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ZL2TZE > QNEWS 19.03.04 07:58l 1493 Lines 50664 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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THE BEST QNEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
---------------------------------
IF RE-POSTING ALWAYS ENSURE ORIGINAL BID # AND TITLE ARE USED.
QNEWS can be accessed on the www in both text and MP3 audio.
http://www.wia.org.au/vk4
Packet uploads, vk4zz Gavin, vk7ax Tony, zl2bau Peter, zl2tze Phillip
THE FOLLOWING BULLETIN CAN BE HEARD IN THIS PREAMBLE
When communication counts, count on QNEWS..
PREAMBLE -
Cheerio call goes out to Brian VK4BCF long time callback operator
of the 160 meter SSB gang. BCF is recuperating though still not
his normal "cheeky self" yet. Brian all your mates on the weekly
QNEWS checkins send their best to you!!
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
FEDERAL WIA PRESIDENT IS ERNEST HOCKING VK1LK
QNEWS since last November / December has been bringing you the details
on the "new look WIA", both pros and cons.
Today we take a quick look at portions of a document prepared by
VK7GN Martin Luther BSc. MBA.
In summary, Martin points out that every study of the WIA over the past
30 years has recommended that a national organisation is required.
These studies and reports have been prepared by people with impeccable
business and administrative qualifications and experience. Their efforts
have been thwarted by people with little or no administrative or managerial
experience or skill but who enjoy playing politics.
Since WW2 the demographics of Australian Society have worked against the
state based units. The effect of people moving further from the centre of
cities gradually influenced all states. By the 1990's those states still
having monthly general meetings only attracted a very small portion of
their membership to those meetings.
Suburban radio clubs have grown to meet the needs previously satisfied
by the WIA meeting.
As a result state committees began to take on a different character.
The organisation has, as a result, become negative and defensive with
no real goals and objectives.
The current WIA wastes a lot of valuable resources.
It is not only money that gets wasted. One of the trends in the modern
world is that we seem to have less and less time available and hence there
are fewer good volunteers prepared to work for an organisation like the WIA.
VK7GN goes on to point out how with the national leadership being selected
by state divisions, sometimes those same divisions muzzle the national
president insisting that they, the state divisions, are the only ones
allowed to talk to "their" members.
News broadcasts differ in their views from state to state. This makes the
WIA appear to lack ability and competence.
(I point out that QNEWS reports... YOU decide, we do not tamper with the
news, purely report, be it good or bad!...Ed vk4bb)
All attempts in recent years to turn the WIA into a business have failed.
Good people have not been able to make it work in the long term.
Significant financial assets have been wasted.
The WIA is not, and should not be a money making institution.
The total WIA has significant assets. However, raised licence fees,
loss of 420MHz, potential loss of most other UHF/ microwave frequencies,
property restrictions, LIPDS and contempt from the ACA mean that the
WIA has failed.
On the other hand, a WIA with a membership of 75% of licensees, a
growing and active education and exams system, a proper relationship
with the ACA, respect from politicians, and excellent communications to and
from members but with zero assets, would be measured as highly successful.
The WIA's Reputation
The word WIA is a trade mark which carries a reputation, each person sees
it in a different way. However, in recent years the word has become
badly devalued.
Amateurs themselves do not accept the argument that the WIA is good for
amateur radio.
Creating a New WIA
The first thing in re -engineering an organisation is to carefully analyse
and state simply what it is you want to do.
(Section 3 of proposed constitution at www.amateurradio.org.au)
The primary goal is to ensure the survival of Amateur Radio.
The secondary goal is to communicate to all Amateurs the facts as required
in relation to representations on their behalf and seek input on amateur
needs back from members.
Every study of the WIA seen has proposed a national organisation as the
best option. The only issue that seriously affects Amateur Radio at a
local level is issues relating to Local Government Planning rules.
Everything else is national.
Magazine, Web Pages Public Relations
It should also be a direct responsibility of the President to ensure
adequate members communication.
A paper based magazine may be increasingly uneconomic in a small
organisation like WIA. A web based approach may be better.
QNEWS has shown what can be achieved by a Professional approach to
Amateur communications!
How to make it all happen
Once a structure is agreed, then implementation is very simple.
The new structures are set up with the appropriate legal conditions and
constitution.
The new organisation should invite all radio amateurs to join it.
