WIANEWS for week commencing JUNE 17 2007
 

This is WIANEWS for week commencing JUNE 17 2007




Mal VK4MAL is currently working with the Red Cross Counter-Disaster
division in the flooded areas of the New South Wales Central Coast
and Hunter Region.

Mal VK4MAL is Counter-Disaster Co-ordinator for Red Cross in
North Queensland and he and hundreds of other volunteers were
shipped in from across VK to provide some help for flood weary local
volunteers and residents of the disaster zone.

VK2ATZ/portable the Westlakes AR Club were in the thick of things,
but were still able, somehow, to score a vantage point to see the
container ship which was washed ashore at Nobby's Beach on the Friday
morning.

Saturday Westlakes Amateur Radio Club was open....But not for usual business.
It was open to the few that braved the weather and answered the calls for
help to clean up the debris from the horrible weather suffered the previous
night.

Some helping included VK2YPW, VK2AFZ, VK2ZM and Keith VK2PKT, Paul VK2BPL,
and Richard VK2FRKO also John VK2FJKG

Then when the Hunter River in Maitland looked like breaking its banks on
Sunday, the Volunteer Rescue Association wasted no time in securing the
specialist communications skills of WICEN (NSW).

Eight operators from the Hunter Region were deployed at Rutherford, and
they were tasked with passing intelligence reports to the services
involved, along with monitoring and reporting the river levels at 15
minute intervals. This involved three teams, two at the gauges and one at
the control centre; all were alert and busy throughout the night and into
the next morning.

As well as this, teams were on stand-by in both the Sydney North and
Central Coast Regions, but as the floods abated they were not required; it
is worth noting that although members in the Central Coast Region also
suffered from the storm, some were still able to respond.

Other VRA squads such as CREST and Cave Rescue were also involved.

The President of the Volunteer Rescue Association, Ray Gill ESM[*],
thanked WICEN for their prompt response.

(sourced to TARC Westlakes and Dave Horsfall VK2KFU WICEN (NSW))
[*]

Note: "ESM" is not a callsign, but refers to "Emergency Service Medal".


As shown in this recent Hunter Emergency, we amateur radio operators are
community minded and are often keen to benefit our community and others
with our equipment and skills. The development of the Wireless Institute of
Australia National Network of Emergency Communications is a case in point.

Here is the Vice President of the WIA, Ewan McLeod VK4ERM.

The establishment of the Wireless Institute of Australia National Network
of Emergency Communications or WIANNEC is progressing. This is the result
of the IARU requirement to be able to provide initial emergency
HF communications when required until government and other communications
assets are operational and able to take over.

WIANNEC does not usurp the established role and capabilities of WICEN.
However, it is anticipated there are WICEN operators and stations capable
of satisfying the needs of WIANNEC as are well established stations and
contest stations.

What can you do to assist in the planning, establishment and operation of
this network in the unfortunate situation where our HF communications
capability is required? Well, you must consider these five primary
questions:

One. Are you in regular contact with Amateur Radio Stations in the
Australasian region that is, is your station's capability proven?

Two. Are you able to support 24 hour operations with our neighbouring
countries and nations?

Three. Is there a pool of experienced operators you can call on at short
notice to assist in maintaining the 24 hour operation of your
station?

Four. Do you have broadband and permanently on internet access?

Five. Are you prepared and able to make your station available for
emergency communications in our region?

If you can answer in the affirmative for those five questions then I would
appreciate hearing from you. My email address is

This is Ewan VK4ERM looking forward to your communication.




WIA PRESIDENT MICHAEL OWEN VK3KI

I would like to announce some changes that will take effect from 1 July.

From 1 July 2007 the cost of Family Membership will drop from $40 to $30
per year.

A Family Member does not receive Amateur Radio and is a second or further
person living at the same address as a Member or Concession Member
receiving Amateur Radio.

The WIA Board hopes that this will encourage more people living at the same
address to all become members of the WIA, particularly in this year of high
expense associated with the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference next
November in Geneva.

Also from 1 July 2007 the WIA will no longer offer membership without the
magazine, Amateur Radio. Existing Non-AR memberships will continue.

The Board believes that while the WIA communicates in a number of ways,
including broadcasts and the WIA website, the magazine is the only way that
the WIA can directly communicate with all members who receive it, and so
the non-AR membership is no longer appropriate.

The WIA has been forced to increase the cost of assessments.

