This WIA News, is for week commencing September 14 2008 and originates
from VK1WIA.

Remember when you hear something that interests you as a Radio Amateur,
write it out as you'd expect to hear it and email it in to
We do not have deadlines, just that the sooner
you get your story to us the more likelyhood we will be able to present
it in the following weeks broadcast.
__________________________________________________ ________________

September 14 News is presented by members of Amateur Radio Victoria.
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This is WIANEWS for week commencing Sep 14 2008

"Hooray hooray for amateur radio.

Er ummh, you know ham radio, I thought it had disappeared, I did not
think anybody did that any more, because we've all got phones now, but
there are still enthusiast's out there."

Yes indeed there are Red Symons, and in increasing numbers too as we
will hear soon on today's VK1WIA broadcast.

Hello I'm Jim Linton VK3PC and Barry Robinson VK3JBR and we're
presenting the WIA NATIONAL NEWS this week.

Originating from Melbourne we've blown the dust off the old VK3BWI
studio console so Amateur Radio Victoria can present this program
today.

With next month being the third anniversary of licence restructure in
Australia, let's have a quick look at the broad statistics from the WIA
Exam Service.

In the past 12 months there have been 900 Foundation licence
assessments, 300 for the Standard licence and 150 Advance licence
assessments.

Clearly demonstrating continued growth in amateur radio.

Just in from Peter Harding VK4OD, the Remembrance Day Contest Manager
who is currently on temporary leave, down in the VK2 Southern
Tablelands Snow Country.

Peter has been advised by his XYL that there's a backlog of some postal
and electronic logs arriving at the home QTH.

Also some of the operators indicate concern that they were late getting
their logs in.

As this newscast goes to air on Sunday the 14th September, the closing
date for logs is on the last mail, either postal or electronic, as
received TOMORROW Monday the 15th September.

Peter VK4OD processed all of the logs received before he took off on
leave.

There just remains those received since, and where an email address is
provided, he will send a confirmation email for receipt of the
individual log and after having checked the results, any amendments.

New battery rules in Europe

Restrictions are imposed on the use of the toxic metals mercury and
cadmium in the manufacture of batteries in order to reduce their impact
on the environment.

Under the EU Batteries and Accumulators Directive that comes into force
on the 26th of September, all batteries including those embedded in
appliances that do not meet new requirements cannot be sold.

The legislation applies to all types of batteries regardless of shape,
volume, weight, with exemptions for military and space applications.

It also forces designers of electrical products to ensure flat
batteries can be readily removed from products.

In addition measures are in place to divert waste batteries from
landfill including free take-back at retailers for either recycling or
appropriate disposal.

Battery makers have rapidly moved away from mercury and cadmium, with a
prime example being the once ubiquitous ni-cad replaced by nickel-zinc
and other rechargeable battery types.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)

When size counts

At over 160 storeys the Burj Dubai, that is still under construction in
the Business Bay district of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is now
the world's tallest building at 688 metres or 2,257 feet.

Changes proposed to an amateur television repeater - for that story we
cross to Rob Carmichael VK3DTR.

(ROB VK3DTR) Good morning, I have with me Peter Cossins VK3BFG who has
some very interesting news about the Melbourne ATV repeater.

(PETER VK3BFG) Yes Rob... the plan is to digitise the output of VK3RTV
on Mt Dandenong which services Melbourne and Geelong. The project will
use German made commercial modules and a linear amplifier to convert
this repeater to digital transmission.

(ROB) Sounds interesting, how will we be able to pick up the digital TV
signals?

(PETER) That will be very easy by using the now readily available
set-top boxes that convert the off air digital signal so they can be
seen on an ordinary analogue TV receiver.

(ROB) Sounds very interesting indeed and I bet it will encourage more
people to get involved. When will it happen?

(PETER) That's right Rob, it should stimulate more activity on ATV. The
plan is start the project in December and its completion will depend on
securing the necessary funding.

(ROB) Thank you Peter and now back to the studio.

While on the topic of digital TV, that's the way Australia's domestic
free-to-air TV is going. The switch-over from analogue began in 2001
and should be completed by the end of 2013.

Received in the VK1WIA broadcast e-mailbag is a letter seeking help, it
reads: "I am contacting you in regards to some research I am doing on
my Great Grandfather Henry Sutton.

