Weekly news from the WIA:
MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2015-05-31.mp3 Text edition:
May 31 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING May 24 2015.
IN OUR 20TH YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
Phil Wait, VK2ASD President, WIA looks at the revised 2m and 70 cm Bandplans.
WIA Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH with more news from the WIA AGM.
VK's Foundation Licence is due for review
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA 2015 AND FOR WEEK OF MAY 24
ANZAC 100 activities continue
ANZAC-suffixed callsigns will be at Launceston, Elizabeth and Sydney this
week. More news about them on this broadcast today.
Meantime, an enthusiastic eight Blue Mountains Amateur Radio Club members
had success in the face of what could have been a disaster, to effectively
use the VI2ANZAC callsign.
The Glenbrook-Blaxland RSL Bowling Club keenly invited VI2ANZAC to join them
on ANZAC Day. The radio club had examined the site. However, an RSL committee
member removed a tree that was to hold up an antenna. This caused a delay on
the day. When VI2ANZAC was ready, so were locals for an ANZAC ceremony, so
BMARC members honoured it.
Then VI2ANZAC began, however BMARC secretary, Daniel Clift VK2DC said:
"We continued operating until we had to abandon the venue and make a quick
dash to our clubrooms when lightning was getting too close for comfort and
wait for a storm to pass."
Fortunately the brunt of the storm was missed, but other areas had large
hail stones. Daniel VK2DC says after the storm passed, 40 metres was alive
and well, and the proverbial 'dogpile' was encountered.
BMARC had VI2ANZAC for a week. Some eight members used it from either the
BMARC club or their home QTHs.
At the end of the event it had 447 contacts. One member was 'over the moon'
in contacting 0POPPY from Belgium on CW - very poor copy but perseverance
paid off. The BMARC activated VI23ANZAC on SSB, CW, SSTV and Echolink.
The three-day VK100ANZAC event which starts today, 'Our Local ANZACs", is run
by the Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club. Backed up by an audio visual
display, it marks the close of a three week period of Gallipoli action, in
which Australia's and the Empire's most decorated soldier, Harry Murray
participated. He was born and grew up in Northern Tasmania.
June 4 to 10 the VK100ANZAC callsign will be heard thanks to DXer
Tommy Horozakis VK2IR, which is promising to be very active with DX
on the HF bands.
VI5ANZAC activated on June 6 by the Elizabeth Amateur Radio Club, is in
honour of Vietnam War Veterans. Of the 521 fallen Australian soldiers in
that conflict, 25 remain buried overseas. The government recently offered
to repatriate them, at no cost to their families, so they may be buried in
Australia.
After a successful event on ANZAC Day at the Elizabeth RSL in VK5 by the
Elizabeth Amateur Radio Club using the VI5ANZAC100 call sign the President
and Secretary of the RSL requested that the AR club set up a similar event
to assist the Vietnam Veterans commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the
landing of Australian forces at Vung Tau by the Royal Australian Navy
on June 6th.
The club will be setting up two EARC VK5LZ stations on 80Metres, 3.650Mhz
+/- QRM and 40Metres, 7.050Mhz +/- QRM (Vertical Polarisation) at 1900Hrs
Central standard time until 2300Hrs Central standard time on the evening of
Saturday 6th June 2015.
We invite and would appreciate contacts from operators willing to spare the
time however short.
Thank you in anticipation from the Elizabeth Amateur Radio Club and the
Elizabeth RSL in VK5
First In - Last Out, we continue RAN activity with a look at the vital role
of Royal Australian Navy submarine AE2 and her brave crew in the waters off
Gallipoli which was highlighted during the recent commemorative event station
VI4AE2.
A group of former Australian Defence Force members, who are also radio
amateurs, put VI4AE2 on air for 5-days from ANZAC Day to commemorate the
Centenary of HMAS AE2.
Michael Charteris VK4QS says he decided to do something to show that the
Royal Australian Navy was at Gallipoli, and it wasn't just an all-Army
campaign.
