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Sept 27 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING SEP 27 2015.
IN OUR 20TH YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
WIA President Phil Wait joins us "it never rains....but.: -
WIA members not yet registered for MEMNET. -
WIA and ACMA Reciprocal licence review. -
WIA serves and protects. -
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA 2015 AND FOR WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 27
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Australian balloon floating in the northern hemisphere
The amazing flight by a foil party-type helium filled pico balloon launched at
San Jose California by Andy Nguyen VK3YT continues, with its progress on the
second week still being tracked.
Now on a work assignment he has become the first to launch such balloons in
both the southern and northern hemispheres.
>From Melbourne, Andy VK3YT earlier circled the earth, and followed this
achievement with another that did two circumnavigations of the southern
hemisphere.
On Saturday September 12, balloon PS-54 went up from San Jose to travel east
across seven US states before reaching Baton Rouge Louisiana, and passing over
alligator swamps. With its solar powered APRS payload feeding a 25 mW
transmitter, it then travelled across the Gulf of Mexico, traversed Mexico and
has looped around the Northern Pacific.
Tracking of the high altitude flight included Ortiz XE2EOS of Tijuana Mexico.
PS-54 travelling at a speed of 70 km has clocked up a distance of more than
7,000 kilometres.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
To commemorate ANZAC 100, a series of articles appear in the WIA journal
Amateur Radio magazine.
In a summary of the wealth of material already published, the WIA Historian
Peter Wolfenden VK3RV will include how Amateur Radio in Australia was returned
after WWII.
The article, still being researched, has already found that when the war
ended, many radio amateurs were keen to catch up with their radio mates and
get back on the air.
But there were now many other returned servicemen who, following their wartime
exposure to radio communications, also took up Amateur Radio as a hobby.
The return came when the Post Master General's Department began re-issuing
licences from December 1945.
Initially operation was restricted to 28-29MHz, 50-54MHz, 166-170MHz and
1345-1425MHz.
Partial release of the 40m and 20m bands was made in July 1946, when
7150-7200KHz and 14100-14300KHz were open to Australian radio amateurs.
The first post-WWII call book in July 1946, listed some 1590 radio amateurs,
or more correctly, Experimental Wireless Station licences.
Normalisation of Amateur Radio took place in many countries at about that
time, and international contacts were being made on air.
By the December 1948 issue of the PMG's call book, licences were then known
as Amateur Wireless Station Licences, and had grown to over 2640 - a 66%
increase!
Our ZL friends already have on their calendar "H' night which we mentioned
here last week will mark the return of Ham Radio to New Zealand after WW2
(Felix will have more on that in operational news this week.)
Also commemorating ANZAC 100 a series of articles in Amateur Radio magazine
by Lloyd Butler VK5BR has been written on our pioneers, and this is a
summary of another such article.
Raymond Kyrie Deane (OAM) VK5RK began as a teenager learning about radio
theory building basic sets.
He was on air in 1936 as VK5RK aged 19, and made 1,447 contacts in three
years before WWII began in September 1939.
Already a member of the RAAF Reserve, he was called up to train as a wireless
operator at Point Cook, Victoria.
Assigned to Darwin he monitored an AR7 receiver with the first of many enemy
raids.
Ray was later taken to Pearce in Western Australia where he was involved
in the search for HMAS Sydney.
The battle of HMAS Sydney and the German Raider, Kormoran, lasted five days.
While HMAS Sydney went down with all crew, many Germans survived. Both ships
we're not found until 67 years later.
In 1945 Ray was in charge of RAAF communications on Labuan Island, Borneo.
As a Sergeant he was responsible for all communications from the Radar
Stations.
After discharge from duty in November 1945, he was a country traveller for
a firm that sold clothing and other merchandise.
Ray as a radio amateur enjoyed CW, and was regularly involved with the Radio
Old Timers Club. He was also heavily involved with the RSL, and the RAAF
Signals and Radar Association. In 2009 he was given the Order of Australia
Medal.
