WIANEWS for week commencing Nov 30 2008
 

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WIANEWS - Nov 30 - VK NATIONAL NEWS

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This is WIANEWS for week commencing Nov 30 2008

At the annual gala dinner of the Australian Radio Communications Industry
Association held at the Melbourne Telstra Dome in front of over 500 people,
Peter Young VK3MV, a WIA Director, was awarded the Jonathon Livingstone
Seagull Award and Perpetual Trophy in recognition of his contribution to the
radio industry in Australia.

The concept of the Jonathon Livingstone Seagull award is to recognise someone
who has learned more and risen above what would normally be expected of them
in their usual role in the Industry, and then contributed back to the
industry in a way that doesn't necessarily relate to their own direct

benefit. This could be through additional training, encouragement of other
people to benefit themselves, a contribution that is to the benefit of the
community, either as a whole in the context of the radio industry, or perhaps
within their own local community in smaller areas.

The WIA congratulates Peter on this industry recognition, and again
acknowledges his contribution to the Australian Amateur Radio community in
his capacity as a Director on the WIA Board.

A more detailed report will be featured in a future edition of Amateur Radio
magazine.



Local Political Action By Clubs Necessary to Avoid NSW Crown Land Rental Fees

In 2005 the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) undertook a
review of rental agreements for NSW Crown Land communications sites. One of
the recommendations was to standardise the rental agreements for occupiers
of Crown land and to introduce a standardised fee schedule.

The NSW Government accepted this recommendation and categorised Crown Land
communications site users into nine categories, from television broadcasters
paying $30,000 per-year per-site, down to community organisations, such as
amateur radio clubs maintaining repeaters, paying $100 per-year per-site.
However, as the NSW Crown Lands act specifies a minimum site rental of $350,
the fee for community organisations was set at $350 indexed for CPI from
2004, or $396.00 in 2008.

Several months ago the NSW Department of Lands wrote to amateur radio clubs
who maintain communications facilities on Crown Land. The clubs were provided
with a contract to sign at quite short notice, virtually as a
"fait accompli."

Some radio clubs welcome the opportunity to enter into the agreement which
formalises their occupancy, and provides long secure tenure for their
repeater site.

Other clubs, especially smaller clubs or clubs with several repeater sites,
determined that they would be unable to afford the fee and would need to
close or relocate their repeater facilities to less favourable locations.

In August this year the WIA wrote to the Director General of the NSW
Dept of Lands asking for special consideration for small amateur radio clubs
based on their inability to pay the rental fees, and suggesting that small
clubs in rural areas should be exempt from the need to enter into the rental
agreement.

In November the Director General replied to the WIA advising that the
licence agreements were drafted to ensure appropriate use management
of Crown Land sites, and also that rents cannot be reduced below the minimum
rent provisions.

This leaves some rural amateur radio clubs in a very difficult position, as
it must also do to rural CB radio clubs who maintain UHF repeater facilities
so important for rural landholders and travellers.

The current situation is that every amateur radio club maintaining
communications facilities on NSW Crown Land is now required to enter into
a rental agreement with the Department, and pay $396 per site per year,
CPI indexed.

The WIA is of the opinion that further action needs to be mounted in the
political arena and that such action should be local and by the affected
club. Affected clubs, together with any affected local CB radio
organisation, should lobby their local State member of parliament,
preferably in a face-to-face meeting, providing background information
showing how the club is affected. Follow up letters should also be sent to
members of parliament.

Clubs may also apply for a government grant, as there is considerable scope
in the sorts of grants provided. Clubs may also seek support from local
newspapers and community radio stations.

The WIA is able to provide materials and advice to clubs that wish to take
this issue further.

The WIA's letter to the Director General of the NSW Dept of Lands, and the
Departments reply is posted in the news section of the WIA website at
www.wia.org.au

(Phil Wait, VK2DKN for the WIA)



HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

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


SUMMERLAND CLUBROOM TOWER WORK CONTINUES.

