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ZL2TZE > QNEWS 12.12.03 05:33l 1595 Lines 59051 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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THE BEST QNEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
---------------------------------
QNEWS 24/7 with the following bulletin in Audio Segment One
when you visit the QNEWS NEWSROOM on www.wia.org.au/vk4
QNEWS available in Audio after 1400hrs utc Friday.
NATIONAL NEWS
Colin Thompson VK2TRC has kindly offered to help out with the Federal web
site, this following the years put in by Joe Burford in Adelaide.
"The use of the AX prefix by all VK amateurs is approved for the
duration of Australia Day from 00:00 - 23:59 (local time) 26 January
2004."
WELCOME TO HF QSO PARTY
On New Year's Day 2004 Australian radio amateurs will gain access to the
High Frequency (HF) bands using licences that don't require the passing of
Morse code telegraphy tests.
The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) invites the world's amateur radio
fraternity to join an on-air celebration of this special occasion.
The VK1 Division will be activating VK1WI from Farrer.
ALL amateurs, members or not are invited to operate HF from the
club station using their own callsign to celebrate the removal of
morse code as a licensing requirement for HF operation.
VK2 Westlakes Club Station is hoping that as many club members as possible
will be at the club in the early hours of January One to take part in
this special event
Steve VK2UD has proposed two schedules for the early hours on New Years Day.
The first being for Limited operators on 7.060 MHz (40 metres)
at 00.01 hrs local time until 00.15 hrs.
Then 00.16 hrs to 00.30 hrs on 3.600 MHz (80 metres) for "H" and
Limited operators.
Times are fixed and not flexible as Steve has to work early on
New Years Day.
VK4WIT is another one of the WIA Welcome to HF QSO Party stations.
VK4WIT will be operational from 1230Z 31st December from the Townsville
AR Club Rooms and will be operating around 3600kHz and 21190kHz
for as long as there is demand.
VK4WIT will be operating alongside other W stations such as VK4WIA at
Brampston Beach FNQ (with John/VK4AFS at the helm), plus the planned
RAAF H-Call net on 3580kHz to ensure that new stations to the HF bands
get to find out what it is all about.
VK5's Trevor Quick in the text editions of QNEWS has kindly written a
lot of information on antennas, operating and the like, we'll look at
this a little later in our "nuts and volts" report here on QNEWS.
AND as Trevor says " Have fun and work every one with a proud feeling of
mateship and respect. Welcome to HF. Catch you on HF the
1st of January 2004.
Len Bray, Deputy Manager Spectrum Planning Team,
Radiofrequency Planning Group of the ACA has written to our AR Magazine
Editor Colwyn Low with comment on the article "802.11 Protocol and Ham Radio".
which appeared in the September 2003 issue of AR magazine.
The article discusses opportunities for amateur radio operators to use
802.11 technologies, mainly in spectrum around 2.4 GHz.
The article makes reference to the Rules and Regulations of the Federal
Communications Commission in the USA for information on what is provided for
under those regulations, both in terms of what is authorised specifically
for amateur radio and generally for short-range 802.11 applications in that
country. Unfortunately, the article does not refer to the regulatory
arrangements that apply in Australia. A reader could be excused for
believing that USA regulation somehow directly applies to Australia, or that
there are no applicable Australian regulatory arrangements.
I encourage Amateur radio operators wishing to experiment with 802.11
technologies to acquaint themselves with the bands of operation authorised
for amateur radio activities and the other conditions of operation provided
for by the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence)
Determination. AR readers can view or download a copy from the ACA's
website at URL:
http://www.aca.gov.au/aca_home/legislation/radcomm/determinations/lcd/
amateur.htm
Under the determination, spectrum immediately below 2.4 GHz is not available
for amateur use in Australia (the September article refers to the FCC Rules
that support amateur use down to 2.39 GHz in the USA). In January 2000, the
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts designated
the band 2302 - 2400 MHz throughout Australia as part of the spectrum to be
allocated by issuing spectrum licences. It is now licensed across most of
the populated areas of this country to various organisations that currently
use it mainly for the delivery of pay-TV services.
The spectrum between 2.4 and 2.45 GHz can be used by amateur radio operators
under the determination. It is part of a larger band of spectrum beginning
at 2.4 GHz and extending in many cases up to 2.4835 GHz that is used also
for many short-range applications. These applications include cordless
telephones, radio LANs and various other computer peripherals, video-audio
senders, barcode readers, wireless projection systems and video surveillance
equipment. The ACA's radiocommunications class licences for low
interference potential devices and for spread spectrum devices authorise
anyone in this country to operate these types of devices, provided the
devices are operated within the technical conditions of the relevant
licence. Readers can view or download copies of these class licences from
the ACA's website at URL:
http://www.aca.gov.au/aca_home/licensing/radcomm/class_licensing/index.htm
In recent years, this band has become very popular for short-range
applications, which must rely mainly on the use of low radiated power (as
specified in the class licences) to reduce the likelihood that they will
cause radio interfere to each other - they are operated without individual
frequency coordination or registering of location.
I note that under the determination, amateur radio operators may transmit in
this band at much higher power levels, so the risk of amateur operations
causing interference to the other users of the band is increased. The ACA
encourages the amateur radio community to conduct any higher powered
experiments in this band with a sense of goodwill towards the many users of
low powered devices, so that all parties can continue to share this popular
band of spectrum.
Yours sincerely,
Len Bray
Deputy Manager
Spectrum Planning Team
Radiofrequency Planning Group
8 December 2003
FURTHER TALES FROM THE 'TRAGIC BAND'.
As further evidence that the whole of 420 -430 will be removed as
demands in this part of the spectrum by non-amateurs increase was
brought to light in an e-mail from the Space & Terrestrial Systems Team
at ACA to WIA Federal President just this Tuesday.
It dealt with an amendment that was made to the Amateur LCD recently.
The amendment prohibits the operation of amateur stations in the frequency
band 420-430 MHz in certain locations to minimise the risk of interference
to the Fire Brigades Network (FBN) and the Mobile Data Radio Service (MDRS)
emergency services that operate in this frequency band.
The amendment also aligns frequency bands in the Amateur LCD with the
allocations to the amateur service in the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum
Plan.
The amendment determination was gazetted on 19 November 2003.
The consolidated Amateur LCD will be published on the ACA website shortly.
WIA Federal President VK1LK told QNEWS "I will continue to adopt the view
that we are looking for primary allocation in 430 -440 (or at least some
part of it) to protect amateur interests".
ACA NEWS CONTINUES
www.aca.gov.au
WIA ACA LIAISON OFFICERS are VK1GH, VK1ZKM, VK2BPN, VK4DU
TV antenna amplifiers - a source of interference?
from an ACA advert in Brisbane's Sunday Mail Newspaper.