Ray Deane became a silent key in 2000 aged 93, leaving a legacy of a radio
amateur that served his country with war service, and helped so many since
then.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WIA BOARD TALK
President Phil Wait VK2ASD
V President Fred Swainston VK3DAC
Secretary David Williams VK3RU
Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN... THE PRESIDENT
It never rains but it pours
In this month's AR Magazine I wrote a Presidents Comment titled "It never
rains but it pours."
I thought I'd also give a summary on this broadcast about what the WIA has
been doing over the last month. Certainly, by any standard, a lot has happened.
Firstly, the Australian Government announced the implementation of the
Spectrum Review recommendations. The current apparatus, class and spectrum
licensing regimes will be replaced with a new, single licence type based on
a set of key parameters, such as frequencies, geographical details, rights to
renewal, terms for variation or revocation, together with price and payment
methods.
Secondly, the ACMA transitioned from its old RADCOM licensing platform to the
new SPECTRA system developed under Project Helm (Holistic Engineering and
Licence Management). There are a number of changes that will affect both new
and existing licensees and just recently there have been a couple of teething
problems which are being worked through.
Thirdly, following the review of the WIA's office, it was determined that that
the existing office structure did not meet our current and future needs. A
decision was made to remove the position of Office Manager and replace it with
an Executive Officer position with a much more active responsibility for the
development and implementation of strategies designed to improve member
services, and increase membership and support the Board. As a result,
Mal Brooks has left the WIA, and Fred Swainston VK3DAC is acting in the
Executive Officer position for a limited time. The WIA Board thanks Mal Brooks
for his past service and we wish him well for the future.
Fred has hit the ground running, and is currently working his way through our
business, e-Commerce, website and membership database (MEMNET) systems, and
processes and procedures, with a lot of help from the crew of volunteers in
Melbourne. That may not sound like much, but the exercise has revealed a
significant amount of duplication and inefficiency, which will ultimately lead
to savings in staff time and increase the profitability in areas like the
bookshop.
Most importantly, if all the recommendations in the Government's Spectrum
Review are adopted, the WIA will need to be ready to play a much greater role
in the administration of amateur radio in Australia in the not too-distant
future.
Change is always difficult, and there will be some speed-bumps along the way.
The costs of the office restructure, coupled with our international activities
including the IARU Region 3 meeting this year in Bali, and the WRC 15 in
Geneva, both vitally important for amateur radio in Australia, and 2015 is a
very expensive year.
One thing is for sure, we need everyone to support the WIA. If you're already
a member, thanks; buy a book or three. If you're not a member of the National
WIA, please do consider joining - it's only through membership of the National
organisation that you get to have a say in the future of amateur radio in
Australia.
Hopefully, pretty soon things will have settled down somewhat and I can
concentrate on other things, like radio!
Phil Wait, VK2ASD
President, WIA
As a WIA member are you registered for MEMNET?
At last check only 50 per cent of WIA members had taken advantage of the
benefits offered by the WIA's on-line membership system called MEMNET.
MEMNET offers significant savings to the WIA particularly in the areas of
postage and membership administration time.
It's easy and secure to use MEMNET, you can choose to pay your membership
online, update your personal contact details such as address, phone number,
and keep your email address up to date.
Take a moment today to log into MEMNET and check that the details we have on
file for you are correct.
You can access MEMNET from the 'For Members' menu on the WIA website.
Norfolk Island is the WIA AGM venue
The Wireless Institute of Australia annual weekend in May includes an informal
member's gathering, followed by the annual general meeting, an open forum, and
the traditional dinner with a guest speaker.
There will be a partner's tour available and Norfolk Island tourist
attractions to be enjoyed.
Both VK100ANZAC and VI9ANZAC callsigns will be used.
Summit On The Air sites are to be visited. Some may also be sought-after DX
from VK9.
The WIA Board has chosen suitable flights, accommodation and venues. The
weekend of May 27, 28, & 29 events are detailed, along with a booking form,
on the WIA website.