With the help of other radio amateurs following a well thought out publicity
plan the positive story of HMAS AE2 was told.
The program added a new element to ANZAC 100 in its ability to highlight the
role of AE2. The AE2, through a picture and model, appears in the vast WW1
display at the National War Museum in Canberra.
HMAS AE2 an E-class submarine at the Dardanelles breached the defences,
survived shelling from Turkish shore batteries, but ran aground to narrowly
miss netting and minefields.
After resurfacing it signalled its strategic position, helped the invasion of
Gallipoli, and given the mission to "Run amok in the sea of Marmara".
The submarine crew were eventually made prisoners of war by the Turks who held
them until the Armistice of 1918. The wreck of the submarine is a war grave
site.
VI4AE2 paid honour to the submarine and its crew. It had about 2,500 contacts
around the world using both SSB and CW, plenty of visits to the qrz.com
website seeking information, and an article in Navy News.
That article gives Amateur Radio good publicity showing that those within it
really care that a story of AE2 be told. Navy News has a readership of
15,000 current and past members of the Navy.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WIA BOARD TALK
President Phil Wait VK2ASD
Vice President Chris Platt VK5CP
Secretary David Williams VK3RU
Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ
This is Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH with more news from the WIA AGM.
This week, I have a confession to make.
In last week's news item on the annual awards given out at the WIA AGM in
Canberra, I made a serious omission - two, in fact.
I did not include two worthy awards. Rather than just three President's
Commendations, as I said last week, five were actually awarded. Mea culpa!
Ernie Walls VK3FM was awarded a President's Commendation in recognition of
many years' service to the Publications Committee as both member and Secretary.
Ernie began a well-earned rest some months ago from being Secretary of the
Publications Committee.
That West Australian of note, Will McGhie VK6UU, received a President's
Commendation for outstanding dedication to scanning the issues of Amateur
Radio magazine over the decades from the early 20th century to the present
era and producing digital files, providing an invaluable historical and
technical resource. Will has published the scanned editions online, which is
a continuing project for him. If you want to find them, just Google
"VK6UU Amateur Radio Magazine" and his website appears at the top of the list.
My apologies to you two gentlemen. Mea culpa !
This has been a sheepish Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.
Phil Wait, VK2ASD President, WIA looks at the revised 2m and 70 cm Bandplans.
The WIA has published draft revisions to the 2 metre and 70 cm bandplans.
Amateur radio bandplans are a voluntary operating code which divides the
various amateur radio bands into segments, in order to minimise interference
between often incompatible modes and technologies.
As technology progresses and patterns of usage change, amateur bandplans need
to be reviewed and updated to ensure they meet current needs.
Following the revision of the 630m, 40m and 6m bandplans earlier this year,
the WIA now presents to 2m and 70cm bandplan as a "Draft for Comment". We
encourage you to lodge your comments with the WIA by the 15th July - you have
about 6 weeks.
Please note that these revised bandplans do not require or force any existing
users to move frequency, but they do make some very fundamental and
wide-ranging changes to improve our band usage and spectrum efficiency.
The WIA would like to sincerely thank John VK3KM, Peter VK3APO, Grant VK5GR
and the entire TAC committee for undertaking the difficult task of reviewing
the bandplans and finding a workable solution to satisfy the various competing
interests.
The WIA President holidays in the USA
You may not have been aware that our Wireless Institute of Australia's
President Phil Wait VK2ASD gave us that report on the band plans as he
arrived back in Australia after a personal holiday that included the
Dayton Hamvention.
While drafting the President's column for Amateur Radio magazine in July at
Dallas Airport, he reflected on where the busy WIA is heading in this period
of rapid change.
The WIA Board has heard the valuable input received in the WIA Open Forum, as
part of the annual general meeting in Canberra.
Phil VK2ASD, was able explore most important areas while at the Dayton
Hamvention, speaking to the ARRL officials on some similar areas of activity.
The latest AR magazine column will reflect on the annual general meeting,
improved communications, the next generation of radio amateurs through youth,
and point to the latest on our regulation changes.
