petition will be
    sent to President Joe Biden to advocate that Noel be considered for
    the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her selfless commitment and
    service to our country as a civilian, in times of war and in times of
    peace. She became AFRTS's FIRST female announcer of that era.

    tinyurl.com/3jjzz353

    rockradioscrapbook.ca/afvn.html

    (radioworld.com)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    DAYTON HAMVENTURE announces their Amateur of The Year Award:-

    KG 8 CX, Edward Engleman, KG8CX, is the co-founder of the
    Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team (YACHT).

    Mr Engleman's background as an elementary educator and principal
    for 33 years was instrumental in developing the talents he now uses
    in his work with young amateurs. His major objective is to help create
    and develop enjoyment and skill in communications/technology via
    ham radio activity through its many modes and to encourage friendships
    with other youth hams. Membership in YACHT, callsign K8KDZ, has grown
    steadily.

    Many of these YACHT youth have given presentations at past
    HamVention's and HamCation youth forums conducted by Carole Perry.
    A number of the youth members have been awarded national recognition
    for their ham radio activity and accomplishments.

    Besides the development of youth presenters, YACHT has echo link
    sessions 6 evenings a week and club activity encourage participation
    in all modes of amateur radio. Ed is proud to be part of the future of
    amateur radio by paying forward his interest in amateur radio by
    developing the next generation of hams.

    (ard)


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)

    REDFEST 2024 A HamFest for the ladies in our lives.

    John Saunders VK4BZ, President of the Redcliffe and Districts Radio
    Club, wants to promote the inclusion of women in amateur radio.

    The Redcliffe club's annual Redfest, is now only four weeks away on
    Saturday 6th April at St Michaels College, Abbey Place Caboolture.
    This year, he announces, the club is going out of their way to include
    our long-suffering spouses.

    The majority of operators in the hobby are male, so Im talking about
    the ladies in our lives. And, if you are one of the ladies already in
    the hobby, well then this is for you too, he announced.
    John went on to say, Not only will Redfest have the usual tables of
    pre-loved radio goodies, as well as commercial sellers with brand new
    bits and pieces, this year, there will be three displays specifically
    for the ladies.

    The club will include one gift shop table, the second with handmade
    soaps, skin care and bath products, and the third being a quilting
    stall.

    And of course, The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association, ALARA
    will also have a table at REDFEST 2024.

    John was anxious to mention the speciality coffee shop with tasty
    treats, good coffee and sit down cafe tables?

    So, fellas, invite the lady in your life along. Lady hams, now theres
    even more reason to come to Redfest.

    Check out the club website for more details:
    redclifferadioclub.org.au.


    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.


    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 31 (QTH to be advised ) (vk4DMH)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)

    VK7 - Tasmanian Ham Conference November 2 and 3 Hobart. (vk7news)

    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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
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    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Mar 22 15:26:02 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-03-24.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 MARCH 24 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 24 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    David, VK4DN from the Bundy Amateur Radio Club! hosts of the 2024 WIA
    AGM. -

    Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY with this weeks WIA Board Comment for WIA
    National News. -

    RECYCLE your batteries, don't throw them out the window, particularly
    if they weigh in at some 2.6 metric tonnes and end up in the ocean.

    BUT WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hi this is Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY with this weeks WIA Board Comment
    for VK1WIA National News.

    Topic 1. Insurance
    Insurance renewal offers will be going out to clubs soon. A reminder
    that all Affiliated clubs need to maintain a level of WIA members in
    order to qualify for this facility.

    Topic 2 WIA AGM
    AGM in BUNDABERG QLD on 4 and 5 May is quickly approaching. There is
    plenty of accommodation available in Hotels / Motels and Caravan Parks.
    So make the effort to attend the Bundaberg Convention and Expo and the
    WIA AGM

    Topic 3 WIA Merit awards
    Please note that the WIA Merit awards need to be in writing and
    submitted before the 31 March closing date for Nominations. If you
    think an amateur deserves a merit award then you can nominate them
    using the nomination form available on wia.org.au the WIA web site.

    Topic 4. WIA Call Book
    Do you want a callbook to be published by the WIA? Please email your
    thoughts to SECRETARY@wia.org.au

    Topic 5 Contest Definition
    The WIA Contest committee has drafted a set of definitions for
    recognised contests. These will be published shortly and feedback will
    be sought from the amateur community.

    This has been Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY on behalf of the Board of
    Directors of the WIA for this weeks VK1WIA National News Service.




    'Gidday Australia!! - This is David, VK4DN from the Bundy Amateur
    Radio Club!

    It's now T-Minus 6 Weeks and Counting for the National WIA Convention
    and AGM happening here in Bundaberg on May 4th/5th!

    Registrations soon on wia.org.au the WIA Website.

    Apart from the WIA AGM, we are hosting a great HamFest and commercial
    expo over the weekend with Icom Australia, Elite Communications,
    Jaycar and many other vendors attending with show specials up for
    grabs!.

    There will also be lots of guest speakers talking about a huge range
    of subjects over the two days.

    Lots of giveaways and door prizes at the event!

    Our Club members are excited to be hosting the WIA event this year
    and looking forward to welcoming you to our region in early May.

    Our members will be monitoring the local town repeater on
    147.8Mhz -600Khz negative offset. (no tone required) so remember to
    bring a handheld radio with you!

    If you have any questions, or to reserve your table for the HamFest,
    make contact with our club!

    73 from David, VK4DN - Secretary - Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.

    Cheers guys!


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ICQPodcast,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    TUNISIA

    The 20th IARU HST World Championship will take place in October from
    Nabeul City, Tunisia.

    HST or high-speed telegraphy challenges amateur radio operators to
    accurately receive and copy, and in some competitions to send,
    Morse code transmissions sent at very high speeds

    The host of the 20th IARU HST World Championship will be ARAT, i.e.
    Association des Radio Amateurs Tunisiens.

    Detailed information will be available in due time from the host.





    SOMEWHERE OUT TO SE IN THE ATLANTIC.

    DISCARDED "SPACE JUNK" FROM ISS SPLASHES DOWN.

    Tossed from the International Space Station in 2021, nine batteries
    weighing a total of 2.6 metric tonnes re-entered Earth's atmosphere
    on Friday, the 8th of March 2024, in free-fall, crashing into the
    Atlantic Ocean between Guatemala and Florida.

    In the days and weeks prior, the impending arrival of the so-called
    "space junk" set off alarms in various parts of Europe, with
    predictions being made of the damage the debris might do if any of it
    arrived in populated areas there.

    The European Space Agency's Space Debris and Independent Safety
    Offices provided updates to its member states throughout the day

    In Bonn, Germany, the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster
    Relief, National Warning Centre alerted the public to the possibility
    of hearing a sonic boom or seeing luminous phenomena overhead.

    At the time of the battery pack's release, it was considered the
    largest object to be tossed 'out the window' of the ISS.





    NEW ZEALAND.

    The NZ Government has, for some time, been planning to use part or
    all of the 3.3 GHz band for cellular use and their National body,
    NZART has been working with the regulator, RSM, to see what they could
    do to retain access to the band.

    As a result of the NZART submissions, RSM has agreed to allow
    CONTINUED Amateur use in the 3 300 3 410 MHz for the time being but
    they have decided that they will no longer allow individual amateur
    beacons, repeaters and fixed links to be licenced in the band, with an
    exception, this for the existing beacon operated by the Wellington VHF
    Group.

    NZART note "While, overall, this is good news, we must stress that
    there is concern in RSM that we could cause interference to the
    primary users of this spectrum and that sharing may not be feasible."





    YASME FOUNDATION PRESENTS SUPPORTING GRANTS, AWARDS

    The Yasme Foundation has announced the latest round of grants and
    awards. Newlines Kevin Trotman N5PRE brings us up to date on the
    deserving recipients.

    "Two ham operators have been named recipients of the Yasme
    Foundation's Excellence Award, which honours groups or individuals
    for their significant contributions at the technical, operating or
    organizational level. The latest awards are being given to Philip
    Gladstone, N1DQ, and Paul Schreier, HB9DST. Philip maintains the
    PSKReporter.info website, also known as the Digimode Automatic
    Propagation Reporter, which he created. His work has contributed much
    to ionospheric research through citizen science. "The Gladstone Signal
    Spotting Challenge" bears his name.

    Paul Schreier is a steadfast promoter of Summits on the Air and
    CW operations. He is a board member of the Helvetia Telegraphy Club
    for CW enthusiasts in Switzerland and an organizer of various
    amateur radio events.

    The foundation's board also announced a $5,000 grant each to the
    Foundation for Amateur Radio and ARRL Foundation scholarship programs.

    Supporting grants of undisclosed amounts were given to Contest
    University at Dayton; the YOTA/HamSci Hamvention activities.

    The Yasme Foundation also provided a grant of an undisclosed amount to
    Merzuke Gediktas, TA 7 YLY. The foundation has provided the funds to
    help her promote amateur radio in Turkey, particularly to women and
    girls.

    Earlier this year, the foundation gave a $7.500 supporting grant to
    the organizing committee of the World Radiosport Team Championship
    which will take place in 2026 in England.

    This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE."





    GERMANY

    The German regulator has announced that the callsign designation for
    the new, entry level "N" class license that takes effect on the 21st
    of June will be D N 9 - which adds a numeral to the previously
    announced "DN" prefix.

    The first examinations the "N" class license will take place on the
    weekend of June 28th at "Ham Radio Friedrichshafen." The license
    conforms to CEPT specifications for an entry level licence.





    UNITED KINGDOM.

    Join a friend and receive cashback!

    Here is a great initiative from the RSGB and an opportunity to get
    even more out of RSGB membership.

    If you recommend a friend who hasnt been an RSGB member during the
    last 12 months, you will BOTH receive Ten Pound cashback when they
    become a member paying by direct debit.

    And in a note on the RSGB web page it goes on to say " Whether youre
    an individual RSGB member or an affiliated club, you can sign up as
    many friends as you like."

    MORE THE MERRIER.



    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2022
    --------------
    --------------

    Yep, 2022 I didn't make an error HiHi.

    The WIA Contest Champion Peter Brown trophy is awarded annually for
    the best combined effort in WIA sponsored contests. It recognises
    those who have participated in multiple WIA contests and submitted
    logs throughout the year.

    There were a total of 327 contestants during 2022.

    It was decided to finalise the 2022 Contest Champion in the absence
    of the outstanding VHF/UHF Field Day Winter and Spring results.

    So, the winner of the VK4PJ Peter Brown trophy for 2022 is
    Lawrie Mew, VK5LJ with a score of 440 points. Lawrie entered 7 of the
    9 contests and won 1st place in the Remembrance Day contest,
    2nd place in the Oceania Phone and VK Shires contests, and 3rd in the
    Harry Angel and Trans-Tasman contests.

    Lawrie has now won the Peter Brown trophy 5 years running.

    2nd place went to Diane Main with 408 points.

    3rd Alan Shannon VK4SN 360 points.

    4th place was Catherine Hammond VK7GH with a score of 300 points.

    Equal 5th place was RC McKnight VK2MT and A. Burt VK3TZ both with
    scores of 268 points each.

    Full results can be viewed at
    wia.org.au/members/contests/contestchampion.

    (VK2PR)

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.

    ----------------

    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.


    -------------------

    YOTA Contest 2024

    The next 2 sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00 to
    21:59 UTC on 21 July and 29 December on the five classic bands
    CW and SSB.


    -----------------


    NOT SO MUCH A CONTEST BUT YOU COULD CLAIM A CERTIFICATE!

    Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again holding a Get on the Air on
    World Amateur Radio Day special event in which encouraged as many
    Amateurs as possible get on the air and contact as many RAC stations
    as possible.

    RAC official stations will operate across Canada from 0000Z to 2359Z
    on April 18.

    The RAC official station call signs and there are some 14 and all end
    with suffix RAC

    (RAC)


    -------------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18

    Remembrance Day Contest.


    -----------------------------

    A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    STARTS: Saturday 25th August at 0600 hours UTC
    ENDS: Sunday 26th August at 0559 hours UTC

    (alara web page)


    -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    NOW LETS SLIDE OPEN THE DX WINDOW .

    ST HELENA ISLAND

    ZD 7 GG is QRV with a straight key on CW until the end of March.

    (arrl)


    --------------


    REUNION ISLAND.

    QRV from April 7 to 18 will be TO 7 PX.

    SSB and FT8 on 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 Meters.

    QSL TO7PX is via IK 2 DUW.

    (arrl)


    -----------

    Amateur radio operators from surrounding areas will assemble at
    Halifax, North Carolina on April 11-13, to activate special event
    station N4C.

    This activity is to commemorate the signing of The Halifax Resolves,
    which occurred on April 12, 1776.

    The Halifax Resolves was the first written instrument, in existence,
    leading to US independence from England. It was approved unanimously
    at the Fourth Provincial Congress gathered at Halifax, NC.

    It authorized the delegates, being sent to the Continental Congress,
    to vote for, and encourage other colonys delegates to support
    independence from England. This led to the US's Declaration of
    Independence being adopted and signed on July 4, 1776.

    (ARD)

    -------------

    Active is 5 R 8 IC from Sainte Marie Island, AF-090, until the 31st
    of March mainly using CW on the 40 to 10m bands and via the QO-100
    satellite. QSL station 5R8IC via Logbook of the World or via home
    call F 6 ICX.

    (RSGB)

    --------------


    Wireless station 4 S 7 KKG from Sri Lanka is working until the 30th
    of March. FT8, FT4, RTTY and sometimes CW on the 20 to 6m bands.
    QSL 4S7KKG via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or direct to
    home call DC 0 KK


    (RSGB)



    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    NOW, REPEATRER AND BEACON NEWS NEWS -

    This is Nathan VK5OG on behalf of myself Andrew Vk5WX.

    We have an announcement for the two meter repeater at Crafers on
    147.2625 with a -1.6 offset.

    The repeater now has a live wires X and YSF ROOM 89821 and a
    DMR bridge on free DMR TG5055.

    So you can access the Repeater through WIRESX or YSF or free DMR,
    hope to catch you on the air soon.

    This has been Nathan VK5OG on behalf of myself and Andrew Vk5WX.
    73.




    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    BEACONS

    The RSGBs Propagation Studies Committee has released a new HF beacon
    list, with the 10m band listings completely revamped.

    The old list, which was started by Martin Harrison, G3USF Silent Key,
    had been added to over the years but was getting out of date. The only
    way to make it more accurate was to start again.

    The Propagation Studies Committee made use of the Reverse Beacon
    Network which wasnt available when the list was originally created,
    plus listeners contributions from around the world.

    The new beacon list can be found at rsgb.org/beacons


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    MEDIA WATCH

    ALL ABOARD!

    Series 15 episode 4 of Michael Portillos TV show Great British
    Railway Journeys: Havant to Guildford, features Surrey Satellite
    Technology Ltd and Professor Sir Martin Sweeting G 3 YJO.
    To see the segment fast-forward 20 mins 30 secs into the show.
    Watch in the UK on BBC iPlayer at

    tinyurl.com/yrjbt49d

    (amsat uk)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)

    AMATEUR RADIO IS READY TO SUPPORT SOLAR ECLIPSE OPERATION

    The upcoming Monday 8 April 2024 solar eclipse has many excited about
    the opportunity to witness the darkness of totality.

    Spectators from across the US are traveling to the path of total
    darkness that will stretch from South Texas to Northeast Maine.
    The eclipse is expected to directly affect parts of 14 US states
    as it moves across the country.

    Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, or HamSCI, is leading the
    Solar Eclipse QSO Party which will allow radio amateurs to participate
    in propagation research by working during the eclipse and submitting
    their logs. Much of that activity will be focused on the FT8
    frequencies of the non-WARC HF bands, but all modes will be welcome
    during the event.

    hamsci.org/eclipse.

    (sarl)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    ZL3NB Memorial Sprints

    The ZL Sprints have been renamed the ZL3NB Memorial Sprints for
    April in honour of Bill Carney ZL3NB (SK) who was a regular
    participant in the sprints.

    Held Tuesday nights at 0800z get prepared for 5 rounds of fun and
    frivolities (and some contesting). The format 30 minutes of CW
    followed by 30 min of SSB on 80m with an exchange of RST (always 599
    or 5NN in CW) and your outside temperature.

    Work as many stations as you can in one or both periods, once on each
    mode. This is a great chance to give CW a go as this is a laid back
    activity with a stylised exchange and speeds around 15 to 18wpm.

    (sourced to nzart)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    THIS COULD BE THE 'CAT'S WHISKER'.

