attached
SB QNEWS @ WW $QNEWS081026
QNEWS - Oct 26 - VK4 ON AIR
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DID YOU TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?
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THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD IN QNEWS.MP3
FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICES
QNEWS -- ALL OF THE NEWS ALL OF THE TIME at www.wia.org.au/vk4
QNEWS available in Audio after 0001Hrs UTC Saturday.


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PO Box 199 Wavell Heights, Qld 4012

Contact QAC by HF Radio 3.605 Mondays 7:30pm after QNEWS
QAC OVERSEES HAM RADIO MATTERS IN VK4
QNEWS newsroom USE TO SEND US YOUR NEWS STORIES!!
QTAC HANDLES TECHNICAL QUERIES
QTC AR MAGAZINE COLUMN


QAC office officers :-

VK4AHW Harvey Wickes
VK4AQ Ross Anderson
VK4BY Don Wilschefski
VK4UH Kevin Johnstone

AR MAGAZINE-VK4 QTC COLUMN
Written by Chris Comollattie VK4VKR
news for ar magazine to



The Queensland President's lunch will be held again this year.

The date will be Sunday 9th November. WIA President Michael Owen,
WIA Directors Ewan McLeod and Ron and Queensland Advisory Committee
Chairman Don Wilschefski will be there to talk about what is happening
in Amateur radio , the WIA and what we can expect in the near future..

The venue will be the Geebung-Zillmere RSL Club located at Corner Newman
Road & Collings Street, Geebung, opposite Geebung Railway Station. Arrival
at 11:30am for Midday start for lunch. . Lunch will be followed by
a presentation by Michael Owen and discussion..

You will also get plenty of opportunities to ask questions.. So we can advise
the caterers and function organisers please advise participation by club
members by emailing QAC chairman Don Wilschefski VK4BY at

A golden opportunity to get together and discuss those issues that are
important to the development of amateur radio in VK4land.

(Regards Ken Fuller on behalf of the WIA Queensland Advisory Committee)



GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY
http://www.goldcoastamateurradio.com
IRLP Node 6702

HAMFEST NOVEMBER 8 will be held at Albert Waterways Hall Broadbeach.



Gympie Communications and Electronics Group.
www.gceginc.org.au

This is a new club formed with an enthusiastic group of members in an area that
has not been able to support a viable club for some years according to
Bob VK4MR, the inaugural Chairman.

Bob continued, "much of our time over the past months has been involved in the
mechanics of gathering a core of amateurs and deciding whether we could
proceed and in what form we could proceed."

From this beginning a 3 man committee was formed and the routine of opening a
bank account, drafting a constitution, applying for incorporation and
WIA affiliation proceeded.

The Gympie group has been well supported by the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio
Club and the Maryborough Electronics and Radio Group.

The weekly Gympie Net, which was maintained by Len, VK4JZ, on behalf of SCARC,
for the past couple of years has been continued by GCEG Net Controller, Dawn,
VK4FTBA with call ins each Monday averaging 10 to 12 stations. After achieving
incorporation, the presidents of the 3 neighbouring area radio clubs made a
point of joining the net to offer congratulations.

As the Sunday news went to air on 19th October, a small group of GCEG members
were manning the barbecue again. This time it was the first fund raising event,
being a sausage sizzle sponsored by Melco Hardware, Gympie, in the car park of
their main store. Not only were hot sausages being sold but amateur radio was
explained to interested people.



MARYBOROUGH RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB
For more info, call Secretary Kathy Johns 040-939-8853
Email:
Channel 14 UHF CB call "CQ MERG"


Maryborough Electronics & Radio Group members Rick VK4CAW and Ray VK4TPT set up
JOTA stations for HF, VHF and UHFCB at the ALDERSHOT Scout camp, North of
Maryborough, QLD. last weekend.

The plan was to utilise to the fullest extent Both the Amateur EchoLink and the
CB eQSO systems to enable most of the 200+ Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies
who were present to talk to similar groups around the world.

BUT! As we all know "The best laid plans of men and mice (and obviously MERG
members) are apt to go astray!"

The guys had not counted on the effect of the well known Ironstone Ridge
between Maryborough and the Campsite.