An invitation is due to be extended to the New Zealand Association of
Radio Transmitters.
The WIA and NZART have for many years had an interchange of ideas between the
two IARU Member Societies, with an observer at an AGM every two years.
It's NZART's turn to be at the WIA AGM on Norfolk Island.
WIA logo download to members
Following continued interest in use of the WIA logo on QSL cards, it's now
conditionally available members via the WIA website.
The copyright corporate logo of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) in
any form of printed, electronic or online medium requires the written
permission of the WIA board.
However the WIA grants pre-approval for individual radio amateurs who are
WIA members, and want to show their support through QSL cards only, under the
following conditions:
Only to be used on the QSL card of a financial WIA member.
Obtained from the WIA website link, using the member number or callsign and
password
Be only used as provided and shall not be modified, recoloured, manipulated,
distorted or altered in any way (a reference diagram is provided).
Other uses of the WIA logo by individuals, clubs or commercial organisations
may be possible. BUT written WIA permission is required in each case.
All applications to use it should be sent to the WIA with full details of the
proposed usage and format of the material being produced.
The WIA reserves the right to approve artwork containing the WIA logo.
The download is at http://www.wia.org.au/members/qsl/wia_logo/
Reciprocal licence review
The WIA and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) are aware
of some discussion about the US Technician amateur qualification, and its
equivalent Australian licence qualification.
The WIA requested earlier that the WIA Training Organisation conduct an
assessment of the US Technician qualification, and the appropriate level of
the comparable Australian qualification.
The assessment concluded that the US Technical Class is not at a standard, or
depth of knowledge, required at the Australian Advanced Licence level, but is
approximately equivalent to the Australian Foundation Licence.
These conclusions and suggested amendments to clearly clarify the reciprocal
licence anomaly, have been discussed with ACMA staff.
The ACMA has acknowledged the WIA's position and will consider it further.
ACMA staff have also advised that any changes to the legal instruments
involved would require consultation with the Amateur Radio community, and this
could take some time.
ACMA data feed fault halts callsign lists
The Available Callsign List facility on the WIA website relies on an automated
data feed from the ACMA database.
However, due to teething problems with the ACMA's new SPECTRA system, the
Available Callsign facility has had to be temporarily suspended.
The ACMA has acknowledged it has been experiencing some problems, and has
advised that its database team is working as quickly as possible resolve the
issues, allowing the return of the Available Callsign Lists on the WIA website.
The ACMA was not able to advise how long this would take.
The WIA serves and protects
Want to know what the WIA is doing so Amateur Radio can be encouraged, and its
members are engaged?
Wish to be informed on the latest developments that may affect you?
Then regularly visit the material on its website, read the WIA journal Amateur
Radio magazine, and listen to this weekly VK1WIA broadcast.
The WIA website, which includes the text and audio editions of the broadcast,
is at www.wia.org.au
and remember:
the search box is your friend.
DISCUSSION POINT
What use is an F-call?
Having a Foundation License, the basic amateur licence in a three tiered
system that is in use in Australia, means that you have access to low power
only.
10 Watts PEP is the limit today.
I've said in the past that if you operate an advanced call as a QRP station,
that is, SSB 5 Watts or less, and you make a contact, you're showered with
accolade. This illustrates that there is a disconnect between an F-call who
legally needs to use QRP and an advanced call who chooses to. At the time I
suggested that as an F-call, you look at the QRP community who will be sharing
your experience of low power, because they want to, even if you're required to.
There are other activities that you can participate in as an F-call, using
your low power station. SOTA, or Summits On The Air is an Amateur Radio
activity where some stations are activated on the top of summits, that is, an
energetic individual climbs up a mountain with radio gear, erects their
antenna, switches on their station and starts making contacts.
You as an F-call can be the climber, or you can be a home-station, making
contacts with such activated summits. There is a whole community around this
activity and it's not limited to summits either. You'll find groups who are
activating national parks with the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks award,
islands on the air, Rapidly Deployed Amateur Radio, and many others.