Additional stays and base reconstruction has been done on the tower.
This and other work continues as time permits by a few of the members.

SARC CHRISTMAS PARTY, SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER.

All invited to the Clubrooms for this day, come along.

The usual BBQ lunch provided plus extras brought along.

Please bring along a plate of extra nicies for the table to add variety.
Requested that children's presents don't exceed about $20 ea in value



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

Peter Freeman VK3KAI advises that the Eastern Zone ARC will again be
hosting GippsTech.

11 July for 2 days will see GIPPSTECH 2009 in full operation.

This Annual GippsTech technical conference services VHF, UHF & microwave
devotees and is a friendly get together for all who are interested in weak
signal VHF,UHF and microwave communications.

Conference registration includes barbecue lunch Saturday and Sunday, an
optional conference dinner Saturday night and a social meal Friday evening.

More detail at www.vk3bez.org



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/


Remember the Christmas Party at the Gold Coast Club house is on the 13th
December and those who have not made a booking yet check with Pam VK4PTO
and see if there is a place still available for you.

And further north Christmas came early in Townsville thanks to ACMA.

Some VK4 hams were lucky enough to get some bargains at a recent Pickles
auction - the radios and test equipment came from the ACMA field tech offices
in Cairns Townsville and Rockhampton which are all closing at the end of this
year.

All technical operations for Northern Australia will be conducted from the
Brisbane office.

This ends a manned presence for Radio Inspectors in the North that was
maintained for many years.

Northern VK4 area, your nearest point of contact for the ACMA is now on
telephone 1300 850 115.



VK5
www.qsl.net/vk5bar/

AS-LAN #10 takes place in Adelaide 27th of December from 10am!
AS-LAN (Air-Stream LAN) is a lanning event for gaming fun and also to
promote the presence of the Air Stream wireless community in the Northern
suburbs of Adelaide.
As usual AS-LAN is being held at the Mawson Centre from 10am until 10pm.
That's 12 hours of lanning goodness all for the small cost of $10 payable
at the door!



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

REAST have another new Foundation Licensee who has passed his assessment
and a new Advanced Licensee.
Congratulations to Paul and Len and we look forward to hearing you on the
airways with your new callsigns.

If you are interested in attending a foundation licence course or an
assessment for any licence in the Hobart area then please let Reg VK7KK
on mobile: 0417 391 607 now.

or email:


In Melbourne and want to become a radio amateur, learn something new.
Enter an exciting communications hobby through the foundation licence.
Next course after this weekend along with assessments will be December 13-14.
For inquiries, to enrol or obtain the Foundation licence manual for $26.00.
Contact Barry Robinson VK3PV 0428 516 001


Canberra region have run another of their Foundation Licence courses with 3
attendees, all of whom passed their exams and practical tests.
They also had people sit the Standard & the Advanced Theory and Regulations
papers and Alan VK1WX is glad to report that everyone passed what ever they
attempted.

Congratulations to:-

Foundation Licensees; Allan Williams, Adam Longworth and Rachel Barnicoat
Standard Licensee (upgrade); Steve Sahariv.
Advanced Licensee (new Amateur); Ian Bennett.

While on the subject of Licence assessments C.R.A.R.C. are in desperate need
of additional Learning Facilitators.

The learning facilitators task is to assist the WIA assessors run the
assessments by Checking forms are correctly filled in, Supervise the conduct
of written assessment papers and assist the WIA assessor to conduct
practical assessments.

If you are interested contact Alan Hawes VK1WX Education Officer 6258 2568



HAM COLLEGE VK6

Ham College is looking to finalise numbers for the Standard Course for
2009 - anyone interested in attending the Standard Course run Tuesday nights
starting from early February should email their interest via the contact
page at www.hamcollege.com.au
or you can phone Kylea on 0412 704 226 for more information.