Currently all assessment packs are $25. From 1 July 2007 the cost of packs
used on or after that date will increase to $35 per pack, irrespective of
when the pack was produced.

The assessment packs are for the Foundation qualification (which includes
theory, regulations and a practical assessment), the Standard and Advanced
Regulations and the Standard Theory and Advanced Theory. Each will cost
$35, payable when the pack is used.

The only exception will be a practical assessment taken alone which will
remain at $25.

A detailed cost review has revealed that the cost of producing and
processing each pack is more than the amount we have been charging, and so
other WIA income has been subsidising assessments.

Two reminders:

Please don't forget that the last date for nominations to be received for
the Advisory Committees is 22nd June.

Currently we are reviewing the WIA's 'Assessment Instructions'.

That is, how we conduct the whole assessment process.

We have asked each Assessor to identify (with particularity) each part of
the Instructions (including the forms) that have caused any difficulty or
uncertainty or could be either clarified or simplified, and to make a
precise suggestion as to change.

We remind the Assessors to respond and invite any one else who is
interested to send your suggestions by post to Dianne Aston,
WIA Examinations Officer, PO Box 2175, Caulfield Junction, VIC, 3161, or by
email to , marking your email Assessment
Instructions Revision.

We have asked that all suggestions be at the office no later than tomorrow,
18 June 2007.




THE WIA NATIONAL QSL COLLECTION

The WIA QSL card collection contains cards donated by radio amateurs and
Short-Wave Listeners from both Australia and overseas, the aim of which is
to save 'something for the future'. We are all aware of the great interest
shown in such items as vintage cars, antique furniture and heritage
buildings. QSL cards also have an archival value in that old QSLs,
through their description of radio equipment and comments made by our radio
'old timers', can depict the fascinating world of amateur radio in its
early days.

Members of the WIA have reason to be proud of their WIA QSL Collection, for
it contains some of the most valuable archival material in the world. The
QSL of Reinhartz 1XAM of the USA De Loy of France are here. It was the
amateur radio transmission between these two experimenters in November 1923
that bridged the Atlantic for the first time. The QSLs of Frank Bell Z4AA
and Cecil Goyder G2SZ are here. It was these experimenters who made the
first two-way amateur radio contact between New Zealand and England in 1924.

The Collection has also an excellent range of post war QSLs such as rare
DX, IOTA, DOK, Prefix and USA County QSLs, in addition to a thematic
collection and a pictorial collection containing some of the world's most
attractively designed QSLs.

The WIA appeals to all amateur radio operators and executors of
'silent key' estates to donate QSLs to the Collection. Such donations are
acknowledged in the WIA's Amateur Radio magazine, and postage is fully
refunded.

Both radio clubs and individuals have the opportunity of purchasing at cost
price a DVD portraying a wide range of both pre-war and post-war QSLs.
These have proved very popular at Club evenings.

Would you care to help by becoming one of our QSL contributors or a QSL
Curator Enquiries should be directed to:

Ken Matchett VK3TL Hon. Curator
Tel: (03 9728 5350
Email:


Thanks Robert, now we have received a letter from Ken, in the letter Ken
tells us the he has undergone major surgery and undergoes a period of
Radio and Chemo therapy. Ken is urgently appealing to all radio Amateurs
particularly those in VK3 to consider become involved in the QSL collection
and to help maintain what is probably one of the most valuable QSL
collections in the world.

Ken says that even a few hours a week would be helpful. Again the email
address to contact Ken is




Following the outstanding success of the Parkes AGM weekend in May and
continuing requests for copies of the reports presented at the open forum,
WIA Director Robert Broomhead has announced that copies of the bound
Open Forum Report Booklet would be available to members and affiliated
clubs for $10 per copy including Postage..

This booklet of some 66 pages with glossy front cover pictorial of the
'Dish" will give members who were not at Parkes a good idea of the range
of activities that are encompassed within the work of the Wireless Institute
on behalf of members and all amateurs", said Robert, "It gives a good
overview of the when, where and why of current WIA act ivies"



This text edition is only authorised for re-publication in full on
www.wia.org.au on the ax25 ww packet radio bulletin board system and
in the early email editions sent from the vk1wia server at national office.
Any subsequent copying on newsgroups is a blatant pirated activity.



Appointment of Karl Hennig VK6XW as Intruder Watch Coordinator

Karl Hennig VK6 XW has been appointed by the WIA Board to replace
Glenn Dunstan VK4DU who retired at the recent WIA AGM.