Poorly installed or badly maintained television antenna amplifiers may be
causing unnecessary interference to television reception and mobile phone
services, particularly in rural areas, according to the Australian
Communications Authority (ACA).
ACA's Acting Chairman Dr Bob Horton said the best way to avoid causing
interference problems was to have a reputable antenna installer / technician
install the cabling for the antenna and the amplifier.
"We also strongly recommend that old or deteriorating amplifiers, cable or
connectors be replaced," he said.
Causing this type of interference may also breach Section 197 of the
Radiocommunications Act 1992. Under the Act, the owner of a faulty amplifier
is legally responsible for its operation and must fix the problem once
officially notified.
For more information contact:
Tony George
Manager Compliance and Technical Services Team
Telephone: (02) 6219 5352
GENERAL INTEREST NEWS FROM 'DOWNUNDER'.
There has been an interesting development to the BPL issue.
Early this week both the Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers
carried the following:
New role for old powerlines:-
It has been hailed as the solution to the digital divide and the ultimate
in in-home networking, but powerline communications technology (PLC) has not
yet captivated Australia, despite commercial roll-outs in Europe and dozens
of trials in North and South America.
(Phil Wait)
Further on BPL/PLT from QNEWS rebroadcaster Denis Johnstone VK3ZUX
who tells us a warning from broadcasting engineers in the UK says that
interference from the cables is so severe that it will block short-wave
transmissions in the homes that use the system.
A system set up by Scottish and Southern Energy has run into similar
problems in the tests carried out in Perthshire.
BBC engineers who measured the interference were horrified by its effect
on shortwave radio reception in homes. "In some cases of power-line
interference you are hearing more noise than the short-wave radio signal",
said Andrew Oliphant, of the BBC. Though the interference only extends a
metre or two from the mains cable, this is far enough to affect most
radios in homes.
The BBC fears that power-line telecoms could jeopardise the whole future
for short-wave radio, and is lobbying for broadcasters and power utilities
to agree limits on interference.
(New Scientist Magazine via Denis Johnstone (VK3ZUX)(QTHR))
Peter Parker tells QNEWS that ABC-TV is looking for people with a special
interest or hobby - a topic they have an in-depth knowledge of and are
passionate about - one that does not form part of their work or career.
So Ham Radio Buffs! contact Anna Game-Lopata Production Assistant ABC TV
on 9524 2436 that's Melbourne 9524 2759
Why is ABC TV searching?
For people to take part in a fun, new, quiz show for broadcast in 2004:
'THE EINSTEIN FACTOR'
For your chance to appear on the show, go to website
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/einsteinfactor and download an application form.
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO PRESENTED BY VK4CO
RONNEE MEACHEN
The VK5MM AR Information and Promotional Brochure has been updated to
reflect the new 2 Tier License System along with other minor text and
graphic changes. The contacts box is, as always, fully adaptable.
The Poster has been graphically improved with an added adaptable text box
to add what ever text you think appropriate. (Thanks to VK2VE for the
suggestion)
The AR Stickers have been graphically improved to "stand out" more, and
you are able to personalise them with your call sign. Stickers are
available for any colour printer and they can be laminated and\or
affixed with clear contact.
A new AR Logo is available designed for T-Shirt, cap printing and badge
creation. Special printer sheets are available for this purpose and the
results using this latest technology is very good. If anyone would like
to personalise these logos with their call sign, please let me know.
Contact details are below.
The (non prof.) AR IRLP and Band Plan Quick Reference Guide is an easy
way to get on IRLP quickly, and allows you to find the correct band
segment for the mode your operating within seconds.
All the promotional Material is suitable for home or professional
printing.
Thank you for promoting our hobby and educating Australia to its
Please send a BLANK Email to arpromo@mailaustralia.net with ONE of the
following words in the SUBJECT field.
AR Promo. Material List & Samples & how to get it ... (90K) ..."ARInfo"
AR Promotional Brochure ... "ARPromo"
AR Notice Board Sigh (for Brochures) (700K) ... (Presently included with
the AR Promotional Brochure automated Email reply.)
AR Stickers with YOUR Call Sign (250K) ... "ARStickers"
AR LOGO (for T-Shirts, Caps, Badges. (800K) ... "ARLogo"
AR IRLP & Band Plan Quick Ref. Guide. (NOT a Prof. Guide. (200K)
.."ARBandPlan"
School of the Air to beam in by satellite:
Students of the famed School of the Air have entered the digital age
with the launch in Alice Springs of the $17 million OPTUS Interactive
Distance eLearning Initiative.
School of the Air lessons that have operated in many remote areas of
Australia since the 1920s have traditionally been delivered via radio - but
will now be channelled through an innovative two-way broadband satellite
network.
The network comprises a satellite hub in Sydney and five teaching studios in
Alice Springs, Darwin, Broken Hill, Dubbo and Port Macquarie. Satellite
dishes and computers will complete the network with 547 sites across New
South Wales and the Northern Territory, including remote homesteads and
properties, isolated schools and Indigenous settlements.
(Bob VK2RL via VK2WI)
At the recent Amateur Radio Examinations held at Westlakes one member
sitting for his ticket has had his examination declared illegal.
This club member who has a literacy problem sought advice from the powers
to be, seeking permission to have the questions read to him by an independent
party in this case an accredited invigilator. Permission was given, albeit
at local level. The exam was taken and examination fees paid.
On phoning the ACA to inquire the result of his effort the candidate was
informed that his examination had been deemed illegal as no official prior
application had been made to allow a special question and answer sitting to
take place under the supervision of an officer from the ACA.
Happily however the ACA has agreed to conduct a Q&A with the applicant
next week, Sydney being the venue. Hang in there Paul.
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE - PRESENTED BY VK2UW CHRIS WRIGHT
Amateur exclusive frequencies where any non-amateur signal is definitely an
intruder, This listing by P29KFS.
Exclusive amateur only spectrum world wide
7.050 to 7.100
14.000 to 14.250
14.250 to 14.350 Only Broadcast stations banned.
21.000 to 21.450
28.000 to 29.700
Lets have a look at some intruders reported by Wayne VK4ZRT in his
official Report November 2003
14.100 Mode J3E Asian voice.
Then up the band to
14.115 J3E Indonesian, one station "singing" at times.
14.1181 Mode DATA 250Hz shift data transmission.
Both these loggings interfered with Australian Travellers Net on 14.116
Up-Date to the Log for October...
Unidentified stations, all Asian voices, were logged on
14.0005, 14.017 /.02 /.06 /.0608 /.1
(courtesy Wayne Featherstone VK4ZRT VK4 Intruder Watch Co-ordinator)
WICEN/RESCUE RADIO INTERNATIONAL WITH ROBERT VK3KRB
WIA WICEN CHAIRMAN IS VK3ZRV
WICEN 'TYPE' EVENT CALENDAR...