Discussion Point - The hidden costs of repeaters

Increased site rental charges for amateur repeaters are forcing clubs to
consider whether to pay more, relocate or close repeaters.

The days of using simple gear for a repeaters are quickly ending.
Increasingly site owners demand modern commercial specification transceivers.

This is to avoid interference but also increases rack mount capacity so
more paying customers can be accommodated.

Diplexers, splitters, filters and other plumbing, power bills and licence
fees also add to the cost.

Antenna work almost universally needs a fully insured qualified rigger
that charges thousands of dollars a time.

Whether it's an analogue FM or the latest D-STAR repeater, they seem to get
minimal use.

Should there be some repeater rationalisation in both the heavily populated
regions and country areas?

Are those repeater and beacon users who expect a high level of service
and reliability aware, or give much thought to, the enormous financial
costs and volunteer man-hours involved?

I'm Barry Robinson VK3PV and you're listening to VK1WIA.


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

The following from AAP News courtesy Michael VK2ZEN and Barry VK2BZ both
Westlake's members

Pirates thwarted with MP 3 blast.

A British firm is spearheading use of a high-tech "sonic laser" to beat
bandits on the high seas.

The piracy problems of shipping firms running through the Gulf of Aden and
down Africa's east coast have been thrown into the spotlight by the seizure
of the Saudi Arabian super-tanker Sirius Star.

Help could be at hand in the form of a long range acoustic device (LRAD),
hooked up to a humble MP3 player.

About the size of a domestic satellite dish, LRADs blast the target with a
precise beam of sound, warning messages, noise or sirens which can be tuned
to excruciatingly painful levels should an attacker get too close.

It's very effective up to 1,000 metres and excruciating if you get within
100 or 200 metres. At full power it would result in permanent hearing damage.

It has been tested in an actual attack and the pirates were driven off.


In a moment Jim Linton, president of Amateur Radio Victoria will have
another "sound" story akin to this when he presents this weeks
"Weird and Wonderful file".



MP3's and iPod's are so popular that there is a huge amount of accessories
and gear to go along with them. Typically, accessories revolve around
speakers, earphones, FM transmitters and the like. Sometimes we see a few
more exotic accessories like voice recorders.

This week a new iPod accessory was announced that takes the "gadget cake"
it is called the iBreath iPod Breathalyser.

A fold out breath tube lets users blow into the device to see their blood
alcohol level and decide if they have had too many drinks to drive.

The device also works as an FM transmitter. The breathalyser portion
requires users be sober enough to blow for five seconds. After blowing the
Blood Alcohol Content number is given within two seconds.


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

NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE

THE BOOBY-TRAP REPEATER JAMMER

And finally this week, the rather bizarre video showing the discovery of
a repeater jamming device with a booby-trap attached. That's the
story from the United Kingdom told in an item that first aired on ITV
news and is now posted to a video sharing website. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the rest of this rather strange tale
now coming to the attention of hams world wide:


The accidental find of the booby trapped jamming unit apparently took
place in the United Kingdom in late 2007. According to an early 2008
report by Erika Barnes of ITV News and only recently discovered on the
YouTube dot com video website, the device was accidentally discovered in
Buckinghamshire by the caretaker of the property.

Mike Harrison is the manager of Wolton Estate. That's a tiny in-land
island in England's south end. He told Barnes that in the course of his
regular duties that he unearthed some top soil and found a white box.
He was suspicious and decided to not go near it. After turning it over
using a long stick he noticed a battery attached to something that he
suspected might be an explosive and decided to back away.

Authorities found it to be a radio jamming device intended to interfere
with ham radio relay communications to a repeater located on a tower
near a location known as Brill. Authorities say that the device was
also designed harm and possibly kill anyone who might have found it and
try to turn it off. Thankfully for Harrison he moved it with the stick
and even more thankfully the device failed to detonate.