The WIA has accepted responsibility as a central clearing house for
reports on intrusions from non amateur activities. The WIA Intruder
Watch Service is an agreed mechanism with the Australian
Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The Service also links to
the international intruder watch for amateur radio, specifically by
linkages to the International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 covering
our part of the world..

Full details of the WIA Intruder Watch system are available here on
the WIA Web site.

The success of the Service in protecting the access of Australian
amateurs to the HF depends heavily on the support of active amateurs
willing to go that extra mile and submit formal reports about
interference






Michael Owen VK3KI, President of the WIA and Phil Wait VK2DKN made
special presentations at the NZART AGM June 2.

Michael spoke to the changes in the WIA since his visit two years ago at
the New Plymouth Conference in 2005, whilst Phil spoke to Broadband over
Power Line issue with a well presented and received presentation.




AROUND VK in 80 Seconds.
(4vks)

VK2

School radio club calling CQ IRLP

The Bishop Druit College Radio Club at Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast
of New South Wales is looking VK, ZL or Asia-Pacific contacts on IRLP.

The students who have been experimenting with building simple FM radio
receivers are also keen to have some on air operating experiences.

IRLP contacts with interested parties or similar school electronic/radio
groups would be great - but the club only has limited time during the local
lunchtime period.

The station equipment has been provided by Peter McAdam VK2EVB - and the
club is QRV Fridays 0315 - 0345 UTC, on the IRLP node 6625 which is via its
local repeater VK2RDO.
(VK3PC)




VK4

FNNQARG was great !

The weather was beautiful during the day but a bit brisk at night,
65 hams and support crews attended, many experiments with canvas
palaces and rapid deployment field poles and towers were undertaken
and a heap of fun was had.

Oh, and some were lucky enough to purchase new transceivers and
antennae and play with them in a tropical paradise PLUS sample
some gastronomic resort delights.

This sums up the 2007 Far North and North Queensland Amateur Radio Get
Together held over the Queens Birthday long weekend in June.




VK5

SERG have had a busy time, not only another successful Mt Gambier weekend,
but would seem the hub of their extensive repeater network (VK5RNC) at
Naracoorte received what seems to have been a direct lightning strike.

Took it all out; from antennae right through to UHF linking gear, meaning
a complete rebuild.

Murphy lurking just before their convention again!!!




VK6

HAMFEST 2007 happens in Ashfield Sunday August 5 at 9am.

Northern Corridor Radio Group will even have interstate traders on the day
with impressive specials!

Along with the usual features one experiences at hamfests, this "biggie" in
Perth will feature 109 Signals Squadron and the Tesla Society.

Cyril Jackson Recreation Centre
Fisher Street
Ashfield.




EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
PRESENTED BY KYLEA VK6FXYL

YOUTHDAY 2007
June 16 in ZS land saw many young people experience amateur radio by
operating an amateur radio station under supervision and talking to other
young people on the air.

The emphasis was on operating an amateur station, not on just handing the
microphone to the young guest to say a few words.

More on the web
www.sarl.org.za






FUTURE EXAMS

To find out when a club in YOUR area is hosting assessments and/or
training in Amateur Radio go to wia.org.au and check out the club pages.



Next Foundation Licence course, and Standard / Advanced assessments .....

NEW SOUTH WALES

ARNSW regularly holds Foundation Licence Assessments as well as Exams for
Standard and Advanced Licences.
Held on the last weekend of each EVEN numbered month.
The next Assessment will be 30th June & 1st of July.




The Hunter Radio Group
They'll hold their next licence assessments on Saturday 23rd & Sunday the
24th of June at 9.00 am at the Print Makers Workshop, 27 Popran St
Adamstown.

For further information, please contact the Examination Group Leader,
Grahame O'Brien VK2FA on 02- 49548688. It is important that Foundation
candidates have a copy of the foundation manual and have studied it before
attempting an assessment.
Manuals are available from the Hunter Radio Group.

Some places will be available for candidates wanting to upgrade from
foundation licences to standard or advanced licences and the Hunter Radio
Group will be having a sausage sizzle on both days for lunch.



VICTORIA

Amateur Radio Victoria has announced its next two Foundation Licence
training and assessment weekends - 23rd and 24th of June and the 21st and
22nd of July.

Held at Box Hill North these classes attracting candidates from Greater
Melbourne and Victorian regional areas.