He was a well known Australian inventor who was issued an amateur
experimental radio licence in 1909 by the Australian Government, his
radio licence number was No. 2.

He lived in Erskine Street in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern. I am
trying to find out any information or even old news articles in the
local area about Henry and or any recorded information or research
documents based around the information about his licence.

Any help you can give me would be very gratefully appreciated.

Yours Sincerely Lorayne Branch )."

If you can help please make direct email contact with her.

The Morning Coffee Break Net

A long established tradition in VK3 is a net on 1843 kHz in the AM mode
running from 11am to noon Monday to Saturday.

Regularly participants seek advice on their equipment or antenna
problems, restoration of old gear and where to get bits and parts.

It seems that there's always someone who can come up with the answers
and good advice including experienced people who have worked in the
broadcasting industry.

The Morning Coffee Break Net gang also occasionally have social
gatherings that includes someone bring along a piece of equipment for
the show 'n tell session.

Back to basics - go simplex

The use of simplex operation is not new and in fact it was a way of
life before voice repeaters arrived many decades ago.

If you find yourself on the shores of Australia's large inland sea,
Lake Eyre, or someone else remote, a call on simplex FM can
surprisingly achieve results.

In fact a number of travelling radio amateurs do sit on the national
calling frequency of 146.500 MHz - and that should be encouraged.

Simplex also takes away some of the hassles with repeater operation
such as what repeater to use and those CTCSS access tones.

The Simplex Preservation Society http://www.73sps.com/ is a club in the
United States that is an alternative to what it calls the traditional
repeater-centric amateur radio groups.

It's not suggesting anyone gives up repeater use, but its members do
monitor simplex, make regular contacts that way and maintain a
capability to be able to operate independently of repeaters.

SPS members maintain, or improve, their VHF stations to ensure they can
effectively communicate within their city limits.

Do you regularly evaluate your simplex capabilities or perhaps have an
over-reliance on repeaters? There are plenty of regular repeater nets
but not as many simplex nets.

As a suggestion a net controller could put everyone to the test by
QSYing to simplex to see just how many can still maintain contact.

The Simplex Preservation Society believes that being simplex-capable
will also be vital in times of natural disasters or other emergencies.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)

A dedication to Dan Van Elkan VK3UI Silent Key - CQ Serenade.

CW skimmer makes paddles go further?

Like virtually all sports, amateur radio does have its controversies
and a current one is called the CW Skimmer, but what is it?

A clever piece of software developed by Alex Shovkoplyas VE3NEA, the
Canadian who is also behind the DX Atlas and a number of other ham
radio programs.

CW Skimmer receives and decodes signals and graphically shows them as a
band map on a computer screen, listing stations by callsign and
frequency.

The software obviously can help to more easily find stations, which
could be very useful during a contest of a DXpedition.

Meanwhile Pete Smith N4ZR is pushing for listening centres to be set up
using the software to create a 'reverse beacon' network.

CW Skimmer is sparking lots of debate as to whether it's just a new
innovation that should be embraced by radio amateurs, or outlawed by
ham radio contest rule makers.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)

Early communications on display

The Australian Historic Telephone Society has announced an Early
Communications Show and Fair that will feature telephones, telegrams
being sent live, early exchange equipment, telegraphy equipment,
gramophones and radios.

Talk to experts in the many areas of early communications and see an
extensive range of early communications history.

It will be at the Preston Town Hall in Melbourne's North on Saturday
the 4th of October, 10am to 4pm.

Location: 411 High Street Preston (Melway 18 G12) Table bookings 5ft
$20 or two for $30 Contact: Rod Williams
phone (03) 9850 2168 Admission fees adults $4 families $10 children
over eight years $2.

Solar Cycle 24 where are you?

The false start announced last year for the new Solar Cycle 24 has been
followed up with speculation of things like `double dip' minima and
even a new ice age for sunspots.

But let's try to stay positive and not subscribe to thoughts of another
minimum of 70 years, as occurred from 1645 to 1715, the only
flat-lining in sunspot cycles since records.

Looking back at the onset of previous cycles that followed prolonged
periods without sunspots, gives indication that Cycle 24 may have a
much greater start-up intensity.