At the time the report aired that there was at least one more jamming
device in the area. The ITV story warned that anyone who might find it
to not tamper with it. Instead, that they should notify the local
police. No word if it was ever located and disarmed.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

Talk about carrying repeater jamming to a new low. As far as we have
been able to determine, the person or persons who planted the booby
trapped jamming devices is still at large. You cam see the story
yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT11H...eature=related



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

RSGB NEWS FROM G4NJH

Astronomy podcast from Jodrell Bank

A podcast covering all aspects of astronomy from The University of
Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory may be of interest to radio amateurs.

It has been created by a group of astronomers for anyone who is
interested in things out of this world. Parts of this podcast are
available as separate downloads from
www.jodcast.net/amp/jodcast.html#jodcast_50

There's even a piece about radio noise from the atmosphere and space.



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

WEIRD N WONDERFUL


Hello I'm Jim Linton VK3PC with the Weird 'n Wonderful File.

Just image driving along the road and your car starts to vibrate?
Is it an earthquake you think, a service overdue or are the wheels
about to fall off?

No, it will be a blast from the latest low frequency howler being
fitted to ambulances to augment their traditional lights and sirens.

These send pulses of low frequency tones every eight seconds
vibrate cars and other things including pedestrians within range of
an ambulance on an emergency dash.

This will hopefully alert motorists who may be not concentrating on
the driving task, perhaps with their car stereo's turned up too loud,
or dare we say ... they're on the mobile phone.

The Emergency Medical Services Authority in Oklahoma is among the first
to be installing them in ambulances.

If they prove successful in reducing delays and intersection accident
collision rates of ambulances then we can expect others to fit this
latest technology.

I just can't wait to experience the good vibrations.

(Jim Linton VK3PC)





OPERATIONAL NEWS -



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

2008


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



2009

JAN 1 ROSS HULL Contest starts

JAN 17 - 18 Summer VHF Field Day

FEB 28 - Mar 1 JOCK WHITE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY 0200 UTC til 1100 UTC 21ST
1700 UTC til 0200 UTC 22ND


VHF CONTEST NEWS

The annual Spring VHF-UHF Field Day was held over the weekend of November 15
and 16, and logs are due in no later than next Wednesday, December 3. Full
details were published in September Amateur Radio magazine and on the WIA web
site.

The next VHF-UHF Field Day will be held on the weekend of January 17 and 18.

The rules will be published in the December issue of AR Magazine, and they
are already available on the WIA web site.

If you haven't participated in a VHF-UHF Field Day before, mark those dates
in your calendar! The Field Days are a lot of fun and they are becoming more
popular each year. And if you aren't able to go portable, you can participate
as a home station.

Another event in the VHF contest calendar is the Ross Hull Contest, which
runs during the month of January. The rules have been completely revamped
this year, with a new scoring system based on Maidenhead locator squares.

Full details will be published in the December issue of AR magazine, and
we'll give you even more information about it in next week's broadcast.


VK SHIRES CONTEST

Trent VK4TI is seeking feedback to a proposal to implement a new contest on
the VK Scene. The VK Shires contest - a sort of modified Jack Files where
the multipliers are the various state based shires or local government
organisations.

Key highlights are ALL BAND operation on STANDARD LICENCE HF FREQUENCIES
proposed modes are SSB and CW.

For a copy of the proposed rules please drop an email to
or check the web edition of this bulletin

Any of your thoughts that could be put onto an email would also be
appreciated by Trent VK4TI.




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


ON 55 INR marks start of TV broadcasting from Brussels 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



BIG IS BEST

Operators Peter PA8A, Fred PA8F and Rob PA3GVI will once again activate the
"big array", formerly used to broadcast 'Radio Netherlands', with the special
callsign PG 6 G between 1200z, November 27th and 1200z, November 28th.
The array antenna is a curtain antenna with 8 stacked dipoles between two
400 feet towers. Radiation angle is about 7 degrees and a gain of
approximate 22 dB!!

Their activity will be on CW and SSB, mainly on 40 meters.
QSL via PA3GVI.