Check with YOUR WICEN coordinator to confirm dates etc
Additions to qnews@wia.org.au and/or vk4zz@smartchat.net.au
VK3 26-31 Dec The Murray Marathon. Contact Carol on 5962 6098.
VK3 7- 9 Feb Ski 80 at Eucha.
VK3 29 Feb WICEN Field Day Mt. Disappointment
VK2 20-21 March Eden Creek Horse Enduro.
VK4 1-03 May eco adventure race
* new to calender
WICEN VK3
http://www.wicen.vic.au
State Coordinator: John Kerr VK3BAF
Secretary VK3XMU secretary@vic.wicen.org.au
Dec. 26-31. The Murray Marathon.
A canoe race over 400km in length running between Yarrawonga
and Swan Hill. Volunteers still required.
Contact Carol on 5962 6098.
Jan. No organised events. Standing by for Bush fire activations.
Feb. 7-9 Ski 80 at Eucha.
An 80 km high speed water ski race from
Torrumbarry Weir to Echuca.
Feb 29th. WICEN Field Day at Mt Disappointment.
WICEN VK4
(State Coordinator, Ewen McLeod VK4ERM)
The curly wind season is here !
Time to check your batteries, examine your antennae,
prepare your cyclone and evacuation kits and standby for action !
The next WICEN and Comms Support event is likely to be an
unscheduled one, possibly a cyclone, possibly a flood or something not
normally encountered during the planned events.
2004 WICEN Support Calendar - North & Far North Queensland
1/2/3 May TREC/CARC Eco Adventure Race - Atherton Tablelands
24 July OR
21/22 August:- The Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim
RESCUE RADIO INTERNATIONAL
Ham radio has helped to save the life of one of its own. This, as members
of a Southern California repeater respond to a users call for assistance.
"We were all sitting around and listening to the radio as we usually do
in an evening. All of the sudden, an individual keyed up a microphone
whom we were all aware was having some health problems. One of our
listeners, Alan Sanchez, KC6QXA, immediately noticed the distress in this
persons voice and asked if he was OK. He indicated he was having some
difficulty breathing and needed help. So, 911 was called, the distressed
ham taken to hospital"
That's Gary Elmer is KG6DVO. He recently took over the system.
Later that evening, the hospitalised ham went into cardiac arrest.
He was revived by his doctors. Had he been at home the chances
are that he would now be a silent key.
As we go to air Elmer says that the ham is still in the hospital recovering
more important he is alive thanks to his friends on the Los Angeles
147.435 MHz repeater.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mert Garlick, N6AWE, also in the
City of Angels.
In past years the Los Angeles 4-3-5 repeater has received a lot of negative
press. This time the press is positive because this time it
and its users probably saved a life.
(ARNewsline(tm))
QNEWS "States of our Nation."
VK2
http://www.wiansw.org.au
President Brian Kelly VK2WBK
December 21 Summerland ARC Monthly Club Meeting
VK3
PRESIDENT JIM LINTON
http://www.wiavic.org.au
wiavic@wiavic.org.au
NERG - NORTH-EAST RADIO GROUP - January - No Meeting
NERG - NORTH-EAST RADIO GROUP - January 27 - Tuesday Morning Tea Group.
NERG - NORTH-EAST RADIO GROUP - January 27 - Tuesday Morning Tea Group.
NERG - NORTH-EAST RADIO GROUP - February 12 - Meeting
HEALESVILLE AMATEUR RADIO GROUP - February 29 - Hamfest
EASTERN MOUNTAIN DISTRICT EMDRC - March 20 - White Elephant Sale
VK4
PRESIDENT VK4ERM EWAN McLEOD
http://www.wia.org.au/vk4
All around VK4 clubs have been holding their Christmas breakups.
Bayside District Amateur Radio Society Incorporated had 30 people
at the Capalaba Sportsman's Club, seems a pleasant evening enjoyed by all,
especially raffle winner VK4EY David.
Saturday the 6th's inclement weather did not dampen the spirits of the
Kilo Romeo CB Radio Club. They had 28 people turn up for their
End Of Year Function in Birkdale.
Over 40 donated raffles were won by those present.
VK7
PRESIDENT:- Phil Corby (VK7ZAX)
http://www.wia.org.au/vk7
North West News
The Joan Fudge award for outstanding work for the branch in 2003 was
easily won by Tony, VK7AX. Tony has really brought the Northwest
into focus on the amateur radio scene this year.
Tony remains one of the QNEWS rebroadcasters, was a very early
re-distributor of the packet QNEWS during the time QNEWS would not leave
the Brisbane area, and in fact even though the news "does get through"
easily continues along with vk4zz, zl2bau and zl2tze this AX25
edition.
Congratulations Tony VK7AX this years Joan Fudge award winner.
(sourced to Ron, VK7RN)
VK8
http://www.wia.org.au/vk5
VK8DA and the Darwin Amateur Radio Club meet on the 1st Monday of
every month at 8pm sharp.
Their Club / Visitor Open Nights at 7:30 each Wednesday evening,
at the club room in Sports House, Waratah Crescent FANNIE BAY.
INTERNATIONAL
NEW ZEALAND
Many months ago we were informed of a scheme whereby ZL and VK hams were
going to try and provide, as a replacement for VNG our time signal service,
a precision beacon transmission system using 80 meters.
Well we've just been informed Mike, VK2BLR, has been running a transmission
on 3610kHz for the last month or so.
Seems Mike transmits a VNG-style signal with seconds, ticks, and all, using
an external high-level AM modulator on his ZL1BPU style Exciter and PA.
Ultimately he intends to transmit the full VNG time code, so that the signal
will be useful for radio clocks.
Transmitter power - 3W, AM modulated
Frequency - 3610kHz
Callsign - VK2BLR
(vk2wi)
SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL STATEMENT ON LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND PRIVILEGES
Following the call for comments on the proposed changes to
license requirements and privileges, Council received a large
number of emails, packet messages and letters expressing various opinions.
Having carefully considered the comments that were received,
Council has made the following changes to the proposal:
1. Instead of introducing a new ZT license class,
the HF privileges that were to be given to the ZT license will
instead be given to the ZR license class, including all existing
ZR licensees.
2. These HF privileges will be extended to include both digital mode
and phone allocations in the 20, 15 and 10 metre bands.
3. Alternatives to the Morse test will be offered for obtaining a
ZS license. This means that there will be several possible ways to
fulfil the requirements of the ZS license, one of which will be to
pass the Morse test.
4. The practical operating test will be required for all
license classes, although each candidate will only have to pass
it once, which will then suffice for all future license upgrades.
(SARL)
CANADA
VE1MR named Radio Amateur of the Year for 2003
This years winner of RAC's "Radio Amateur of the Year" Award,
Bill Elliott VE1MR, was presented with an engraved silver tray
by RAC's Atlantic Region Director David Nimmo VE1NN, and
RAC's President, Bill Gillis VE1WG, at the Halifax ARC's
Annual Christmas Dinner on December 10th.