As a result, despite 20+ watts and Yagi antennae at each end, they could not
get a useable signal on 2metres.

They fared slightly better on UHF CB despite the 5 watt limitations. Mainly due
to higher gain Yogis and a taller tower at VK4VAN's QTH.

Thus, by Sunday morning the score was eQSO: - 10, EchoLink: - 0.

In desperation Ray swung the 2 metre Yagi towards the Mt Goonanaman repeater
and found VK4JM, Rusty, with a troop of Cubs from Gin Gin.

As Ray had a Guide unit from Hervey Bay with him at the time they could all
talk to the Cubs at Bundaberg.

A check of the EchoLink Log showed that over 30 JOTA stations had tried,
unsuccessfully, to connect during the weekend.

To all of those and any others, Ray and Rick offer their sincere apologies and
advise that the new tower and antenna farm to replace the storm damaged ones
will be in place at the Scout Camp for next years JOTA."

(Ray, VK4TP)



REDCLIFFE
www.redclifferadioclub.org.au/


A fantastic weekend at Murrembong Campsite, Petrie with some 250 scouts, cubs,
joeys and guides visiting.

There were some 70 electronic kits built including crystal radio sets,
fog horns and L.E.D. testers. All the kits were donated for the JOTA
weekend and many thanks to the donors for their continued support of the club.

There were a few surprises for club members with one young guide after sending
her name in morse code and then continued on by sending information about her
group and when she was asked to receive morse code, she was able to easily read
the message. Some people just have the knack!

Another was the quality of kits built by the female scouts and guides. Their
ability in soldering amazed many club members who acted as tutors for the
scouts during the kit construction.

The Chief Commissioner of Queensland visited the camp for about 2 hours and was
amazed at the activities available for the scouts and the level of
participation and support by Redcliffe club members for JOTA.

Over the weekend about 40 or so members made themselves available to assist in
JOTA. Well done everyone!

The highlight for the weekend was some 42 people for a Saturday night camp
roast, Peter VK4EA and his support crew prepared a fantastic meal which was
well enjoyed as many had seconds and there were was enough even for thirds.

Away from JOTA activities, Andy VK4KY, called CQ Europe on 20 metres last
Saturday night and made contact with a G3 station who told Andy that his signal
was 40 dB over 9 and surely he was not in Queensland. The station actually
recorded the signal to play it back to his club members.

Andy then told him that he was operating a field portable station using only
300 watts and using 12 volt batteries. The G3 station was in total disbelief
but it was true. For the whole JOTA weekend all the club radios were using
200 amp hour batteries recharged by solar panels.

Happy Birthday to Corey VK4BTK, who celebrated his 21st birthday by causing a
major pile-up into Europe and worked 75 stations with better that 5 and 8
signals for all contacts in just over 2 hours.

What a good practice for the John Moyle field day next year!



SUNSHINE COAST
Maleny VK4RSC 146.850 and 438.075 VK4RSN 53.7
Noosa Heads VK4RSL 146.825 and 438.175

October Camp Catch-up at Lake Dyer


There was approximately 50 people that turned out in some rather wet weather
for the October Camp catch-up at Lake Dyer near Laidley two weeks ago. Some
were fairly local and others came from some far flung places in Queensland.
The Saturday night BBQ went well and it seems that a couple of VK4W's spent
rather a large part of the night draining the reserves of a certain distillery
based in Bundaberg. At least they were quiet and didn't annoy anyone, yeah
right...

Noel VK4NL wants to take all the glory for such a well set-up event and so
he should, a big pat on the back to Noel.
A similar event will be held at a similar time, probably at a similar place
next year so stay tuned for details as we approach the second half of 2009.
Don't forget the Somerset Dam/Kirkleigh camp will be on in April 2009.


JOTA

SCARC fielded two JOTA locations this year, one at the clubrooms and one at
Cooroy.
The Cooroy event was run by Noel VK4NL and the event at the clubrooms was
headed by Ray VK4YRS with help from quite a few other club members. There
was not a huge turn out of Scouts so we are looking at ways to improve this
for next year.
A new second-hand 20m monoband yagi was erected at the club atop the rotator
for JOTA and by all accounts it performed quite well, it does need a little
bit of tuning to get it spot on.