(SOUTHGATE)


6TH IDXC CONVENTION IN APRIL 2009

Turning to DX eyeballs, word that Italy's 6th International DX Convention
will be held April 18th to the 19th, 2009. Organized by the Strange Radio
Team the venue is the city of Paestum near Salerno.
More details will be forthcoming in January and posted at
www.strangeradioteam.com.


20th Anniversary of BCDX Net, India

VU2JOS says the weekly BCDX Net operating on the 40 Meter Amateur Band in
South India is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This Net was
started November 27, 1988 by a small group of Amateurs with input by SWL's.

The whole concept of BCDX started when these Hams used to meet regularly on
the band and exchanged DX news at various times. This later transformed into
a regular Net which benefited many people. This Net is conducted on Sunday
mornings for the advantage of those who are keenly interested in Broadcast
Band Dxing.

The unique thing about this Net is that is helped Hams to become SWL Dxers
and SWL's to become Hams!

The BCDX Net has been very regular all these long 20 years, thanks to the
dedicated Net Controllers.

Now a days it is conducted on Sunday mornings 0300 UTC on 7085 kHz
Occasionally also on the 20 Meter Band 14150 kHz at 1600 UTC.



WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- 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

St Theresa School to space, over.

How many times have we seen this, a great ham radio story not being passed
on by the hams who contributed, but we find in the main stream media instead.

In this case thanks to Felix VK4FUQ our ever resourceful "eavesdropper" and
the ZL paper, The Dominion Post, we get to hear of yet another successful
ARISS contact, ZL's first?

Caitlin Austin, has had the rare privilege of speaking to a NASA astronaut
as he floated hundreds of kilometres above New Zealand.

Caitlin, 12, was one of 21 pupils involved in a question and answer session
with Nasa astronaut Mike Fincke, sent from their classroom at Featherston's
St Theresa School to the International Space Station over ham radio.

It took the school two years to organise the 10-minute session - which is how
long the space station stays above Australia and New Zealand - and they had
not studied outer space since last year.

But their interest was rekindled after reports that Endeavour space shuttle
crew member Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper had become the first woman to lose
her tool bag and watch it drift off into space during a space walk.

Caitlin said the muck-up was embarrassing and that would not happen to her.

"I don't think I'd be taking my bag into space, there's nothing to buy up
there."

The children, aged 7 to 13, each put a pre-approved question to Mr Fincke
and got some interesting responses.

Oh and the lost "tool bag?"

It has been spotted and filmed by an amateur astronomer from Canada.

The backpack-sized tool bag which floated away from the astronaut
was seen by Kevin Fetter and filmed and is now posted to YouTube.

Kev said "anyone can spot the bag with a pair of binoculars if they know
where to look, the bag will keep orbiting the earth until it's orbit decays
and it burns up upon re-entry to earth."



WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET --- THE HAMS DOMAIN

First test for interplanetary internet

The net has taken a giant leap that has extended cyberspace into outer space.

NASA has successfully transmitted images to and from a spacecraft 20 million
miles away with a communications system based on the internet.

The Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN) technology is designed to work
across vast distances where response times can be measured in days.

Further tests of DTN are due to take place on the International Space Station
(ISS) in 2009.

DTN will also help NASA mount very complex missions that involve many
different types of craft that before now have been hard to co-ordinate.
It would also underpin communications with astronauts when a return trip
to the moon takes place.

(sourced to bbc)



WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY

The UK has Bletchley Park home of WW2 code breaking efforts, the USA has
Fort Ward, well the fort is actually a house.

Sarah Lee bought a property not knowing what its roots were until the
new household was filmed and photographed most weekends by passes by.

"I knew there was something significant because older people would drive by
sometimes, especially in the summer, and get out of their cars and take

photos. Almost apologetically," she said.
Lee's Parkview Drive home was once known as Station S.

There, on Dec. 7, 1941, U.S. Navy personnel working at the top-secret outpost
intercepted a famous message sent from Tokyo to the Japanese ambassador in
Washington, D.C.