Over in the UK, RSGB President John Gould, G3WKL and General Manager
Graham Coomber, G0NBI represented the RSGB at a garden party at Buckingham
Palace recently.
They were formally presented to the Society's Patron, HRH The Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT.
Foundation Licence is due for review
The 10th anniversary of the new entry level licence in Australia has seen
a great turnaround with Amateur Radio being made more accessible to a greater
number of people.
When it was proposed as part of the Australian Communications Authority "Big
Review", the Foundation Licence was embraced by radio amateurs as the way
forward for Amateur Radio.
The Foundation Licence has transformed us from a worrying declining interest
in Amateur Radio, to one of growth with new people entering the hobby and
most upgrading to the Standard or Advance levels.
Designed more than a decade ago, it gave entrants a taste of Amateur Radio,
inspiring many to explore the multi-faceted hobby, and encouraged some to
go further and upgrade their qualification.
Since 2005 over 5,000 Foundation Licence assessments have held, but with
a decline in the number of candidates, more needs to be done to promote the
hobby and review the attractiveness of it as the entry point.
While the Foundation Licence is now 10 years old and due for a review to
reflect new technology of the last decade, and provide a better taste of
a modern Amateur Radio, it remains a popular entry point into the hobby.
News of the Department of Communications' release of the foreshadowed
Spectrum Review report is now up on the WIA website.
http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/new...3-40/index.php
The Department of Communications has released its Spectrum Review Report,
recommending replacement of the Radiocommunications Act with a new Act
and reforming the current licensing framework into a single licensing system.
"While the current framework is prescriptive about processes, the new Act
would focus on the outcomes that should be achieved through spectrum
management," the report explains.
In a joint statement, the Minister for Communications, the Hon Malcolm
Turnbull MP and the Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP,
said "the report recommends simplifying processes for new and existing
spectrum users and increasing opportunities for market-based arrangements,
including spectrum sharing and trading".
The report's recommendations cover new legislation, a single licensing system,
user involvement in spectrum management, improved compliance and enforcement
measures, government spectrum use and spectrum pricing, among others.
It must be said that the implications for amateur radio licensing and the
WIA are far-reaching.
The report resulted from a review conducted by the Department of
Communications in conjunction with the Australian Communications and
Media Authority (ACMA). Developing the report included extensive stakeholder
consultation over 2014.
The federal Government anticipated that the report would be finalised in the
December 2014 to January 2015 timeframe, but it was finally delivered in
March.
The Government is currently considering the report and will respond in
due course. Meanwhile, the Department of Communications has invited comments.
The WIA will be sending a submission.
SILENT KEY
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/about/
Silent Keys are best sent to AR Magazine and your local state or club news
rather than this WIA National News Service.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
>From Producer Skeeter Nash N5ASH:
this is a Facebook post from Sunday, 5/24/15 by the Amateur Radio Newsline
Facebook page administrator, James Pastorfield KB7TBT:
Hi folks, got some bad news to report:
A few days ago Bill Pasternak WA6ITF was admitted into the hospital.
He is currently in ICU and stable. I have not directly talked to Bill
but I am in constant contact with Dave Booth KC6WFS who has been with
him every day. Bill has said that "it was ok to mention his situation
to you and to understand if the reports are a delayed".
Bill is still listed under critical condition, please put him in your
thoughts and prayers.
I will keep everyone updated...
73 James-KB7TBT
The contribution of Colin Wilson CT7ACG has been internationally highlighted
in regards his involvement with the Nepal Emergency Net.
Colin CT7ACG located in Southern Portugal, together with Israeli colleague
Emir 4X6TT have both played an admirable and important role in the Nepal
Emergency Net - recognized worldwide in various international forums.
All hams involved in assistance to earthquake victims in Nepal are unanimous
in highlighting the dedication and efforts of stations CT7ACG and 4X6TT,
particularly in maintaining such important radio network active, providing
communication assistance to the affected nation.