    CATS is a new communication and telemetry standard intended to surpass
    the current APRS standard by leveraging modern, super-cheap Frequency
    Shift Keying transceivers rather than standard FM units.

    The project is in the early stages, but, there is a full open source
    software stack and reference hardware for both Raspberry Pi-based
    gateway devices and an STM32-based mobile device.

    From a radio perspective, CATS uses raw FSK rather than the
    inefficient AFSK used by APRS. A real killer for channel utilization
    is the PTT time; this is the dead time around a packet APRS requires
    for keying up and keying down. The CATS standard is aggressive
    with PTT timing, enabling the channel to get going on sending the data
    sooner.

    Sounds "purfect?"

    Additionally, compared to APRS, the packet baud rate increases from
    1200 to 9600 baud.

    One of the neat concepts of APRS is APRS-IS (APRS Internet service),
    enabling amateur radio to be connected over the Internet, vastly
    improving range. The CATS equivalent is called FELINET.
    (pronounced FEE-LINE)

    (if youre not spotting all the cat references by now, go and get
    another coffee (( or even a bowl of warm milk )) while I continue with
    special interest group news. HiHi)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    SONATE 2 Images Received.

    First images have been received from the SONATE 2 satellite.

    A low-resolution Slow-Scan TV image that had been pre-loaded onto the
    satellite prior to launch was received and the first wide field of
    view earth image from the on-board camera was also received.

    tinyurl.com/yc4jjj8s

    SONATE 2 was built by students and faculty in the Aerospace
    Information Technology program at Wurzburg University in Germany
    and was launched on March 4 as part of the SpaceX Transporter 10
    mission from California.

    Using Doppler measurements, Nico Janssen, PADLO, has identified
    SONATE 2 as object 59112. The telemetry downlink frequency is
    437.0254 MHz, just slightly above the published target frequency of
    437.025 MHz. Telemetry is in 9k6 G3RUH GMSK AX.25 using a protocol
    that may be downloaded from the tinyurl link in this weeks WIA
    National News.

    tinyurl.com/4e7xcjaf


    The SSTV downlink is at 145.880 MHz FM using the Martin M1 protocol.

    (ans)



    AO-73 Back in Eclipse Mode

    AMSAT reports that FUNcube AO-73 is once again operating in eclipse
    mode after spending several weeks in safe mode. The satellite was
    placed in safe mode in late February to give its batteries a rest.

    (ard)





    Chinas human spaceflight agency, CMSA, is progressing towards its
    goal of landing astronauts on the moon before 2030.

    The spacecraft developed for this purpose has been named Mengzhou,
    translating to Dream Vessel, for lunar missions, and Lanyue, meaning
    Embracing the Moon, for orbital travel.

    Dream Vessel has a variant for low Earth orbit carrying seven
    astronauts and a moon version transporting three astronauts into
    lunar orbit.

    The moon landing plan involves two rockets launching Mengzhou and
    Lanyue, rendezvousing in lunar orbit, with astronauts descending to
    the lunar surface. A 440-pound crew rover will accompany the lunar
    lander.

    (ANS)





    Weighing just 1.3 kg, a small satellite known as Ectobius was launched
    on the 4th of March in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 to conduct
    radar detection of the Earth and also provide amateur radio access.

    The creators, Care Weather and the Brigham Young University Spacecraft
    Club, are calling this the smallest satellite radar system EVER in
    orbit.

    The university club will be coordinating the sharing of amateur radio
    activity. Hams will be able to use the CubeSat as a mailbox,
    Digipeater and telemetering station if they wish to study CubeSat
    thermals.

    According to the CareWeather and BYU club website, Ectobius is
    expected to have an orbital life of three years, although the duration
    of its scientific mission is only two months





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Kiritimati Island - IOTA OC-024 - T 32 EU

    T32EU is on air now until March 27 with three stations on
    160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8.

    The T32EU QSL route is via DL2AWG.

    (arrl)





    Seven hundred and forty-five callsigns from around the world are now
    listed on the newly released Honour Roll of the Islands on the Air
    awards programme, now in its sixtieth year.

    This annual list is published to recognise top chasers whose verified
    scores meet or exceed 50 percent of the total of numbered IOTA groups.
    Those totals do not include provisional numbers.

    The top radio operator listed in the Honour Roll for 2024 is 9A2AA in
    Croatia, with a score of 1,133. The second and third spots,
    respectively, are held by two stations in Italy: I2YDX with 1,132; and
    I1JQJ with 1, 131.

    Islands on the Air is administered in partnership with the RSGB.
    There are an estimated 1,200 designated IOTA ocean island groups
    within the awards programme.

    (ARNewsLine 2420)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - LAW ENFORCEMENT.

    Picture some 20, 000 feet chasing down a criminal?

    Well a very special foot race for law enforcement officers globally is
    taking place this weekend in the USA.

    The Baker to Vegas race, March 23 and 24 features 120 miles of
    pavement, 20 stages, and more than 10,000 runners. Family members and
    other guests were invited to support the runners. The race is a unique
    law enforcement footrace starting in Baker, California, and ending in
    Las Vegas.

    Law enforcement officers from around the globe compete in B2V every
    spring for the chance to win the coveted cup trophy.

    Special event station N 6 A is on the air , starting operations on the
    21st running... pardon the pun.. running till March, from 1600Z to
    0000Z on 7.225 and 14.225 MHz.

    (arrl)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    NOW HERE'S A GOOD READ - OR IS THAT A GOOD LISTEN?

    Hello from the YOTA desk I'm Alec VK2MV and although NOT just aimed at
    youngsters this is such a good idea many a VK club should 'listen and
    note'

    We take a visit to the library - in this case a library in
    Mississippi, where the community is able to check out books, CDs and
    movies. BUT, this time, they were checking out amateur radio as well.

    The hams who belong to the Jackson Amateur Radio Club thinking of
    growing new members thought what better place to share their
    knowledge than at the local library itself? Members shared their
    personal narratives as CW ops, builders, satellite chasers and
    experimenters.

    There were no cloak-and-dagger mystery stories here.

    This session, the first in a series, was designed to demystify what
    amateur radio is all about. The quarterly program is called
    Get S.M.A.R.T. - for Saturday Morning Amateur Radio Time.

    The club is also hoping to help at least one library staffer at each
    branch to get a license and perhaps set up a ham station as well on
    the premises.

    (ARNewsLine 2420)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO

    ARDC GRANT BOLSTERS NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK

    COL/ANCHOR: A recent grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications
    is helping a club effort led by an Indiana father and son to develop
    an emergency-response network of clubs that focuses on flexibility.
    NewsLines Paul Braun, WD9GCO, who also is president of one of those
    clubs, explains:

    PAUL: We recently reported that the ARDC was accepting grant applications again. This time were going to share a success story with the recent recipient of one of those grants.

    Chris Lattimer, N9MMR, and his 13-year-old son Tavas, KD9NSC, have been building a new club tied to a fire department in their town and building an emergency communications network tied to another established regional club that meets at a first-responder training facility. I spoke to Lattimer about the project:

    LATTIMER: Essentially well have two locations, each outfitted with radios for HF/VHF/UHF capabilities. Each location can be turned into an emergency operations centre, and then we have all of the people through both clubs and facilities trained to use those radios.

    PAUL: Lattimers plan is to enlist new hams from public-service facilities and coordinate between them and the clubs:

    LATTIMER: The Northwest Indiana Amateur Radio Partnership is a conjunction of the Ogden Dunes Amateur Radio Club and the Porter County Amateur Radio Club coming together to support emergency communication, to facilitate public safety communications and to promote the advancement of education in wireless technology through amateur radio.

    PAUL: The partnership plan has real benefits for all involved -- and a small network like this brings an enhanced flexibility that isn't just an asset to the hams involved, but a vital resource for the community."


    Thanks Paul WD9GCO from Amateur Radio NewsLine and the Porter County
    Amateur Radio Club.


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)

    VK3 - May 11 Moorabbin & District ARC HamFest Kingston City Hall
    (vk3gl)

    HamFest 2024

    The Moorabbin and District Amateur Radio club is pleased to announce
    the 2024 HamFest will be on Saturday 11th May, with doors opening at
    10am.

    This year's event will be held at The Kingston City Hall located at
    the corner of Nepean Highway and South Rd, Moorabbin.

    The Moorabbin Radio Club's annual HamFest is proud to be Victoria's
    biggest with displays and sales of new and preloved equipment. This
    event supported by commercial traders with specials on offer, as well
    as the many second hand traders, and is an event not to be missed for
    anyone interested in Radio Communications and Electronics. As well as
    many bargains available on the day, there will be major and minor
    door prizes, light refreshments will also be available.

    Trader table bookings online at
    mdrc.org.au/hamfest

    General enquires can be made by emailing Graeme Lewis
    vk3gl@wia.org.au
    Mobile 0418 171601.

    Proudly Victoria's biggest HamFest - A Must see, must come event!!


    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.


    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 31 (QTH to be advised ) (vk4DMH)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)

    VK7 - Tasmanian Ham Conference November 2 and 3 Hobart. (vk7news)

    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (vk3pdg)



    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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/100 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Wed Mar 27 23:04:12 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-03-31.mp3
    Text edition:
    ALTHOUGH DISTRIBUTED EARLY (due to EASTER) IT IS FOR WEEK COMMENCING
    MARCH 31 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 31 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    With all the latest happenings at WIA Board level, Peter VK4EA one of
    the elected board members. -

    Denis VK4AE contest Manager of the WIA John Moyle Field Day reminds us
    7th April is the FINAL date logs will be accepted! and PLEASE use
    the correct logging program. -

    BUT WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA. -

    So let's buckle up and SALLY FORTH with this weeks WIA National News,
    I'm Editor GraHam VK4BB.


    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Gidday this is Peter VK4EA speaking on behalf of the WIA Board of
    Directors.

    We are please announce registrations for the WIA AGM 2024 are now open.
    The WIA website has a front page item directing visitors to the AGM
    2024 registration page.

    The Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club has done an awesome job with
    organising an event filled weekend which starts on the Saturday 4th
    of May and I cannot help myself - May the Fourth be with You. Check
    out the BARC website for the full program.

    barc.asn.au/

    A few members of the board will be attending in person, we look forward
    to catching up over the weekend.

    The Board is looking for an IT Manager and Digital Manager to help us
    modernise our IT platforms and increase our digital footprint. The role
    descriptions are in the latest AR Magazine if you think you can help
    us out or have any questions please get in touch using my WIA email
    vk4ea@wia.org.au

    Cheers for now, this has been Peter - VK4EA - on behalf of the
    W I A board of directors.




    VK NEWS BEAT

    SEE YOU IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

    And what better way to "SEE" than by drone.

    Businesses, investors, training providers and industry stakeholders
    have been invited to participate in the Northern Territory Governments
    Drone Technology Innovation Cluster to grow the Territorys drone
    industry. Challenge participants will design a proposal for the Drone
    Technology Innovation Cluster to facilitate the development of drone
    and associated industries in the Territory.

    The winning design proposal will be judged based on which concept
    offers the most value for the Territory.

    The winning consortium will be able to negotiate a contract with the
    Territory Government for the procurement of the proposal and also
    receive $100,000 in seed funding.

    One group showing interest is said to be Surf Life Saving NSW.
    One of the SLSS units is the provider of the largest coastal uncrewed
    aerial vehicle surveillance program in the Southern Hemisphere.

    tinyurl.com/2cses9yb

    (NT Govt.)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to DX-WORLD, IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ICQPodcast,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    This year, International Marconi Day (IMD) is on April 27.

    Italian inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Giovanni Maria
    Marconi (to give him his full name)was born on April 25, 1874, and is
    credited for inventing the radiotelegraph system, creating Marconi's
    law, and sending the first wireless transmission over the open sea.

    IMD was created to honour Marconi and is hosted annually by the
    Cornish Radio Amateur Club, GX 4 CRC. The purpose of the day is for
    amateur radio enthusiasts around the world to contact historic Marconi
    sites using communication techniques similar to those that he would
    have used.

    The 24-hour event will operate from 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC, BUT
    registration is required.

    Participants can register at GX 4 CRC's registration web page.

    gx4crc.com/imd/imd-registration/





    AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD - WATCH THIS 'SPACE'.

    THE GONGS JUST KEEP ON COMING

    A couple of WIA National News broadcasts back we announced how VK5DG
    had been ranked in the top 50 ROVERS in the GridMasterMap rankings.

    NOW FURTHER:-

    Dave VK5DG is now #3 in the world for GRIDS activated on MEO
    i.e. Greencube IO-117.

    The first two place getters have done most of their operating
    maritime mobile - they work on ocean going ships.

    VK5DG's is land only.

    Would seem our VK5 friend is a weapon to be aware of internationally
    when it comes to operating satellites portable!!





    WASHINGTON.

    The FCC is looking into whether any security threats are being created
    by US mobile phones having access to satellites that are operated by
    adversarial foreign countries.

    Only access to the Galileo GNSS system in Europe has been approved,
    however as early as 2018 FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel had expressed
    concern that chips in US phones make them capable of operating with
    other nations' global navigation satellites; hence, the agency's
    concern.

    In another move, the FCC is not playing around when it comes to selling
    illegal signal jammers. The agency just went public with an
    investigation into Amazon and other major retailers for allegedly
    pushing these dodgy devices that can block your mobile phone signal,
    GPS, and more.

    Typically advertised as drone deterrents or privacy tools, these
    nefarious gadgets are specifically designed to block radio frequencies.
    This has serious ramifications, cutting off cellular devices and GPS
    units and impacting emergency communication channels.

    So now maybe not your phone blocked, but the sellers will be blocked.





    JARVIS ISLAND.

    Remember the call N5J

    US Fish and Wildlife Service have granted a Ham Radio Team to land on
    Jarvis Island for a 13 day DXpedition, starting around August 1, 2024
    (the date may change due to WX).

    6 RIB stations on the island, including a 160 meter station. 160m will
    be very challenging, but the transmission antenna will be a 45 ft. tall
    vertical without top loading (wires can hurt birds). While this is a
    compromise antenna, it will be standing in salt water at most tides and
    should put out a decent signal

    They also will have a 6m station with a 6 element Yagi.

    The on-island team will be augmented by 25 remote operators from Asia,
    Europe and North America, running CW and FT8. FT8 operations will use
    the Fox/Hound mode.

    OH THE IMPORTANT FACT, CALL SIGN IS N 5 J i.e. N5J.

    Jarvis Island was last on air way way back in 1990 so good luck to
    George AA7JV and Don N1DG, permit holders for this,
    the Jarvis Island NWR 2024 DXpedition.





    Does radio have more of a potty mouth than ever?

    That conclusion can be drawn from ChartCipher's analysis of songs
    charting in 2023 on Billboard's weekly Radio Songs chart ranking
    airplay audience impressions across all formats, showing the share of
    songs using some degree of profanity jumping to a five-year-high
    of 42%.

    Maybe not AMATEUR radio but radio we and even a number of Grandkids
    hear has changed, and not necessarily for the better.

    In the past, if you released a song to radio [with] words the FCC or
    our case, the ACMA, even a soccer mom would feel uncomfortable with,
    you were D.O.A. Now [that] songs are designed for streaming first,
    the strategy could be, we're going to put in the profanity we feel is
    artistically appropriate for this song, and if it becomes big enough,
    we'll worry about the radio edit later.

    Before you think it's all the fault of Hip Hop Rap songs, plenty of
    hits from top 40 pop acts during 2023, including Taylor Swift's Karma
    and Olivia Rodrigo's Vampire, also include profanity in their
    original versions.





    WEIRD AND WONDERFUL.

    Every 26 months, Earth and Mars come tantalizingly close by virtue of
    their relative orbits. The closest theyve been in recent memory was a
    mere 55.7 million kilometres, a proximity not seen in 60,000 years,
    this, when it happened in 2003.

    You know weve been playing close attention to Mars for longer than
    2003. All the way back in 1924, astronomers and scientists were
    contemplating another close fly by from the red planet. With radio
    then being the hot new technology on the block, the question was
    raisedshould we be listening for transmissions from fellows over on
    Mars?

    Flashback to 1924, a time when the cosmos was less understood but no
    less marvelled at. Earth and Mars were drawing near, and with that, an
    ambitious, albeit quaint by todays standards, attempt to probe the
    Red Planet for signs of life was set into motion. The plan was to keep
    out a listening ear for potential Martian radio broadcasts.

    So U.S.A. orchestrated a grand gesture, just on a chance,
    National Radio Silence Day.

