This WIA News, is for week commencing November 9 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
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it in the following weeks broadcast.
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This is WIANEWS for week commencing Nov 9 2008

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of one of our
staunch news relay operators.

Bill VK6NWD who has transmitted the 80 metre relay for more years than
I care to think about lost his fight with Cancer last Tuesday. Bill was
licensed on the 17th of February 1982, and was active on HF from
Yarloop. He was also in WICEN.

Bill's funeral will be on the 14th of November at 12 noon at the
Bunbury Crematorium. Our condolences to the family.

One of Australia's largest ham radio events has been put on hold.
Amateur Radio Victoria has decided to postpone the Centre Victoria
RadioFest, which was to be held in February at the Kyneton racecourse,
due in part to the current economic uncertainty in Australia.

Its President Jim Linton VK3PC says postponing this major annual event
until 2010 will be a disappointment to many, but it is the result of a
number of factors outside the control of the state-wide organisation.

Among these are growing concerns within the general community about job
security and lower returns from savings and investments including
superannuation.

A downturn already exists in some retail sectors, and a sharp fall in
the exchange rate value of the Aussie dollar will further increase the
price of amateur radio equipment.

On a positive note, Jim Linton VK3PC advises that planning will now
focus on the return of the Centre Victoria RadioFest in 2010 as part of
the Wireless Institute of Australia centenary celebrations.

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

DSTAR has come to Adelaide!

DSTAR repeater equipment donated by Icom Australia, has now been
installed by the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group at the site from
which it will serve the greater Adelaide area.

Over the last twelve months, AREG members have been beavering away,
negotiating their way into a suitable site, preparing the site by
installing antennas, antenna feed coaxes, the duplexers and filter
cavities, power supplies, establishing broad band Internet access,
building the gateway computer and finally installing the DSTAR
repeaters and controller.

Initial testing proved that the repeaters were working and all that was
left to be done was to establish the operation of the DSTAR gateway.

Assistance to establish DSTAR in Adelaide has come from local VK5
amateurs and clubs, the WIA, the National DSTAR coordinator Richard
VK3JFK, Icom Australia and of course AREG members, who have put in a
lot of time and effort to bring the VK5 part of the national WIA
project to fruition.

The Adelaide DSTAR will be officially launched at one PM, Sunday the
9th of November at the Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society's Buy &
Sell, Rosa St Goodwood. The launch will consist of an introduction by
AREG President Ben VK5ABE and WIA Director Robert Broomhead VK3KRB.
There will be a presentation by Peter VK3TQ of Icom and Richard VK3JFK
the National D-Star Coordinator and a live demonstration of D-Star on
VK5RWN as well as a question and answer session.

Further information on DSTAR activities in VK5, including the
operational frequencies on two metres, 70 centimetres and 23
centimetres, may be found on the DSTAR web site, www.dstar.org.au

(Ben, VK5ABE, president of AREG)
Around Australia

VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm VKG
Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news Amateur Radio Operators,
Westlake's Amateur Radio Club are just one of many rebroadcasters of
this news service.

Sunday morning on 146.775 MHz at 09.00 hrs is the start with local news
and is followed by the VK1WIA National News. The mornings Broadcast is
relayed on 80 Metres, 3.565MHz by Warren VK2UWP.

For those that miss the mornings broadcast, both the Westlake's Club
and VK1WIA News can be heard Sunday evenings 19.00 hrs, once again on
146.775 and 3.565

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/

The Queensland President's lunch is on Today. The date will be today
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.. You will
also get plenty of opportunities to ask questions.. all at the Geebung
Zillmere RSL 11:30 today.

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 mobile 0427 182469
or via Radio. Deadline is November 18th Social Meeting in Townsville.

VK7 local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php vk7 local news,
email Tour of Heart 107.3 FM
Studios

Brett Marley VK7FMMM (who was mentioned in despatches on last weeks
bulletin) has organised a tour through the Heart 107.3 FM Radio Station
with Technician Chris.

Meet out the front of the station in Liverpool St (opposite the bank
arcade) at 7pm on Wednesday 12 Nov.

Please let Clayton 7ZCR know if you are going along on mobile 0466 588
193

or Repeaters 2/5
Education & Youth

Congratulations to Roger, VK4FDUN and Doug, VK4FADM, who upgraded their
Foundation licences last weekend and are now awaiting their new
callsigns. A further 5 Redcliffe club members will also be upgrading
their "F" calls next weekend!

Tuesday night was the second instalment of the Foundation Licence
training and six eager participants returned for more.

Tuesday night is a recap and practical practice night with the actual
assessment night with both theory and practical being run on the night
on the 11th of November - Remembrance Day!