For inquiries or to enrol please contact Barry Robinson VK3JBR 0428 516
001 or

(Amateur Radio Victoria amateurradio.com.au)




ACMA NEWS

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking public
comment on proposed variations to the schemes that regulate the conversion
of broadcast television from analogue to digital mode.
The full release can found at
www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD//pc=PC_310295




INTERNATIONAL NEWS READ BY Rob VK5MM

ARRL/IARU TEAM TO REPRESENT AMATEUR RADIO AT ITU MEETING IN GENEVA

ARRL Chief Executive Officer and IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, have
been representing the IARU at a meeting of ITU-R Working Party 1A in
Geneva, Switzerland.

Working Party 1A is responsible for spectrum engineering techniques within
Study Group 1 (spectrum management) and has been working on a document that
may eventually become what's called a "preliminary draft new report" on the
impact of power line telecommunications (PLT, what we call BPL on this side
of the Pacific) on Radiocommunication systems operating below 80 MHz.

Of course, the IARU's interest is in ensuring that the report accurately
reflects the sensitivity of the amateur services to interference from this
source.

Also meeting at about the same time (June 12-20), ITU-R Working Party
8A, which is responsible for most of the land mobile services, plus the
amateur and amateur-satellite services. WP 8A hopes to complete work on
a "draft new handbook for the amateur and amateur-satellite services" to
be published by the ITU.
(arrl letter)




OPERATIONAL NEWS - CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E


VK/TRANSTASMAN CONTEST
160M Phone 7 July 2007
160M CW 21 July 2007



The Hunter Radio Group Contesters will be operating in the Trans Tasman 160
meter phone event on July 7th this year at Luskintyre Tiger Moth Airport

There will be some fun type foxhunt also held round the airport.

The group extends a cordial welcome to all operators.

This will be an ideal training event for the up coming RD contest at the
same location.

Food, drinks and accommodation will be available.

Accommodation will be on a first to book basis

As in all Hunter Radio Group functions, having fun will be the main
objective

For further information, or to confirm your attendance please contact
Grahame VK2FA on 02 49-548-688 before June 24th 2007




NZART MEMORIAL CONTEST - 80M - SSB AND CW.
7 & 8 July 2007.

Times :- 2000 NZST - 2300 NZST, divided into 3 operating periods each
evening.

Band :- 80M SSB and CW.

Contest Rules NZART Website. http://www.nzart.org.nz
(John Powell. ZL1BHQ, NZART Contest Manager)




JULY 14-15
The annual IARU HF World Championship is held on the second full weekend of
July. This year it will be held during the 24-hour period from 1200 UTC
Saturday, 14 July to 1200 UTC Sunday, 15 July.
Rules are at www.iaru.org/contest.html

Because this is unusually late in the month for the event to occur, there
has been some confusion about the dates. The CORRECT dates are 14-15 July.
Any references to 7-8July are INCORRECT.
(David Sumner, K1ZZ Secretary, IARU)




14th of July the Jack Files Contest.
0800 UTC - 1400 UTC
80 metres only.
Use 3.5MHZ - 3.7MHz
CW; SSB; or All Modes




Boat Anchor Sprints:
August (11), October (13).
Local ZL time: 2000 to 2100 hrs

Section 1: Old radios - all valves - i.e. ZC1, 19 set, Heathkits, any
home brew set, but must have all valves.

Section 2: Any Hybrid transceiver (must have valve finals i.e. FT200,
FTDX400/401, Drake, FT 101s, etc..

Amplitude Modulated signals only.

The overall winner shall be the entrant having the highest points score
which will be published in the following New Zealand "Break-in".
(Jamie Pye ZL2NN, Editor NZART's InfoLine)




AUGUST 11/12 Remembrance Day Contest (The RD) wia.org.au

Today marks only 56 days to the 2007 RD contest.

Last years Audited results are now posted on the WIA website.

In the July issue of your AR magazine we will publish this years Rules
(with some minor adjustments from the previous years).

On the WIA Website the rules are available along with associated documents.

Last year we saw a great rollup from all states including several of the
then, newly licensed Foundation calls, we look forward to seeing and
working many more of the F calls in this years contest.

For those using some of the computer logging programs PLEASE check that you
have the current version, as many last year were using outdated programs
which caused several headaches when checking the logs, and having to adjust
the scores.




7th World HST Championship will be held in Belgrade Serbia September
19-23rd.
www.hst2007.org




NOVEMBER 17/18
Spring VHF-UHF Field Day - November 2007
For everyone who likes to plan ahead - please note the dates for this
year's Spring VHF-UHF Field Day. It will be held on November 17/18, a
week later than usual. This will prevent a clash with club activities
in two states.