    The idea was that terrestrial radio transmissions should be hushed as
    much as possible such that any Martian transmissions might better be
    heard by radio operators. Citizens were urged to quiet their radio
    transmissions for the first five minutes of every hour. US naval
    stations were instructed to lend Earths ears to the cosmos, noting and
    reporting any electrical phenomenon of unusual character across
    as wide band frequencies as possible. This was all in the hope that
    someone, somewhere might hear a faint howdy or hello from a Martian.

    It was a moment of wide-eyed optimism. The hope was to hear a crackle
    from a speaker. Some distant sound that told us somebody else was out
    there.

    The day was actually promoted as a 36-hour long period from August 21
    to August 23. The United States Naval Observatory went as far as using
    a small airship to raise a radio receiver 1.8 miles into the air for
    better reception.

    Alas, with ears turned to the sky, the cosmos remained silent.
    Either the people of Mars were too busy to contact us, or they didnt
    want to make new friends. Or, as we assume today, there were simply no
    Martians to begin with.

    No Martian dispatches were received, and Earth was left to ponder the
    silence.

    tinyurl.com/37dbrfce


    (Hackaday)


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    ON THIS WEEKEND

    The WPX Contest is based on an award offered by CQ Magazine for working
    all prefixes. Held on the last weekend of March (SSB) and May (CW), the
    contest draws thousands of entries from around the world.


    -------------------


    7th April is the FINAL date that John Moyle logs will be accepted!

    This is Denis VK4AE contest Manager for the John Moyle Field Day 2024.

    Logs have continued to arrive. Those that already been received seem to
    be fewer than this stage after the contest last year. The mixture as
    usual is about 50% home stations.

    It is still highly recommended that once you have submitted your log
    you should check a bit later that your callsign has been added to the
    list of logs received. If your call is not on the list, then it
    probably has not been received.

    The logging programme VKCL is still valid and many entries have used it
    to my benefit as it works very well with my own system,

    A couple of logs have been submitted as a PDF. The data is not
    accessible electronically and hence usable to me.

    In the same way, a number of logs were submitted for the VHF/UHF
    section using a N1MM format that does not contain all of the
    information required by the JMMFD rules and requires much extra work
    for the Contest Manager (me) to attempt to fix those logs.

    Some club stations were operated during the contest that have not yet
    provided a log. Perhaps, in your club do you have to rely on
    Mr. Somebody to get the log done, get in touch and give him a hand to
    get it finished and submitted. Have you considered getting a senior
    secondary student to complete the log for you? Maybe you might inspire
    an interest in Ham Radio?

    It is timely to remind you all that while there is not a lot of time
    left to submit the log and it will pass quickly with the final date
    being the 7th April. This is required by the very long lead times now
    for the AR Magazine. Following this date all of the logs will be
    processed and the results prepared and made available soon after.
    The results will be shown on the WIA contest page as soon as they are
    ready.

    So, check that your call is on the list, and resend the log if it
    isnt. It might also be a good idea to submit your log now as you
    never know what can happen to delay you in the next few days.


    ----------------------------------------------------


    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.
    Starts: Zero hours UTC Saturday
    Ends: 2359 UTC Sunday

    (CQ)


    ----------------------------------------------------



    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st 2024

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)
    -------------------


    YOTA Contest 2024

    The next 2 sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00 to
    21:59 UTC on 21 July and 29 December on the five classic bands
    CW and SSB.

    Everyone can work everyone.

    The complete rules can be found on
    ham-yota.com/contest.


    -----------------


    AUGUST 17 - 18

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------------------


    44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
    last FULL weekend of August.

    ELIGIBILITY?

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    take part using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    CONTEST: Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    STARTS: Saturday 25th August 2024 at 0600 hours UTC
    ENDS: Sunday 26th August 2024 at 0559 hours UTC

    SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES: All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    Contacts made on ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web page)

    -------------

    Oceania DX Contest

    This years contest will be held on October 5th and 12th respectively.

    oceaniadxcontest.com

    -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)

    -----------------


    YOUR RESULTS ARE IN!

    Grant VK5GR is pleased to announce the results for the 2023 Oceania DX
    contest.

    Thanks Felix, and Good morning all!

    The Oceania DX Contest Committee is pleased to announce that the
    results for the 2023 contest are now available. If you entered the
    contest in 2023, head on over to the contest website
    oceaniadxcontest.com
    where you can see all of the results.

    It was another excellent event last year, with many records tumbling
    thanks to some of the best solar conditions we have seen in a long
    time. We received over 1000 SSB logs and nearly 750 CW logs in the two
    contests from amateurs around the world. For Australian amateurs, some
    of the highlights included the Geelong Amateur Radio Club once again
    winning the Australia Club Plaque, VK3GF winning the Oceania CW
    Newcomer plaque, Catherine VK7C winning the Florence McKenzie
    (Mrs Mac) Award and VK2BJ winning the Oceania CW Single Op All Band
    Low Power award. Australian stations also did well in the Phone
    Multi one and Multi two transmitter categories, being won by VK4A
    and VK4KW respectively.

    These and more results can be seen over on the contest website as well
    as photos of many of our contesters!

    So if these results inspire you, then start planning now.
    This years contest will be held on October 5th and 12th respectively.

    For the WIA National News, this has been Grant VK5GR on behalf of the
    Oceania DX Contest committee, now back to you Felix

    oceaniadxcontest.com


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    ----------

    YJ 0 VK

    A neat if confusing call sign is in operation to our east until April
    11.

    A team of primarily VK ops are manning this Port Villa Vanuatu station
    40 through to 6 metres and this the first week their focus will be on
    SSB and CW, with FT8 as a back-fill mode. The second week will be
    CW and FT8

    Charles M0OXO is the YJ0VK QSL Manager.

    --------------


    GLOBAL STATIONS CELEBRATING APRIL 18 'WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY":-

    CANADA

    RAC official stations will operate across Canada from
    0000Z to 2359Z April 18 and there are some 14 and all end
    with suffix RAC.


    GREECE:-

    The Radio Amateur Association of Greece will be using callsign
    S Z WARD to mark Amateur Radio Day, they will be on air from
    April 15th to the 30th with the BIG day of course April 18.


    NO WORD AS YET AS TO ANY OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT FOR THE EVENT.



    PARIS.

    Celebrate the 135th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower's formal
    inauguration by making a contact with Michel, F 8 GGZ.

    He is using the special callsign TM 135 TE until March 31, that's today
    UTC time.

    QSL via the bureau.

    (ARNewsLine 2421)


    -------------
    Y

    ST HELENA ISLAND

    ZD 7 GG is QRV with a straight key on CW until the end of March.

    (arrl)


    --------------
    Y

    REUNION ISLAND.

    QRV from April 7 to 18 will be TO 7 PX.

    SSB and FT8 on 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 Meters.

    QSL TO7PX is via IK 2 DUW.

    (arrl)

    -----------

    Y

    Amateur radio operators from surrounding areas will assemble at
    Halifax, North Carolina on April 11-13, to activate special event
    station N4C.

    This activity is to commemorate the signing of The Halifax Resolves,
    which occurred on April 12, 1776.

    The Halifax Resolves was the first written instrument, in existence,
    leading to US independence from England. It was approved unanimously
    at the Fourth Provincial Congress gathered at Halifax, NC.

    It authorized the delegates, being sent to the Continental Congress,
    to vote for, and encourage other colonys delegates to support
    independence from England. This led to the US's Declaration of
    Independence being adopted and signed on July 4, 1776.

    (ARD)
    -------------

    DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    HI 180 RD is on the air to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the
    Dominican Republic declaring its independence from Haiti in 1844.

    Listen for activity on all bands and modes until the 30th of April
    when around 25 operators from five radio clubs will be part of the
    event.

    For details of a certificate that is available, visit QRZ.com

    (rsg)

    ----------

    IRELAND

    Special event callsign EI 80 MB is active until the 31st of May to
    commemorate the 80th anniversary of the rescue of 168 German seamen
    who were rescued from the waters of the Bay of Biscay after a battle
    between British and German naval forces in 1943.

    The men were carried out by a small Irish coaster called Kerlogue
    [KER-LOG] which had the callsign EIMB. The rescue took more than ten
    hours.

    QSL WI80MB via Club Log's OQRS or via EI6AL

    (RSGB)

    -------------

    Y

    Active is 5 R 8 IC from Sainte Marie Island, AF-090, until the 31st
    of March mainly using CW on the 40 to 10m bands and via the QO-100
    satellite. QSL station 5R8IC via Logbook of the World or via home
    call F 6 ICX.

    (RSGB)

    --------------

    Y

    Wireless station 4 S 7 KKG from Sri Lanka is working until the 30th
    of March. FT8, FT4, RTTY and sometimes CW on the 20 to 6m bands.
    QSL 4S7KKG via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or direct to
    home call DC 0 KK


    (RSGB)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Park Prefix Update.

    In an effort to reorganize the Parks on the Air database in a way that
    meets ISO standards, POTA has begun rolling out changes to the way park
    entities are prefixed in many countries.

    Australia does not seem to be impacted BUT from a political
    perspective, the prefix change has resulted in China choosing to
    no longer participate in the POTA program due to the newer standard
    recognizing Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan as top-level entities.

    Beginning with the United States and Puerto Rico, parks previously
    coded with a K prefix will now be listed with a US prefix. For example,
    the Appalachian National Scenic Trail was previously K-4556 and is now
    US-4556.

    While the changes are largely seamless from a systems perspective,
    activators will be required to use the new prefixes when uploading
    logs. Logging software supporting POTA will also need to be adjusted.

    (ard)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    A growing number of satellite enthusiasts are currently engaged in
    sharing their grid square activations on hams.at

    By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive
    information about the operators responsible for activating specific
    grid squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match
    score between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while
    also being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are
    accessible from your location.

    (ans)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    ST. VINCENT, IOTA # NA-025, J8NKI

    Active is J 8 NKI from Bequia Island, IOTA NA-025, until April 1 on the
    HF bands. QSL route for J8NKI is via to home call W 1 DED.

    (arrl)




    DENMARK, IOTA EU-125, 5P5K.

    Stefan, is active as 5P5K from Romo Island, IOTA EU-125, to May 6.
    Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using SSB and various digital modes.
    QSL 5P5K via Stefan's home call which is DL 7 AOS.

    (arrl)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
    qcwa.org
    raotc.org.au

    Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW wishing you a very happy Easter
    and reminding you that tomorrow is the first Monday of the month,
    time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia's April
    bulletin to go to air.

    This month as well as the latest Club news Ill be posing the question,
    Was Mahlon Loomis the first Wireless telegrapher? after which
    Bill VK3BR tells us about some new medical techniques and the use of
    radio waves, followed by a discussion of QRM way back in 1903.

    Everyone, RAOTC members and non-Members alike, is most welcome to
    listen to the program and join in the call backs afterwards.

    Full details of all transmissions times frequencies and modes can be
    found on the RAOTC website, raotc.org.au
    or just search for RAOTC broadcasts.

    If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the audio
    file at any time from today from the clubs website.

    Once again, tune in tomorrow for the April RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the
    program and please join in the call backs afterwards.

    73 from Clive VK6CSW.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    WONDERING IF ANY YOUNG VK HAMS ARE DAYTONA BOUND THIS YEAR?

    On Saturday, May 18, a 2024 ARRL Youth Rally will be a special feature
    of the National Convention at Hamvention. The Youth Rally is intended
    for students who are 11 to 21 years of age. While Hamvention offers
    free tickets for youth aged 12 through 18, advance registration for the
    Youth Rally is recommended if you are lucky enough to be in the USA at
    the time.

    The Youth Rally registration fee is $20 and includes a tee shirt,
    badge, lanyard, and reusable tote bag.

    Youth Rally participants will enjoy a full day of activities,
    discovery, sharing, and fun.

    Rally day begins with the annual Dayton Youth Forum -- open to all
    Hamvention attendees -- moderated by well-known amateur radio educator
    Carole Perry, WB2MGP.

    The forum includes presentations from young hams covering a variety of
    amateur radio activities, topics, and technology.

    (sourced to arrl)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO

    The Radio Society of Sri Lanka has been chosen to host the SEANET 2024
    convention in September.

    SEANET, the South East Asia Amateur Radio Network, was created in 1964
    on 20 metres to provide a means of emergency communication and to bring
    ham radio operators together in fellowship through daily on-air
    communication at 1200 UTC. Most of the amateurs participating reside in
    the region but check-ins take place from around the world.

    SEANET's first convention was held in 1971 in Malaysia.

    Subsequent conventions have taken place in Australia, Thailand, China,
    Brunei, India, Singapore and other locales throughout southeast Asia.

    (ARNewsLine 2421)




    Amateur Radio will again be represented at the 2024 National Hurricane
    Conference which will be held this year in Orlando Florida

    The National Hurricane Conference is the USA's forum for education and
    professional training in hurricane and disaster preparedness. With an
    average of 2,500 attendees from around the country, the conference
    covers all major aspects of hurricane preparedness, response and
    recover.

    hurricanemeeting.com

    (ARNewsLine)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.
    ATV SSTV and other forms such as YouTube.

    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    HAMTV AND THE ISS.

    The HamTV system is back on the ISS. Although it is not expected that
    the HamTV equipment will be activated for at least a few weeks, the
    British Amateur Television Club has created a new wiki page which gives
    a lot of information on how to receive, decode and display the DATV
    signals from the ISS.

    wiki.batc.org.uk/HAMTV_from_the_ISS

    There is also a discussion channel available on the site.

    [ANS]

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)

    VK3 - May 11 Moorabbin & District ARC HamFest Kingston City Hall
    (vk3gl)

    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.


    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)


    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 31 (QTH to be advised ) (vk4DMH)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)

    VK7 - Tasmanian Ham Conference November 2 and 3 Hobart. (vk7news)

    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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
    SEEN-BY: 1/100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 113 114 115 116 117 SEEN-BY: 1/118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 130 132 133 134 135 136 SEEN-BY: 1/137 138 139 140 142 143 144 145 147 148 151 154 155 156 157 158 159 SEEN-BY: 1/160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Apr 4 18:30:48 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-04-07.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 APRIL 7 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 APRIL 7 2024
    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB

    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    WIA AGM NEWS

    Gidday! This is David VK4DN from the Bundy Amateur Radio Club.

    Just a reminder that if you are attending the National WIA Convention
    and AGM in Bundaberg on the 4th/5th May and flying into Bundaberg,
    please make contact with our club and let us know the time of your
    arrival so we can make sure to meet you at the airport in our Minibus.
    The driver will take you to your accommodation and will also ferry you
    to and from the WIA Convention, Gala Dinner and AGM.

    So if you are flying into Bundy, please let us know your incoming
    flight time.

    Also, if you havent already registered for the event, the bookings can
    now be made via the WIA website.

    memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/EventBooking.aspx?selectedEventId=1

    There will also be opportunities for spouses and family to attend
    tourist venues in Bundaberg over the weekend such as the historic
    Bundaberg Rum Distillery tour / etc.

    If you have any questions, let us know!

    73 from David VK4DN Secretary - Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.





    AUSTRALIA

    SEE YOU IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

    And what better way to "SEE" than by drone.

    Businesses, investors, training providers and industry stakeholders
    have been invited to participate in the Northern Territory Governments
    Drone Technology Innovation Cluster to grow the Territorys drone
    industry. Challenge participants will design a proposal for the Drone
    Technology Innovation Cluster to facilitate the development of drone
    and associated industries in the Territory.

    The winning design proposal will be judged based on which concept
    offers the most value for the Territory.

    The winning consortium will be able to negotiate a contract with the
    Territory Government for the procurement of the proposal and also
    receive $100,000 in seed funding.

    One group showing interest is said to be Surf Life Saving NSW.
    One of the SLSS units is the provider of the largest coastal uncrewed
    aerial vehicle surveillance program in the Southern Hemisphere.

    tinyurl.com/2cses9yb

    (NT Govt.)


    ________________________________________________


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to DX-WORLD, IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ICQPodcast,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.


    World Amateur Radio Day is celebrated each year on April 18.

    The theme for 2024 is, "A Century of Connections: Celebrating 100 Years
    of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community, and Advocacy." The global event
    spans 2 days: Thursday, April 18, 0000 UTC to Friday, April 19,
    0000 UTC.

    On April 18, 1925, the IARU was formed in Paris and will celebrate its
    centenary in 2025. American Radio Relay League Co-Founder Hiram Percy
    Maxim was the organization's first president.