The States should gradually hand over functions to the National Body and
then restructure themselves; perhaps as significant clubs
The quickest and easiest method of change would be if the current divisions
agreed to dissolve and form the new organisation. It does not even need
all divisions to agree. Providing there is a majority vote of the
federal council then it can happen. If any division objects they can
withdraw from the process.
However, they would need to be aware that membership in the new organisation
would be offered to all amateurs in Australia.
It is essential that change is agreed this year in order to preserve our
hobby in Australia.
We simply must organise in an effective and efficient manner or we will
collectively pay the consequences!
Act now!
Martin Luther VK7GN
March 2004
P.O.Box 77 Richmond Tas 7025
vk7gn@bigpond.com
Tel 03 6260 2600
amateurradio.org.au
(Audio with Martin can be heard in seg1.mp3)
NATIONAL NEWS - YOU HAVE MAIL
WIA news available by private e-mail.
Receive the latest bulletins and releases of news from the WIA via
Internet e-mail.
Several ways, easiest for you and the Q is to click onto:-
http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/QNEWS-VK
OR simply send an e-mail message to the following
NotE IT is CasE sENsItiVE :
QNEWS-VK-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Wireless Institute of Australia - The World's oldest AR Society (est 1910)
is on the web at http://www.wia.org.au
The various divisions (call areas) can be accessed direct from here.
AUDIO NEWS SERVICES:-
NATIONAL QNEWS http://www.wia.org.au/vk4 in Segments 1 and 3 in
streaming audio and downloadable MP3 files from the FTP site.
VK4 QNEWS Divisional News http://www.wia.org.au/vk4 in streaming audio
and QNEWS may be downloaded in MP3 for rebroadcast from the FTP site.
ACA NEWS
www.aca.gov.au
WIA ACA LIAISON OFFICERS are VK1GH, VK1ZKM, VK2BPN, VK4DU
The opportunities and challenges for communications regulation were
outlined by Dr Bob Horton, Acting Chairman of the Australian
Communications Authority (ACA), at the first of three workshops for
the ACA's Vision 20/20 project.
The aim of the project is to provide strategic insights into the
future of communications regulation.
"Vision 20/20 provides a framework for the identification and
analysis of the trends that will drive change over the next sixteen
years."
The ACA will host a further two workshops on 1-2 April and 5-6 May.
The April workshop will focus on developing scenarios for the year
2020, using the issues identified in the first workshop and through
pre-workshop interviews and research. The May meeting will
concentrate on the implications for regulation and provide strategic
options to guide decision-making.
The Vision 20/20 project findings will be presented at an industry
summit on 11-12 August 2004, co-sponsored by the ACA and the
Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF).
(ACA - audio grab vk4bat)
CB NEWS
PMRS in USA linked via the Internet
Similar to IRLP/echoLink comes E-QSO yet another VoIP.
3 VK CB EQSO nodes, in Victoria and Queensland,
AU005 4 Brisbane
AU006 6 Healesville
AU007 4 West Gippsland
Whilst EQSO on PMR repeaters in Britain raised some eyebrows
among the amateur radio fraternity, the UK Radio Administration
apparently has no difficulty with it.
The view of the Australian Communications Authority is unknown.
WIA Vic news says recent EQSO contacts have been reported on ]
CB repeater channel No.1 in Melbourne with locals chatting to
PMR users in Scotland, Britain and Denmark.
(sourced to vk7wi and 446 web audio by vk4bat)
GENERAL INTEREST NEWS FROM 'DOWNUNDER'.
Adelaide this weeekend sees unveiled the BigPond V8 Supercars mobile media
centre, a satellite-linked mobile media centre that will follow the car
race series around Australia and New Zealand.
A 40-tonne, 25-metre, B-double transporter that houses 21 members of the
media at all of the V8 Supercar Series.
Journalists will be provided with satellite broadband and dedicated
technician at every round to assist.
Telstra delivers first Cyber Citizenship Ceremony 12 March, 2004.
Australia hosted its first 'cyber citizenship ceremony' which saw
43 people throughout Australia join together over Telstra's
video conferencing technology to become Australian citizens.
The historic event - to mark the start of Harmony Day activities
saw the new Australian citizens travel over Telstra's broadband
network at speeds of 384 kilobytes per second (kbps) to join the
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Gary Hardgrave,
in Melbourne's Federation Square for the ceremony and to be conferred
as citizens.