Decades after the war ended, Lee's impromptu visitors and the veterans she
meet in the area remain reticent about revealing details. Even at a 2002
celebration held in Fort Ward to honour the veterans who served there,
old buddies shushed each other.

She was mildly amazed, then, and deeply appreciative of the irony, when she
was contacted by Tokyo Broadcasting Systems' international news department
who had made arrangements to interview Tom Gilmore, one of the Navy men who
worked in Station S, about the intelligence work that took place there.

The interview to be part of a 4 ½-hour docu-drama about Japan's role in
World War II.

Tokyo knew that this house was one of the places where Japanese code was
intercepted.

For more on this story google "Bainbridge Island Review"



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 mtrs 3.650 MHz



SOCIAL SCENE

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



July 11 - 12 VK3
GippsTech 2009, the technical conference with a VHF, UHF & microwave focus.


OCT 12 - 16 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/


Please think of the environment before printing this email


================================================== =======================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.


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


************************************************** ***************************


/ex




SB QNEWS @ WW $QNEWS081130
QNEWS - Nov 30 - VK4 ON AIR
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----------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

The new wia office address is:
The Wireless Institute of Australia
P.O. Box 2042
BAYSWATER VIC 3153

Telephone: 03 9729 0400
Fax: 03 9729 7325






QNEWS BROADCAST November 30 2008



VK4 SILENT KEYS @ 2008 - 2009 QAC YEAR

VK4HEL Stan Stan Sonter November 10 (advised by vk2va via summerland)
VK4NKA John Bourke November 19 (advised by vk4kd)



SILENT KEY - Stan Sonter VK4HEL

Stan passed away suddenly after arriving at work monday morning 10th November
aged 46.

Stan was a loving husband to Karen who provided much support to Stans hobbies,
i.e. amateur radio and boating.

Stan gained his novice licence a number of years ago after completing the
novice radio course with the Summerland Amateur Radio Club and was a member
of the SARC although residing on their small farm near Jimboomba.

Stan had many friends among the amateur radio fraternity.

Stan's funeral was held at the Eco Memorial park Stapylton QLD, Friday 14th
November with the amateur radio community well represented.

We express our condolances and best wishes to his family and friends.

de Bruce VK2VA.






AR MAGAZINE—VK4 QTC COLUMN
As we get into this weeks news... a reminder, news for QTC must be in
by the 6th of each month! ( )
Written by Chris Comollattie VK4VKR
news for ar magazine to



Some broadcast band news from ACMA to start this weeks QNEWS.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing to make
spectrum available at 90.5 MHz to improve reception of the commercial radio
service 4CC Gladstone.

ACMA is proposing to make this 250 watt low power in-fill FM frequency
available for 4CC to address deficient AM coverage in the Livingstone Shire,
specifically along the coast between Yeppoon and Keppel Stands.

When exploring ways to rectify deficient coverage in AM radio services, ACMA
first looks to AM solutions such as increasing the power of the existing
AM transmitter. However, this is not possible in the case of 4CC's
Rockhampton translator as its AM frequency, 1584 kHz, has been designated as
a low power frequency under the terms of an international agreement.

ACMA is also aware of opposition to the establishment of new AM broadcast
tower sites by the local council.

ACMA has therefore proposed an FM in-fill translator, 90.5 targeted to the
area of deficient coverage only.



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

Gympie Communications and Electronics Group
Memers have been asked to round up the numbers attending the Valley Rattler
steam train ride on 13th December. Harmonics under 14yrs accompanied by an
adult get a free ride on this outing.

Barry, VK4KKN is waiting to collect your money as bookings have to be
confirmed by the 5th December.

Remember, after the excursion dey will be holding a BYO barbecue in the park
adjacent the Gympie Gold Mining Museum.


The question posed by Net Controller, Dawn, VK4FTBA on last Monday's
net sparked some interesting and valuable discussion.