    All radio amateurs on earth are invited to take to the airwaves to
    enjoy the global friendship with other amateurs and to show their
    skills and capabilities to the public. WARD is not a contest but rather
    an opportunity to talk about the value of amateur radio to the public
    and fellow amateur colleagues. It is also a great opportunity to talk
    about local radio clubs and amateur radio in local media.




    Belgium:

    23 cm band Restrictions

    Belgiums regulator the BIPT has published draft restrictions on
    amateur radio operation in their 23cm band.

    The new restrictions include:

    Class A (equiv. our full call) a whopping loss of almost 52 MHz.
    Size of band proposed to be reduced from 60 MHz to 8.24 MHz with
    the satellite allocation reduced to just 2 MHz., 1260-1262 MHz and the
    antenna elevation must always be more than 15 above the horizon and
    the transmission power is limited to 50 W EIRP.

    amsat-uk.org/2024/04/01/belgium-23-cm-band-restrictions/




    UK

    Congratulations are in order for Chris Whitmarsh, G 0 FDZ who has been
    presented with an RSGB Lifetime Achievement Award by RSGB President
    John McCullagh, GI 4 BWM and RSGB Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G 3 YSX.

    Recipient Chris is the only amateur in the UK to have had a two-way QSO
    on every single amateur band for which we are licensed.

    Now THAT is some achievement!




    HOLLYWOOD

    FCC AUCTION PROGRAM RECEIVES EMMY AWARD

    The Emmy Awards, best known for their celebrity recipients, has a new
    well-known recipient among the ranks: The US Federal Communications
    Commission.

    That report comes to us from ARNewsLine and George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU.


    GEORGE: In the US, the Emmy Awards bestowed by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, are best known for acknowledging stellar achievements in the television industry. This year, however, a somewhat unconventional award recipient stood out among the more typical
    award-winners in entertainment and sports programming.

    The Federal Communications Commission, the US government regulatory
    agency, was the recipient of a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for
    having held a broadcast auction. The auction, which took place over
    several years, opened the door for TV stations to receive incentive
    payments in exchange for their return of underutilized parts of the
    broadcast spectrum. The funds the stations received enabled them to
    reinvest in their own operations while the newly available spectrum was auctioned off to wireless broadband carriers, to use for 5G or other
    services.

    The auction brought in a gross total of $19.8 billion in US currency.
    Fifty broadcasters received a total of $10.05 billion in payments.
    Another $7.3 billion went into the US Treasury to help reduce the
    federal deficit.

    This is George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU




    Students from Plymouth State University in the USA will be spending
    30 hours releasing human-sized weather balloons, one per hour, to
    collect data on temperature, humidity, air pressure, winds and
    ultraviolet rays between the ground and about 100,000 feet during the
    April 8 Total Eclipse.

    They're one of 55 teams around the country doing this in a project
    coordinated by NASA. Another project triggered by the eclipse involves
    amateur radio operators throughout the country who will be using their
    signals to study the effect of the moons shadow on the ionosphere.

    This upcoming eclipse offers all sorts of opportunities to discover
    more about how our universe works. While many will watch the Moon and
    Sun share the spotlight that day, some students at Case Western Reserve
    University are focused on the space between, specifically the hundreds
    of miles far above the clouds but below outer space known as the
    ionosphere.

    Members of the Case Amateur Radio Club, W8EDU, are among those across
    the USA and the globe set to test what happens when the Moon gets in
    the way of the sun and how that impacts (or doesn't) radio
    communications.

    An Indiana county that will experience totality during the April 8
    solar eclipse is cranking up the power on its Travellers Information
    Radio Station to help visitors. The station normally runs at 10 watts
    but for the period April 115, its allowed 100w and an antenna height
    close to twice its norm. The station will provide locations and
    details of free events and viewing sites throughout the area.



    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------


    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.
    Starts: Zero hours UTC Saturday
    Ends: 2359 UTC Sunday

    (CQ)

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st 2024

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)
    -------------------

    YOTA Contest 2024

    The next 2 sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00 to
    21:59 UTC on 21 July and 29 December on the five classic bands
    CW and SSB.

    Everyone can work everyone.

    The complete rules can be found on
    ham-yota.com/contest.

    -----------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------------------


    44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
    last FULL weekend of August.

    STARTS: Saturday 25th August 0600 hours UTC
    ENDS: Sunday 26th August at 0559 hours UTC

    (alara web page)


    -------------

    Oceania DX Contest

    SSB and CW

    This years contest will be held on October 5th and 12th respectively.

    oceaniadxcontest.com


    -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)


    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    Special event station GB 0 WYT will be active from RAF Wyton during the
    Airfields on the Air event the weekend of the 13th and 14th of April.
    This is the 12th year that this station has put on a special station
    for the event.

    The callsign will again be operated by RAF Air Cadet Communication
    Staff and club members from the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society
    from a site just west of the main runway at Wyton.

    (gb2rs)

    --------------

    NAMIBIA.

    QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April.
    Activity is on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the
    world able to use that band.

    V51WH.

    QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH

    (eHam)

    --------------

    SOLOMON ISLANDS

    H44MS Bernard, is operating in the Solomon Islands until the end of
    April on HF, using SSB and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

    (ARNewsLine 2416)

    --------------

    DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    HI 180 RD is on the air to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the
    Dominican Republic declaring its independence from Haiti in 1844.

    Listen for activity on all bands and modes until the 30th of April
    when around 25 operators from five radio clubs will be part of the
    event.

    For details of a certificate that is available, visit QRZ.com

    (rsg)


    -------------

    AUSTRIA

    OE 100 RADIO is active until the 31st of December celebrating the
    100th anniversary of the beginning of regular radio transmissions in
    Austria.

    The station has heard recently on the 40m band using CW.

    QSL via the Bureau.

    (gb2rs)

    ----------

    IRELAND

    Special event callsign EI 80 MB is active until the 31st of May to
    commemorate the 80th anniversary of the rescue of 168 German seamen
    who were rescued from the waters of the Bay of Biscay after a battle
    between British and German naval forces in 1943.

    The men were carried out by a small Irish coaster called Kerlogue
    [KER-LOG] which had the callsign EIMB. The rescue took more than ten
    hours.

    QSL WI80MB via Club Log's OQRS or via EI6AL

    (RSGB)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Last week here on WIA National News we brought details of a
    Park Prefix Update. In an effort to reorganize the Parks on the Air
    database in a way that meets ISO standards, POTA has begun rolling out
    changes to the way park entities are prefixed in many countries and
    China was NOT impressed..

    With an update, Jim Meachen ZL2BHF shares this development.

    There's good news for POTA hunters:
    As POTA completes its conversion of labels to conform to the ISO-3166-2
    standard, China has returned to participating in Parks on the Air.
    China's re-entry follows a number of discussions to resolve what POTA
    describes as "simple language barriers." According to documentation on
    the POTA website, the misunderstanding over POTA's reorganisation of
    its code system resulted in an unfortunate breakdown in communications
    because of these language issues.

    On Monday, March 25th, POTA announced on its website:
    [quote]
    "We are happy to be able to reactivate China so quickly!"
    [endquote]

    This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

    (arnewsline)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)

    NASA SUNGRAZER PROGRAM HONORS HAM FOR COMET-HUNTING SUCCESS

    NASA's Sungrazer program is honouring an amateur radio operator here in the great southland for having tracked down previously unknown comets
    by studying spacecraft imagery.

    We hear about him from John Williams VK4JJW.

    JOHN: Congratulations to Peter Berrett, VK3PB, who has been recognised
    by the NASA Sungrazer programme as one of the top successful volunteer comet-hunters. Sungrazer is a NASA-funded citizen science programme that encourages anyone to participate in the discovery and reporting of
    previously unknown comets. According to Sungrazer, Peter was the first
    to locate a comet in imagery from the Parker Solar probe launched by
    NASA in 2018. Using a computer programme he wrote for this purpose, he
    has also identified comets in archived images that were collected by
    four spacecraft.

    NASA Sun & Space made the announcement about Peter earlier this month on
    social media. Viewers of Amateur Logic TV may be most familiar with
    Peter through his previous appearances there.

    This is John Williams VK4JJW.

    (ARNEWSLINE AUDIO)




    Ive been workin on the railroad:

    Northrop Grumman Corporation was selected last month to further develop
    the concept of building a moon-based railroad network as part of the
    broader 10-year Lunar Architecture Capability Study. The envisioned
    lunar railroad network could transport we mere humans, our supplies and
    resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface.

    (ANS)




    SHIELDS UP

    Star date October 19, 1989.

    A monstrous X13 class solar flare triggered a geomagnetic storm so
    strong that day that auroras lit up the skies worldwide the following
    day. Had you been flying around the Moon at that time, you would have
    absorbed a dose that would most likely have killed you within a month
    or so.

    This is why the Orion spacecraft proposed to take humans on a Moon
    fly-by mission this 2024 year has a heavily shielded storm shelter
    for the crew. But shelters like that arent sufficient for a flight to
    Mars. To obtain protection comparable to what we enjoy on Earth would
    require hundreds of tons of material, and thats simply not possible in
    orbit.

    The primary alternativeusing active shields that deflect charged
    particles just like the Earths magnetic field doeswas first proposed
    in the 1960s. Today, were finally close to making it work.

    Fascinating full article at
    bit.ly/3PANp67

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    Before voice radio the world was connected by telegraph. Dougal VK4EKA
    joins us.


    First invented to make marks on paper, the operators learned to read
    the message from the clicks of the relays. Adding a passive amplifier
    by putting the relay into a wooden sounding box had operators messaging
    the world.

    Warren Fritz VK4FJ has a collection of Australian and New Zealand
    sounders and morse keys from the early telegraph and will display some
    at the April 8th Social and Technical gathering of the Darling Downs
    Radio Club Inc.

    If you are in the area, all are welcome to see the telegraph equipment
    and maybe even try reading the sounders at 7:30 pm in the Community
    Rooms above the Toowoomba City Library

    This is Dougal VK4EKA for the Darling Downs Radio Club Inc.




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    AMSAT-DL Proposes Next Generation GEO/MEO Amateur Radio Payload.

    At the request of the IARU, the European Space Agency is supporting an
    initiative to define a future amateur radio satellite payload in
    geostationary orbit.

    The implementation is to take place through collaborative cooperation
    between internal, industrial and amateur radio participants. This
    activity will consolidate the requirements of the amateur and
    commercial satellite industry, weigh up different payload options,
    address the future user segment, develop scenarios for the financing,
    procurement and operation of such a payload, and investigate
    possibilities for placement on geostationary platforms.

    Among the possible orbits such as MEO, HEO and GEO, the GEO orbit has
    proven to be the most suitable due to the extensive experience with
    OSCAR-100. A good compromise for the orbit position would be ~43
    degrees West to also support Eastern European countries and most of
    North America.

    AMSAT-UK, along with the British Amateur Television Club, AMSAT-NA, and
    the UK Microwave Group previously made a separate proposal.

    (AMSAT.ORG)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    IOTA GRANT PROGRAM EXPANDS TO MORE LOCATIONS

    Island on the Air has expanded a program that will help fund
    activations of more rare locations.

    The Islands on the Air DXpedition Fund created last year to support
    activations in rare locations with no activity for at least 15 years
    has expanded its qualifications to include additional islands and
    island groups.

    The fund's original announcement last September said it would provide
    grants to assist operations from IOTA references confirmed by fewer than one-quarter of IOTA members in the last decade. This has now been
    broadened to include operations to those locations confirmed by fewer
    than 30 percent of IOTA members on IOTA's Most Wanted List. Both
    categories must have had no activations for at least 15 years.

    IOTA Ltd. believes that having two categories will provide an advantage
    for DXpeditions to an estimated 250 IOTA groups. Applicants should note
    the rarity of the IOTA reference they plan to activate, how long they
    will be there, how many operators they will have, the estimated number
    of contacts they expect to log, the bands to be used and, of course, the estimated cost of the DXpedition.

    For an application and more details, visit the IOTA website using the
    link in the text version of this week's NewsLine script.

    [ iota-world.org ]




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    Australian and New Zealand lights planned and advised to WIA :-

    AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club -

    NZ 0001 Cape Campbell - - ZL6CC


    Maritime Radio Day 2024

    The annual Maritime Radio Day is fast approaching.

    This year, it takes place on the 14th and 15th of April to commemorate
    the almost 100 years of wireless telegraphy service for seafarers which
    ended with the closure in the UK of Portishead Radio on the 30th of
    April 2000.

    Commencing at 12:00 UTC on the 14th and finishing at 23:00 UTC on the
    15th, this event is a great opportunity to QSO with ex-Marine Radio
    Officers and Coast Station Professionals who exchange details of their
    previous ships and coast stations.

    The mode of operation is CW, and all the HF bands are used including
    the WARC bands. At the time of broadcast, 130 operators were registered
    for this event. A certificate of participation will be issued to all
    who submit results.

    Amateur Licence holders are invited to register and take part as
    Friends of MRD. SWLs may also submit logs.

    For more information,
    radioofficers.com/mrd-2024/

    (irts)

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    2024 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.

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)

    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)

    VK3 - May 11 Moorabbin & District ARC HamFest Kingston City Hall
    (vk3gl)

    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK2 - June 8-9. Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Field Day. (vk2zhe)

    Im Henry VK2ZHE, President of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio
    Club.

    The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Clubs 48th annual Field Day will
    be held at the Wauchope Showground hall on Saturday and Sunday
    the 8th and 9th of June 2024 during the NSW Kings Birthday Long
    Weekend. There will be all the usual field day activities
    including traders, trash and treasure, foxhunting and a homebrew
    display.

    The Field Day dinner will be held at the Port Macquarie Golf Club
    on the Saturday night.

    Mark your calendar now for the June Long Weekend.

    The Wauchope Showground permits camping so it is possible to stay
    on site in your own motor home, caravan or tent with power and
    amenities but you must book ahead with the Showground Caretaker.

    Im Henry VK2ZHE for VK1WIA National News.

    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)

    VK3 - Bendigo AR & Electronics Club Radiofest August 18 (vk3gtv)

    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 31 (QTH to be advised ) (vk4DMH)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)

    VK7 - Tasmanian Ham Conference November 2 and 3 Hobart. (vk7news)

    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/100 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Apr 12 15:38:07 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-04-14.mp3
    Text edition:

    -------------------------------------------------------------------69

    2024 APRIL 14 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 APRIL 14 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-


    Director Steven VK2TSG. -

    WIA AR Magazine Editor in Chief Roger vk2zrh. -

    King gets an upgrade. -

    Marconi Birthday Celebrations gather momentum. -

    and in the final final this week. News on the ILLW. -

    AND AND AND....

    Well if news were socks, we'd have more than enough to outfit a
    centipede

    SO WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hello, this is Steven Green VK2TSG, one of your National WIA Directors
    with the board comment for this week...

    I'm looking forward to seeing many of you in Bundaberg for the upcoming
    AGM at the start of next month where I'll be a speaker. If you have
    not registered yet, please take a look at the WIA or Bundaberg club
    websites for event links as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

    wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2024/20240401-1/index.php

    wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BundabergAmateurRadioClub/

    My fellow Board members and I were looking over recent nominations for
    WIA awards and were pleased that many of you have nominated fellow
    Amateurs. Please think now about those who you might like to nominate
    next year, or even with your local council, or other organisations -
    this not only recognises the individual, but also brings attention to
    Amateur Radio and promotes our pastime with locals.

    Many of our WIA affiliated Amateur Radio Clubs and Societies are called
    upon to assist the families of recently deceased members, advising and
    often assisting with their Amateur Radio, electronics, and related
    items. My own club has assisted with the sorting, removal, and sale of
    equipment passing on the proceeds to the family, whom sometimes donate
    a percentage to the group for their time and labour.

    This leads me to the thought of what arrangements would I like to occur
    if I was to be incapacitated or pass; would I like to gift any
    particular books, equipment, files or computers, to individuals;
    what might my club find useful, and what should be sold, donated, or
    recycled?

    Many clubs and societies, or the WIA for that matter, accept donations
    from the estates of passed members, and this can be considered too.
    While this news item is not here to elicit donations, some people do
    like to contribute to these or charitable groups. Perhaps this is a
    good time to discuss with your loved ones what you would like to
    occur, explain how to power down or disconnect your equipment, provide
    contact information of a trusted friend or a local affiliated club who
    could help. A list of items or preferences in an easy to reach
    location might also be of use. Sometimes, there might be a family
    member or close friend who would like to take-up Amateur Radio to
    continue their loved ones legacy; they might benefit from friendly
    advice, a book or selected equipment from the estate which is not only
    a good way to get started, but is also an important part of grieving
    and remembering.