Colin is documented for his dedication to amateur radio, highlighted before
thanks to his special call CR5CW, well known for contest performance.
CQ Magazine has announced 2015 Hall of Fame inductees who have made
significant contributions to amateur radio or to some other aspect
of life on our planet include our near neighbour Joko "Jokowi" Widodo,
YD2JKW - President of Indonesia.
New NASA Deputy Administrator is a Radio Ham
Prof. Dava Newman KB1HIK has been sworn in as NASA Deputy Administrator.
Her appointment had been confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (formerly KE4IQB) said, "I am delighted
with the Senate confirmation of Dr. Dava Newman to be the deputy administrator
of NASA.
The strong bipartisan support Dr. Newman received in the Senate is a
reflection of her well-earned reputation and renown as a global leader in
science and technology research and policy."
Kenyan amateurs are now permitted to use 50 MHz The Communications Authority
of Kenya has allocated 50 to 52 MHz to the amateur service with maximum power
of 150 Watts DC input or 400 Watts PEP.
Who and Where are our broadcast stations?
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
OPERATIONAL NEWS 2015
Trans-Tasman contest 18th July from 0800utc
10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 1 - 2
Remembrance Day Contest August 15 and 16
Oceania DX contest Voice First full weekend in October
Oceania DX contest Continuous Wave Second full weekend in October.
International Museums Weekend
This year's International Museums Weekends take place on 20th/21st
and 27th/28th June.
So far 50 museums will be on air for the International Museums Weekend events
in June.
In one of those portable operations, Julie VK3FOWL and Joe VK3YSP will again
set-up outside the Melbourne Museum at Carlton Gardens.
Their solar powered station will be on both June the 20th and 21st, and
June the 27th and 28th, engaging the public to operate on 80m, 40m and 20m
bands SSB sideband and digital modes.
They will join others who also have permission from the museums to set-up
stations in England, France, Greece, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa.
To register a museum in this annual event, visit the website
www.radio-amateur-events.org
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
AWARDS
First all CW 73 on 73 Award
Congratulations to Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU, for working 73 different stations
on the amateur radio satellite AO-73 (FUNcube-1) since September 1, 2014.
Notably, he is the first to work all 73 different stations using Morse code.
AO-73 was launched in 2013 and is the first spacecraft to have a primary mission
of educational outreach to schools and the smallest ever satellite to carry a
linear (SSB/CW) transponder for radio amateurs.
Go portable in VK3 National Parks and gain recognition
The Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award activity period is November 15
to 19. This year something special is to be introduced.
We also announce the first Foundation Licence to get Merit Certificate
recognition.
A Participation Certificate will be available for those who have don't have
an award certificate, provided they operate within a VK3 National Park and
make five contacts.
The KRMNPA activity period last year had 34 National Parks on air. With the
participation certificate now on offer, who knows how many will be activated
this November?
You can also still work those in National Parks from your own home, and the
activity period is ideal to get your tally started or increased. One such
person is Amanda VK3FQSO, who is the first Foundation Licence holder to get
a Merit Award - having worked all 45 National Parks. A very proud Amanda
VK3FQSO says the great thing about the KRMNPA is that it is achievable for all
even Foundation Licences. From her experience, portable Activators usually
have low noise levels so they are able to hear the many Chasers that call in
to make a contact.
VK3FQSO topped off all 45 this month with Mick VK3PMG in the Wyperfeld
National Park. She used a solar powered Alinco DX-SR8 transceiver on its
super-low setting of 500mW, into a dipole.
Amanda started in November 2013 contacting Joe VK3YSP in the Great Otway
National Park, and followed the VK3YSP and wife Julie VK3FOWL on their
KRMNPA sojourn.
Prepare now to venture out portable for the Keith Roget Memorial National
Parks Award period of November 15 to 19 - and join others including those
from interstate.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
On 29th May 1815, over 6,000 British cavalry gathered for an
inspection beside the river Dender before the battle of Waterloo.
