This is WIANEWS for week commencing 14th October 2007

Welcome to WIA National News for week commencing 14th October 2007,
I'm Grant VK3VIM sitting in for a cruising Graham.

Lots to report this week and also a special weird and wonderful from the
podcasters podcaster Leo Lapotre on HP's model 35 Calculator.


Let's move on and into National News... with Robert Broomhead VK3KRB.




As we take up the news this week Dianne Ashton and husband Phil are into
their second week of two weeks of some well earned Holidays. Whilst Dianne
is away.. back in the office Margaret and the team are doing marvelous job
of keeping everything up to date. However with one person away there is
the possibility that there may be of a few delays in responding to some
requests and certain examination matters so we do appreciate your patience
and understanding.



WRC - 07 Starts on 22 October

The ITU's World Radio communication Conference 2007 (WRC-07) will commence
in Geneva, Switzerland on 22 October and run until 16 November.

Keith Malcolm VK1ZKM will be leaving for Geneva next week. Keith will be
a member of the Australian delegation to the WRC, nominated by the WIA
and representing the amateur services. Keith's travel and other costs are
being met by the WIA.

There are 3 items of particular interest to amateurs raised by the agenda
for the WRC.

One is an agenda item that would allow the allocation of the band
7.2 to 7.3 MHz in Regions 1 and 3 to the amateur service, achieving a
world wide 7 to 7.3 MHz band. However, Keith advises that he is unaware
of any proposal supporting this, and the Australian public position is to
oppose any change in this part of the spectrum.
Of course, this is unlikely to result in any change for Australian
amateurs around 7 MHz.


Another matter is the proposal for an allocation to the amateur service
of the band 5.260 to 5.410 MHz. The Region 1 organisation, CEPT, has
proposed a footnote to allow administrations to make such an allocation,
and other administration's proposals make it likely that the proposal
will at least be discussed.


The final proposal for a secondary allocation for the amateur service
135.7 to 137.8 kHz with a 1 Watt e.i.r.p. power limit does seem to have
fairly general support.


"We are lucky to be represented by such an experienced and qualified
person, and I am sure that Keith has the support and best wishes of all Australi
an amateurs" said WIA President, Michael Owen VK3KI.

Keith will be reporting regularly to the WIA, and the WIA will be passing
on as much information as possible about this important conference.




"Its Call book time again!"

If you want to find another Australian amateur, you need a call book.
If you want to check a repeater frequency or band plan, you need a Call
book.

But this years call book is special it's the special collectors edition
with the Parkes radio telescope and group photo on the cover, the picture
taken during the WIA 2007 AGM weekend and of course it has all of the
regular information and more.

Where do you get it?

Members and non members can get it from the WIA office but you might want
to support your club and buy from there. Last week all clubs should have
received an order form and price details from Ted VK2ARA.

If you order a box of 24, they will be sent post free. If 24 is too many,
contact another club and share. Compare the club price with the office
price. You can make up to 50% profit for your club.

The Call books will be available from 17 October, so get those orders in
to the office. Call books will be dispatched as soon as paid orders are received