    More next time, from Steven VK2TSG ".

    Next time, I will have a message about making things easier for
    newcomers to AR.

    Many thanks and Kind regards... Steven





    This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison
    VK2ZRH.

    Listen closely, folks. I have a little secret.

    A little bird has told me that Issue 2 is in circulation. If it hasnt
    yet landed in your letterbox or PO Box or local newsagent, then it will
    appear real soon now.

    The theme for this issue is one weve never done before
    Station Innovation!

    Now, rhyming words like that are all very well, but what do they mean?

    Well, something old station and something new innovation!

    Three innovative projects to consider for your station.

    First up is a project from Lou Destefano VK3AQZ rig control by voice
    and gesture. Yep. Lou shows you how you can control a rig by speaking
    given words and / or by waving your arm. Whats more, he does it using
    low-cost, off-the-shelf pre-built modules.

    At the other end of your station, there are always antennas.
    Doc Wescombe-Downe VK5BUG describes a pair of co-sited vertical
    antennas for QRP operation on the 17 metre and 12 metre bands
    that easily fit within a suburban backyard.
    The principles, of course, can apply to verticals for other bands.

    Then we have an article by Paul McMahon VK3DIP describing a
    GPS-controlled frequency reference for use in your shack or in the
    field. When operating with certain digital modes these days, you need
    to know that your transceiver is on-frequency exactly on-frequency.
    Known as a G P S D O GPS disciplined oscillator such devices have
    been around for a while now, but Paul takes a new approach.

    Not only that, we have much-much, much more in Issue 2 of Amateur Radio
    magazine.

    More guts, less gab.

    This has been Editor-in-Chief, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, for VK1WIA News.





    AUSTRALIANA

    King gets a boost.

    Telstra and Ericsson have completed a major upgrade to King Islands
    mobile network infrastructure, announcing a close to 10-fold capacity
    boost for the islands community thanks to an over-water microwave telecommunications link with a throughput capacity of 9.8 Gbps with
    99.99% availability.

    The upgrade sees a 116 km microwave link deployed across the Bass Strait
    from the Australian mainland to King Islands Cape Wickham believed to
    be the longest over-water link of its kind in Telstras national mobile
    network, and the longest 10 Gbps microwave link in the world. The
    project was funded through a $9.8 million investment by the Australian Government, Telstra, the Tasmanian Government and King Island Council,
    which was announced in 2021 to deliver valuable infrastructure to rural
    and regional communities.

    The upgrade was made possible with the deployment of Ericssons
    MINI-LINK 6200 long-haul microwave technology, providing essential
    backhaul support for the deployment of Ericsson 5G mobile on the island, helping Telstra expand its network and deliver better connectivity for
    regional Australia. The King Island MINI-LINK 6200 microwave link
    operates using 16 channels in the 6 GHz band to achieve a peak
    throughput of 9.8 Gbps a significant upgrade from the previous link
    providing ~1 Gbps, making it ideal for delivering backhaul for
    high-performance 4G and 5G mobile broadband networks. Ericssons radio
    link bonding technology with quality of service meanwhile provides
    ongoing performance in all environmental conditions.

    The deployment is set to transform connectivity on King Island, with
    local consumers and small business customers benefiting from increased
    mobile coverage, efficiency, capacity and data speeds, along with
    greater network resilience. This means King Island residents now have
    access to network capacity and reliability that is similar to that
    enjoyed by metro customers. Telstra now plans to use Ericssons
    MINI-LINK 6200 long-haul microwave solution to extend its mobile
    coverage in other remote areas.

    https://www.criticalcomms.com.au/content/utilities/news/telstra-and-ericsson-provide-connectivity-boost-to-king-island-609622801

    (via vk7wi news)





    DISCUSSION POINT

    Hello, I'm Richard VK2SKY in Sydney.

    It's that time of year again, when Amateur Radio operators throughout
    the world celebrate the ritual mangling of the name of one of Radio's
    best known pioneers.

    Yes, it's April, the month we celebrate International Marconi Day.
    April 27 this year is the Saturday closest to the birthdate of
    Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi in Bologna, Italy, in 1874.

    Guglielmo is the Italian equivalent of the English name, "William".
    Had Marconi's Irish mother, Annie Jameson just named him "Liam",
    the world might have been spared the annual abomination of English
    speakers trying to pronounce his name and failing miserably.

    Perhaps Annie's being of the Irish whiskey distiller Jameson family
    might have played a role here. We will never know for sure.

    To set the record straight: "our" Marconi has never been "Googly Elmo",
    so please stop calling him that. The letter "g" in the middle of an
    Italian word is not pronounced as it is in English. Instead, it
    modifies the sound of the letter that follows it. Think of the "g" in
    the middle of the word "lasagne".

    Recently, I consulted with fellow Manly-Warringah Radio Society member,
    Clifford VK2CLF, who can speak with some authority on this matter,
    having some Italian background himself and fluency in the language.

    A decent approximation to the correct pronunciation is "GOO YELL MO".
    It's not perfect, but it will do, especially over an HF radio link.
    Please try it, and (in a nod to Quentin Tarentino) let's Kill Bill, or
    at least Kill "Googly Elmo"!

    For WIA National News, I'm Richard VK2SKY in Sydney.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to DX-WORLD, IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ICQPodcast,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    As one Cat Stevens once sang, Leapin' and hoppin' on a moonshadow
    Moonshadow, moonshadow. And that they did earlier this week
    particularly in the USA.

    No 2 ways about it, it was a Spectacular Display and Gathering

    Millions gathered along the path of totality - the section where the
    sun is fully blocked by the moon - to witness something that happens,
    on average, once every 375 years for any place on our planet.

    This year, the moon's shadow path began, closer to home, over the
    South Pacific Ocean, and then crossed into North America, passing over
    Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The first location in
    continental North America that experienced totality was Mexico's
    Pacific coast. The shadow exited continental North America on the
    Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

    Ham radio was there - operators participating in scientific
    experiments, serving local communities that were overrun with
    hundreds of thousands of visitors,




    THE REIGN IN SPAIN -
    - Is but 18 months.

    After negotiations with the Spanish Telecommunications administration,
    by the Spanish Amateur Radio body, URE, a Resolution of the Spanish
    Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures
    has been published, authorizing holders of Spanish amateur radio
    licenses to transmit, from fixed stations only, in the 40.650 40.750
    MHz band, with a maximum peak envelope power of 25 W, for a period of
    eighteen months.




    GOING GOING GONE

    Effective 15th April, Radio 4 will no longer be available on
    medium-wave from the UK. Medium-wave listeners there will need to
    retune their radio to alternative platforms.

    With these two terse sentences at the bottom of a related announcement,
    the BBC signalled the end of BBC Radio 4s service on medium-wave, AM
    as we here in Australia know it as. The service will still be available
    on FM, DAB, digital TV and online.

    The frequencies were only being used to support its longwave service,
    which has been scheduled for closing this month since May of last year.

    MW transmission of Radio 4 is ending as there will no longer be a
    longwave variant of Radio 4s schedule. Theres no Radio 4 service on
    MW, it has always been there to support LW. There are only nine
    transmitters in total providing very little coverage, and affected
    listeners will have access to Radio 4 on FM even if they dont have a
    digital radio. says the Communiqu.


    Each week VK4FUQ provides us with contest and DX news, often the QSL
    route is mentioned as M 0 OXO,

    M0OXO is the call of Charles Wilmot a ham who certainly gives!

    Behind the scenes it's worth a look at just what his, i.e. the M 0 OXO
    QSL service costs the UK amateur financially

    Overall 28,936 items of mail were posted at a cost of just over
    26,000 pounds sterling.

    They post QSL Direct cards, bureau parcels and magazines.

    With 13,751 more items posted this year, with Solar Cycle 25 this last
    12 months providing much increased propagation on HF its quite
    staggering.

    So well done Charles.




    USA HIWAYS AND BYWAYS

    What is the state of broadcast radio in U.S. vehicles today?

    According to Quus 2024 In-Vehicle Visuals Report released this past
    week, its pretty much ubiquitous.

    But radio no longer has a monopoly as the average number of audio
    sources in a vehicle. The era of two knobs, six pre-sets, and a
    CD player is in the rear-view mirror, says Fred Jacobs, who contributed
    analysis and commentary to the report.

    Among the 100 best selling vehicles in 2023, 100% are equipped with
    FM, and 98% have AM radio. In one of the studys big surprises,
    70% of new vehicles are equipped with HD ( here would be DAB+ ) Radio.

    Radio now shares the dashboard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay,
    found in 98% of vehicles.

    In other words, these dashboard apps are as ubiquitous as
    AM radio and almost as ubiquitous as FM.


    Still talking radio, in the US their FCC has received fresh comments
    from the aviation industry regarding a proposal that would allow more
    U.S. FM stations to increase HD Radio digital power levels.

    The aviation industry says it needs further clarifications from the
    FCC before it can begin collaborative testing with the broadcast
    industry to identify any possible interference in adjacent aviation
    radio bands that a power increase might cause.

    Members of the aviation community previously submitted comments raising
    concerns about the potential for harmful interference to aviation
    VHF receivers operating in the 108-118 MHz Aeronautical Radio
    Navigation Service allocation, immediately adjacent to the
    FM broadcast radio band at 88-108 MHz.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    Don Edwards memorial slow Morse contest

    The St. George Amateur Radio Society will again be holding the
    Don Edwards memorial slow Morse in 2024. The contest is held on the
    weekend after Mother's Day, this year it will be on Saturday 18th and
    Sunday 19th May.

    The contest is to encourage amateurs who rarely use Morse code and
    those who have never used Morse code to get on the air. Code to be sent
    by hand and received by ear and at less than 10 words per minute.
    Saying that, in the last few years, many contacts have been made at
    only 3 or 4 words per minute.

    There are bonus points for those amateurs who have been licensed
    without having sat a Morse code examination. There is also a bonus
    point available for those participants who declare that they had fun.

    The contest is on 80m on Saturday 18th May between 0800 - 1100 utc
    and on 40m on Sunday 19th May between 0300 - 0600 utc.

    Full details on the St. George Amateur Radio Society's website
    sgars.org

    (VK2EMU)


    ----------------------------------------------------


    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.
    Starts: Zero hours UTC Saturday
    Ends: 2359 UTC Sunday

    (CQ)


    ----------------------------------------------------



    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st 2024

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)
    -------------------


    YOTA Contest 2024

    The next 2 sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00 to
    21:59 UTC on 21 July and 29 December on the five classic bands
    CW and SSB.

    Everyone can work everyone.

    The complete rules can be found on
    ham-yota.com/contest.

    -----------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------------------


    44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
    last FULL weekend of August.

    ELIGIBILITY?

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    take part using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    CONTEST: Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    STARTS: Saturday 25th August 2024 at 0600 hours UTC
    ENDS: Sunday 26th August 2024 at 0559 hours UTC

    SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES: All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    Contacts made on ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web page)


    -------------

    Oceania DX Contest

    This years contest will be held on October 5th and 12th respectively.

    oceaniadxcontest.com

    -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    ----------

    GLOBAL STATIONS CELEBRATING APRIL 18 'WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY":-

    CANADA

    RAC official stations will operate across Canada from
    0000Z to 2359Z April 18 and there are some 14 and all end
    with suffix RAC.


    GERMANY:-

    DARC special event callsign DA 24 WARD is on the air through to the
    30th of April, marking World Amateur Radio Day. See QRZ.com for QSL
    details.


    GREECE:-

    The Radio Amateur Association of Greece will be using callsign
    S Z WARD to mark Amateur Radio Day, they will be on air from
    April 15th to the 30th with the BIG day of course April 18.


    STILL NO WORD AS TO ANY OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT FOR THE EVENT.


    -------


    USA - GO WEST YOUNG MAN.

    The National Trail Amateur Radio Club is participating in a special
    event to commemorate the death of former US. President Abraham Lincoln.

    Concluding April 15, special event call sign W9L has been will be in
    operation on 20 - and - 40 meters SSB, each day of the event. The club
    is operating from a recreated log cabin at the Lincoln Log Cabin State
    Historic Site, an 86-acre history park located in Illinois. The cabin
    is where Lincoln's father and stepmother once lived, and Lincoln often
    visited the site.

    President Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, one day after being shot by
    John Wilkes Booth.

    A QSL card will be available from:-
    NTARC/K9UXZ, P.O. Box 903, Effingham, IL 62401.

    (sourced to ARRL)


    ----------

    Special event station GB0WYT [GOLF-BRAVO-ZERO-WHISKEY-YANKEE-TANGO]
    will be active from RAF Wyton during the Airfields on the Air event on
    the weekend of the 13th and 14th of April. This is the 12th year that
    the station has put on a special event station for the event.

    The callsign will again be operated by RAF Air Cadet Communication
    Staff and club members from the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society
    from a site just west of the main runway at Wyton.

    (gb2rs)

    -------------------

    NAMIBIA.

    QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April.
    Activity is on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the
    world able to use that band.

    V51WH.

    QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH

    (eHam)

    --------------

    SOLOMON ISLANDS

    H44MS Bernard, is operating in the Solomon Islands until the end of
    April on HF, using SSB and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

    (ARNewsLine 2416)



    -------------

    DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    HI 180 RD is on the air to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the
    Dominican Republic declaring its independence from Haiti in 1844.

    Listen for activity on all bands and modes until the 30th of April
    when around 25 operators from five radio clubs will be part of the
    event.

    For details of a certificate that is available, visit QRZ.com

    (rsg)


    -------------


    AUSTRIA

    OE100RADIO [OSCAR-ECHO-ONE-HUNDRED-ROMEO-ALPHA-DELTA-INDIA-OSCAR] is
    active until the 31st of December celebrating the 100th anniversary of
    the beginning of regular radio transmissions in Austria in 1924.

    The station has heard recently on the 40m band using CW.

    QSL via the Bureau.

    (gb2rs)

    ----------

    IRELAND

    Special event callsign EI 80 MB is active until the 31st of May to
    commemorate the 80th anniversary of the rescue of 168 German seamen
    who were rescued from the waters of the Bay of Biscay after a battle
    between British and German naval forces in 1943.

    The men were carried out by a small Irish coaster called Kerlogue
    [KER-LOG] which had the callsign EIMB. The rescue took more than ten
    hours.

    QSL WI80MB via Club Log's OQRS or via EI6AL

    (RSGB)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    REPEATING>

    Hi all this is Nathan VK5OG on behalf of Andrew VK5WX and myself
    from the Adelaide digital linking system (ADLS).

    We have added a new link for the WIA Sunday broadcast so you can now
    listen to the broadcast on YSF-WIRESX & OZ-FREEDMR, through Adelaide
    10G #69159 and YSF-FREEDMR #89821 or for FREEDMR TG5055.

    This joint project has been possible with help from the OZFREEDMR
    Team Ozzie M0GLA in the UK, Phil Kern VK5ZEY ,VK5OG Nathan & Andrew
    VK5WX for more information please visit VK5RDF on QRZ.com

    73 we hope to catch you all on the air soon, Nathan VK5OG.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Parklands and summits are anything but a wilderness for Sue Southcott,
    VK5AYL.

    For her, inspiration grows abundantly under the canopy of trees.
    The retired computer programmer is the author of a free app in use by
    iPhone and iPad owners in Australia and New Zealand. They make use of
    it to view and create spots, alerts and logging for SOTA, POTA, HEMA,
    WWFF, SHIRES and Silos on the Air. She introduced the app, known as
    Parks & Peaks, at a meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia in
    2017.

    Creating it did not come easily at the time for Sue, who was still
    employed as a PC programmer - and whose knowledge of Apple devices only
    included a few basics about their programming language known as Swift.
    So she did her homework on nights and weekends to learn it, with an eye
    toward filling the need for a complementary app already available to
    Android users.

    She's currently working on Version 4 and at some point would like to
    release an international version.

    Best of all, Sue isn't just a programmer, she's an activator who gets
    to field test her own creation. One of her last activations was near
    the Pinnacles, spectacular limestone structures on VK6's Coral Coast.

    Needless to say, both the app and the activation were a success.

    (arnline)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL

    Canadian Radio Amateur Peter Fairlie has been experimenting with
    Meshtastic, the open source decentralized mesh communications network
    platform, in order to improve reception by building and deploying a
    high-altitude relay station.

    "I got to tell you, Meshtastic's been actually pretty incredible,"
    Peter says of his initial experimentation with the platform, using just
    a roof-mounted omnidirectional antenna. "You won't believe all the
    people I'm getting right now. Even got a guy that was about 70km away."