General Meeting November 4th

The next general meeting of SCARC is the homebrew competition, where club
members are invited to bring along something they have constructed in the
previous 12months and vie for a prize.
This meeting will also feature a guest presenter, Don Selkirk, who is a
retired Aircraft Engineer. This should be an interesting talk.

(GORDON VK4VP)



TOWNSVILLE

http://vk4zz.no-ip.org/tarc/

theTARCinc 2008 AGM attendance numbers needed

The 2008 Annual General Meeting of theTARCinc happens Sunday
November 23rd from 7am at Area 2 - Rossiter Park Aitkenvale.
The AGM will start off with Breakfast followed by the meeting
and attendance numbers are needed for catering purposes.

Relay your AGM numbers as soon as possible to
Gavin VK4ZZ either by phone 47791161, mobile 0427 182469
or via Radio.







**************************************************
- NEWS POSTING TO PACKET -
Courtesy Tony VK7AX VK7AX(AT)VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC

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SB WIANEWS @ WW $QNEWS081026
WIANEWS - Oct 26 - VK NATIONAL NEWS

ALWAYS ENSURE ORIGINAL BID # AND TITLE ARE USED.
Packet uploads with thanks to vk7ax Tony


This is WIANEWS for week commencing Oct 26 2008



Future Management of Amateur Call Signs


This is Michael Owen VK3KI

I have told a number of people that we would be know how two letter callsigns
will be handled in the future around 24 October.

Unfortunately, that was optimistic, and we still don't know the details.

The following statement has been agreed between the WIA and ACMA.

On 8 February 2008, ACMA announced that it would implement contractual
arrangements with the WIA for the ongoing management of amateur examinations,
the issue of certificates of proficiency and certain administrative functions
associated with amateur call signs.

As part of these arrangements, on 5 September 2008 the WIA conducted a ballot
for two letter call signs. All amateurs who participated in the Ballot were
offered a two letter callsign. The ballot arrangements, including the WIA
recommendations for specific two letter call signs to ACMA, will be concluded
on 24 October 2008.

The WIA and ACMA are currently finalising the ongoing contractual arrangements.

This process includes suitable cost recovery arrangements for amateur
examinations, certificate issue and call sign administration. Once these
arrangements have been finalised, the WIA will be responsible for providing
recommendations to ACMA on the allocation of all amateur service call signs.

At this stage, it is expected that the ongoing contractual arrangements will be
in place by the end of 2008. Until a commencement date for the new arrangements
can be announced, however, neither ACMA nor the WIA will accept any applications
for two letter callsigns in any state or territory. The issue of amateur
licences with three and four letter call signs will not be affected.

Further announcements on the new arrangements, including information on the
commencement date and the applicable charges for examinations, certificate issue
and callsign administration, will be made before the end of 2008. These
announcements will be made in WIA broadcasts and on the WIA and ACMA websites,
and in the next "Amateur Radio" magazine.



HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

VK0

VK0BP Heading South

Bob VK2ABP is now VK0BP/MM on his way to Davis Station Antarctica on board
the Aurora Australis. VK0BP is looking forward to chatting with those he can
from Antarctica and will keep us informed of a schedule once he can figure
something out down South.



VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news

SILENT KEY
Jack Laurence Leed VK2KN became a SILENT KEY on October 7.
Jack was formerly VK2ALL from Broken Hill, changing to VK2KN when
he moved to Port Macquarie.



Living near BALLINA and WANT SOME RADIO PRACTICE?
SURFCOM of the Surf Life Saving Australia need you to help man the Ops. Room
at the northern end of Lighthouse Beach. Contact Carl VK2NBT for more info.



VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
VKC Roundup http://www.police

Get Lost! and be found.

Scout Radio & Electronics Service Unit

A look at Emergency Communications, EPIRBS & PLB's with special guests from
GME, Emergency Management Australia, VKS-737 and speakers from the Scout
Radio & Electronics Service Unit.

For more information see www.sresu.asn.au or call Greg, VK3FUNK
on 0403 049 749.