Should it behave like Cycles 11 to 14 in the 19th century there will be
more years rising and a shorter period in decline.

The latest prediction is that Cycle 24 will be begin in mid 2009. Stay
tuned.

The prolonged solar minimum is also occurring at a time of reports in
the northern hemisphere of continued sporadic-E enhancement on both the
ten and six metre bands.

Greyline propagation on HF also is experiencing a lack of geomagnetic
disturbance which is a good thing.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)

New age car radios

From next year many motor vehicles will roll off the assembly line
fitted with high definition radios.

This take advantage of technology that allows AM and FM stations to
broadcast digital signals as well, not only offering CD-quality sound
but scrolling text and graphics too.

High definition radio multicasting will really open up the realm of
traffic and other services being delivered by broadcast stations.

In another development, Vi-Fi, which is Wi-Fi for vehicles is enabling
passengers, and presumably motorists to receive internet radio,
entertainment or information services, and surf the net while on the
move. We live in very interesting times.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)

And this just in, to late for the audio news:-

Digital Radio Switch-On Set for May 2009.

The radio industry has just announce that the national switch-on for
digital radio will take place on 1 May 2009 following resolution of
infrastructure issues relating to the rollout of transmission
equipment.

Commercial Radio Australia and ABC Radio have consistently taken the
position that the successful introduction of digital radio in Australia
is dependent on an integrated national industry rollout with both
public and commercial broadcasters switching on simultaneously in the 5
mainland capital cities.

"We have maintained from the outset that the digital radio rollout in
Australia would be on a national basis, with the first five markets in
the mainland capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane
and Perth to be launched simultaneously," Joan Warner, CEO of
Commercial Radio Australia said.

"Given we have timeline infrastructure issues in a number of the launch
cities and after consultation with the commercial sector, the industry
has made a united decision to officially launch digital radio to
listeners on 1 May 2009 in all markets," said Sue Howard, Director of
ABC Radio.

Ms Warner said the timeline issues had arisen as a result of intensive
and collaborative work being done on a second draft of the Digital
Radio Channel Plans (DRCPs) developed by the Australian Communications
and Media Authority (ACMA). These will now not be finalised until
December 2008.

A date has been set

It's happening again, announcing the Centre Victoria RadioFest No 3.

It will be held at the Kyneton Racecourse on Sunday the 15th of
February 2009. Put that date in your calendar now and see you at the
Centre Victoria RadioFest.

I'm Bruce Lees VK3FFF and you're listening to VK1WIA.

Broadcasters set to QSY

In six months time powerful shortwave broadcast stations are to migrate
from the band 7100 to 7200 kilohertz as that spectrum fully reverts to
the Amateur Service.

Before 1938 there was an exclusive amateur allocation of 7 to 7.3MHz.

But due to world unrest 7.2 to 7.3MHz was taken away to accommodate
propaganda broadcasting in the lead up to World War II.

It had been thought the band would be returned to the Amateur Service,
but it continued due to Cold War, and in fact broadcasting increased
the size of its primary allocation.

While in some parts of the world radio amateurs managed to retain 7 to
7.3 only the bottom third was amateur exclusive and the remainder
shared with broadcasters.

The International Amateur Radio Union mounted a campaign for the 40m
band to be return globally to the Amateur Service.

Its case stated that such as change would ensure effective
communications support particularly in the event of natural disasters.

The IARU pursued the issue at the World Radiocommunications Conference
in 2003 gaining 7.1 to 7.2MHz worldwide for the Amateur Service, adding
an extra 100kHz on the exclusive allocation, while sharing between 7.2
and 7.3MHz continues.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)

War bird restoration project

Australia's only surviving B-24 Liberator long range heavy bomber is
being faithfully restored by a dedicated group of volunteers.

The restored B-24 Liberator aircraft No. A72-176 is expected to go on
display by the end of 2010.

At the moment the project is in need of radio & radar parts, plus
service documentation. The project is situated in a hangar on the
corner of corner of Farm Rd & Princes Highway, Werribee.

It is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Hanger Phone: 03 97313263 email: website:
www.b24australia.org.au

HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA---- From Melbourne I'm Jim Linton VK3PC VK3 -
Tracking down a club history. A radio club in metropolitan Melbourne
turns 40 next year and part of the celebration will be the release of
its documented history.