    That's a decent long-range reception, but Peter was looking for more
    and set about turning two Heltec LoRa 32 V3 boards into a relay
    station. "The idea here is to set two of these up on my tall tower,"
    he explains. "One is going to point down towards Toronto, and the
    other one is going to point the other way and these two radios will
    mesh with the current radio, relaying between 2 very distant stations."

    tinyurl.com/44ptt99x

    (hackster.io)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    AMSAT's AO-109, also known as Fox-1E, has recently achieved a
    remarkable milestone.

    Launched in January 2021, this satellite operates with an 8 mW signal,
    best suited for CW and FT4 communications among amateur radio
    enthusiasts. Recent telemetry data from the Dwingeloo Radio telescope
    in The Netherlands has revealed an impressive feat:

    AO-109 has set a new record for processor uptime.

    This information was gathered by Alan Biddle, WA4SCA, who has
    meticulously monitored telemetry reports on a daily basis and
    calculated the duration of each reset, allowing for precise correlation
    of telemetry frames with UTC time.

    The Fox satellites are designed to undergo on board computer resets
    triggered by factors like radiation exposure and low battery voltage.
    Time on these satellites is measured by counting resets plus the
    duration since the last reset. It is common for the Fox satellites to
    reset every few days or weeks, especially when passing over the
    South Atlantic Anomaly.

    However, the processor on AO-109 has been running continuously since
    September 2023, accumulating over 18 million seconds of uptime-far
    surpassing any other Fox satellite.

    With its anticipated re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in the coming
    weeks, users are encouraged to make the most of AO-109 while it's still
    operational. Current reports suggest the satellite's altitude is around
    300 km, which is lower than the ISS orbiting altitude of 370-460 km.

    [ANS]




    Despite facing numerous challenges, including malfunctioning
    temperature sensors and unused battery cells, Japan's SLIM Moon lander
    has defied expectations by surviving a second lunar night, despite
    being in a precarious position with its thrusters pointed upward and
    solar arrays facing away from the Sun.

    The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) received a signal from
    the lander indicating it had restarted after hibernating to avoid
    freezing temperatures on the Moon's surface. Initially forced to shut
    down due to insufficient electricity generation from its solar cells,
    SLIM has persisted against the odds, reviving itself twice since its
    landing on January 19.

    Although not designed to endure the Moon's harsh conditions, the lander
    has continued to function, prompting uncertainty about JAXA's future
    plans for the resilient spacecraft after it successfully achieved its
    primary mission goal of a precise lunar landing within a 328-foot
    radius.

    (ANS)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Baffin island - IOATA NA-047 - WE9G/VY0

    Rikk, WE9G will be active from Iqaluit, Nunavut, Baffin island NA-047
    as WE9G/VY0 during April 11-16, 2024. QRV on 80-10m; SSB, FT8, FT4
    using G5RV / sloper. QSL via LoTW.




    Pitcairn Island - IOTA OC-044 - VP6G

    This DXpedition is/was planned for first couple of weeks in April,
    ending today April 14.

    NO DXPEDITION IS SAFE FROM "MURPHY'S LAW" WHEN THINGS ALWAYS SEEM TO GO
    WRONG.

    It's worth a listen as we hear the trials and tribulations of Gerben
    PG5M as he "set sail" or is that "set flight" to Pitcairn.

    update April 1 by Gerben PG5M

    When I was planning this trip, I built-in time buffers, just for the
    worst case. Well the worst case happened. In Los Angeles I learned that
    one of my suitcases was still in Paris.

    The trackers I placed in the suitcases also showed one still in
    Charles de Gaulle airport. What I had in LA was one suitcase with
    SPE amplifier, DX Commander materials and a power supply. My golf bag
    contained the Spiderpole for the DX Commander, the HexBeam and 100
    meters of coax.

    The suitcase that was missing contained ALL the radios, cabling,
    power supply, tools, etc. plus my personal stuff.

    When talking with Air France in LAX, they told me the missing suitcase
    would be on the same flight with me to Papeete. When I arrived in
    Papeete, the suitcase was NOT there. So again I went to Air France.
    Now I was told that it would arrive the next day at 05:30 but my
    next flight with Air Tahiti to Mangareva will depart at 06:30 so there
    is a big challenge. Air Tahiti will try to get my suitcase from the
    AF flight into their plane. If they dont succeed or AF arrives late,
    I have to cancel the whole trip.

    I hope for the best.

    In the meantime, heavy storms surround Pitcairn Island and even caused
    some damage to the chalet I have booked.

    So there, when working these dxpeditioners always give some thought and
    compassion to what they have gone through to give YOU a new call, zone
    etc.

    (dxworld)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    So much YOTA activity in the world, but here in VK?

    Maybe not so. or maybe it's just that our local clubs don't get into
    the bragging rights as much as our overseas contacts.

    I mentioned the other week I'm heading to Bundaberg for our WIA AGM and
    Convention and I'd love to catch up with YOTA STEM news your clubs or
    you yourself are engaged in.

    So as another great idea for YOOTA, let's "swing the beam" to the USA.

    Members of the Nanticoke Amateur Radio Club and the Sussex County
    Amateur Radio Emergency Service recently attended the ninth annual
    STEM expo at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown.

    The free event allowed middle and high school students to experience
    Delaware Tech programs through student-designed activities, build
    connections toward STEM careers, and have fun.

    The operators provided hands-on demonstrations using amateur radio
    equipment. These demos provide valuable insight into radio operations,
    electronics and radio frequency mysteries. Students were introduced to
    2-meter handheld radios using a repeater, digital voice and a also
    Flex Maestro Control Console to provide remote access to a full
    high-frequency station located in Seaford.

    Again see you in Bundaberg in May and with any and all VK YOTA news
    contact your YOTA Co-ordinators. Steve Kennedy VK6SJ is Co-ordinator
    and myself Alec Cherry VK2MV Deputy Co-ordinator.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)

    VK3 - May 11 Moorabbin & District ARC HamFest Kingston City Hall
    (vk3gl)

    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK2 - June 8-9. Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Field Day. (vk2zhe)

    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)

    VK3 - Bendigo AR & Electronics Club RadioFest August 18 (vk3gtv)

    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 31 (QTH to be advised ) (vk4DMH)

    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)

    VK7 - Tasmanian Ham Conference November 2 and 3 Hobart. (vk7news)

    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (vk3pdg)



    FINAL FINAL

    ILLW - 2024

    Word in from Kevin VK2CE that this year's ILLW is on track for
    17-18 August with 125 lighthouses registered so far.

    11 of those are from VK amateurs in every State.

    An unusual entry from a YL, VK2BRE, is Shark Island in Sydney Harbour
    while other regulars are VK7LH at Low head Lighthouse, Tasmania,
    VK6CLL at Cape Leeuwin and VK3ILH at Cape Nelson.

    Kevin is expecting somewhere between 400 and 500 entries this year.

    See the web site for more info.

    illw.net





    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.
    SEEN-BY: 1/100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 113 114 115 116 117 SEEN-BY: 1/118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 130 132 133 134 135 136 SEEN-BY: 1/137 138 139 140 142 143 144 145 147 148 151 154 155 156 157 158 159 SEEN-BY: 1/160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Thu Apr 18 18:47:34 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-04-21.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 APRIL 21 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 APRIL 21 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    Steven Green VK2TSG National WIA Director. -

    David VK4DN Secretary Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club. -

    Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), to aid missions requiring extreme
    precision on the moon.

    AND as time ticks by, you'll hear lots more 'news you can use'

    PLUS WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS
    FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB



    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    Hello, this is Steven Green VK2TSG, one of your National WIA
    Directors.

    Do you remember being a newcomer to Amateur Radio, or perhaps you've
    had a friend in this situation recently? Hearing terms being thrown
    around before they are explained can sometimes be daunting, or even a
    little off-putting.

    Consider a beginner picking up a publication only to find it difficult
    to fathom the purpose of an interesting looking device within, let
    alone understand some of the terminology.

    The nature of Radio means that there are so many facets and areas of
    information to pick-up on, that the learning curve is quite steep,
    knowing where to begin can be difficult, so hearing unknown terms adds
    proverbial noise to the mix.

    As Amateurs, clubs, and the WIA, we need to consider this, and how
    newcomers to radio will relate to technologies discussed. This might
    be a little easier to adjust to than you might think, simply adding a
    few sentences explaining what a device is used for, or where a device
    is used, and why, goes a long way towards forming those links in our
    education. We might also take a few more words to spell out an
    anacronym when it's first used in a conversation or article, after
    which we can use the initials again. Theres actually no need to reduce
    the technical content, or 'dumb-it-down' as some would say, it just
    takes a few moments and a few extra words to open up our conversation,
    article, or presentation to a larger audience. It helps grow
    understanding and interest in learning more, although it won't create
    complete understanding, it may even have the reader putting your
    article aside for further study or to come back once they have learned
    a-little more.

    Never be hesitant to ask questions, or provide feedback, and
    suggestions on how we can make Radio, particularly education, more
    accessible or easier to relate to. We all have a shared interest in
    bringing more people into Amateur Radio and this is where you can play
    a part.

    Until next time, 73 - that's best wishes, from Steven VK2TSG...




    WIA AGM

    Gidday Australia!

    This is David, VK4DN from the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club!

    Can you believe its now only 2 weeks away until the WIA Convention
    happening here in Bundy? (Wow! where did the time go!?) Its going
    to be a great weekend for amateurs visiting our town from all over
    Australia!

    The event includes not only the AGM and Gala Dinner, but also a great
    Hamfest and Commercial Expo! The Hamfest and Commercial Expo will
    have many interesting displays and you will be able to grab yourself a
    bargain with show specials of new gear and also lots of used equipment
    from the many vendors.

    Also, there will be lots of great giveaways and door prizes

    Bundaberg is an RV friendly town so if you are planning to setup camp
    on the weekend, there are lots of options available!

    Dont hesitate to contact our club if you have any questions about the
    WIA weekend or to book a table for the Hamfest - We look forward to
    welcoming you to Bundaberg on May 4th / 5th only two weeks away!!

    73 from David VK4DN Secretary Bundy amateur radio club.


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With special thanks this week to
    AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE.

    Trash From The ISS May Have Hit A House In Florida

    A few weeks ago, something from the heavens came crashing through the
    roof of a Florida home, and NASA is on the case.

    Home owners were not at the residence at the time. A home security
    camera captured the sound of the crash at 2:34 pm local time and that's
    an important piece of information because it is a close match for the
    time US Space Command recorded the re-entry of a piece of space debris
    from the space station. At that time, the object was on a path over the
    Gulf of Mexico, heading toward southwest Florida. This space debris
    consisted of depleted batteries from the ISS.

    If the object is owned by NASA, the home owners insurance company could
    make a claim against the federal government BUT it gets more
    interesting if this material is discovered to be a human-made space
    object which was launched by another country, which caused damage on
    Earth, that country would be absolutely liable to the homeowner for the
    damage caused.

    amsat.org/ans-105-amsat-news-service-weekly-bulletins/




    NASA has been tasked by the White House to establish a lunar-centric
    time reference system, known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), to aid
    missions requiring extreme precision on the moon.

    The agency has until the end of 2026 to set up LTC, which is not akin
    to Earths time zones but provides a frame of time reference for the
    moon. LTC will accommodate the slightly faster passage of time on the
    moon, approximately 58.7 microseconds each day compared to Earth, due
    to its lower gravity. It will serve as a benchmark for timekeeping for
    lunar spacecraft and satellites, crucial for their missions.

    NASAs Artemis program, set to begin astronaut missions to the lunar
    surface in 2026, necessitates LTC for synchronization among Earth,
    lunar satellites, bases, and astronauts, without which data transfers
    and communications could be compromised. Developing LTC will require
    international agreements, possibly influenced by the Universal
    Coordinated Time standard, with potential implementation involving
    atomic clocks on the moon and adherence to existing space agreements
    like the Artemis accords.




    YOU MUST NOT SELL

    This item brings the latest chapter in a long-simmering patent dispute
    between Motorola and Hytera.

    A US federal court in the Northern District of Illinois has prohibited
    Hytera Communications, a major provider of two-way radios, from
    selling, distributing or importing its radios [quote] "until further
    notice," [endquote] requiring the company to pay a daily fine of
    $1-million to the court if they do not comply.

    Even as it acted in compliance with the US court injunction, Hytera
    separately announced it was withdrawing its own counterclaims against
    Illinois-based Motorola that it had filed in a Chinese court. Hytera
    has denied claims that its H-series radios have infringed on Motorola's
    trademark and copyright.

    The US court injunction banning the radios' global sales came just as
    Hytera was preparing to show at ISC West, a major security conference
    being held in Las Vegas.




    TOWER OF POWER

    This year has not been kind to broadcast radio towers in the United
    States. The latest towers to be destroyed are in West Virginia but this
    time it was by an act of nature - a fierce windstorm with gusts of up
    to 90 mph.

    The high winds destroyed two of the four towers serving the West
    Virginia Metro News network's flagship radio station, WCHS-AM and its
    sister FM station. WCHS, a news, talk and sports broadcaster.

    The AM radio station, which broadcasts on 580 kHz with a 5 kw signal,
    is the Primary Entry Point Emergency Alert System for West Virginia.
    Its programming serves the southern and southwestern part of the state.

    Questions remain on how or when the towers would be replaced.




    A Florida researcher has developed three-dimensional RF filters that
    may one day save space inside smartphones and Internet of Things, IoT
    devices, leaving more room for batteries and someday paving the way for
    6G wireless devices operating in the terahertz range.

    The researcher calls RF filters "the entire backbone of wireless
    systems."

    Writing earlier this year in the journal, Nature Electronics, it was
    explained how the 3-D filters were developed to take the place of more
    commonplace flat resonators which have varying thicknesses depending
    upon the wireless frequencies they are using.

    By comparison, the 3D resonators, known as ferroelectric-gate fin, or
    FGF, are able to handle frequencies between 3 and 28 GHz.




    The March edition of the IARU Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter
    has been published. Of note this time is a Coastal Ocean Dynamics
    Applications Radar reportedly interfering with almost ALL of the
    twelve-meter band.

    The IARU Monitoring System Region 1 has started an action about this
    radar. You can learn more about this in addition to the wide array of
    strange and unidentified signals impacting our amateur radio bands at
    www.iaru-r1.org

    -------------------------------------------------------------------*


    HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    The St. George Amateur Radio Society will again be holding the
    Don Edwards memorial slow Morse contest, this year it will be on
    Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May.

    Full details on the St. George Amateur Radio Society's website
    sgars.org

    (VK2EMU)


    ----------------------------------------------------


    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.
    Starts: Zero hours UTC Saturday
    Ends: 2359 UTC Sunday

    (CQ)


    ----------------------------------------------------



    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st and this is another official WIA Contest counting towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)

    -------------------

    YOTA Contest 2024

    The session of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00 to
    21:59 UTC on 21 Julyr on the five classic bands using CW and SSB.

    The complete rules can be found on
    ham-yota.com/contest.


    -----------------

    AUGUST 17 - 18

    Remembrance Day Contest.


    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------------------

    A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST

    This is where YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.
    Saturday and Sunday August 25/26.

    (sourced to alara web page)


    -------------

    Oceania DX Contest

    October 5th and 12th respectively.

    oceaniadxcontest.com


    -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    ----------

    A reminder that International Marconi Day is coming up on the 27th of
    April. Once again, the Cornish Radio Amateur Club in the UK is
    organising and running the event.

    Lots of amateur radio stations will be operating from sites that
    Mr Marconi operated from or had a personal connection with.

    Among these stations, 62 infact, is now VK2IMD from around Wahroonga
    in NSW. VK2IMD will be operating between 10am Sydney time Saturday
    until 10 Sunday and operation from HF to all bands, with many modes
    permitted. There is more information on the IMD page on the HADARC
    Website.

    Another very special station will be on air from Ireland.

    EI 0 MAR will be an award station during International Marconi Day,
    from Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in the Martello tower
    in Howth, Ireland. The Martello was used in 1905 by the Marconi
    Company, as a receiving station while the RMS Monarch transmitted
    radio telegraphy signals from various locations in the Irish Sea,
    demonstrating the Marconi system to engineers from the British Post
    Office.


    For more information, and to view a list of the stations that are
    registered to take part, follow the International Marconi Day link
    on the website g x 4 c r c.com


    (rsgb/irts/vk2yjs)

    ----------

    Listen for TM 500 NA from the 14th to the 28th of April to mark the
    500th anniversary of the first visit made to the New York City area
    by the European explorer, Giovanni da Verrazano.