VK4
web service local news:- www.wiaq.com/qnews/upload/qnewsbcast.htm
local news email
VKR Roundup
http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+an...edia+Releases/

Gympie Communications and Electronics Group has been formed in an area that has
not been able to support a viable club for some years," said Bob VK4MR,
the inaugural Chairman.

Bob continued, "much of our time over the past months has been involved in the
mechanics of gathering a core of amateurs and deciding whether we could
proceed and in what form we could proceed."

From this beginning a 3 man committee was formed and the routine of opening a
bank account, drafting a constitution, applying for incorporation and
WIA affiliation proceeded.

A web presence is at www.gceginc.org.au

Contact details for G.C.E.G. can be found at www.wia.org.au under VK4 clubs.


(Submitted on behalf of GCEG, Inc. by Geoff, VK4ZPP, Hon. Publicity Officer)



VK5
www.qsl.net/vk5bar/

Graham Thomas VK5GCT says the South Coast Amateur Radio Club's AGM is to be
held November 26.

Presentation by current office holders of 2008 reports and the election of all
office holders and committee members for the coming year. Your opportunity to
set the direction of SCARC for 2009 and beyond.





VK7
local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php
vk7 local news, email

The R.E.A.S.T. Special General Meeting that was going to be held at the October
meet has been postponed to the November presentation night, Wednesday 5th
@ 8pm and will be held prior to the presentation.
The purpose for the SGM is to change the rules of REAST to create a new
Membership Category of "Life Membership" and the procedure as to how a
life membership is granted.

http://reast.asn.au/events.php#SGM
(REAST Committee)



North West Tasmanian Amateur Radio Interest Group are having a Radio Net each
Tuesday night at 8pm. using the 2 meter repeater on Lonah with VK7VF as the
moderator.

The first a great success with 8 calling into the net.

Plans are under way to hold one on 80 Meters.


Saturday Afternoons at the Domain

November One, the Saturday afternoon group is holding their first monthly
activity meeting, the theme? Aviation.

The group will meet at Seven Mile Beach at the day use area closest to the
general store. If you have trouble finding the group, give us a yell on
147.425 simplex.

12 noon for a BYO lunch, a general discussion about aviation and listen to
some communications from Hobart Airport before heading to the airport to
visit the Rotor Lift complex and have a tour through this area, the Bureau Of
Meteorology facility for a guided tour and the Fire fighting and Marine Rescue
section where the Commander of the day will explain their role in ensuring
they are ready for any emergency whether on land or at sea involving an
aircraft in the area.

The trip will finish up by the tower.

(Tony, VK7FTCL)



VK9

Members of Oceania Amateur Radio Dx Group Incorporated will be active as
VK9LA from Lord Howe Island for the CQ WPX SSB Contest in 2009. Plans are well
advanced for a team to arrive on Mar 24th and stay till April 2nd.
There are some vacancies available so if you think you would like to go

please contact

(B Horner PO Box 612 Childers 4660 Australia)



EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
www.hamcollege.com.au

Since Australia's first "F Troop" run by the Summerland Club many F Troops
have sprung up on air with our Foundation licensees.

Now here's your chance to join in the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society's group
when your on the coast. A casual net every Tuesday 7pm, on 146.700.

This net is to encourage any foundation operators to get involved in
controlling nets, other amateurs can join in and take part in technical
discussions and other topics that cover the hobby we all enjoy.

If you would like any further information please contact Peter vk4ktx.


07 32901875 or e-mail

or Reg vk2farr



Gympie Communications and Electronics Group ( www.gceginc.org.au ) is a

new club formed with an enthusiastic group of members and they took their new
club to the streets of their town last weekend.

GCEG members manned a barbecue, their first fund raising event sponsored by
Melco Hardware, Gympie, in the car park of their main store.

Not only were hot sausages being sold but amateur radio was explained to
interested people.



OPERATING TIPS & REMINDERS

Ham College would like to remind all Amateur operators and second operators that
you must identify your station every 10 minutes. It is also important to
remember to leave a small break between overs - this allows other stations the
opportunity to break in.



VU2CLU , at the Kerala state science and technology museum is set-up to
demonstrate amateur radio to the visitors.
This Indian station has HF and VHF transceivers.
The formal inauguration of the station was done by Sri. M A Baby,
Honourable Minister of Education, Govt. of Kerala on Monday ,20th October
Keep your ears tuned for VU2CLU, 20m and 40m particularly.