(RAC WEB)
2004 WIAQ GRANTS CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The Wireless Institute of Australia , Queensland Division (WIAQ) has
instituted a scheme of grants to promote a number of its objectives in
support of Amateur Radio in Queensland.
2004 WIAQ Grants will be awarded in each of 3 objective areas:
Lifting the profile of Amateur Radio in Queensland.
Community Support by Queensland Amateur Radio Groups and Individuals
Support the growth of the Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network
(WICEN) in Queensland
Applications from Members, Clubs and Groups of the WIAQ are called for to
be received no later than Thursday 25 March 2004.
to 2004 WIAQ Grants Application
PO Box 199
Wavell Heights Qld 4012
Assessment will be by an independent group outside of the WIAQ Council
per se . Applications will be forwarded unopened to the Assessment group
immediately after the closing date with the intention of recommendations
being made to the WIAQ Council at its April 2004.
CLUB ACTIVITY WITH BRIAN COLEMAN VK4LH IN MACKAY
BARC and May 8 Summerland club tell us is when the BARCFEST at
Holland Park in Brisbane will be held.
SUMMERLAND AR CLUB (VK2)
About 30 enjoyed a CHRISSY BBQ/Party last Sunday.
Santa arrived and distributed gifts to the harmonics, followed by the BBQ
and eats with much ragchewing.
Put August 8 in your diary if your around Northern NSW, SARCFEST,
will be held that Sunday at Richmond Hill.
TOWNSVILLE
TARC action packed Christmas activities!!
Activity 1
Xmas party happens today Sunday December 14th
Monster Kilometer of Treasure auction starts 2pm
BBQ starts 4-30pm to 5pm
Xmas Pressie Auction starts around 6pm
Activity 2
Friday December 19th - the TARC Monster Xmas Lights Tour !!
Meet at Garbutt Shopping Centre Carpark from 6pm, bring your
own dinner, chairs, tables and candalabra ! Group heads off once
the sun has set and everyone has viewed the Gorden Street displays.
Keep in touch with commentary on 146.5MHz, with group tagging along
with Wallaby Bob and Jeanette.
Activity 3
TARC Australia Day Weekend Family Radio Camp
Happens Friday Evening 23rd January to Monday Afternoon 26th January.
At the Girl Guides Association of Queensland Campsite and Training Centre
Toolakea Beach Road, Bluewater.
Camp under the trees at Possum Valley or Sleep in the dorm at
Bluewater House.
AX4WIT will be on-air from the camp to provide directions and contact.
Camping will cost $5.50 per night per head ,
bunk accommodation will cost $9.50 per night per head
Radio Theory classes start again on Thursday January 29th.
Project Nights start again on Tuesday February 10th and will then be
held on the second Tuesday of each month - a change for the New Year !!
Management meetings start again on Tuesday February 3rd.
Backscatter/Social evenings start again on Tuesday February 17th.
The next scheduled Exam session will be held on 31st January.
at the Club Rooms, SES HQ, Green Street West End.
John Moyle Field Day 2004 Happens 19th to 21st March. The 3rd Weekend
of March. theTARCinc will be active during thIS 2004 John Moyle Field Day
FROM alongside the mighty Burdekin River.
The Club Station VK4WIT will be located at Bivouac Junction Camping Grounds
Flinders Highway, Macrossan.
VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- "MATTERS DIGITAL"
The December Queensland Digital Group meeting takes the form of a
BYO BBQ at the QTH of Alan Wills VK4YAR, 58 Barber Road, Ferny Hills,
phone 3351 1673.
Meeting time and day remain the third Friday in the month, December 19,
7:30PM start.
Members will be able to see samples of the new QDG membership and
discount card, this card will be issued with renewals or new memberships
in 2004.
Recent changes to the South East Queensland packet network can be seen on
the QDG Web site www.qdg.org.au
The QDG committee wish every Amateur the very best for the festive season.
2004 MAJOR GATHERINGS IN VK4 FOOTPRINT
LOGAN WEST AMATEUR RADIO & ELECTRONICS CLUB BOOT SALE
Feb President VK4JPH Peter 3800 3305 is your contact.
Boot sale is in the Car Park behind the Greenbank Community centre
adjacent to the Scout den, exhibitors will need to register at
the gate and setup before 10:00.
Entry free except for exhibitors (small fee)...
April 2 - 4
Federal convention for 2004 will be held at the Virginia Palms
Conference Centre Boondall, in Brisbane from Friday 2nd April
to Sunday 4th April.
May 1/2/3
Clairview Get Together (located between Mackay and Rockhampton)
May 8 BARCFEST at Holland Park in Brisbane.
June 11/14
FNNQARG ! South Mission Beach
Aug 8 SARCFEST date confirmed as Sunday, 8 August Lismore clubrooms
Sep 11 SUNFEST, already the dates set for next year on Sunshine Coast,
Saturday September 11
WIA EXAMINATIONS IN VK4
Jan. 31 Townsville Exams at the Club Rooms, SES HQ, Green Street
West End. Applications for this session need to be in with
Group Leader Wally/VK4DO no later than 2nd December 2003.
*ATHERTON TABLELANDS
Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club conducts examinations on
request for the Atherton Tablelands area.
Contact the Secretary, Dave West - VK4ADW at trec@austarnet.com.au
BRISBANE NORTH REGION
Now exams are available ANY TIME on just 2 weeks notice!
Just ring Redcliffe Clubs Laurie VK4BLE on 3284 8859.
Remember exams any time on two week notice.
BRISBANE SOUTH - LOGAN AREA
The Logan West Amateur Radio & Electronics Club.
If you wish to sit for any subject please contact.
Peter Harding 3800 3305
briscal@optusnet.com.au
BRISBANE WEST - LOCKYER REGION
The Lockyer Valley is located between Ipswich and Toowoomba and
examination services are available with 2 weeks notice required.
Arrangements for any examination can be made by contacting
Alan VK4SN alz@austarnet.com.au 04 1137 3679 VK4SN @ VK4WIL
Warren VK4FJ vk4fj@uq.net.au 04 2120 9536 VK4FJ @ VK4WIL
DARLING DOWNS
Toowoomba area, contact Mathew VK4HWM on 4698 7775 or email him on
matthew@t130.aone.net.au
GOLD COAST
The club holds any exams at anytime for students who wish to do so!
Just contact Kath VK4KU on 5539 3530
MACKAY AREA
Examinations conducted on request to the Mackay Club
Also instruction on a 1 to 1 basis contact
Contact George VK4AJL
vk4ajl@wia.org.au
ROCKHAMPTON
For all information exams etc: contact Clive VK4ACC
4928 1173 or e-mail
vk4acc@wia.org.au
TOWNSVILLE
Exam sessions are held several times during the year and
can also be held on demand provided adequate notice is given.