Telstra provided high-resolution video conferencing of the event to and
from all sites in each State and Territory over their ISDN network.
(Graeme Salt Telstra)
In further news from Telstra, an Australian first last week,
talking SMS messaging to fixed phone lines.
The service converts the text into speech and reads it to the
person answering the fixed phone, who will soon be able to choose
to reply from a series of simple, pre-set text responses.
When a Talking Text message is delivered, the fixed phone rings as usual.
The person answering hears a message advising they have an SMS.
If they choose to listen, the Talking Text service reads the message.
If no-one answers the phone when the message is delivered,
Telstra's technology saves it to a compatible MessageBank or
Telstra Home Message service or tries to deliver it at regular
intervals for seven days.
For broadcast quality audio grabs go to: www.mediagame.com.au
If you have any questions on how to retrieve these,
please contact Martin Cook at Media Game on 04 1439 3703
(Telstra Media Contact Virginia Murphy audio grabs
courtesy telstra and 4bat)
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
VK2 March 20-21 2GO Car Rally (vk2dbc)
VK1 March ...21 AROCSPORT adventure sprint number 5
VK3 March 26-28 Oxfam Trail Walker
VK3 March ...27 Blue Rock Classic (Chris VK3KME 5127 5656)
VK1 March 27-28 Canberra 2 Day Walk
VK3 March .. 28 Mad Bike Ride
VK2 April .3-.4 Eden Creek Horse Enduro
VK2 April ....4 Northern Rivers AGM
VK3 April .. .4 Navigation Rally Eildon Area
VK2 April 24-26 CANOE PADDLE FOR LIFE - LISMORE TO BALLINA.
VK7 April ...27 - Until May 2nd TARGA TASMANIA
VK4 May 01-03 TABLELANDS AR CLUB / QUOLL ADVENTURE
VK4 May 01-03 TARC Mt Pleasant Horse Endurance Ride - near Collinsville
VK5 May ...13 WICEN (SA) AGM
VK2 May 15-16 Eden Creek Horse Enduro
VK3 June ...6 KENDA Navigation Rally.
VK5 July 31 - Aug 1 ROSA 2004
VK4 Aug ...21 TOWNSVILLE TO MAGNETIC ISLAND SWIM.
VK4 Aug ...22 50th Anniversary Maggie Island Swim Brunch
VK5 Nov 17-21 Classic Adelaide Rally.
* new to calender
WICEN VK2
WICEN can be contacted by phone on 04 0839 7217
operations@nsw.wicen.org.au.
(Mark Cheeseman VK2XGK, is President, WICEN (NSW) Inc.)
WICEN Updates
There are several new events upon the WICEN calendar. The Lismore to
Ballina "Canoe Paddle for Life" will be held over the Anzac Day weekend,
24-26th April. It runs from Lismore through Coraki and Broadwater to
Ballina down the Richmond River; please contact the Northern Rivers RCO,
John Alcorn VK2JWA for further details. Another new event is the Watagan
Horse Enduro, to be held on 25th April (Anzac Day); the coordinator is the
Hunter RCO, Andrew Irvine VK2UAI. And we have been advised that the annual
Wilderness Rescue Navigation Shield will be held over the weekend of 3rd-4th
July, in an as yet undisclosed location; the contact for this event is Mal
Alexander VK2YVA.
WICEN is always looking for volunteers to help the community with
communications assistance, and with the abolition of the Morse Code
requirement, it's now even easier. Write to WICEN NSW at PO Box 123, St
Leonards 1590; e-mail to "operations@nsw.wicen.org.au"; telephone 0408 397
217; or visit nsw.wicen.org.au
(VK2KFU, WICEN NSW Publicity Officer via vk2wi news)
WICEN VK3
http://www.wicen.vic.au
State Coordinator: John Kerr VK3BAF
Secretary VK3XMU secretary@vic.wicen.org.au
March 26-27-28
Oxfam Trailwalker Event.
March 27
The Blue Rock Classic event will be held in the Willow Grove area,
the event? a five discipline marathon involving cycling, running,
equestrian, swimming and paddling.
WICEN provides communication for the various leg directors and
liaises with the SES and St John using 2 metre voice.
(contact Chris VK3KME on 5127 5656 (H))
March 28.
The MAD Bike Ride.
(Mid Autumn Day) this a social bicycle ride in Yarra Glen, Chum Creek,
Kinglake area which usually attracts several hundred riders.