You can be the ham in the middle, making contacts, or you can be the ham at
home chasing contacts.
Since many of these activities are limited by the amount of gear you can
carry, they're often QRP stations, making contacts and having fun.
So, look around you, there are QRP stations everywhere. They don't make much
noise it's the thrill of the hunt that makes the catch all the more rewarding.
Get on air, QRP or not.
I'm Onno VK6FLAB
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
WRC NEWS
An European Common Proposal (ECP) for an allocation of 100 kHz at 5350-5450 kHz
has been accepted. This was a hard fought success with 7 abstentions and 5
against ((Azerbaijan, Germany, Romania, Russian Federation and France).
It is now up to the African block to support the agenda item at WRC which
starts in Geneva, Switzerland on 2 November.
The SARL news also reports the meeting also agreed to table two proposals for
WRC19 :
Global harmonisation at 1.8 MHz and
Global harmonisation at 50-54 MHz
SOUTH AFRICAN HALL OF FAME
The South African Radio League wants to broadcast the names of some
notable amateurs to the world and has created the SARL Hall of Fame to
make that happen. The hall of fame's purpose, according to the SARL
website is to QUOTE "recognize lasting contributions to the development
of amateur radio and to preserve its history in South Africa."
>From now through the end of February 2016, the league is accepting
nominations in the form of essays of between 200 and 500 words.
The essays should describe how the nominee has contributed to the growth and
strength of amateur radio at large. The nominee should have a proven
record of such contributions for at least five years, with the potential
benefit to last far longer. Photographs may accompany the essay as
further documentation.
There will be 10 inductees in 2016, and in later years, a maximum of two
inductees - one living and one Silent Key.
For additional details visit the league website, http://www.sarl.org.za/
RSGB takes over exam management
The Radio Society of Great Britain has announced it is taking over management
of the amateur radio examinations. In a move approved by Ofcom, the
responsibility for overall management is being transferred from the Radio
Communications Foundation (RCF) to the RSGB.
Amateur Radio Society and CB
Spain's national amateur radio society, the URE, has created a 27 MHz CB
portal on its website. The URE say they have created this site as a reference
to inform those interested in the world of 27 MHz Citizen Band.
They hope to provide interesting information about CB in Spain and if possible
in other countries.
They give an email address for enquiries of:
Read the URE CB page in Google English
http://tinyurl.com/URE-CB
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
Rajesh, VU2EXP, is a proud father in India.
He and his 15-year-old daughter, Sakshi, VU3EXP, were recently honoured by
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station for having received
Slow Scan TV images sent from cosmonauts via amateur radio this past July.
The transmissions were sent to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the
Apollo-Soyuz mission, the first space partnership between the United States
and what was then the Soviet Union.
The father and daughter team received a special, limited edition diploma in
recognition of their effort.
As the Amateur Radio Newsline added to this story, "it made for a good reason
to feel pride in being a ham, as well as the father of a ham."
ROSWELL SPEAKS AND RECORDS CONTACT WITH OUTER SPACE
New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM, a direct (non Telebridge) via
N5MMI, NA1SS and astronaut was Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS contact was successful
Wednesday 16th
Located in Roswell, New Mexico, the New Mexico Military Institute is known as
"The West Point of the West."
Roswell is located in the southeast New Mexico and is also well known for the
"Roswell Incident", the alleged crash landing of a UFO in 1947.
Between 1930 and 1941 Roswell was the home of Robert Goddard, considered the
father of the liquid-fuelled rocket. Goddard's research and rocket flight
testing in Roswell paved the way for our current space program.
CREW BACK HOME ON EARTH
Now here's a real example of two hams being safely grounded: The two
radio amateurs and a third crew member from the International Space
Station have arrived home on Earth again. European Space Agency (ESA)
astronaut Andreas Mogensen, KG5GCZ, Denmark's first astronaut, and
Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, the Soyuz commander, are back
on terra firma along with Aidyn Aimbetov, Kazakhstan's first cosmonaut.