SPECIAL EVENTS, BEACON AND NET ADVICE
VK's longest continual net;
The Southern Cross DX Net has been running for 43 years, operates
7 days a week - propagation permitting - on a frequency
of 14.238.5MHz at 1215 zulu.

Boat Anchor Net

A regular on air gathering of people interested in old commercial amateur
transceivers takes place Sunday afternoons.

The VK5 Boat Anchor Net can be heard at 3.30pm Adelaide time or 4pm
Australian Eastern Standard Time on 7.064MHz plus or minus QRM.

Get their old radio out of the cupboard, tune it up and give net
controller Mark Kilmier VK5EME a call.


80 metres 3.645 The Odd Night Net.

This to assist new Foundation members get used to their equipment by
talking about various issues which they have and would like to discuss.

You might wonder about the name but it means they meet on the odd nights of
the calendar i.e. 1,3,5,7,9. Hence the name Odd Night Net.

It is open to all classes of licences but mainly aimed at the new comers.
(Richard Osborne)




Special Event Stations

GB25FC is the special event call sign that will be active until
18th June to commemorate 25 years since the end of the Falklands
conflict. Up to four independent stations will be working from the
Wyke Regis Amateur Radio Training Centre.

They will be using Morse, SSB, digital modes, RTTY, SSTV and UI-View,
and there will also be a station working through the local radio internet
links.

More info from
(rsgb)




WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
VK5ZAI is the Australian Co-ordinator for ARISS.

AMSAT-VK UNOFFICIAL HF Net.
2nd Sunday each month.
November through March 0900 UTC 7.068 MHz
April through October 1000 UTC 3.685 MHz

ARISS MILESTONE: 300TH CONTACT

On Thursday, May 31, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) made its 300th contact since its inception back in December
2000. This milestone QSO was to the NASA Teacher Conference in Houston,
Texas. The first contact was on December 21, 2000 to Burbank School in
Burbank, Illinois.

The United States leads in the number of ARISS contacts with 153. Japan
is next with 25; Australia has 18, Canada has 16, Belgium has 10, the
United Kingdom and Germany have 8 and France has 7 contacts. A total of
28 countries have made contact with the ISS through ARISS.
(ARRL LETTER)




WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS
A Youth Net meets Saturdays at 0100 UTC on IRLP Reflector #2.


Don't forget the Young Hams Net on 80 meters! It's on 3.590

This is the net with Cohen, VK3FCLL at the helm.

This is a net for both new hams in the hobby or just a weekly catch up
and chat.

Now details for the net are - 7:30pm until 8:30pm Victoria time, on
3.590mhz.

For more information e-mail




SOCIAL SCENE

July 7+8 - GippsTech
Conference for VHF, UHF & SHF enthusiasts in Australia.
Held at the Gippsland Campus of Monash University in Churchill, about
two hours drive east of Melbourne.
www.qsl.net\vk3bez\index.htm


August 5 - HAMFEST 2007 happens in Perth at 9am.
Cyril Jackson Recreation Centre
Fisher Street
Ashfield.


SEPTEMBER 21-23
North Queensland Amateur Radio Convention
Happening in twin cities of Thuringowa and Townsville.


JANUARY 20 2008

The Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group invite all amateurs to attend the
2008 Mid North Coast Radio Expo to be held in Coffs Harbour on Sunday 20th
January.

The Expo is held at the St Johns Church Hall, Mc Lean Street, Coffs Harbour.
Gary VK2ZKT is the Radio Expo Coordinator on 02 66 55 2 990 or visit the
Groups comprehensive web site at www.mncarg.org




THE FINAL FINAL

WALKS

Jeff VK4XJJ is still going strong on his walk across Australia.

Every Day, from 5:30pm Eastern on 40 meters, 7045 put out a call to
VK4XJJ

Jeff, VK4XJJ walking Gulf to Gulf, is doing fine, his position on Wednesday
evening, 13th June, was 112 km northeast of Innamincka on the way to
Birdsville.

For position and details see website - www.jeffswalk.com


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WIANews THANKS OUR REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS , OUR RELAY OPERATORS ACROSS THE WORLD
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Compiled by VK4BB on behalf of QNEWS for the National WIA.
Thanks to to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize their time
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The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to active
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We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia and
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