Exams information and application pack in PDF format from
theTARCinc web site
http://www.vk4tub.org/tarc/
SOUTH OF THE BORDER... DOWN SUMMERLAND WAY
SUMMERLAND AR CLUB in VK2
http://www.sarc.org.au/sarc1/sarc.htm
EXAM DETAILS RING Dave VK2CB 6625 1281, Mob 04 2991 0982.
vk2cb@nnsw.quik.com.au
VK4 AMATEURS WHO ARE JP's
BAMAGA
Amanda Winchester, VK4HIP is registered as a Justice of the Peace
(Qualified) and is on mobile: 04 2936 8907
GLADSTONE
Rick WRIGHT, VK4HWN Justice of the peace QUALIFIED 4972 7147
HERVEY BAY
Geoff Stephenson, VK4OT 4124 4764
Albert Woodward, VK4IK 4124 4863
SUNSHINE COAST
Geoff Sanders, VK4KEL is registered as a Justice of the Peace
(Qualified) and is on telephone 5445 0280
*************************************************************************
QNEWS - ALL OF THE NEWS ALL OF THE TIME LISTEN TO IT ON SEG 3
on the WIA WEB PAGE on wia.org.au/vk4
QNEWS available in Audio after 1400hrs utc Friday.
To avoid confusion QNEWS only lists contests from:-
Contest Managers themselves, the WIA and Radio Amateurs of Canada
and does not necessarily endorse, support or vouch for the accuracy
of the information provided.
WIA FEDERAL CONTEST EMAIL= contests@wia.org.au
Chris VK4AA reads each weeks EVENT time table for 2003-4
===========================================================
* denotes new addition to calendar
Date Contest
---- -------
2003
Dec
13 - 14 ARRL 10 Meter Contest
26 ROSS HULL VHF CONTEST...until Jan 18
27 - 28 ORIGINAL QRP CONTEST (CW)
27 - 28 STEW PERRY 160 MTR DISTANCE CHALLENGE (CW)
2004
Jan
3 - 4 ARRL RTTY ROUNDUP
10 - 11 HUNTING LIONS ON THE AIR
17 - 18 VHF + SUMMER FIELD DAY
18 END OF ROSS HULL CONTEST
24 - 25 CQ 160 METER CONTEST (CW)
Feb
28 - 29 NZART's Jock White Memorial Field Day Contest
Mar 19 - 21 John Moyle Field Day
Apr 25 Harry Angel Memorial Sprint.
(Honours WW1 Veteran VK4HA who until becoming SK
WAS WORLD OLDEST AMATEUR AT AGE 106!)
Aug 21-22 Lighthouse Activation Weekend.
Check the OFFICIAL VK Contest Site, www.vkham.com/contests/index.html
Hi and a warm G'Day to all.
Every so often we start this segment with the old caveat which explains how
QNEWS is anxious to avoid confusion and misinformation. As a result we
generally only list those contests whose details have been supplied by the
contest managers themselves. Either that or by reporting news supplied
direct from representative bodies such as the WIA, NZART or whatever, and
really it's just for commonsense reasons.
While we're at it, we should also point out that an item's inclusion in this
segment - or any other segment for that matter - does not necessarily imply
any endorsement or support on the part of the organisation or the news crew,
nor can we absolutely vouch for the accuracy of the information provided.
But sometimes, no matter how careful the vetting or how rigorous the
checking, even unimpeachable information might turn out to be plain wrong.
On this occasion, it wasn't until we nominated the number of days in the
Ross Hull that someone counted on their fingers, twigged, and asked if I'd
lost my marbles. What, again? Oh yes indeed, it seems the Ross Hull goes for
a full week after the date we'd nominated, so let's fix that one then get
into it.
Australia's last major contest for year 2003 is the Ross Hull VHF Contest,
which commences on Boxing Day, December 26, 2003, and will this time
continue unabated until January 18, 2004, not January 11 as we'd previously
advised. Sorry about any confusion. John Martin, VK3KWA suggests you enter
the correct date with the rules in your copy of AR magazine, which shows
an incorrect date.
The correct rules and a sample scoring sheet can be downloaded from the WIA
Victoria web site.
http://www.wiavic.org.au/download/rhc04.pdf
Now, don't forget this weekend's contest activity. On the air December 13
and 14 is the ARRL 10 Metre Contest, which is the last item on the
international calendar for the year.
The contester's 2004 gets under way slowly, with only the Ross Hull on VHF
to keep the contesters amused. January 17 and 18 bring the VHF/UHF Summer
Field Day as well as the end of the Ross Hull Contest on the 18th.
Note March 19 to 21 in your diary for the John Moyle Field Day, then
April 25 for the Harry Angel Memorial Sprint, which honours WW1 veteran
VK4HA who, at the time of becoming a silent key, was the world's oldest
amateur at age 106!
Additional to that report, we now bring you the sad news that
Ms Lillian Allsopp, daughter of Harry Angel, has also passed away.
WIA officials contacted Lillian's daughter Faye earlier this week, and
passed on condolences from the WIA.
Last week I made a rather grumpy mention of the `no show' by the crew of the
ISS for their commemoration of K6DUE's contributions to ARISS. Thanks to our
good friends at ARNewsLine, and Norm Seeley in particular, we may have the
reason.
ARNewsLine recording here.
"Frank Bauer says that ARISS has discussed the situation with NASA.
He says that there are two events that could have kept the crew from
getting on the air. The first revolves around a broken exercise treadmill
that KB5UAC reportedly spent a lot of his own time fixing this past weekend.
The other is the widely reported crushing noise heard by the crew that last
week.
It was in the aft end of the Service Module and its possible that the crew
might have gotten instructions from the Russian team to determine the cause."
Either way, Bauer reminds everyone that the first weekend was only the
kickoff. The event commemorating K6DUE's contributions to manned ham radio
space operations continues through the end of the month.
He also says that ARISS will alert the amateur community of potential
opportunities for contacts as they become available. And I can tell you that
NA1SS was heard operational over the USA on December 6. So I, for one, will
keep listening on 145.8 MHz with a 190kHz positive tx offset. In fact, I'll
be listening very clearly indeed. I hope you can pick up this fragment of
Mike Foale NA1SS the other day...
NA1SS Audio in here:-
...and I don't know about you, but I'm quite sure I heard him saying they'll
be making a big effort to put the station on the air over the coming weekend,
which is this weekend. By the way, Mike hails from the UK, which may explain
his accent.
In an interesting project, WIA Federal Awards Manager Mal, VK6LC, has
released a new smart CD covering our Federal Awards.
It contains a three minute Microsoft PowerPoint SlideShow along with eight
awards documents. The educational audio-visual PowerPoint synchronised slide
show displays all the Australian awards offered by the WIA, so it'd be a
good thing to set up for a hamfest or a club evenings.