"If there was such a terrible disaster, that your normal radio did not work,
and there was no electricity or land line or mobile telephone -
as a Radio Amateur could you establish 2-way communications with the outside
world. If so, how?"

The net finished with 13 call-ins but the discussion continued for maybe an
hour afterwards.


GCEG will be holding it's monthly meeting on Thursday next at 7.00 p.m.
in the basement rooms of Leading Edge, Reef Street, Gympie and the
presentation will be given by Bob, VK4MR on the subject of propogation.


The Gympie Group web page continues to grow in features and user friendliness
with a link now available for enquiries and more links added to sites of
interest. Just Google Gympie Amateur Radio.


The word is spreading with applications to join the Gympie Group being
received from 2 Michigan hams with the subscription paid in US dollars.


Gympie net is run each Monday night on VK4RCM, 146.725MHz at 7.30.



TOWNSVILLE
contacting theTARCinc
email address
phone contact 07-47731196 or 0408 001142
snailmail po box 333 Garbutt East, QLD 4814
homepage http://www.tarc.org.au

The Townsville Amateur Radio Club Inc held its 2008 AGM
last Sunday November 23rd at Rossiter Park Aitkenvale.

Despite the thunderstorm weather that had been prevalent
the previous few days the 7am pancake breakfast feast
and 8-30am meeting was held in glorious sunshine under
the nice shady raintrees with a soothing breeze wafting off Ross River.

Those who did breakfast consumed copious quantities
of pancakes made from a recipe by Lex, modified by Rob VK4RB,
made and mixed with care by Bob VK4AAH and cooked up
on the TARC Blunderbuss BBQ by two out of town cookies -
Snow VK4IFS direct from the gourmet spots of the Sandpit and Gavin VK4ZZ
fresh from the Camp Fairbairn Hotplate in the Queensland Central Highlands.

The meeting had a special guest in the form of Honorary Member
Professor (Emeritus) Jim Ward who gave a short talk on his latest
field of research - the quest to increase the accuracy of measurement of
phase change through intra-cycle phase measurement.
Professor Jim indicated that as he got older it seemed his research
took him lower in frequency with his current research being undertaken
at the frequency of 20Hz.


Now on to some the results of the AGM

President - Ken Cassidy VK4 QZ
Secretary - Phil Strom VK4 HSV
Treasurer - Joan McDonell VK4 FTVL


TARC also acknowledged with applause their following Life Members

Evelyn Bahr VK4EQ
Alan Stephenson VK4PS
Ron Tulloch VK4BF
Ray Hinks VK4LU
Walter Watkins VK4DO

The AGM concluded after an hour after which many attendees
socialised or got down to the necessities of the future running
of one of the most active Amateur Radio Clubs in Australia.



TARC Management Meeting this Tuesday

The Management Meeting of the Townsville Amateur Radio Club
Inc happens this Tuesday 2nd of December from 7-30pm at the Club Rooms
perched atop the SES HQ Green Street West End.

Make sure you bring along a keen sense to serve in an Ex-Officio position
for 2009.

All welcome.



THE FINAL FINAL

News of Club Christmas Parties


Remember the Christmas Party at the Gold Coast Club house is on the 13th
December and those who have not made a booking yet check with Pam VK4PTO
and see if there is a place still available for you.


RADAR Annual Dinner Friday 28th November from 6-30pm
Rockhampton and District Leagues Club
Contact Clive


Mackay and District Amateur Radio Association Xmas Party Saturday 6th
December from 12-30pm Apex Park Sarina

Contact the following with catering numbers or further info
Roy Moore

or

George Glendinning



T.R.E.C. Xmas Function
Saturday 6th December from Midday at the Tolga Hotel
Contact Dale with numbers or for info




theTARCinc Xmas Party Sunday 14th December from 2pm at the VK4TJS Satellite
Dish City Kelso. Contact Gavin with catering numbers or further info






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

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