    QSL TM500NA via F5PTI.

    (ARNewsLine)

    ----------


    ROMANIA

    Special callsigns including YR95AR, YR95CC, YR95CH and YR95IN are
    among those calls active until the 31st of May.

    The operators are celebrating the 95th anniversary of the first
    amateur radio association in Romania's Arad County. This is being
    organised by C.S. Radio-club Admira.

    See QRZ.com for QSL details.

    (ARNewsLine 2418)

    --------------

    MALAWI.

    Don, 7Q6M is QRV until May 13, 2024 and has also been active on 160
    meters. QSL via LoTW.

    --------

    Liberia.

    The Czech DXpedition Group are active as A 8 OK until 19th April, with
    multiple stations from 160 to 6 metres using SSB, CW and digital modes.
    QSL station A 8 OK via LoTW, Club Log's OQRS, or via OK 6 DJ.

    (sarl)

    ----------

    Botswana

    Active will be A 25 SHD from different locations in Botswana, between
    30 April and 13 May. QSL A25SHD via home call which is HB 9 SHD.

    (sarl)

    ----------


    Special event station GB0WYT [GOLF-BRAVO-ZERO-WHISKEY-YANKEE-TANGO]
    will be active from RAF Wyton during the Airfields on the Air event on
    the weekend of the 13th and 14th of April. This is the 12th year that
    the station has put on a special event station for the event.

    The callsign will again be operated by RAF Air Cadet Communication
    Staff and club members from the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society
    from a site just west of the main runway at Wyton.

    (gb2rs)


    -----------


    NAMIBIA.

    QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April.
    Activity is on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the
    world able to use that band.

    V51WH.

    QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH



    --------------


    SOLOMON ISLANDS

    H44MS Bernard, is operating in the Solomon Islands until the end of
    April on HF, using SSB and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

    (ARNewsLine 2416)



    -------------


    DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    HI 180 RD is on the air to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the
    Dominican Republic declaring its independence from Haiti in 1844.

    Listen for activity on all bands and modes until the 30th of April
    when around 25 operators from five radio clubs will be part of the
    event.

    For details of a certificate that is available, visit QRZ.com

    (rsgb)


    -------------


    AUSTRIA

    OE100RADIO [OSCAR-ECHO-ONE-HUNDRED-ROMEO-ALPHA-DELTA-INDIA-OSCAR] is
    active until the 31st of December celebrating the 100th anniversary of
    the beginning of regular radio transmissions in Austria in 1924.

    The station has heard recently on the 40m band using CW.

    QSL via the Bureau.

    (gb2rs)

    ----------


    IRELAND

    Special event callsign EI 80 MB is active until the 31st of May to
    commemorate the 80th anniversary of the rescue of 168 German seamen
    who were rescued from the waters of the Bay of Biscay after a battle
    between British and German naval forces in 1943.

    The men were carried out by a small Irish coaster called Kerlogue
    [KER-LOG] which had the callsign EIMB. The rescue took more than ten
    hours.

    QSL WI80MB via Club Log's OQRS or via EI6AL

    (RSGB)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    This is Richard VK6PZT.

    Do you know your Dits from your dahs?

    Have you got what it takes to be the next International Morse Code Day
    quiz champion?

    Well, even if you dont, why not celebrate Samuel Morse's birthday and
    International Morse code day, by registering for our Morse Code Quiz,
    hosted by the QRS, slow Morse code team. The quiz is fun and very
    informal and we dont take ourselves too seriously.

    We have lots of easy multiple-choice questions, aimed at both novices
    and experts alike.

    So, if youre interested, then please send me an email to
    vk6pzt@gmail.com
    and I will reply with the details, and a zoom link to join the quiz.

    Once again, the quiz will be held on international morse code day,
    Saturday April 27th, via zoom.

    Again if you would like to register, send an email to
    vk6pzt@gmail.com




    A Special RandomGram Event For Oceania

    Since RG (RandomGram) events began in October 2023, they have become
    popular among CW operators in other parts of the world, especially the
    US.

    The activity hinges on correctly exchanging one or more 5-letter
    groups. An operators log showing the exchanged groups is checked
    against a master list and points awarded for both transmission and
    reception.

    How has RG been received down under?

    RG is pretty much still unknown.

    Most activity in Region 3 has been out of Japan, but typically poor
    daytime HF propagation for the southern hemisphere has resulted in
    low point-scores for operators in Oceania.

    RG was created by Drew AF2Z. He noticed and commented on the trend
    down under and agrees that, given the opportunity, we could be doing a
    lot better. Putting his money where his mouth is, he has generously
    offered to run a trial 2-hour RandomGram event to suit our down under
    conditions, likely during our early evening hours to optimize
    propagation across the region.

    To make it worthwhile, Drew has asked for a list of at least 20
    operators, who are interested before he commits to run this proposal.

    Please email zl3tk@qsl.net with subject line Oceania RG to
    indicate your interest.

    The closing date Sunday 28 April 2024.

    (nzart)



    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    NASA now knows what knocked Voyager 1 offline, but it will take a
    while to fix. Voyager 1s remaining Flight Data Subsystem ( F.D.S. )
    Its redundant copy failed in 1982 and the reason that the distant
    spacecraft is currently offline.

    Voyagers FDS were the first computers on a spacecraft to use volatile
    memory. Unfortunately, one of Voyager 1s FDS memory chips is
    malfunctioning, NASA hopes they can work around it, but it will likely
    take months.

    (ANS)




    Nick Gregory, a member of the Furness Amateur Radio Society (FARS), was
    given an award by the American National Radio Society (ANRS) for his
    recent work. Nick, whose radio call sign is G 0 HIK, was recognised
    with a certificate for his radio signals bouncing off the Moon's
    surface 19 times, with the signals then coming back down to Earth.

    He was operating in the 1.2 gigahertz radio spectrum and, despite the
    'modest' set up as he described it, Nick has firmly put himself on both
    the international and interstellar map.

    (eHam)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
    INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

    VK2WI news have reported on a milestone, the one-year anniversary of
    amateur radio operations aboard HMAS Vampire, moored at the Australian
    National Maritime Museum.

    Since its inception, a dedicated team of 11 operators have been making
    waves in the amateur radio community, showcasing the rich history and
    vibrant presence of maritime communication. Every week, mainly
    Saturdays, her radio room comes alive with activity, offering a diverse
    range of CW, voice, slow scan TV, FT8 and 2 metre FM. In just the past
    12 months, some contact with 40 countries, connecting enthusiasts from
    around the globe and fostering cultural exchange.

    But the impact extends beyond the airwaves, with approximately 50
    visitors frequenting the radio room, many of whom are international
    guests.

    Sounds like an old Brisbane club used to get behind the HMAS
    Diamantina at Brisbanes Maritime Museum

    (vk2wi/vk4bb)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military


    ZL6ANZAC - Wrights Hill Fortress ANZAC Activation

    A group of Wellington amateurs will be activating the Wrights Hill
    Fortress in commemoration of our ANZACs on April 25.

    They'll be operating from the fortress itself which was built in
    Wellington during World War Two as a long range coastal battery to
    Protect Wellington city and environs from possible enemy attacks and
    invasion from Japan. The fortress consists of a large network of
    underground tunnels, operation rooms, and three gun encampments, and is
    a fascinating piece of history.

    The activation will be during the ANZAC Day Open Day for the Fortress,
    and the ZL6ANZAC team will be showing and demonstrating to members of
    the ZL public what ham radio is and the fun you can have with it!

    Chase the ZL6ANZAC Special Callsign on 25-April and grab yourself a
    special callsign contact and a Parks on the Air park chase! Zl1PPY is
    also activating so jump on the bands and make some great ANZAC Day
    contacts.

    For more information on the Fortress, you can check out their website:
    wrightshillfortress.org.nz

    (nzart)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com


    Pennsylvania's EYEWITNESS NEWS on TV channels 28 and 22 have a regular
    segment called "Heres to You Kid."

    28/22 News Reporter Iyee Jagne met up with the teen, Samuel Thrall
    and gave viewers a look at the Monroe County Public Safety Centre
    and his role there.

    14-year-old Samuel Thrall has passed three levels of the FCC Amateur
    Radio Licensing exam and now helps at the County Public Safety
    Centre.

    In the event of an emergency situation, so say a blizzard happened, we
    would be deployed to various Red Cross centres through the county to
    establish communications and there for relay any needs that the
    stations might need, said Samuel.

    What interested him in ham radio in the first place is simple.

    The scientific aspect of it the sense is very interesting because
    its a technology we use on a daily basis. Our phones are all powered
    by radio just with computers built into them, Samuel explained.

    Samuel says his start in this field was an interesting one.

    I failed my swimming test at Boy Scout camp one year, so I had to
    replace it and I replaced swimming with the Radio Merit Badge,
    Samuel continued.

    From there his passion for radio grew. AND it's still growing, to the
    extent he wants to eventually join the armed services in an
    electronic/radio arm.

    (TWIAR)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO


    Active Hurricane Season Predicted for 2024

    Colorado State University hurricane researchers predict an very active
    Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 to November 30.

    ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, attended
    the National Hurricane Conference in Florida, where the prediction was
    issued. Josh said "Several of the forecasters were pointing to
    indications that we are moving from an El Nio to a La Nia and that
    could potentially cause a more active season."

    The CSU Tropical Weather & Climate Research team predicts 23 named
    storms during the Atlantic hurricane season. Of those, researchers
    forecast that 11 will become hurricanes and five will reach major
    hurricane strength with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.

    The prediction is above the 30-year average for hurricanes and storms.

    Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science at
    CSU and the lead author of the report Phil Klotzbach said, "So far, the
    2024 hurricane season is exhibiting characteristics similar to 1878,
    2010, and 2020."

    (NewsLine)





    HAMS SUMMON HELP AFTER DEATH VALLEY DISTRESS CALL

    When getting on the air from a national park isn't a POTA activation - but a call for help - other hams are always there, as one new operator in California discovered. We hear this story from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

    RALPH: A distress call from an amateur radio operator stranded in Death Valley mobilized some quick-acting amateur radio operators - some of them hundreds of miles away - to get the ham and his family some assistance. According to personal accounts and media reports, Moritz Wacker, KO6DZX, was camping with his family on Friday April 5th, when their vehicle became stuck in the mud. Caleb Gustwiller, KD8TGB, and Craig Rower, KE8QJV, were among those who picked up his weak distress call on 28.430 MHz. The stranded ham had his radio along for the trip and used it. Caleb said in an email to NewsLine that he and other hams who were listening -- including fellow members of the Black Swamp Amateur Radio Club -- heard him faintly in Ohio. Those hams along with many others posted on the Parks on the Air page on Facebook to get the word out -- and still others called the county sheriff in Death Valley, police in San Diego, which QRZ.com lists as the ham's address. Other radio operators!
    reached out to the National Parks Service police. Caleb said it was an all-out effort from various locations.

    Caleb told NewsLine that the stranded ham is a relatively new licensee. This was apparently a camping trip, not a POTA outing, but contacts made with the Xiegu G90 and quarter-wave vertical did the trick. According to all accounts, Rangers found the family and they were back home safely that night.

    This Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.







    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF AND ABOVE.

    Trans Equatorial Propagation Observed Between Africa and Europe

    Trans Equatorial Propagation (TEP) between Africa and Europe on 144 MHz
    band has been observed several times in recent weeks. On March 31st,
    V51WW in Namibia received SV8PEX from Greece over 6532km away.

    On April 1st, QSOs between Namibia to Greece, Italy, and
    Malta were made with SV8PEX, 9H1TA, and 9H1PA.

    On April 2nd, SSB QSOs were possible.

    (IRTS)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)


    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)

    VK3 - May 11 Moorabbin & District ARC HamFest Kingston City Hall
    (vk3gl)

    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK2 - June 8-9. Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Field Day. (vk2zhe)

    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)

    VK3 - Bendigo AR & Electronics Club RadioFest August 18 (vk3gtv)

    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 13 at Nerang Country Paradise
    Parklands 231 Beaudesert-Nerang Road Nerang. (vk4DMH)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)

    VK7 - Tasmanian Ham Conference November 2 and 3 Hobart. (vk7news)

    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    _______________________________________________
    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From National News Broadcast Email List@432:1/101 to vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au on Fri Apr 26 02:48:02 2024
    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-04-28.mp3
    Text edition:


    2024 APRIL 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 APRIL 28 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS



    THIS WEEK:-

    2024 BUNDABERG Convention and Expo to be held next weekend all the
    latest you need to know. -

    Better late than never news on this years HARRY ANGEL MEMPRIAL
    SPRINT. -

    SiLOS ON THE AIR ACTIVITY. -

    Programs for Disabled Amateurs mark 57 Years. -


    BUT WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    This is WIA Director Peter VK8ZZ.

    As this broadcast goes to air, we are finalising registrations for the
    2024 BUNDABERG Convention and Expo to be held next weekend.
    Registrations for the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Conference and Expo are
    open until midnight Sunday 28th, thats tonight. We are closing
    registrations including Dinner early as we have to know the final
    numbers for the Gala Dinner. So, if your going to this fantastic event
    and want to join the gathering at the Gala Dinner on the Saturday
    night then register today.

    Registrations without attendance at the Gala Dinner are open until
    midnight Wednesday 1st May 2024.

    The program is on the WIA web site and details are also being
    mentioned by the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.

    A contact with US astronaut Matthew Dominick on the International
    Space Station has now been confirmed and will be a highlight of the
    event.

    The Bundaberg convention and Expo event will also include the
    WIA Annual General Meeting on the morning of Sunday 5th May 2024
    commencing at 10.00am. Registrations are essential to attend either
    in person or online.

    The formal notice of the AGM was sent to all members on 12th April
    2024. The notice has also been published in Amateur Radio magazine
    as well as advertised in the WIA News page.

    The BUSINESS to be conducted at the meeting which has already been
    advised to members includes the following items:-

    1. To receive and consider the Annual Financial Statements, Directors Report and Independent Auditors report for the year ended 31 December 2023

    2. To confirm the results of the election of Directors

    3. To consider a Special Resolution to bestow Honorary Life Membership on Robert Broomhead VK3DN.

    4. To transact any other business that may be brought before the meeting in accordance with the Institutes Constitution

    That was by Order of the Board of the WIA on 10th April 2024.

    Once again Registration is essential to attend WIA AGM either in
    person or online. Registrations for the AGM are available on a link
    on the WIA News page or at a link in the text version of this
    broadcast.

    tinyurl.com/4znyptku

    You must register to attend either in person or online.

    There is no cost for attending the AGM.

    If you are unable to make it either in person or online then please
    send your apology to Secretary@wia.org.au and that will be reflected
    in the AGMs meeting minutes.

    This has been Peter Clee VK8ZZ looking forward to meeting many of you
    next weekend in Bundaberg.


    NEWS XTRA
    Thanks Peter, now although registrations for the WIA Gala Dinner
    close THIS SUNDAY EVENING 28th at midnight and AGM WITHOUT the dinner
    close Wednesday the first at midnight, if you are attending the Expo,
    tickets can be purchased on the day."

    (notified by BARC Secretary)


    ------------------------------------------------------------*


    INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to DX-WORLD, IARU, RSGB, RAC,
    ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ICQPodcast,
    Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    Programs for Disabled Amateurs marks 57 Years

    Colin Butler, from ICQPodcast has told of how the Courage Kenny
    Handiham Program is marking 57 years of providing service, training
    and experience to disabled amateur radio operators.

    In celebration of the program's longevity and success, the Handiham
    Radio Club is holding a 48-hour QSO party and all currently licensed
    program members are encouraged to get on the air. The action started
    at 1900 UTC on Friday the 26th of April and continues through 1900 UTC
    Sunday the 28th April.

    Operators will be on all amateur bands using all modes, including
    digital and VOIP to spotlight the Minnesota-based program and the
    club. Operators will be calling CQ Handiham 57




    The RSGB Board has met for the first time since the Societys AGM,
    where three Directors were endorsed to serve as Nominated Directors
    on the Board and one was confirmed as elected unopposed.

    The new Board has chosen Dr Stewart Bryant, G3YSX to continue in the
    role of RSGB Board Chair until the 2025 AGM.

    You can find details of all RSGB Board Directors at rsgb.org/board
    and the Board Liaison roles will be confirmed and added to the page
    in the coming weeks.



    SWEETWATER

    A musical talent whose group was a headliner at Woodstock in the 1960s
    has become a Silent Key. We hear about him from Paul Braun WD9GCO.