OCTOBER EXAM IN SOUTH AFRICA HITS CLOSE TO RECORD ENTRANTS

The national RA examination which took place Thursday saw the October ham
exams, which are usually fairly small, have a close to record 97 Students
that sat the written examination.

All students writing the Class A examination had the opportunity to write the
lesser Class B paper as well in the event that they felt that they may not have
done as well as they expected in the primary one.

We hope all students had good luck with their examinations and look forward
to welcoming new call signs and new Amateur Radio Operators into this wonderful
and exciting hobby.



ACMA NEWS

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing to permit the
possession and installation of in-flight mobile phone systems by Australian
airlines for domestic and international services.

Trials of the technology that have been conducted over the past 18 months have
been assessed as highly successful by the companies providing the service and
did not result in any interference complaints to ACMA.

ACMA is unequivocally committed to protecting existing mobile phone services
from interference while enabling innovative new technologies and services such
as in-flight mobile phone services.

ACMA is seeking public submissions on the proposed changes and details can be
found at www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311446



INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.



================================================== =========================

RSGB NEWS FROM G4NJH

Worked All Britain

The New Worked All Britain Squares Award and the new Sixth
series WAB book package will be launched at the Leicester
Amateur Radio Show at Castle Donington on 24th and 25th October.

Full details and books will be available from the WAB stand at the show.


Horkheimer Prize

The German Amateur Radio Society, DARC, are looking for
nominations for the Horkheimer Prize 2009.

Rudolf Horkheimer was one of the first radio amateurs in
Germany. The prize bearing his name is awarded for merit in
amateur radio and its further development. The prize can be
awarded to one or more persons or institutions and is not
restricted to members of DARC.

Any member of an amateur radio society in the IARU is entitled
for proposal. Self proposals are permitted. The prize is
awarded during the opening of Ham Radio 2009 fair in
Friedrichshafen, Germany.

The proposals must be submitted by 31st March 2009 to DARC.
You should list name and address of the proposed amateur, a
short description of why they've been nominated and any
further information you think useful.

The decision of the jury is final and cannot be voided. If
there is no fitting proposal, the prize will not be awarded.



================================================== =========================NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE

RICHARD GARRIOTT W5KWQ OPERATES ON-ORBIT

The son of famed ham radio space pioneer Owen Garriott, W5LFL, is now on
the International Space Station and on the air. A Russian Soyuz
spacecraft carrying Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, arrived at the space station
at 08:26 UTC on October 14th and was soon heard on the air. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, has the details:

Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, has made it to the International Space Station

high above the Earth.

And since his Oct. 14, arrival, he has been busy making amateur radio
contacts across the globe.

Some say the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding this mission almost
rivals that of his father, Dr. Owen Garriott, W5LFL, the first ham who made
contacts from space as an astronaut

Here's a sample of an exuberant Richard Garriott speaking with youngsters
during a school contact arranged through the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station Program.


Well, it didn't take long for Garriott to jump onto the radio after a
welcome aboard from cosmonaut Sergei Volkov, RU3DIS.

Stan Vandiver, W4SV, in Hanna, Indiana, had his recorder going as Garriott
conducted his first QSO with Randal De Priest, N4AC, in Cummins, Georgia.
Here's the space to Earth side of that QSO:


Garriott stayed on for more than one stateside QSO.

Here's his contact with Warren Nuckols, W4TNJ, in Chester, Virginia. Again
the audio from the ISS was recorded by Stan Vandiver and again you will

hear only the voice of Richard Garriott from space:


Within hours of climbing aboard, W5KWQ began sending slow scan amateur
television pictures to stations on the ground. All of the photos were
transmitted on 145.800 MHz FM and can be viewed at the ARISS Slow Scan gallery.


www.amsat.com/ARISS_SSTV/

And yes that is a dot com rather than the usual AMSAT dot org.