And now you don't have any excuse whatever to avoid getting hold of the
presentation for your club, as WIA federal president Ernest Hocking, VK1LK,
has announced the CDs will be issued free of charge to all WIA divisions and
WIA-affiliated Clubs.
Best path is for the secretary of clubs that would like the CD to contact
the Federal Awards Manager.
vk6lc@iinet.net.au
It's that time once again, so we'll just sneak in a special event station
or two before we get booted unceremoniously out of here.
Special event station ZS-100-FLY is on the air, celebrating 100 years of
powered flight. The station will be operational from various airports,
historic monuments, air shows and aviation sites throughout 2004. A special
collectors item QSL card will be issued, and the station will operate on all
HF bands plus two metres.
Another? Okay, and it's on a very similar theme. Special event station W-4-B
is also on air as we speak, to commemorate the centenary of the flight by
the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, whose aircraft the Kittyhawk, flew
a distance of 120 feet in Dayton, Ohio, on December 17, 1903. Orville's
entire flight lasted just 12 seconds, and covered less distance than the
wingspan of a Boeing 747.
The station has been on the air all this week, and is scheduled to remain on
the air until next Wednesday the 17th.
And thanks to Peter, VK3KG, for some of the detail there.
Back to Graham. See you again soon. 73 from Chris, VK4AA/VK3CE
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report
(Measure twice - Cut once!)
VK5ATQ and VK4TGB have both forwarded great info for our soon to be HF'ers.
VK4TGB transmits QNEWS on CB in the Maryborough area and a couple
of his listeners, 261 Ray, VK4HSE Sam directs you to AR Magazine
December of 1991 and the Caltenna designed by the late Clive Cooke, VK4CC.
Trevor 5ATQ supplied us with this "Quick HF Antennae Guide".
The most important thing for anyone able to operate on HF to have some
form of Antenna. Grab the latest ARRL Antenna hand book and spend a year
or two getting across the correct methods.
Well we only have a couple of weeks, and in that time we have the silly
season, so lets do something to get onto the air in a few hours.
What was your first antenna on VHF? A quarter wave maybe.
Try one on 80 metres.
Got a spare 20 metre pole handy. Well you may be able to find a tree, and
don't worry about a few bends.
Hold it.
Let us sit back for a moment and determine what we really want.
HF around Australia at night?
Or HF around VK2 and 3 in the day time?
Or are you interested in overseas DX work?
For the moment forget 160 metres. A great band, but not for now.
If you wish to chat around the Australian East coast at night, as well
as some local stations chose 80 metres. The simplest antenna is possibly
the dipole. A little long for some back yards at 40 plus metres, but just
use a single pole in the middle, and droop the ends towards the ground.
A reasonable start.
A vertical antenna is smaller but can be a little noisy on receive.
Still if that is all we have room for then let's try it. If you
do find it noisy then transmit on the vertical and receive on a
random piece of wire for now. But try the vertical, you may get away with it.
For daytime activities 40 metres is better.
Most signals will be between 7.050 and 7.100. A dipole for 40 metres is
easier to fit as it is only 20 metres long. That's right the old
half wavelength.
Once again the vertical is available.
When cutting the wire do your measurements by using 300 divided by the
frequency in MHz. With wire you can multiply by about 0.97 to be a little
closer. Then divide by 2 or 4 for the half or quarter wavelengths.
Want to work some DX.
Twenty metres is great, or 15, especially into Japan, or around Australia
in the daytime. You may find America in our mornings on 15 or 10.
Remember the propagation theory. You know, F layers and the sun, all that
ionising in the upper atmosphere.
Now does it occur in the daytime or at night-time?
If you have enough trees or other skyhooks you can simply connect all of
the dipoles for 80, 40 and 20 at the one coax feed point.
Give it a go.
Yes you will get some interaction but this is where the fun really starts.
Don't change the lengths, just change the angles between dipoles. Down the
track you will find that Traps can work quite well to reduce the number of
wires in the sky.
Traps made from Coax cable scraps can be the next experiment.
Don't forget the old CB antenna like the StationMaster.
Great for 15 and 10 metres.
An end fed half wave on 15 or 10 can work the world. Or move the tap to
the top of the coil. This makes a quarter wave vertical for 20 metres.
For now let's just get on the air. Where do I find the wire? Any old
240 volt wire, solid or 7 strand. Just remove the tough sheath, and join
the wire with some twist joints and solder. It won't break, well not for
many years, and we are experimenting.
You will need some plastic insulator in the centre where the coax connects.
The antenna tie offs at the ends can simply be plastic cord, preferably
black, and remember these will be high voltage points, so no little fingers
anywhere near the ends when you transmit.
Coax is the most popular feed method. Ordinary RG58 is quite suitable for
HF operations. If you have RG59 70 Ohm coax you can try it.
Often works very well. Remember the half wave dipole is about 70 ohms,
depending on height above ground.
Don't forget the open wire feed. It is not only the cheapest, it also
provides the least loss, and will allow you to use a real antenna tuner
to give you multi band operation.
We do need an earth if we are using a quarter wave radiator, or we can use
a quarter wave radial or two. The dipole is balanced, so the earth is for
safety only. Lots of exciting things for the future.
So for now, chose a band or maybe two, just get on the air and have fun.
That ultimate all band, high gain antenna, is somewhere down the track.
When you are tuning the antenna remember that as you raise the
antenna the resonant frequency will go lower. The higher the lower.
An SWR of less than 1.2 to 1 is nice, but try for that across the whole
band. If you're under 1.5 to 1 your radio will work quite well, and at
2 to 1 your inbuilt antenna tuner will hide the problem.
At least you are on the air.
That is the whole aim of the excersise.
Have fun and work every one with a proud feeling of mateship and respect.
Welcome to HF. Catch you on HF the 1st of January 2004.
Trevor Quick VK5ATQ
MEDIA WATCH and PR OPPORTUNITIES
WIA's Amateur Radio Magazine Editor VK5UE
AR's Publishing Committee VK3's ABP, ANI, AUI, AZL, BR, DBB, OM.
QNEWS EDITOR VK4BB
CALLING OCCUPANTS OF VK4RAI
IRLP node 6782 with callsign of vk4rai is reporting in playing QNEWS however
guys...your obviously using old downloads! So if your a VK4RAI listener,
the Ipswich Radio Club, please give us an email to qnews@wia.org.au
we'll steer you in the right direction!
NEW PAN-EUROPEAN TV SHOW ON ITS WAY
Ham radio in Europe will soon have a TV show of its own.
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, is in Nottingham, the UK, with the rest of the story:
The Swedish-based 'Club-TV' wishes to establish a monthly amateur radio
magazine program to be transmitted via digital satellite TV to most of
Europe.
Club-TV wants to cover all aspects of amateur radio and thinks there is a
number of amateurs around Europe who can handle a video camera and edit the
result.