If you are in Hobart or surrounds and are interested in attending the
course and/or the assessment and it could be an assessment for other
than just the Foundation licence then please let Reg VK7KK know ASAP
and he can be contacted by ringing mobile: 0417 391 607
ASAP.

(Reg, VK7KK, REAST Education Officer and Assessor)

Amateur Radio Victoria will be running two more Foundation Licence
training and assessment weekends this year.

These will be on the 22nd & 23rd November and 13th & 14th December at
easy to reach Box Hill North.

For inquiries or to enrol please contact Barry Robinson VK3PV 0428 516
001 or

Peter Freeman VK3KAI says the Eastern Zone A.R.C. are holding
Foundation Licence Training and Assessments 22 & 23 November, 9.30 to
5pm. So if you are in Victoria contact vk3kai2wia.org.au and see if
their course, dates and venue are suitable.

Liverpool & Districts ARC together with Fishers Ghost ARC congratulates
recent candidates for the successful completion of their Foundation
Training Course and Standard licence candidate. Candidates wishing to
attend the next course in February/March should contact either Garry
Barker VK2TSR on Tel: 9896 5763 (h) or Wal Kelly VK2ZWK on Tel: 46 26
8423 (h) to register their interest.
International News

With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL, Amateur Radio
Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA. I'm VK5MM Rob.

The International Amateur Radio Union, IARU and The International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding. A prime reason why we are able to justify
keeping our frequencies and privileges around the world is because of
our ability to provide communications in cases of disaster. This
willingness and ability to help by the Amateur Service and the Amateur
Satellite Service has also been recognized by the ratification of the
ITU (International Telecommunications Union) Tempere (Finland)
Convention.

Another step towards general global recognition of our offered
abilities to serve came with the recent signing of a MOU between the
IARU and the IFRC. Back in June, the IFRC Secretary General and VE6SH,
Vice President of the International Amateur Radio Union, signed this
very important document.

In the hotly contested battle for the use of white spaces, the unused
portions of the USA television broadcast spectrum, technology companies
have scored a big win.

The Federal Communications Commission have approved the use of new
unlicensed wireless devices in the spectrum to provide broadband
connectivity. Tech companies are cheering FCC's decision. "In many
areas in the United States television channels lie fallow because
broadcasters only occupy a certain number of channels in every
television market," said Motorola in a statement. "By allowing the use
of white spaces the FCC is advancing access to broadband services,
especially in rural areas where broadband is more limited."

The FCC's approval will allow for both fixed and portable unlicensed
devices.

================================================== =====================
======== RSGB NEWS FROM G4NJH RAYNET assist in Lake District marathon

The media was full of reports of the near disaster in the Lake District
last weekend, when competitors in the Original Mountain Marathon
encountered extreme weather conditions.

It was not widely reported that RAYNET were providing communications
and that, without their efforts, things could have been much worse. The
Central Lancashire RAYNET group coordinated the radio safety cover,
assisted by others including Manchester Scouts RAYNET. Fred Charnley,
G4RPW, reports: "On pre-visits to the area, it was clear that mobile
phone coverage was very poor to nonexistent; in particular between the
Event Centre and the Overnight Camp. Several radio points identified on
the map were set up to assist competitors in case of urgent medical
attention and or evacuation by Mountain Rescue being required. A
Control Centre was set up adjacent to the Event Centre, which was
equipped with a landline phone. Personnel manning this were authorised
to contact Mountain Rescue via the Police if assistance was required.

"The Police declared a Major Incident and, with the organisers, decided
to abandon the race. The Police requested that we contact each radio-
equipped checkpoint and request the officials to tell competitors that
the race was abandoned and to make their way down to low level, find a
sheltered area and camp for the night. If they met any other teams on
their way down they were to advise them to do the same. At this point
we switched into RAYNET mode.

"This ability was very much appreciated by the organisers who were
fulsome in their praise for our efforts under the most trying of
weather conditions."

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

CROSSBAND REPEATER OPERATIONAL FROM THE ISS

Roy Stokes, AG5D, says that astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT has turned on
the crossband repeater on board the International Space Station and
early reports indicate that its coverage is quite good to those within
its ever shifting radio range.

The world-wide frequencies are 437.80 MHz as your uplink while you
listen on 145.80 MHz as the downlink or output channel. Operation is
similar to working the Amsat Oscar 51 satellite or any ground-based
crossband system. The big difference is that in this case you literally
talk through the repeater on board the I-S-S to other hams within range
of the I-S-S radio footprint on the ground.