April 4th.
The NAV. Rally.
A navigational motor cycle rally on mountainous bush tracks in the
Eildon area..
WICEN VK5
WICEN state Coordinator Andrew, VK5EX.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The annual general meeting of WICEN SA Inc will be held on the 13th May at
a time and place to be advised.
WICEN needs a number of volunteers to assist with its work:
for example, radio enthusiasts who are interested in learning about
portable networks and facilities and would like to work along side of
an established member in helping to install and maintain the gear; they need
a membership official who can assist in maintaining records. Persons
who are skilled at training and assisting newer members with
questions about their gear, how to establish a portable station, managing
power and computers in the field. These are just a few of the areas in
which WICEN(SA) need your assistance.
(John Dawes Hon Sec and Public Officer WICEN SA Inc)
RESCUE RADIO INTERNATIONAL
Sunday 11 April the SARL HAMNET (their version of VK's WICEN)
will, on 40 Metres hold their "Simulated Emergency Contest"
from 14:00 to 16:00 CAT.
QNEWS "States of our Nation."
VK1
QNEWS heard Tuesday nights 8pm on VK1RBM 438.025 Canberra
http://www.wia.org.au/vk1
President is Alan Hawes alan@wic.net.au
March
22nd General Meeting - Farrer
23rd Canberra Old Timers at Farrer - Tony VK1TB
28th Amateur Radio Examinations-Farrer
VK2
http://www.wiansw.org.au
President Brian Kelly VK2WBK
March
21 Summerland ARC Monthly Club Meeting
26 Wagga Amateur Radio Club Monthly Meeting
EASTER = URUNGA RADIO CONVENTION
This annual event will be held over Easter in the Senior Citizen's Hall in
Bowra Street, Urunga. From 9 am on Easter Saturday the 10th and Easter
Sunday the 11th of April.
Urunga pride themselves as one of the leaders in the art of FOX HUNTING. The
events include on Saturday - a 3.5 MHz mobile hunt, Pedestrian on 2 metres,
Junior hunts on 80 or 2 metres, a 2 metre mobile multi transmitter hunt and
a 2 metre mobile talk in.
On Sunday the famous Urunga scramble, the most contacts in 30 minutes. Then
followed by an 80 or 2 metre event for the children plus a 40 metre hunt on
foot using only transistor radios. Followed then by a 2 metre multi
transmitter hunt, a 2 metre pedestrian and the weekend ends with a 2 metre
talk in pedestrian event.
VK3
PRESIDENT JIM LINTON
http://www.wiavic.org.au
wiavic@wiavic.org.au
Mar 21 EASTERN MOUNTAIN DISTRICT EMDRC - White Elephant Sale
Great Ryrie Primary School at Heathmont 10:30. (Melrose 49 K11)
Robert VK3KRB on 04 030 666 86 for table bookings!
Apr 8 NERG Meeting
Tony, VK3JED has the new VK3RTL repeater on air.
Frequency 438.600 MHz, 25 Watt, Antenna gain - approx 9dBi
CTCSS will be 123 Hz when implemented.
Coverage area - Maribyrnong River valley and western suburbs of Melbourne.
Internet links - IRLP and EchoLink courtesy of EchoIRLP, 24x7 streaming MP3
feed at http://liveaudio.irlp.net:8002 for SWLs
IRLP node number - 3690
EchoLink node number - 1046
For those visiting Melbourne, don't forget to pack the HT for that picnic
by the river! Most of the Maribyrnong River in the metropolitan area can
access the system from a handheld.
VK4
PRESIDENT VK4ERM EWAN McLEOD
http://www.wia.org.au/vk4
WIAQ AGM is 10AM 18th April at Rockhampton Leagues Club corner
George & Cambridge Sts Rockhampton.
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
PRESENTED BY VK4CO RONNEE MEACHEN.
Become a Ham with the course started by VK2DQ Ron Bertrand by browsing to
http://www.radioelectronicschool.com
HAM RADIO FOR KIDS
Came upon a great little page on the net this week,
http://www.qsl.net/kd4sai/pig.html
Graphics Music and Text designed for the very young, well worth a surf if
YOU have youngsters asking "those questions".
No.... Those questions.... about Ham Radio!
This is a great site to earmark or maybe bookmark for your next JOTA.
Let me read a small portion...