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the inspection and the
crossing of the river to battle, the Belgian Amateur Radio
Society, UBA, will operate special event station OT200GBN. On
Friday the 29th, operation will be in CW on 80 to 10m from the
nearby town of Schendelbeke. On Saturday the station moves to
Onkerzele and switches to SSB. A special QSL card is available.
In DX, word that DL1HRN is currently operational as 3 W 9 HRN from Hanoi in
Vietnam. His length of stay is not known, but activity is mainly CW on the
HF bands. QSL via DL1HRN, his home callsign.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
Fox-1 news from Dayton
During the Dayton Hamvention, AMSAT Vice President Operations, Drew Glasbrenner,
KO4MA, and AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, provided more
information about the Fox-1 satellites under development.
Buxton, N0JY, says Fox-1A has passed all environmental testing and is integrated
into the P-POD deployment canister. "The 'remove before flight pin' has been
pulled, the doors closed on the P-POD, and everything is aboard the shipping
container now en route to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for launch",
said Buxton.
Fox-1A Frequency, Uplink FM (67 Hz tone) is 435.180 MHz downlink in our 2mtr
band, 145.980 MHz
Fox-1A will launch on a NASA ELaNa flight scheduled during the
third quarter, 2015 from Vandenberg AFB. Fox-1A is a passenger
aboard this launch driven by the schedule of the primary payload.
When updates are available with firm dates they will be announced
via the ANS bulletins and in the AMSAT Journal.
ISS contacts unlikely until crew change
While on the subject of space, the RSGB understands that it is unlikely there
will be any contacts with the Columbus module station on the International
Space Station until after a crew change, which will probably occur in June
or July.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
http://rsgbiota.org
Christoph DL1YAF will be active from Lord Howe Island signing DL1YAF/VK9L
and is operating 30th May to 3rd June, SSB and CW on 10 - 80m.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
http://www.raotc.org.au
Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW with a reminder that tomorrow,
Monday June 1st the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia's
monthly News and Information bulletin goes to air.
This month as well as all the usual RAOTC news, we have an article
describing some recent developments in electric car technology.
The principal HF transmission will be on 20 metres on 14.150 MHz
upper side band at 0100 UTC beamed north from Melbourne for the
eastern states.
An hour later at 0200 UTC there will be a 40 metre transmission from
Perth on 7060 kHz lower sideband plus a simultaneous transmission
via all linked NewsWest VHF and UHF repeaters.
Additionally tomorrow, numerous local relays will take place. For the
details for your local area please visit the RAOTC website at
www.raotc.org.au and remember as from Tuesday you can download the
audio file from this website.
Everyone, RAOTC Members and non-members alike is invited to listen to
this interesting half hour of Old Timer news information & anecdotes
and to participate in the call backs afterwards.
Once again, the RAOTC monthly bulletin is scheduled for tomorrow Mon
June 1st.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
http://www.scouts.com.au
http://www.scout.org/jota
http://www.international.scouts.com.au
Swiss Scout centre seeks PMR radios
Kandersteg International Scout Centre is a not-for-profit campsite situated in a
small Swiss Alpine village. It gives Scouts and Guides from around the world the
chance to experience international friendship.
Now as this VK1WIA News DOES travel the world maybe a listener/Reader can
help. They are looking for any robust PMR-type hand portable radios that can be
used on a daily basis. If you can help, please contact
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
Last week we told you about the upcoming WICEN SA AGM and of the great
work they did this past year.
We mentioned SAVEM.
SAVEM may not be well known to folk outside VK so VK3PC in a report has said
"SAVEM with its voluntary nurses and veterinary surgeons, cared for kangaroos
and other native animals that had lost their habitat or were injured. It
patrolled the fire ground, took injured animals to their hospital triage
centre, and kept in touch - thanks to a hand-held radio network proved by
WICEN."
There have been other community events to keep WICEN busy. It has obtained
longer range radios, applied for commercial VHF frequencies, and built a
'Radio Go Box' ready to set-up a command post.