By way of background, Garriott, is a computer game developer who paid $35
million dollars for his trip to space. Travelling with him to the space

outpost were U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke, KE5AIT, and Russian cosmonaut
Yury Lonchakov, RA3DT. Fincke will serve as commander of the six-month
Expedition 18 mission which will focus on preparing the station to house
six crew members on longer-duration missions.

W5KWQ will return to Earth on Friday October 24th with the space station's
outgoing crew aboard a Soyuz re-entry vehicle.

Until then, keep an ear open for many more voice QSOs, your Slow Scan TV
equipped radio set to 145.8 MHz and an eye on the special AMSAT SSTV
gallery. This, for a lot more ham radio from W5KWQ on board the I-S-S.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, following the
story from Philadelphia.

As an aside, once the hatches between the Soyuz capsule and the I-S-S were
opened Sergi Volkov, whose cosmonaut father was orbiting the earth when the
Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, welcomed Garriott with a hug. NASA says
that they are first children of previous space adventurers to meet in
orbit.



HAM TO HAM CONTACT LEADS TO SEA RESCUE

A Coast Guard crew rescued an unnamed boater who ran out of fuel as he
sailed from Hawaii to California. Early on Tuesday, October 7th the crew
aboard the cutter Halibut out of in Marina del Rey, California, found the
sailor about 100 miles off the coast.

According to the Daily Breeze newspaper, the mariner was travelling on his
44-foot boat when he ran out of fuel. He reportedly used his amateur radio
gear to contact another radio amateur in Florida, who in turn contacted the
Coast Guard in California. It in turn dispatched the Halibut.

The cutter located the marooned vessel and towed it closer to shore. It
was then transferred to a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from the Channel
Islands station.. The names and calls of the hams involved in the rescue
were not reported.



WINAPRS WRITER HURT IN BALOON CRASH

One person has been killed and a well known ham radio operator critically
injured in a hot air balloon crash at the Albuquerque International Balloon
Fiesta on Friday, October 10th. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant,
K6PZW, has the latest:


Killed in the crash was Stephen Lachendro, of Butler, Pennsylvania. Keith
Sproul, WU2Z, was critically injured in the accident when the 'Wings of
Wind' balloon hit powerlines near the festival grounds just North of the city.

According to news reports, there were gusty winds as the two balloonists
were trying to land. From pictures taken by attendees, it appears as if
the basket carrying the men caught fire after hitting the power lines,
separated from the balloon envelope and fell to the ground.

First responders reported that Lachendro was found lying on the side of a
ditch after falling 45 feet to his death. Sproul who was reportedly
piloting the balloon jumped some 60 feet from the burning
gondola. W-U-2-Zed was unconscious when he was found and was flown by
helicopter to a local hospital where he was admitted in critical
condition. Reports say that he suffered a broken leg and hip, punctured
lungs and burns to his face.

Keith Sproul is the twin brother Mark Sproul, KB2ICI. The two are best
known in ham radio circles as the co-authors of the popular WinAPRS,
MacAPRS and X-APRS APRS is the multi-faceted position reporting system

originally developed bt Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. It allows the monitoring of
real time geographical information such as the position of vehicles, the
status of weather, radio direction finding and much more.

According to a National Guard spokesman at the scene, the National
Transportation Safety Board will investigate this latest crash.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles..


The International Balloon Fiesta, held each October, is Albuquerque's
pre-eminent tourist draw, but this is not the first accident that has
happened at the event. In 2007 a 60-year-old California woman fell to her
death and three other women were hospitalised after their balloon snagged a
power line. In 1982, four people died when propane tanks on a large
balloon exploded. Other fatalities were recorded in 1990, 1993 and 1998.



================================================== ==========================

WEIRD N WONDERFUL

All set. Ready. They're off and racing in the 2008 Broadband Handicap taking an
early lead is BPL just ahead of Fibre Optic, ADSL and Wireless.

The jockey on BPL, Stewie Hype is laying into it with the whip. The crowd is
booing loudly but he's still whipping the daylights our BPL.

The rest of the field is taking it easy, look confident and in the race for the
long haul.

BPL is being ridden very aggressively indeed but seems to be running out of
stream.

Turning into the straight for the home run and it's Wireless, Fibre Optic,
ADSL - to close I'm can't pick 'em and we'll have to wait for the photo.