How long the crossband repeater will remain in operation is not known.
145.8 MHz is also used for normal QSOs and school contacts, you can
expect it to be off during those times. Also, the crossband repeater
uses the crossband repeat function of the on-board Kenwood D 700 radio.
This unit is also used for other on-orbit ham radio operations and
during those periods the repeater will likely be off line.

WELLINGTON NEW ZEALAND IN MARCH 2009

On the social scene, word from down-under that the annual Wellington
New Zealand Radio EXPO-09 is to be held on March 28th of 2009. The show
is sponsored b the Combined Wellington Amateur Radio Expo Committee. In
addition to usual manufacturer and retailer displays there will also be
swap-meet like trading tables of used equipment. Refreshments will be
available in the main hall.
Operational News

ON AIR CONTEST AND EVENT COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2008

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

The Vendee Globe Challenge1-15 November

Members of the Radio Club Vendeen will be active as TM6VG until
November 15th. Activity is to celebrate the 6th sailing race called
'The Vendee Globe Challenge' towards and around the three great capes,
marking the southern tips of the African continent, Australia and
America.

Activity will be on the HF bands, 160-10 meters, included 30/17/12
meter bands, and VHF 2 meters. Modes will be CW, SSB and various
digital modes. QSL via F6KU

(irts)

Special Event Station GB617SQN

For those of you interested in R.A.F. history there is a special event
station transmitting throughout November commemorating the sinking of
the German Battleship Tirpitz by 617 and 9 Squadrons.

The station will operate 20m SSB and CW on other bands.

The station is located in the accommodation block of 617 Squadron and
will use the callsign GB 617 SQN. There will be a limited edition QSL
card unfortunately the group have seen fit to just give it to the first
2000 contacts so get in early!!

Special event Stations in Brief thanks to RSGB

On 9th November, GB4LWF, Lest We Forget, will be commemorating
Remembrance Sunday from Mexborough, Swinton.

14th November sees GB70RAF on the air for the Royal Air Force from
Shaftesbury in Dorset.

It's the Royal Navy's turn on 15th November when GB4RN goes on the air
from Waterlooville.

Terry, GM3WUX will be operating GB2HLB, from 26th December 2008 to 22nd
January 2009, to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Louis
Braille. Each QSO will receive a special QSL card depicting Braille and
raising awareness of the Royal National Institute of Blind People
(RNIB). A fund raising page for RNIB can be found at
www.justgiving.com/louisbraille.

Special event station ON55INR is QRV until 31st December to mark the
start of TV broadcasting from Brussels. QSL via bureau.

Latvian amateur radio operators will use the special prefix YL90 during
the month of November in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the
proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.

TC85TC will be on the air until 2ND December to celebrate the 85th
Anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. Activity will be mainly on 17,
20 and 40metres. QSL manager is TA1HZ.

TC70ATA will be on the air for the 70th Anniversary of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk's death. The activity will be until 12th November. Detailed
information about activity is on www.qrz.com. QSL via TA1HZ.
Media Watch

Amateur Radio Magazine Preview November 2008

The next issue is now out! Amateur Radio magazine for November is
waiting for you at the newsagents. Get your copy now, before they are
all gone. Only one more issue before Christmas.

Faure Island in Shark Bay, 900 km north of Perth! That's it in colour,
on the front cover. How's that for a remote QSO to put in your log?
Nine intrepid members of the West Australian DX Chasers Club went out
there (yes, 20 km in small boats) and activated it for amateur radio
for the first time. Read about all their adventures, chasing both DX
and the local wildlife and share the excellent photos they brought back

An antenna tuning unit is essential if your antenna system is not
resonant, and Amateur Radio published a thorough review of a Palstar
ATU last March. Now, John Morrissey VK3ZRX describes the test methods
and the test equipment he used to conduct that review. If you take an
interest in transmission lines and VSWR, here is a very accessible, but
equally thorough, exploration of the critical impedance measurements
and how to be confident of your results.

The WIA News on page 4 always has something of interest for all radio
amateurs. This month, from WIA President Michael Owen VK3KI, read more
about the management of all callsigns, not just the 2-letter variety.
And be advised of the long-awaited move by WIA National to new
premises. At last there will be room to swing a cat - well, several in
fact. The new street and postal addresses are featured, as well as the
updated phone and fax numbers.

The surface mount device, or SMD, used to be an exotic beast, only
found in factory-assembled gear, and impossible to replace for repairs.
No longer! Grant McDuling VK4JAZ tells how he tamed this beast. Get all
his practical tips on soldering, and how to use your own personal
earth-wire to avoid getting charged up.

It is important to mention the news round-up from amateur radio Clubs
around the country, VK1 To 7, there are nearly nine pages on Club
activities this month.