"All you have to do is be real good and save your money from your birthdays
and Christmas, then ask your mom or dad if you can buy a ham radio. Before
you do all that there are things you need to do so the "radio police" who
are also known as the "FCC" don't yell at you.
You have to do your homework; of course this is different than school
homework.
You need to study for a test like you do in school. If you pass the ham
radio test you will get a ham radio license.
Remember good grades get you good things.
You have to pass a ham radio test before your parents can buy you a ham
radio. After you have passed the test the radio police give you a "pass"
that allows you to have a ham radio and use it with out getting in trouble."
Also on site an activity game showing EXACTLY what a repeater is.
RADIO 54 WHERE ARE YOU.
A 13 yr old appears to have done the right thing when he found a Denver
police radio. Not sure what the unit was, he used it to let the police force
know he had it.
He saw the unit thrown from a vehicle, retrieved it, figured out how to turn
it on and used the radio to tell a police dispatcher that he had it.
The complete story thanks to Rocky Mountain News, CGC and ARNewsLine
is on the web...
rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_2660662,00.html
Cheers from Townsville, this is VK4CO, Ronnee Meachen
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE
PRESENTED BY VK2UW CHRIS WRIGHT
Voice Of America on 14.075 at VK6XW's TH.
This seems to be a daily occurrence at 2200 when they are Transmitting
in the Indonesian language.
This seems to be the 'old' problem with the Philippine Transmitter
which they had 'fixed' some time ago..
Also could you please keep an 'EYE' on 14.025 and report to your
Coordinators what you hear. This would be a huge disaster if
CODAR were transmitting on the 14 MHz Band.
In the Port.. Always on the bands, listening for UFO's, that is
Unfriendly Frequency Operators, I'm Chris Wright VK2UW.
INTERNATIONAL SILENT KEYS
MOONBOUNCE PIONEER BOB SUTHERLAND, W6PO, of California
has passed away age 78.
Bob Sutherland was on the US West Coast end of the first
Amateur Radio moonbounce (EME) contact in 1960 when the
Eimac Radio Club's W6HB and W1BU worked each other on 1296 MHz
EME.
An employee of tube manufacturer Eimac for nearly 50 years, Bob
developed some of the more famous Eimac tube-based amps.
(arrl letter)
INTERNATIONAL
IARU
Radio Amateurs: Pioneers in Bridging Barriers to World Understanding.
That's this years theme for World Amateur Radio Day 2004 April 18.
New Zealand
Experience Marlborough 2004 NZART Conference:
When - Queens Birthday weekend, 5th & 6th June 2004.
Where - Marlborough Girls College, McLaughlan Street, Blenheim.
The 78th annual NZART conference in Marlborough the gourmet province is
easily accessible by road, air and sea; there is no excuse not to visit,
and VK'ers most welcome!
This year, Conference will commence with a brief opening ceremony followed
immediately by the AGM. The two keynote guest speakers for the conference
weekend will be part of the forum program on both Saturday afternoon and
Sunday.
They are John Welch, a retired RNZAF doctor who will talk on his experiences
in Iraq as part of a United Nations weapons inspection team and Foss Leach
ZL2KP, who will give a presentation on the technology and techniques used in
archaeology. Foss, a retired prehistory anthropologist from Otago University
has much knowledge of pre-European New Zealand.
Contact: Conference Secretary: Helen Harris ZL2TPT
e-mail: mt.adde@xtra.co.nz
IRAQ
Diya, YI-1-DZ has told us on March 8 an Amateur Radio Fair was held
In Iraq to introduce the amateurs to the staff of University Of Baghdad.
Retired USN Vice Admiral Scott Redd, K0DQ, has been appointed
deputy administrator and chief operating officer of the
Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Baghdad, Iraq.
K0DQ will direct the CPA's programs for the reconstruction of Iraq's
infrastructure. That task includes awarding $18.4 billion in contracts
through the project management office for major improvements to
Iraq's electricity, communications networks, among many other utilities.
(sourced to the arrl letter)
IRELAND
The 72nd Annual General Meeting of the Irish Radio Transmitters Society
has been hosted by the Limerick Radio Club, from over the seas came
the newly elected President of the Radio Society of Great Britain,
Jeff Smith MI-0-AEX accompanied by his XYL Jane as guests of the IRTS.