"Weird and Wonderful, " last week's item on the "Blinking Chess Cheat"
who used Morse to win came just before THIS GOOD news story on CW.
A Belarus radio amateur has shown the world the right and proper use of CW.
Competing in the 12th International Amateur Radio Union World Championship
in Macedonia in early September, he set a new world record for code by
receiving mixed text at a speed of 250 !!
In this case, the cameras here were very visible and very focused on the
proud ham's triumphant smile after his monumental achievement.
As for violating anything, well, perhaps the only sanction he might have faced,
in this case, was a speeding ticket.
OPERATIONAL NEWS 2015
Oceania DX contest Voice First full weekend in October
Oceania DX contest Continuous Wave Second full weekend in October.
WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day the weekend of 14th and 15th November.
2016
Harry Angel 80 mtr sprint (WIA) provisional date Saturday 7th May.
10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 6 - 7
The world listening for Oceania
Held every October are the Oceania DX Contests - first there's the Phone
Contest, and on the following weekend CW.
They are co-sponsored by the Wireless Institute of Australia and the
New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters - and managed by a committee
of VK and ZL contesters.
It has been around since the mid-1930s, was previously called as the
VK/ZL Contest, and the VK/ZL/O Contest.
At one stage, reflecting then on poor participation, the VK/ZL/O was to end.
That proposal was discussed, put the vote, and the WIA soundly rejected its
demise. After further promotion, it was renamed 15 years ago to increase
participation and focus on the entire Oceania Region.
One contester describes the Oceania DX Contest as a time when the whole world
points their beam antenna and listens to Oceania.
The Phone Contest starts on Saturday October 3, and the CW Contest is Saturday
October 10, with all logs due by October 31.
As always, please study the rules and requirements, available on the
WIA website.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX, BEACON REPEATER AND NET ADVICE
ZL 'H Night' 50 year celebration
The return of Amateur Radio in New Zealand after WWII is to be celebrated in
December by special event station ZL6H.
This Jason and Graham reported on last week here in VK1WIA National News.
Well the seminal publication 'Ham Shacks, Brass Pounders & Rag Chewers',
reports that 'H Night' was Saturday December 8, 1945, at 7.30pm New Zealand
time.
It records the dubbing of the name 'H Night' by the then NZART Secretary
Doug Gorman, and followed widespread anticipation of the return of Amateur
Radio after World War Two.
Rob Carter ZL2IW, given ZL6H by the NZART, believes that the 50 year milestone
should be marked with on air activity 7.30pm to 10pm.
Many years ago he had a chat with a local OM calling on 80 metres, who
explained that H Night was important, and made a contact to remember the
return of Amateur Radio privileges. At the time Rob ZL2IW worked for the
New Zealand Post Office, making that contact significant to the OM, who was on
air for the first H Night.
A summary of 'Ham Shacks, Brass Pounders & Rag Chewers' can be found via
a URL in the text edition of this broadcast:
http://www.nzart.org.nz/assets/pdf/2...s-pounders.pdf
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
A group of radio amateurs from the Western Cape and Northern Cape in South
Africa have are setting-up their radio equipment in the Gamka Valley, also
known as "The Hel" and DX will be sought.
A special station with call sign ZS 9HEL will be on the air from Thursday
evening 24 September till Sunday morning 27 September local ZS time.
160, 80, 40, 20 (1890 kHz, 3740 kHz, 7150 kHz and 14180 kHz.)
If possible 10125kHz on 30m and 5290 on 60m will also be monitored.
QSL will be via the Bureau but preferably via SA-QSL and e-QSL should be used.
DX will be worked.
Please make contact with the team in the Gamka Valley.
For more information visit the web site diehel.com
Vietnam Veteran Mal VK6LC, will air the callsign XV 2 VTC in Vung Tau City,
Vietnam from 24th to 30th September.
Then from 16th to 23rd October Mal will operate as 3 W 2 HCM in Ho Chi Minh City.
His preference is for CW with some SSB.