Also, Christine Taylor VK5CTY reports on the big and successful
ALARAMeet 2008 held in Tasmania. Around 40 ALARA members were there and
the entire gathering numbered over 80.

So welcome to another absorbing issue of Amateur Radio magazine, as
always with something for everyone. A hard-working little group of
volunteers called the WIA Publications Committee brings the magazine to
you every month, with the essential contribution of articles written by
you, the readers.

Finally, a reminder about the 2009 Callbook. It comes out this month,
with right-up-to-date call listings and all kinds of other useful
information for the radio amateur.

(Tom Potter VK3UBS)

media - Listen out for Radio St Helena

Radio St Helena Day 2008 is set for Saturday 15th November.

Transmissions to Europe will be between 21.00 and 22.30 UTC on
11,092.5kHz USB. The QSL address is: Radio St Helena, PO Box 93,
Jamestown, St. Helena, STHL 1ZZ, South Atlantic Ocean.

(rsgb)

Worldwide Special Interest Group News

--- FINAL FRONTIER

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

Think an international phone call is expensive?

Try ringing someone in space.

Using an antenna attached to a crane, 15 students from a small Brisbane
school have spoken with a US astronaut live from NASA's International
Space Station

The children, from St Thomas' Catholic Primary School at Camp Hill on
Brisbane's southside, had just 10 minutes to talk with the real-life
space traveller and mission commander of the United States Air Force,
Colonel Edward Michael 'Mike' Fincke, when the ISS orbited over
Brisbane. The entire local community at Camp Hill got on board for the
event, Parents and students turned out to listen in the hall and to
watch a simulcast outside.

St Thomas' principal David Cashman said the school was thrilled to
receive confirmation from NASA last year that the school had been
accepted to take part in the program.

Way up north of the state, WIA News Man Felix VK4FUQ fired up his IC
706 on 145.8 FM and there was the ISS coming through loud and clear!

Felix managed to record part of the downlink from the ISS using his
trusty three element 'strip' yagi which was looking SE and vertically
polarised.

(play in recording)

Anderson's Creek Primary School is set for their much anticipated ISS
contact scheduled to take place Monday. The link-up will commence at
6:56 pm Vic Summer Time, which is AOS (Acquisition Of Signal) or when
the ISS comes in range of the ARISS base station.

Tony Hutchison VK5ZAI will be providing the ISS to Earth link-up and
the students will again (like Camp Hill) be speaking with ISS crew
member Mike Fincke.

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

As this news goes to air today Sunday, 10 members of the Redcliffe Club
are at the clubhouse undertaking a training course conducted by
Emergency Management Queensland. The course is to train members to
become part of the South East Queensland Regional Operations
Communications group.

This training will assist members with not only Emergency Management
Queensland but also with WICEN in South East Queensland. This is a
major part of Redcliffe's club aim to develop emergency communications
capabilities based in the Redcliffe area.

If you believe that you can assist the Redcliffe club in this or if you
have a desire to become part of Emergency Services Queensland, then
please contact Peter, VK4EA at web address, for more
details

MAKE THE SWITCH TO A 406!

Boaters are reminded that from 1 February 2009, the 121.5 MHz distress
beacon (or EPIRB) signal will no longer be detected by aircraft or
satellite. Each 406 MHz beacon - which is registered to an individual
person and their craft - carries a unique identification code which is
transmitted when the beacon is activated.

http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/

(sourced to sarc, Summerland AR Club news.)

Radio team to help during calamities

THE Northern Region Malay Amateur Radio Association (Astra) plans to
set up an Astra For Disaster and Emergency Communication (ADEC) team in
each state to help the authorities during calamities.

Association vice-president Saidin Ahmad said each team, which comprised
a platoon of 33 members, would provide support to the authorities by
relaying real time communications on the situation at the site of any
disasters when commercial communication was unavailable.

"This is part of our efforts to help victims of calamities and the
authorities. We hope to set up the team next year.

"We hope to start the ball rolling in Penang first, said Ahmad.

Ham Radio's Social Scene

NOV 8 VK4 GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY HAMFEST

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

NOV 9 VK4 WIA Presidents Lunch. details and RSVP

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

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/
The Final Final

WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.

Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to the
actual broadcast date, e-mail

Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who knows, you might
even get a "cheerio call".

Thanks to to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast.

The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
active amateurs residing in Australia and the globe.

We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia
and participation in the activities of local clubs.

Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit
material and do not necessarily reflect those of the rebroadcasters,
nor the National WIA, but are broadcast in the spirit in which they
were submitted.

Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit
to WIANews wouldn't go astray...

Compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.