Way way back in the field is B P L. Wait a moment the jockey has dismounted
and you won't believe this, the connections of BPL are claiming interference
to its run.

What a turn up for the books that is, BPL complaining alleged interference.

Correct weight and placings will take a while so back to the studio.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)



OPERATIONAL NEWS -

VK9DWX "THANKS VK NIGHT" A SUCCESS

The VK9DWX team on Willis Island would like to thank all those who took part in
the Thanks VK night" activity held last Wednesday evening.

The contacts started at 0900 UTC on 3.610 MHz. but had to QSY to 3.622 MHz. due
to QRM.

The VK9DWX operator, Dieter, home call DL8OH, worked the pile-up very
efficiently and managed to work a total of eighty five VK stations of which
six were foundation licensees. Two ZL stations were worked as well.

The VK9DWX teams last day of operation from Willis Island is on the 27th
October. They expect to have made around one hundred thousand contacts for the
nineteen days that they have been on air. That's an average of well over
five thousand contacts a day. The team departs Willis on the 28th heading to
Cairns. They depart Australia on the 30th October and then face the monumental
task of sending out the QSL cards.

Dale VK4DMC on behalf of the VK9DWX team.



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

2008


October 25-26 WW CQ WW SSB contest 0000Z, Sat until 0000Z Sun.

November 15-16 (Weekend) Spring VHF/UHF Field Day

November 29-30 WW CQ WW CW contest 0000Z, Sat until 0000Z Sun.



2009

FEBRUARY 21-22 JOCK WHITE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY CONTEST 0200 UTC til 1100 UTC 21ST
1700 UTC til 0200 UTC 22ND

Rules:- Please refer NZART Website -
www.nzart.org.nz/contests/



SPECIAL EVENTS, BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/

9M1CS* 18 Scouting stations (* Apart from 9M1CSS in 9M6 all
others are 9M2 stations.
QSL via 9m2 bureau) Until Dec 31


C 4 EURO E-Day, 1st of January currency changes to Euro. Until Dec 31



PY 100 JA Centenary of first Japanese immigration to Brazil. Until Dec 31


VI 90 BV Waverley Amateur Radio Society 90th Birthday JAN 1-DEC 31 2009



AWARDS

The IARU Worked All Continents (WAC) award can now be applied for by WIA
members through the WIA Awards program. The card checking and certification is
carried out by the WIA Awards Manager and the certificates are issued by the
WIA under agreement with the ARRL Awards Branch. This means that cards no
longer need to be submitted overseas for this award - a first for the WIA !

"This is an excellent introductory award for DXer's" said WIA awards manager
Allan Meredith VK2CA "Only six contacts are required" (one in each continent).
"There is also available a 5 Band WAC and various other endorsements that can
be gained for the more serious DXer!" More details and application forms are
available under the Worked All Continents link in the Awards section of
www.wia.org.au



MEDIA WATCH


Great AR Promotion

Some VK7's may have noticed in a recent Saturday's Mercury newspaper, the
column titled "The Other Side".

It was an interview with one of the newest VK7 Foundation Licensees,
Brett Marley VK7FMMM.

Brett is a Heart 107.3FM radio announcer and has been involved in professional
radio for more than 30 years.

This section asks notable Hobartians about the "other side" of their lives and
it is a series of off-the-wall questions. One that was asked of Brett was about
his "secret skill" and Brett said...

"I am an amateur radio operator. I am a qualified VK7, which means I can
operate a personal radio station, and talk to the world via short-wave."

On ya, Brett, great promotion of the hobby.

Brett has also helped with getting the next REAST Foundation Licence course
advertised on the community notices section on Heart 107.3FM.

(73, Justin, VK7TW)



NOW ROBERT BROOMHEAD - VK3KRB.

WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY

Remembrance Day

The Opequon Radio Society located in Martinsburg, West
Virginia, USA, at the Veterans' Administration Hospital are
planning to set up and contact related military stations on
Remembrance Day (Veteran's Day USA), 11th November.