Good publicity for Amateur Radio and WICEN South Australia has resulted,
included being invited to mount displays for the Country Fire Service
Mawson Group and the Morphett Vale Brigade.
You may very well be forgiven to think WICEN is purely a VK3/5/7 affair as we
seldom hear of WICEN participation from other call areas.
Not so as this report from the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club and VK4VP
Gordon shows.
The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club Inc. (SCARC) and the Noosa Ultimate
Sports Festival joined forces for about the 10 year in a row.
"This was operated as a WICEN exercise and the SCARC provided their bright
yellow Emergency Communications and Operations Caravan equipped with all
forms of communications.
This enabled the Sports Festival people to operate in this van and for the
SCARC operators to communicate to the check points around the course via the
2 metre Noosa and Maleny repeaters.
A big bonus which was very well accepted by the organisers was the SCARC APRS
tracking system. The two lead motor vehicles and one pick up and one tail
vehicle were equipped with GPS /APRS systems. The data from these vehicles
were relayed via a club digital repeater to a base which then entered the map
onto the internet, showing the position of each vehicle in real time.
The Ride coordinators back in the caravan could see exactly where the front
and the tail of both the 160km and the 85 km were at any time.
This bike ride is a large event with about 900 bike riders participating on
public roads for about 6 hours.
The added safety of good communications was essential to the success of yet
another Noosa bike ride. The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club is proud to be
associated with such an important local event."
VK4 listeners will hear a comprehensive report in their QNEWS local news
following this bulletin.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SUMMITS ON THE AIR
www.sotawatch.org
www.sota.org.uk
REAST Presents SOTA.
As heard on the WIA National News Simon Pearce VK1FAAS presented his
experiences and enthusiasm for SOTA at the WIA AGM.
Now REAST in VK7 are privileged to have Simon VK1FAAS and his XYL who
are both touring around VK7 for a few weeks as a guest speaker at the Domain.
Simon is a keen SOTA activator and will probably be heard on some summits
around VK7 whilst they are here, he has agreed to give a presentation after
the broadcast TODAY (31 May 2015).
This presentation will start from 11am after this broadcast and then REAST
will have a BYO BBQ and hotplate and tea & coffee will be available in the
nice warm clubrooms up on the Queens Domain.
Yes the astute among you would have picked up that this presentation is in
May even though it is for their June Presentation!
(Tony, VK7VKT via VK7News)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - LOW DOWN
Sub 9 kHz Yahoo Group:- https://groups.yahoo.com/group/sub9khz/
VK-JA update on 630m band.
It was earlier reported how a Medium Wave signal from Australia was heard in
Japan on March 23, using the WSPR weak-signal mode.
Phillip Dwyer VK3ELV sent his 474.2 kHz signal to be received by Tetsuya
Hirose JN1MSO in Tokyo, a distance of about 8031km, with a -27 signal level
on the WSPR mode.
Now we have heard from the Japanese end.
Tetsuya Hirose JN1MSO reports being still very surprised at finding the
VK3ELV callsign in his WSPR window. The WSPRnet database had caught the
VK3 signal.
Japan got the new band in January after it was granted by the World
Radiocommunication Conference in 2012.
Tetsuya JN1MSO says his receiving system is quite simple. Antenna is 8-metre
length vertical with a variometer coil installed in a balcony of the top floor
of 6-storey apartment house on the hill top. Receiver was a Kenwood TS-850.
He advises that in Japan, there is a radius distance rule of 200-metres to
avoid interference with AM stations. With many areas densely populated with
apartments it becomes difficult, and has led to limited use of the 475 kHz
band.
Phillip VK3ELV said the signal to JA was on a greyline path.
Gear was an Icom IC706M2G, VK3XDK Transverter and an old HF amplifier modified
for 630-metres, running 130 watts. The antenna was an inverted-L, 18-metres
vertical, 80-metres horizontal and top loaded. His inland location at
Mt Bruno in northeast Victoria has an extensive ground system. Phillip VK3ELV
says getting started is a lot easier people think.