During the past year Club-TV has carried out a number of tests and
broadcast a couple of programs. The transmission is via the Sirius 2
satellite at 5 degrees East with a Symbol Rate of 6667 and FEC 1/2
(Jeremy boot, G4NJH via ARNewsLine)
We'd appreciate it if repeater managers would send the call sign, frequency,
location, and sponsoring club/organisation of the repeater as well as the
time and day QNEWS is aired to Graham VK4BB, qnews@wia.org.au each week.
Or by packet to qnews @ VK4WIE.#BNE.QLD.AUS.OC
WIRELESS WEATHER (the vk 4day 4cast)
PROPAGATION TECHNOLOGY: NEW SOLAR FLARE THEORY
The recent series of solar storms to hit Earth may be caused by the
sun's iron-rich interior. So says one solar researcher who theorises
that the sun's core is made of iron rather than hydrogen.
Dr. Oliver Manuel is a professor of nuclear chemistry. He believes
that iron, not hydrogen, is the sun's most abundant element. And,
in a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Fusion Energy,
Manuel asserts that the standard solar model which assumes that the
sun's core is made of hydrogen has led to misunderstandings of how
such solar flares occur.
As ever ham knows, these flares can play havoc with high frequency
communications while turning some VHF frequencies into world-wide D-X
bands.
Meanwhile Geophysicists in Finland and Germany have calculated that the
Sun is more 'magnetically' active now than it has been for over a 1000 years.
Observations of sunspots began in 1610 - soon after the telescope was
invented - and no other directly obtained data exists from before this time.
Now, these scientists have used the concentration of beryllium-10 in
polar ice as a proxy for historic levels of solar activity. Beryllium-10 is
produced when cosmic rays interact with particles in the Earth's atmosphere.
Using modelling techniques, the Finnish team was able to extend data on
solar activity back to 850 AD.
(Belle Dumé at PhysicsWeb via vk2wi and ANS and Space Daily via ARNewsLine)
DX EDGE, with BEACON and NET ADVICE
* new on calender
*THAILAND, HS.
Mirek, VK6DXI is in Thailand until December 23 operating as HS0/VK3DXI.
Activity is on 80 to 10 meters.
QSL via DL4DBR.
IWO JIMA till December 31st.
JM6DZB/JD1 Iwo Jima in the Ogasawara Islands until the end of 2003.
80, 40 and 15 metres SSB.
3XY till December 31st.
3XY-1L Conakry, Guinea, operating during 2003.
He will be active with a battery-powered rig mostly on 20 and 15 metres,
after 1800 UTC and at weekends.
MARCH 15, 2004
Fraser Island.
Call sign VK4FRI operated by Lockyer Valley Radio & Electronic Club
website www.lvrclub.org
Further information from President John VK4MJC.
MARCH - APRIL 2004 DXpedition
The Five Star DXers Association, or FSDXA, has announced plans for a very
large-scale DXpedition to Rodrigues Island in March and April next year.
The callsign will be 3B9C.
An international team of nearly 30 will operate no fewer than 15 separate
stations on virtually every band and mode possible.
FSDXA is the group which organised the very successful 9M0C DXpedition to
the Spratly Islands in 1998 and the subsequent record breaking D68C
DXpedition to the Comoros in February 2001.
(IRTS)
*JW5RIA Bear Island until June
JW5RIA will operate on 160 to 6 metres CW, SSB and digital modes.
Q-S-L as directed on the air.
(RSGB via ARNewsLine)
* new on calender
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF
WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www@alphalink.com.au
http://users.mackay.net.au/~ron/
http://www.homingin.com
http://www.ardf.org.au
By reading the North-East Radio Groups monthly news sheet it seems
by all accounts IARU Region 3 ARDF Championships were a resounding success.
Countries represented were Australia, China, Japan, Korea,
Kazakhstan and USA.
Fortunately two Ukrainians have been staying Australia for some
time and world champion Liliya Gluschenko was allowed to compete
in the Australian team with the blessing of the IARU committee.
The team from Kazakhstan blitzed the field when it came to fastest
times in all categories they entered. The Australians representing
WIA did extremely well against the other region 3 countries.
Sole USA competitor Bob Cooley won both the Super Vets events.
Help from the Victorian Orienteering Association, Ballarat Amateur
Radio Club, WICEN, and the many Victorian amateurs that pitched
in was greatly appreciated.
Full details of winners can be found at
http://www.ardf.org.au
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FIFTY AND OVER
NEW ZS RECORD ON THE 3 cm / 10 GHz BAND
On Monday 1 December at 16:15 Central African Time ZS6AXT and ZS6JON/p,
made a QSO on the 10 GHz band between KG-33-VV and KG-46-SC, over the
distance of 298.6 km, thus improving the 10 year old record of 268 km.
Reports were 519 both ways.
Equipment used was the same on both sides, 1 W transmitters and
60 cm dishes. This path is not direct line of sight and the time was
selected at random, without waiting for good propagation conditions.
An earlier test over the distance of 400 km was negative, but a
QSO over this distance is possible in good conditions.
(sarl)
From the IRTS News we learn Microwave operator Brian Justin, WA1ZMS,
has reported what he believes is the first QSO above 400 GHz in the US.
On the 11th of November he worked Peter Lascell, W4WWQ, on a frequency of
403 GHz over a distance of 1,709 feet in Virginia.
Denis Johnstone tells QNEWS it is approximately 6 months to go to the
famous 'GippsTech' conference to be held over the first weekend in July 2004
at Monash University in Churchill, Gippsland, Victoria.
This conference has been running annually since 1998 and each year the
number in attendance at the conference and the overall quality of the
presentations has continued to improve.
The conference each year is directed towards the VHF, UHF, Microwave end of
the spectrum and many papers are presented over a two-day period. Attendees
gather usually on the Friday evening for an informal get together over
dinner.
On Saturday the formal part of the conference commences with registration
and then presentation of papers commences. There are regular breaks for
coffee and chat so that the formal sessions tend to be interrupted just soon
enough before they can cause a few nodding heads. Question sessions at the
end of each paper allow details to be clarified at the time. Further
discussion and more detailed examination of problems occur over the frequent
coffee and meal breaks.
Lunch is provided on each day as part of the registration and the conference
dinner while being an additional cost is a very enjoyable affair.
On Sunday the formal presentation sessions continue and generally wrap after
lunch. Discussions continue for some time after each conference and the
final presentation of the written proceedings is usually accomplished by the
following year. The hardest part is to get the wonderful presentation from
the conference written into a form that reflects the sprit and details of a
topic. Each year back copies of past proceedings are eagerly sought after
and they are no longer available for the earlier conferences. We intend to
overcome this problem by offering those proceedings on CD.
In 2003 the highlight of the conference was the presentation by Joe Taylor
W1JT the developer of the latest digital phenomena JT44 and his planned
development of other modes.
His presentation gave an insight to the past development of his JT44, which
can be used to allow normal power levels and single Yagi antennas to be used
for EME contacts.