Mal has also forwarded (Via our News Editor VK4BB) a request and thoughts to
the WIA on honouring the 50 year celebrations of the Vietnam Vets.
Z 21 MG
Three OK hams (David, OK6DJ, Petr, OK1FCJ/OL8R and Pavel, OK1FPS) are active
from Zimbabwe to 30 September as Z 21 MG.
They will operate on 160 to 10m on CW, SSB and digital modes including RTTY.
(RTTY in the CQ WW RTTY Contest.)
PJ 2
Gerben, PG5M will be active as PJ2/PG5M from Curacao Island, IOTA SA-099,
until 26 September, operating HF CW. QSL via home call.
HH 2 AA
Radio amateurs from Radio Club D'Haiti will be active from Haiti as HH 2 AA
until 27 September. They will operate on HF bands. QSL via NR 6 M.
AWARDS
Victorian National Parks gets a boost
Just announced is that Amateur Radio Victoria VK3WI will join the Keith Roget
Memorial National Parks Award activity period in November - only 8 weeks away.
The Brisbane Ranges National Park will see Terry VK3UP set up the control
station VK3WI, on Saturday November 14 and Sunday November 15.
This not only ensures Hunters are able to log the Brisbane Ranges, but can
keep up to date on other activations and general information.
The VK3WI announcement takes to 23 the number of Victorian National Parks
which have so far registered - several others are seriously thinking about it.
As an extra incentive, the 5th annual activity period will have a free
participation certificate for those register and log 5 national parks.
The Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award activity period is Friday 13th
until Monday 16th November and as Onno VK6FLAB says "This is a great
opportunity for FCALLS."
All inquiries to the Award Manager Tony VK3VTH, via email
(Sourced to Jim Linton VK3PC)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
FISTS Club - East Asia www.feacw.net
FISTS Club - Australasia www.fistsdownunder.org
FISTS Club - UK & Europe www.fists.co.uk
FISTS Club - Americas www.fists.org
Morse code gear collection on display
Well-preserved and functioning equipment is in a collection by Mike "Banjo"
Patterson VK4MIK that will go on show in Queensland.
Known as "Mike's Mania Morse Display" it has exquisitely restored Morse keys
and other heritage radio gear.
See it at the Cardwell Telegraph Museum - The Bush Telegraph - on Saturday
October 3.
Cardwell is a small tropical coastal town in north-east Queensland.
The URL with more information is in the text edition of this broadcast.
www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/museums
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
After CW "back in the day" RTTY was the KING of the digital modes
Now keeping the RTTY dream alive, this weekend sees the CQ WW RTTY DX Contest
(September 26-27)
Those interested note there is no 160 meter operation
The goal is for amateurs around the world to contact as many other amateurs
in as many CQ zones, countries, and W/VE QTHs as possible on five bands only:
3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz
The RTTY exchange is RST report plus CQ zone number of the station location.
Stations in the continental USA and Canada also send QTH.
If you browse across to the web site of "the DX Zone" you can get links
to a selection of popular free to use RTTY programs, with many more links
to other RTTY software.
http://www.dxzone.com/cq-ww-rtty-dx-contest-2015/
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
SERPENS CubeSat Deployed from ISS
On September 17, the Brazilian SERPENS CubeSat carrying an amateur radio
payload, call sign PY 0 ESA, was deployed from the International Space Station.
SERPENS is a 3U CubeSat which was developed by students at the University of
Brasilia and focuses on meteorological data collection.
downlink frequencies:
145.980 MHz using GFSK modulation at 9600 bps and AX.25 protocol transmitting
two different beacons. The first occurs every 10 seconds with the message
"SERPENS A".
The second beacon is transmitted every 30 seconds and contains the main
housekeeping data of the satellite.
In addition to the beacons, a simple Store and Forward experiment has been
implemented.