    On the opening day of the Woodstock Music Festival in upstate New York
    in 1969, Elpidio Cobian, N6VJD, enlivened the music of the group
    Sweetwater with his conga playing, as he always did. A gifted
    musician, he later made a career change into the film industry, where
    he became a part of different movie set crews. According to his
    longtime friend, Leo, KJ6HI, one of the big joys in his life was
    amateur radio - and his amateur radio friends. Known to almost
    everyone as Pete, he died of natural causes on the 6th of April.

    Leo remembered his friend of more than 40 years as someone who made - and kept - lasting friendships on and off the air. He told Newsline: [quote] "He was an unselfish operator and was always available to assist other hams." [endquote] He said Pete was a fixture on 40 and 75 meters where he inspired everyone with his upbeat and endearing personality.

    Leo told Newsline: [quote] "We are going to miss him dearly." [endquote]

    Pete was 90 years old.

    This is Paul Braun WD9GCO.




    INDIAN SUB CONTINENT

    Three remote polling stations in Pune district, Western India, are set
    to utilize ham radio technology to transmit important voting
    information.
    These polling centres lack cell phone network coverage, rendering
    conventional communication methods ineffective. With ham radio
    technology bridging the communication gap, voters in these regions
    can rest assured that their voices will be heard.




    USA

    A shame it's a bit far for a quick visit for we VK hams but the
    Pennsylvania Trolley Museum will be hosting its first-ever vintage
    communications weekend soon.

    On May 4 and 5, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse
    themselves in the rich history of communications technology.
    The weekend will showcase how communication has evolved, with antique
    telephones, telegraphs, typewriters, phonographs, radios, printing
    presses and other devices that have shaped how we connect with one
    another. Long-distance amateur radio operators can take part in the
    event by working the weekends special event station. Visitors will
    have the opportunity to try their hand at sending Morse code messages,
    listening to radio broadcasts from antique radios, and even making a
    souvenir on a printing press.




    BOSTON

    Amateur Radio Provided Communications Support for Boston Marathon.

    Ham radio operators provided communications for the 128th running of
    the Boston Marathon with more than 280 radio amateurs participating
    in the event.

    The marathon is one of the largest events for which hams provide
    communications support in the Northern Hemisphere.

    They are performing communications duties that include logistics
    support as a primary function, and backup support for medical and
    other public safety requests for the race as needed," wrote District
    Emergency Coordinator for the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
    Rob Macedo, KD1CY.





    OPRERATIONAL NEWS BY FELIX VK4FUQ
    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    This is Kevin VK4UH Contest Manager for the Harry Angel Memorial 80m
    Sprint.

    A quick reminder that the 2024 Contest is being run on Saturday May 4th . This year marks the 25th year for the Harry Angel Sprint a Quarter of a Century.
    The Harry Angel Sprint is an annual 80m contest established to commemorate the life of Harry Angel VK4HA who, at the time of his becoming a Silent Key, was the oldest licensed amateur in Australia.

    The duration of the contest is 106 minutes one minute for each year of Harry's life.
    Full details about the contest can be found in the Contest section of the main WIA website this including all information about scoring and instructions for the submission of all log entries.
    A reminder also that logs can only be submitted electronically.
    This is Kevin VK4UH, on behalf of the WIA and the Redcliffe Radio Club, Manager of the Harry Angel Memorial Sprint Contest.
    Good morning and good luck in the contest


    -------------------


    The St. George Amateur Radio Society will again be holding the
    Don Edwards memorial slow Morse in 2024. The contest is held on the
    weekend after Mother's Day, this year it will be on Saturday 18th
    and Sunday 19th May.
    Full details on the St. George Amateur Radio Society's website
    sgars.org

    (VK2EMU)


    ----------------------------------------------------


    IARU HF World Championship the second full weekend of July i.e. 13-14.
    Starts: Zero hours UTC Saturday
    Ends: 2359 UTC Sunday

    (CQ)


    ----------------------------------------------------


    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest

    July 21st

    The Trans-Tasman contest, always held on the 3rd weekend in July,
    aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and
    Digital (i.e. RTTY OR PSK)

    This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
    the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

    (wia.org.au)
    -------------------


    YOTA Contest 2024

    The next 2 sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be from 10:00
    to 21:59 UTC on 21 July and 29 December on the five classic bands
    CW and SSB.

    Everyone can work everyone.

    The complete rules can be found on
    ham-yota.com/contest.


    -----------------


    AUGUST 17 - 18

    Remembrance Day Contest.

    This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
    World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
    help improve the operating skills of participants.

    It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on
    which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area.

    A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the Australian state or
    territory with the best performance. The name of the winning State
    or Territory is inscribed on the trophy, and that State or Territory
    then holds the trophy for 12 months. The winning State or Territory
    is also given a certificate, as are leading entrants.

    Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
    ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
    CW and RTTY as per the era remembered

    Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.

    (wia.org.au)

    -----------------------------


    44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
    last FULL weekend of August.

    ELIGIBILITY?

    All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
    participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
    take part using their Club's equipment and callsign.

    YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

    CONTEST: Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
    STARTS: Saturday 25th August 2024 at 0600 hours UTC
    ENDS: Sunday 26th August 2024 at 0559 hours UTC

    SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES: All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
    Contacts made on ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

    (alara web page)


    -------------

    Oceania DX Contest

    This years contest will be held on October 5th and 12th
    respectively.

    oceaniadxcontest.com


    -------------------

    YOTA CONTEST

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

    ----------

    BHUTAN.

    A 52 P and A 52 CI are on air until May 4 on 40 to 6 meters using
    CW, SSB, and various digital modes. QSL via Club Log.

    (arrl)

    ----------

    EASTER ISLAND.

    3 G 0 YA until May 6 on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
    QSL 3G0YA via DJ 4 MX.

    (arrl)

    --------------

    MALAWI.

    Don, 7Q6M is QRV until May 13, 2024 and has also been active on 160
    meters. QSL via LoTW.

    ----------

    Botswana

    Active will be A 25 SHD from different locations in Botswana,
    between 30 April and 13 May. QSL A25SHD via home call which is
    HB 9 SHD.

    (sarl)

    ---------

    In the World of DX, be listening for members of the Zurich City Police
    Radio Amateur Club throughout the year, operating as HB 2 SP the club
    is marking its 20th anniversary. Unfortunately no Bureau QSL's but you
    can use Logbook Of The World, and HB20SP runs until December 31.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine 2410)



    ----------------------------------------------------------*



    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/
    https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

    Looking for some South African summits?

    Well the ZS SOTA Activity is no longer a one-day event, it is now a
    weekend event giving much much more opportunity to snag some "high"
    scores, along with high summits.

    The ZS-SOTA Autumn Activity Weekend will run from 00:00 to 21:59 UTC
    on Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May.

    (sarl)




    Silos on The Air

    This is Graham, VK4CEG for the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club.

    Brisbane Amateur Radio Club members have embraced the SiOTA program,
    thats Silos on the air, and currently hold three of the top 10 places
    in the leaderboard There are only 4 Silos around Brisbane, but many
    throughout the wheat belt and 117 overall in Queensland.

    Activation simply involves making three contacts from within 1
    kilometres of the Silo. Outdoor activity such as this does create
    interest in Amateur Radio and we have recently gained several new
    members simply by advertising these activities and displaying our club
    banner.

    Outdoor activities such as this are appealing to younger people and
    are working for BARC to build membership.

    This has been Graham VK4CEG for the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)

    THE SOLAR ECLIPSE SHIFTED TIME SIGNALS IN THE USA:

    The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a
    radio station in Fort Collins, Colorado. Call letters: WWV. Operating
    at multiple shortwave frequencies, WWV broadcasts precise time and
    frequency information 24/7 to listeners worldwide. On April 8, 2024,
    the frequency of WWV shifted:

    "It was the solar eclipse," says ham radio operator W8EDU of
    Cleveland, Ohio, who assembled records from 13 monitoring stations in
    and around the path of totality. "The HamSCI Personal Space Weather
    Station Network's Grape stations measure Doppler shift in the carrier
    signal of time standard radio stations such as WWV. On April 8th, the
    network saw a distinct S-curve signature associated with the
    eclipse."

    The Doppler shift occurred when the shadow of the Moon pierced the
    ionosphere, creating a temporary hole where ionization was reduced.
    This, in turn, altered the "skip distance" from transmitters to
    receivers.

    Because the skip point was moving, reflected radio signals were
    naturally Doppler-shifted.

    Spaceweather.com reader and senior physicist Larry Carr of Brookhaven
    National Labs made this calculation: "Using the 10 MHz WWV frequency,
    an average shift of about 1/2 Hz implies the layer bottom (the 'skip
    point') was moving at speeds up to 15 m/s. During the entire eclipse,
    the reflecting layer moved on the order of 50 km."

    The total Doppler shift was only a few cycles per second, similar to
    normal night-day variations, so no one actually lost track of time
    during the eclipse. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating demonstration
    of an eclipse's power to touch the Earth.

    spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=17&month=04&year=2024




    NOTED SCIENTIST HONORED FOR IONOSPHERIC RESEARCH

    A noted scientist in the UK has been honoured for his contributions
    to ionospheric research.

    His use of the digital protocol FST4W for ionospheric research has
    earned Gwyn Griffiths G3ZIL the Les Barclay Memorial Award from the
    Radio Society of Great Britain. Gwyn has been an active contributor
    to HamSCI, the citizen science investigation group, best known for
    its studies of the impact solar eclipses have on the ionosphere.

    Gwyn, who has also been honoured as a recipient of the Member of the
    British Empire, has utilised the digital protocol to investigate
    different aspects of propagation. FST4W is mostly used on the LF and
    MF bands using 4-GFSK modulation.

    (ARNewsLine)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    Boeings CST-100 Starliner embarked on its last big road trip before
    its journey to the International Space Station (ISS) next month.

    In the pre-dawn hours, the capsule and its service module made the
    slow trek from Kennedy Space Centre to Space Launch Complex 41 on
    Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rollout of the vehicle, named
    Calypso, is another key step towards the Crew Flight Test (CFT) of
    the Starliner spacecraft, the first time that it will carry
    astronauts to and from the ISS. The missions crew, NASA astronauts
    Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, KD5PLB, were on hand to witness the
    departure of their 'ticket to ride.'

    [ANS]




    A dead spacecraft the size of a truck ignites with plasma and
    pulverizes into dust and litter as it rips through the ionosphere
    and atmosphere. This is what happens to internet service satellites
    during re-entry.

    When the full mega-constellation of satellites is deployed in the
    2030s, companies will do this EVERY HOUR because satellite internet
    requires thousands of satellites to constantly be replaced.

    Recent research has led some physicists to believe that the space
    trash generated by dead and dying commercial satellites could
    compromise our ionosphere or magnetosphere. Unlike meteorites, which
    are small and only contain trace amounts of aluminium, these wrecked
    spacecraft are huge and consist entirely of aluminium and other
    exotic, highly conductive materials. And highly conductive materials
    can create charging effects and act as a magnetic shield.

    [ANS]





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

    Wake Island - IOTA Number OC-053 - NL7RR.

    Listen for Tom, NL7RR, from Wake Island, IOTA Number OC-053, until the
    15th of May on or around 14.200 MHz using the callsign KH9/NL7RR.

    QRZ.com for QSL details.

    (ARNewsLine)




    Lolland Island - IOTA Number EU-029 -5P5LI.

    Seven radio amateurs from Belgium are active as 5P5LI from Lolland
    Island, IOTA Number EU-029, until the 6th of May, operating CW, SSB
    and the digital modes on 160-6 metres.

    QSL 5P5LI via ON6EF, direct or bureau.

    (ARNewsLine)




    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY
    Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the
    Signal Identification Guide Wiki at
    sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military

    George MM 0 DFV writing in Ham Radio Daily tells of a special event
    amateur radio station, GB 6 WW which will be working from Glasgow,
    Scotland from 1st to 28th May, as a poignant tribute to commemorate
    the end of World War II.

    This event is not just about celebrating victory but also remembering
    the sacrifices made and the lessons learned from one of the darkest
    periods in human history. Amateur radio has a long-standing tradition
    of bringing people together from across the globe, and GB6WW embodies
    this spirit by connecting individuals through the airwaves to reflect
    on peace and freedom. The event encourages participants to learn about
    the technological advancements of the time, the role of communication
    in the war effort, and the importance of radio as a tool for both
    information and morale.

    By tuning into GB6WW, participants and listeners can explore the past,
    honour the memory of those who served and suffered, and celebrate the
    peace and freedom that their sacrifices secured. This event is a
    reminder of the power of communication to bridge time, space, and
    differences, fostering a global community united in remembrance and
    hope.

    And here in VK don't forget, and it would be hard to as Felix VK4FUQ
    has been reminding us each week, our own Remembrance day Contest in
    August.

    (HRD)




    US Armed Forces Day Crossband Test May 11, 2024.

    The US Department of Defence will host this year's Armed Forces Day
    (AFD) Crossband Test on May 11. For more than 50 years, military and
    amateur stations have taken part in this event, which is an
    interoperability exercise between hobbyist and government radio
    stations.

    The event is open to all licensed amateur radio operators and will not
    impact any public or private communications. The AFD Crossband Test is
    a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military
    communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS).

    These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators
    to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled
    exercise scenario. Military stations will transmit on selected
    military frequencies and announce the specific ARS frequencies
    monitored.

    All scheduled times will be in Zulu (Z), and all scheduled frequencies
    will be upper sideband (USB) unless otherwise noted.

    Information on frequencies, times, and other technical information can
    be found at DoD MARS - Armed Forces Day.
    tinyurl.com/ymrs266u


    Information for QSL cards and contact information is available at


    Armed Forces Day QSL request form.
    tinyurl.com/mr32jawh

    (arrl letter)





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    facebook.com/yotaregion2
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
    twitter.com/hamyota
    ham-yota.com

    Mile High Middle School is home to some true student "hams."

    No, these are not class clowns. Rather these are serious "hams,"
    or more to the point, certified amateur ham radio operators able to
    communicate with a peer in a neighbouring town, a video gamer in Japan
    or an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.

    The Mile High Amateur Radio Club, supervised by industrial arts
    teacher and ham radio enthusiast Terry Pemberton, is a group of
    seventh and eighth grade boys, and a few girls, 13 who just earned
    their federal ham radio licenses with classes taught by leaders in
    the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club.

    As a reward for finishing the classes to earn their license, a
    requirement to be an operator, the club was able to equip each with
    their own handheld radio in one of a variety of colour schemes.

    (eHam)




    Youth on the Air is accepting recycling donations of eclipse
    glasses for hams and youth in Argentina.

    These recycled eclipse glasses will be sent home with Argentinian
    campers attending the 2024 YOTA Americas camp so that amateur radio
    operators and youth can safely watch the Annular Solar Eclipse in
    October of this year.

    This is a great idea to recycle unused or gently used glasses while
    helping fellow amateur radio operators and youth in the hobby.

    Donations will be accepted IN PERSON ONLY at the Dayton Hamvention
    YOTA Booth and at the 2024 YOTA Americas Camp in Halifax, Canada.





    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.
    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    2024 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.

    VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)

    Gidday from Bundaberg! Im David VK4DN.. Ssecretary of the Bundaberg
    Amateur Radio Club.

    The countdown continues with ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY from the 2024 National
    WIA Convention and AGM! Our club members are preparing for the
    weekend with all hands on deck!

    With months in the planning, you can be assured of a great weekend
    for all!

    If you havent registered yet for the Gala Dinner and AGM , you can go
    to the WIA website for your tickets. We also have interesting
    activities planned for attendees XYLs and partners over the weekend.

    We look forward to welcoming you to Bundaberg and will be monitoring
    the local repeater if you need any assistance.

    73 From David VK4DN Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club.


    VK2 and 4 - Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg AND Dorrigo (vk4kc)

    VK3 - May 11 Moorabbin & District ARC HamFest Kingston City Hall
    (vk3gl)

    VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
    National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
    celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
    our communities.

    VK2 - June 8-9. Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Field Day. (vk2zhe)

    VK5 - Aust. Fox Hunting championships Mt Gambier 8/9 June.(vk5dj)

    VK3 - Bendigo AR & Electronics Club RadioFest August 18 (vk3gtv)

    VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 13 at Nerang Country Paradise
    Parklands 231 Beaudesert-Nerang Road Nerang. (vk4DMH)


    VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
    Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)

    VK7 - Tasmanian Ham Conference November 2 and 3 Hobart. (vk7news)

    VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
    School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (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 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.

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

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    Vk1wia-news mailing list
    Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news

    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)