Mark Stephenson VK3PI explains:

`The Western and Northern Suburbs Radio Club began in 1969 and having
volunteered to write a history of the club I would love to hear from
past members.

`In particular I'm looking for photographs of club events, members,
equipment and shacks together with a sample QSL card.

`If you have been a member just write some words or make yourself
available for an interview.

`Perhaps you had a contact with the VK3AWS and can supply a scanned
copy of the club's QSL card.

`All contributions will be acknowledged and photographs scanned and
returned.'

Mark Stephenson VK3PI can be contacted on email
via the post to WANSARC Secretary, PO Box
336 Reservoir 3073.

VK4 - The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society is holding a fancy dress
social night on November the 23rd, it's members are encouraged to go
along as their favourite hero of radio or electronics! Well that sounds
interesting, can't wait to see the photos.

www.gcars.com.au

VK6 - A solar powered QRPP beacon is operating on a frequency of 3686
kilohertz has an output power of 90 milliwatts into a half-wave dipole
in a horse stable at Beverly, an historic settlement in Western
Australia's wheat belt country 130 kms east of Perth.

So far it's been heard in VK2, VK4 and VK6.

Barrie Burns VK6ADI welcomes reports via email to

Incredible QRPp feat

The ARRL has award Aki JQ2UOZ a QRP DXCC and he did it with just 500mW
and a dipole antenna on bands above 18MHz during the solar cycle
mimima.

EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO

Next weekend, the 20th and 21st of September will be a busy time for
Foundation Licence training and assessments.

In Victoria there will be sessions held by both the Midland Amateur
Radio Club in Bendigo, and Amateur Radio Victoria at Box Hill North.

While across in Western Australia the Ham College will be doing the
same thing at the Lynwood Scout Hall, Whaleback Avenue, Lynwood.

Midland Amateur Radio Club, Kevin Crockett

Amateur Radio Victoria, Barry Robinson

Ham College, Neil Husk

Aussie ham satellite development continues

The University of New South Wales' BLUEsat amateur radio satellite
project could be ready for launch in as early as 18 months.

Weighing around 12kg the solar-powered low earth orbit satellite will
carry a flight computer with transmissions to include a beacon and
amateur packet radio using the AX25 protocol in a J-mode configuration.

Believed the only university satellite project with an entire volunteer
team, no full-time members or direct academic supervision, it has
involved about 100 students since 1997.

EMR audits for radio amateurs

Electromagnetic radiation or EMR limits govern the operation of amateur
stations.

These are put to an annual compliance audit by the Australian
Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

It writes to randomly selected amateur licensees.

A failure to respond or an inadequate response will result in ACMA
follow-up action to complete the audit.

Operating in accordance with the EMR limits is an obligation for radio
amateurs.

I'm Tim Lewis VK3HAM and you're listening to VK1WIA.

Radio active national parks

(VK3JBR) We now have in the studio, the Amateur Radio Victoria Event
Coordinator, Terry Murphy VK3UP, good morning Terry.

(VK3UP) Hello Barry and listeners, there are a number of things I wish
to announce. Firstly, thank you to Chris Chapman VK3QB for volunteering
to be our Award Manager, primarily responsible for the Keith Roget
Memorial National Parks Award.

This award is based on the earlier National Parks Award that ran from
the early 1970s to the mid-1980s.

It will encourage radio amateurs to go and operate portable in
Victoria's National Parks.

(VK3JBR) That sounds very interesting. There are 41 National Parks, are
you expecting plenty of activations?

(VK3UP) Yes we are by a number of individual radio amateurs and some
radio clubs. Amateur Radio Victoria is making final plans to activate a
National Park on the Melbourne Cup Holiday weekend in November.

The Award Manager Chris VK3QB expects this weekend will become an
activity period for others too. Details of the award and the Victorian
Local Government Award can be found in the Awards section of the
Amateur Radio Victoria website.

Discussion point - model numbers

Tuning around the bands you will hear radio amateurs quickly rattle off
their `working conditions' including their transceivers and accessories
by model number.

How meaningful are they? Sure if its something very common then most
will know it by a model number, but for others, particularly newcomers
or someone returning to amateur radio after a break, it can be quiet
confusing.