Those who are weak signal exponents on VHF and UHF regularly employ this
mode. A great many long distance contacts have been made using, EME, meteor
scatter and plain old troppo scatter have afforded grid squares to many that
would never be achieved on SSB or even CW.
The mode he was developing at the time JT65.
JT65 mode has shown a significant improvement of more than 6 dB over JT44
and is now even better.
So what wonderful papers will be presented at the 2004 conference? We do
not actually know, as the call for papers is still a few months away.
So if you have got a wonderful new development, discovery or observation
that you have made, or if you have found how you can reliably win the Ross
Hull every year, manage to get equipment for a DX expedition on all VHF and
UHF bands into 16kg, or get huge scores in the Spring and Summer Field, then
start now. Prepare a paper and presentation and come to the GIPPSTECH
conference and tell us all about it and receive the accolades that are due
to you.
So start right away with the hint dropping process to your 'significant
other' about the need to travel to the important international amateur
conference in July next year. See you here next year and do not forget to
contact us here if you require any further details or assistance with
bookings for accommodation. You can also look on the internet at
www.qsl.net/vk3bez
(Denis Johnstone (VK3ZUX))
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
VK5AGR is the AMSAT National Coordinator, vk5agr@amsat.org
VK5ZAI is the Australian Co-ordinator for ARISS.
AMSAT-VK HF Net.
2nd Sunday each month.
April through October 1000 UTC 3.685 MHz
November through March 0900 UTC 7.068 MHz
A discovery made with CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope in eastern
Australia may have brought forward the day when astronomers will
directly detect cosmic gravity waves for the first time.
Neutron star pairs may merge and give off a burst of gravity waves
about six times more often than previously thought, says a team of
scientists from Italy, Australia, the UK and the USA. Their report is
published in the December issue of the journal Nature .
Read more at:
http://www.csiro.au/page.asp?type=mediaRelease&id=Prnature2
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET --- THE HAMS DOMAIN
ZDNet has come out with a very interesting article based on a press release
of Sophos.
The news is shocking but not so surprising.
Nearly one-third of all spam circulating the Web is relayed through PCs
that have been compromised by malicious programs known as Remote Access
Trojans. These take control of your PC without you being aware, uses it as
a relay for sending spam to thousands and thousands of other people. It's
believed that 30 percent of all spam is being sent from compromised
computers.
(Chris vk2uw)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- Internet Linking of Repeaters
LISTEN ONLY to IRLP reflector 2
http://www.kwarc.org/listen
REPEATER UPDATE and LINKING IN SUMMERLAND )LISMORE( AREA OF VK2.
Graeme VK2JUB has outlined his plans for the repeater development.
VK2RSC/70 will be linked to VK2RBB with IRLP callable.
A rework of the tails, links and timeouts are being done to be compatible.
Next link will probably be to link VK2RBR, Pretty Gully.
Later links to Grafton, Coffs Harbour and Tenterfield will be considered.
YI-1-SRA Laith is in Baghdad using EchoLink from an internet cafe as
full internet access has yet to be widely available in the city
With fellow members of the Baghdad radio club he is hoping to install
a 2m repeater in the city linked up to EchoLink network via the
internet, allowing on demand 24 x 7 contact with the city
His email is
laithtariq@yahoo.com
(From g3zhi direct, also forwarded by Colwyn Low)
Tony VK7AX says EchoLink has now been added to IRLP Node 6700 and is known
as EchoIRLP.
EchoIRLP utilises the basic hardware and system used by an IRLP machine.
Most importantly, it DOES NOT ALLOW any form of cross linking between
IRLP and EchoLink.
What it does offer however, is the ability for IRLP nodes to also have
full connectivity to the EchoLink network.
Tasmania (VK7) IRLP Node 6700 is now equipped with this facility, and
runs as EchoLink node 100478
IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK:-
NATIONAL NEWS
Colin Thompson VK2TRC looks after Federal web.
Use AX prefix Australia Day
WELCOME TO HF QSO PARTY
Len Bray, Deputy Manager Spectrum Planning Team, on 802.11
FURTHER TALES FROM THE 'TRAGIC BAND'.
amendment that was made to the Amateur LCD recently.
TV antenna amplifiers - a source of interference?
BPL issue.
ABC-TV HAM RADIO OPERATORS PROGRAM? 'THE EINSTEIN FACTOR'
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO PRESENTED BY VK4CO
VK5MM AR Information and Promotional Brochure has been updated
School of the Air to beam in by satellite:
Amateur Radio Examination declared illegal.
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE - PRESENTED BY VK2UW CHRIS WRIGHT
WICEN/RESCUE RADIO INTERNATIONAL WITH ROBERT VK3KRB
WICEN VK3
WICEN VK4
RESCUE RADIO INTERNATIONAL
Ham radio has helped to save the life of one of its own.
QNEWS "States of our Nation."
VK2
VK3
VK4
VK7
VK8
INTERNATIONAL
NEW ZEALAND
SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL STATEMENT ON LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND PRIVILEGES
CANADA - VE1MR named Radio Amateur of the Year for 2003
2004 WIAQ GRANTS CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
CLUB ACTIVITY WITH BRIAN COLEMAN VK4LH IN MACKAY
BARC
SUMMERLAND AR CLUB (VK2)
TOWNSVILLE
VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- "MATTERS DIGITAL"
2004 MAJOR GATHERINGS IN VK4 FOOTPRINT
WIA EXAMINATIONS IN VK4
VK4 AMATEURS WHO ARE JP's
Chris VK4AA reads each weeks EVENT time table for 2003-4
John Martin advises a correction to the AR Contest Calender.
WIA Federal Awards Manager VK6LC Mal has released a new smart CD
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report
VK5ATQ and VK4TGB have both forwarded great info for our soon to be HF'ers.
MEDIA WATCH and PR OPPORTUNITIES
CALLING OCCUPANTS OF VK4RAI
NEW PAN-EUROPEAN TV SHOW ON ITS WAY
WIRELESS WEATHER PROPAGATION TECHNOLOGY: NEW SOLAR FLARE THEORY
DX EDGE, with BEACON and NET ADVICE
*THAILAND, HS.
*JW5RIA Bear Island until June
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FIFTY AND OVER
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET --- THE HAMS DOMAIN
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- Internet Linking of Repeaters
***************************
QNEWS - we've reported...YOU decide.
QNEWS thanks YOU for entrusting us to bring you VK's authoritative Ham News
QNEWS thanks Amateur Radio Newsline, ARRL, ARRL Letter,
FISTS down under, IARU r3, NERG News,
RAC, and RSGB.
for source material for this weeks edition.
Compiled by VK4BB /
Special Interest Group news read by VK4FUQ, VK4AA presents Contests
Packet: qnews@vk4wie.#bne.qld.aus.oc
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