For more information visit
http://www.humsat.org
(Sourced to AMSAT NA)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET --- THE HAMS DOMAIN
TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA
www.HamRadioNation.com
websdr.org
MESH
Ham Radio Team Supports Road Race Using High-Speed Mesh Network
Radio Amateurs in Utah have again made use of a broadband ham radio mesh
network to support a public event. Charles Gray, KE6QZU, headed a group of
ham radio volunteers that set up a high-speed broadband ham net mesh
network in the rugged Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah to provide
communication along the final 30 miles of the of the September 11-12 Wasatch
100 Mile Mountain Endurance Race.
Other hams covered the first 70 miles of the race using more conventional
technology, including FM voice and packet.
For the hams, the terrain added a challenge to setting up the network; at some
points they had to manoeuvre over huge boulders, some the size of cars.
Last March, some of the same hams successfully used a broadband
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network to help coordinate the Boy Scouts of America's
"Scouting for Food" project.
(ARRL)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ILLW
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
http://rsgbiota.org
OC-229.
VK 5 MAV, will be active as VK5MAV/8 from Croker Island between November 1-6.
Activity will be on 40-10 meters using mostly CW and Vertical Dipole Arrays
on each of the HF bands.
QSL via his home callsign, VK5MAV direct or by the Bureau.
(SouthGate)
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
Wild fire in California - earthquake hits Chile
The emergency communications provided by radio amateurs in the Americas
recently has helped authorities in their responses to natural disasters.
The firefighters in California USA battling wild fires have been joined by
those from Australia and New Zealand. The wildfire threat remains. The Amateur
Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
trained members have worked alongside aid groups in California, to provide
vital links to shelters housing evacuated residents.
In another disaster, an 8.3-magnitude earthquake hit Chile in South America on
Wednesday September 16.
Vital information was gathered by radio amateurs from the National Office of
Emergency. At least 12 people died, colossal surges of water swept through
some areas, and there was severe damage mainly in coastal cities of
north-central Chile.
Marisa Tobella Pinto CE2MT, Director of Emergency Communications for the Radio
Club de Chile, said the most intense activity by radio amateurs was during the
declared Tsunami alert stage, which saw the evacuation of around a million
people.
Chile, in a zone of seismic activity, is prepared with community disaster
drills, a rigid building code - and of course trained and prepared radio
amateurs to provide emergency communications.
The Radio Club de Chile has recently also been involved in a volcanic eruption,
earthquakes and a mine disaster.
(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee)
SOCIAL SCENE 2015
Central Highlands ARC AGM Weekend - Venue Change
The famous and popular Central Highlands Amateur Radio Club AGM weekend is at
Lake Maraboon Holiday Village, approx. 25km south of Emerald, from 4pm Friday
25th to 10am Sunday 27th September 2015. That is this weekend.
The venue change is due to the management at Camp Fairbairn double booking
another group.
If you are an 'outa-towner' and are "lost", contact CHARC Secretary Helen
Contact Helen and Steve either via email or by phone/sms
0412 038 033
Oct 2-5 VK4 Cardwell Gathering, Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park
Oct 22-25 VK4 NOEL'S NUTTY CAMPERS POONA PALMS CARAVAN PK 0413958216 (vk4nl)
Oct 25 VK3 Ballarat Amateur Radio Group Hamvention Greyhound Track
Nov 14 VK4 Gold Coast HamFest Broadbeach (vk4py)
Nov 14 VK3 QRP By the Bay details from VK3YE held 2nd Saturday
2016
Jan 22-26 VK4 TARC Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp
Girl Guides Campsite, Bluewater (vk4zz)
Feb 13 VK3 MERC HamFest 10am at Werribee Masonic Centre
Feb 28 VK2 Central Coast Field Day (vk2ztm)
Feb 28 VK3 EMDRC HamFest Great Ryrie Primary School Heathmont.
Ap-May 29- 2 VK4 Clairview Gathering check Mackay ARS website. (theTARCinc)
June 11-13 VK5 VK Foxhunting Championship & SERG convention Mt Gambier (VK5HCF)
July 19 VK3 GippsTech 2016 Churchill )
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item write in the 3rd person.
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National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
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