To avoid this situation some radio amateurs make it a practice to use
more than the model number to briefly describe their transceiver by its
features - such as it being an HF all mode or a dual band 2m and 70cm -
plus its age if that is relevant and helpful.

It's good to hear what others are using, but with so many model numbers
created over the past 40 years, more information during QSOs may be
warranted.

I'm Murray Lewis VK3EZM and you're listening to VK1WIA

Ham radio to feature in new film

Described as being 'gritty' a television drama and called Tangle, it
will deal with the tangled lives of parents, their teenagers and the
shifting moral compass of modern life.

Being shot in the inner eastern Melbourne suburb of Kew this month the
producers of this ten part series for television have told VK1WIA that
the script includes amateur radio in contact with cosmonauts in space.

Amateur Radio Victoria was contacted by the production company,
Southern Star, asking for help and it has been able to loan it suitable
amateur radio equipment plus other items.

Tangle is being hailed as another exciting chapter in the development
of high quality Australian television drama. It's due to premiere in
2009.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)

OPERATIONAL NEWS ON VK1WIA THIS WEEK BEING PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF
AMATEUR RADIO VICTORIA. I'M BARRY ROBINSON VK3JBR.

ON AIR CONTEST AND EVENT COLUMN - D A T E L I N E

September the 20th, the VK Westlakes Cup. Rules westlakesarc.org.au

September the 27th and 28th sees the CQ World Wide RTTY DX contest.

September the 27th, CQ Old Timers RAOTC QSO Party

October the 18th and 19th is the 51st Jamboree On The Air.

October on the 25th and 26th is the CQ World Wide SSB Contest and CQ
World Wide SWL Challenge.

November the 1st to Tuesday the 4th of November, the Melbourne Cup
holiday long weekend is the Victorian National Parks activity period.

November the 15th and 16th is the Spring VHF-UHF Field Day.

World News Briefs

The Japan Amateur Radio League is to host the 5th Global Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications Conference, in August next year just before
the JARL Ham Fair in Tokyo.

A DXpedition has been announced for St. Martin's Island, Bangladesh.
That news comes hot on the heels of the recent restoration of amateur
radio in that country. Website: eb7dx.com

NASA astronomers will explore the birthplace of space weather with a
new telescope to be launched in April next year. It will give them an
eight minute glimpse at a secret layer of the Sun where solar flares
explode and coronal mass ejections begin their journey to Earth.
Website:http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2...i.htm?list6529

Ham Radio's Social Scene

September the 19th to the 21st, Queensland's Central Highland Amateur
Radio Club AGM, Monster Auction and Gathering at Camp Fairbairn near
Emerald. Gordon VK4KAL telephone 07 4985 4168

September the 28th, the next Trash and Treasure event held by Amateur
Radio New South Wales at 63 Quarry Road Dural. www.arnsw.org.au/

October the 11th & 12th - The Dalby and Sunshine Coast Club will hold a
camping get together at Lake Dyer near Laidley. Neil VK4NF
07 4662 4950

October the 26th - The Ballarat Amateur Radio Group's Hamvention at the
Ballarat Exhibition Centre. http://www.barg.org.au/

November the 8th, Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society HAMFEST at Albert
Waterways Community Centre, Community Centre, Sunshine Boulevard,
Broadbeach. http://www.gcars.com.au

November the 9th - Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society will hold their
Bigger Better Buy and sell day at the Goodwood community centre, Rosa
Street. http://www.gcars.com.au

December the 6th, The Central Highlands Amateur Radio Club of Tasmania
HamFest at the Community Centre at Miena, alongside the Great Lake in
central Tasmania. Starts at 10am. starts 10am.
http://www.qsl.net/charct/
The Final Final

Thank you to Graham Kemp VK4BB for the invitation extended to Amateur
Radio Victoria to present the VK1WIA broadcast.

Appreciation to our support announcers - Rob Carmichael VK3DTR,
Michelle Grant VK3FEAT, Murray and Tim Lewis VK3EZM and VK3HAM.

To the interviewees - Peter Cossins VK3BFG and Terry Murphy VK3UP.

To those who rebroadcast VK1WIA, thank you.

The Amateur Radio Victoria team has enjoyed bringing you this broadcast
and hopes you liked it too.

Jim Linton VK3PC Barry Robinson VK3JBR

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!

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