He had worked stations using Software Defined Radios and others transmitting
with signal generators and receiving on crystal sets.
A lot of groundwave work had loaded verticals and other compromised antennas,
as the secrets and techniques of this new band begin to be learned.
Up the dial abit and we hear the revamped Mildura 473 kHz beacon that sends
CW has already had a number of reception reports including one from Perth, a
distance of more than 2,400 kms.
Brian McDonald VK6LO reported that he heard the VK3FI beacon on his 160m
inverted vee antenna at RST 4 2 9 on May the 24th.
Whether you have previously heard the Mildura 473 kHz beacon, or receive
it for the first time, please send a signal report to
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
SOCIAL SCENE 2015
VK3 Home-brewers look into space
A very interesting presentation to the Homebrew Construction Group meeting
on Saturday, June the 6th is on Amateur Radio high altitude ballooning.
Julie VK3FOWL and Joe VK3YSP will talk about the design, hardware,
software and the recovery of a balloon With its homebrew 30-metre beacon
which was tracked last month as part of the Global Space Balloon Challenge.
Jim Linton VK3PC says all are welcome to attend the Amateur Radio Victoria
rooms at 2pm Saturday June 6 to hear the talk.
Meantime, balloon PS-45 launched by Andrew Nuygen VK3YT reached Chile last
Sunday, moved slowly to Argentina with its departure from that country
tracked by Julio LW2DYB, and then out to the South Atlantic Ocean.
These solar powered helium filled aluminium foil party-type Pico balloons
have a 25mW transmitter on weak signal modes using 20m and 30m for their
position, speed, altitude, temperature, and battery condition.
Its sister PS-46 also from Victoria went north of New Zealand, dipped to the
south-east then turned north-east tracked by Bob ZL1RS, before adopting an
easterly path to South America.
In April, PS-41 was the first of its type to circumnavigate the earth
coming back to Australia. It then moved south towards the Antarctica,
turned east to the southern end of South America for a second time on its
flight, before being declared lost.
June 5- 7 VK4 Central Highlands ARC & Theresa Creek Campout, Clermont.
June 6- 7 VK2 Queens Birthday 40th annual Oxley Region Field Day
June 6- 7 VK5 51st South East Radio Group Convention / Australian
Foxhunting Championship
July 1 VK4 Caboolture HamFest
July 11-12 VK3 GippsTech 2015
July 18 VK3 Gippsland gate Radio & Electronics Club HamFest @ Cranbourne
July 25 VK3 ALARA 40th Bday Lunch, Novotel Glen Waverley
Sept 12 VK4 SUNFEST Woombye
Sept 25-27 VK4 CHARC AGM Weekend Camp Fairbairn near Emerald
Oct 2-5 VK4 Cardwell Gathering, Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park
Oct 25 VK3 Ballarat Amateur Radio Group Hamvention Greyhound Track
Oct 25 VK4 Gold Coast HamFest Broadbeach
Nov VK3 QRP By the Bay details from VK3YE held 2nd Saturday
2016
Feb 28 VK3 EMDRC HamFest Great Ryrie Primary School Heathmont.
Ap-May 29-2 VK4 Clairview Gathering check Mackay ARS website
Submitting news items
A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug commercial
traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put your supporters in this text
edition "no worries."
If you would like to submit news items for inclusion in the
VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to
and don't JUST send url's links but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.
To submit audio read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
Remember the sooner you submit material the more the likelihood of it being
broadcast in the very next edition of WIA National News. Each item will only
be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please submit different
slants to keep your event 'fresh 'and always if the news room is to read your
item write in the 3rd person.
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WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
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Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
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Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize their time
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Who and where are they? http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
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 are broadcast
in the spirit in which they were submitted."
Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit to
WIANews wouldn't go astray...
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and interested listeners, to get your free copy send a blank email to:-
Put the word subscribe in the title or subject field
How do I join this National News List? (subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.)
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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.
Send mail to the list unsubscribe address
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Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably
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National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
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