Let them know if your WIA affiliated club is doing anything
at this time or might be interested in
attempting to contact them on 20m. If you are involved in an
event on 11th November, please contact KD8PUG, details as on qrz.com

(sourced via rsgb)



WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
http://www.raotc.org.au

OLD TIMERS
Members and friends of the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club Australia are
reminded that the next news and information broadcast will take place on the
first Monday of the Month.

using the RAOTC callsign of VK3OTN.

10.00 am Victorian time on 7.060 and 3.650 MHz plus 1.843 MHz AM, and
145.700.

On 14.150 MHz at 01.00 UTC beaming north and 02:00 UTC west from Melbourne

For those not yet retired, 8.30 PM Victorian time tune 80 metres 3.650 MHz



WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO

EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES ALL REGIONS
21.360 - 18.160 - 14.300 - 7.060 - 3.760 MHz.
REGION 2 TRY ALSO 3.985 - 7.240 - 7.290



Simulated Emergency Test

International Amateur Radio Union member societies and emergency groups will
take part in a joint on air communications exercise next month.

The Global Simulated Emergency Test on or near the emergency Centre-of-Activity
frequencies on the 80, 40, 20, 17 and 15 metre bands runs 0400 to 0800 UTC on
Saturday, 8 November.

CoA frequencies +- QRM as shown below.
Region 1 Region 2 Region 3
3760 3750 or 3985 3760
7060 7060, 7240 or 7290 7060
14300 14300 14300
18160 18160 18160
21360 21360 21360


Organised by the IARU Region 1 this exercise aims:
Increase the common interest in emergency communications
Test how usable the Centre-of-Activity frequencies are across ITU regions
Create practices for international emergency communication and the relay
of messages using all modes.

Participating stations using Phone, Data or CW will be heard calling
'CQ GLOBALSET' or initiating and relaying messages.
Where their local regulations permit they may also add the recommended
/D to
their callsigns to identify as a distress or disaster station.
The amateur radio community is asked to be aware of this important training
exercise on the 8 November and to please keep the Emergency Centre-of-Activity
frequencies clear.

(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman of the IARU Region 3 Emergency Communications
Committee)



The Radio Amateurs of Canada's Canadian Amateur Radio Emergency
Database, or "CARED", which was announced some months ago, has been
changed in name to the National Amateur Radio Emergency Database, or "NARED".

This change was made in order to avoid possible confusion with another
Amateur Radio-related list that uses the "CARED" acronym for a database

unrelated to emergency communications.

(Bob Cooke VE3BDB RAC Vice President Field Services)


Support of the RAC Field Services continues. After more than a year of

planning, research and writing, the new national RAC Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES) Training Manual has been completed and is
available for download on the internet.

See www.rac.ca/fieldorg/racares.htm

for a link to the RAC ARES Training Manual page.



SOCIAL SCENE


Oct 26 VK3
B.A.R.G. Hamvention Ballarat held at the Great Southern Woolshed approx 3kms
from Ballarat CDB, located on the Melbourne side of Ballarat on the western
highway. General public admitted at 10-00am.
Door prizes, raffles good food and fellowship



NOV 8 VK4
GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY HAMFEST (Location to be advised)



Nov 9 VK2
Westlake's major field day Teralba 9am


Nov 9 VK5
Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society will hold their Bigger Better Buy and
sell day Sunday November 9 at Goodwood community centre, Rosa St.


Dec 6 VK7
VK7 HAMFEST - Central Highlands of Tasmania at Miena - starts 10am.
http://www.qsl.net/charct/


2009

International Telecommunication Union's Telecom World 2009.



JANUARY 18 2009 VK2
Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group's Radio Expo St Johns Church Hall,
Maclean Street Coffs Harbour 8.30am



Feb 8 2009 VK2
WYONG FIELD DAY



Feb 15
Centre Victoria RadioFest at the Kyneton Racecourse
http://radiofest.amateurradio.com.au/


June 5 - 8 2009 VK4
FNNQARG at Cardwell Village Beachcomber Resort book on 1800 005633
Contact FNNQARG co-ordinator Gavin VK4ZZ for site booking guidance.


OCT 12 - 16 2009 ZL
14th IARU R3 Conference Christchurch 12 ? 16 October 2009.
Details at www.christchurch.org.nz/
The Region 3 Web Site: www.jarl.or.jp/iaru-r3/




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