In his address to the gathering Jeff outlined the major changes in the
UK licensing structure, and announced that RSGB had expectations that
the additional 100 kHz in the 40 meter band due to be granted to the
amateur radio community in 2009 would be made available in the UK
within the next twelve months.
If that should happen, then Irish experimenters should also benefit from
the doubling in size of the 40 metre band as discussed with ComReg at
the EI recent meeting.
It is expected that Norway amongst others will announce the new allocation
before Easter.
Also in EI Land, their society is pleased to announce that it has secured
the lifting of restrictions on the 6-metre band. All experimenters are
now licensed to use this band with a power limit of 20dBW.
(irts newscast)
SOUTH AMERICA
HAM RADIO ADVENTURE: COMMUNICATORS NEEDED FOR CAVING EXPEDITION
Base station are needed for communication on the ham bands with
a scientific expedition. This, in July through August time frame.
The 60 day expedition will explore deep caves in the high Andes
mountains and jungle in the western Amazon area of South America.
Expedition access to the remote areas is via trekking on foot and
pack animal. The expedition will use a solar and battery powered 20
Watt backpack transceiver. Antennas will be a wire dipole or
vertical. A miniature notebook computer will be along for digital
operations.
Communications will consist of position reports, some short messages
with families of expedition members, and any possible emergency or
medical messages. All operation will be non-commercial.
Operators with good base stations, efficient antennas and low noise
locations are needed on the 40 through 15 meter amateur bands. The
operations will use SSB, CW and a variety of digital modes. If you
are interested, e-mail Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA, at
radioadventure@aol.com
(KC5FM, KQ6XA via ARNewsLine)
THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD IN SEGMENT TWO (2) OF OUR AUDIO SERVICES
QNEWS -- ALL OF THE NEWS ALL OF THE TIME at www.wia.org.au/vk4
QNEWS available in Audio after 1400hrs utc Friday.
Holding the fort for Brian Coleman this week, I'm VK4AFS
John Stevens with VK4 Club news.
May 8 sees BARCFEST at Holland Park Bowls Club in Brisbane
and it starts at 9am.
Club Displays, disposals, Commercial Displays and Sales
Computer Gear, Bar and Canteen by Bowls Club but best of all
Entry Fee just $5.
Contact Kev vk4zr 3273 2738
The AGM of the City of Brisbane Radio Society will be held on
the 13th April at the QTH of Eric and Sharon Fittock,
108 Queensport Road, Murarrie 7:30 sharp.
Sunday 4 April, 2.00 pm at 107 Drayton Street Dalby the next
bi - monthly meeting of Dalby's AR club will be held.
If you are interested in communication you will be most cordially welcomed.
Dalby District Amateur Radio Club is working on a few projects like:
UHF CB Repeater, UP Grading our UHF 70CM Repeater,
and general repair of the "BUNYA Mountains Repeaters".
DARLING DOWNS
VP John will be speaking at the March 22 meeting on Auroral VHF Propagation.
Visitors More Than Welcome.
These regular evening meetings of the Darling Downs Radio Club are held
7:30 at SES Headquarters, 172 Stephen Street, Toowoomba.
Clive Sait VK4ACC, Central Queensland WIAQ Councillor and RADAR CLUB
Secretary likes a good AGM! So much so that just this week they've had the
clubs AGM then backing up again April 18 for the WIAQ AGM.
We are ALL invited to the Rockhampton Leagues Club 10.00 am.
This has been arranged to give locals in the CQ area an opportunity to
look at the WIAQ officials.
Lunch is available downstairs after the meeting.
Partners who prefer not to attend the meeting are welcome to join later
for lunch. The Rockhampton And District Amateur Radio Club Inc.
has arranged a BBQ on the Saturday evening 17th April to welcome guests
from out of town. This will be at 6.30pm at the SES building corner
of Charles and Randwick Street North Rockhampton.
Please advise Clive by e-mail or on 04 2963 2815.
Sunshine Coast AR Club
A new mailing address exists, VK4AKA advises to now write
to 85 Godfrey's Road, Bli Bli.
The next general meeting will be held at the club rooms on
Tuesday 6th April and Dave, VK4KDL will be giving a talk on
'Plate Tectonics'.
TOWNSVILLE
Nice breezy weather accompanied the Out of the House treasure auction
held at the QTH of Alan/VK4PS on Sunday March 7th.
There were many treasures to be had and under the guidance of the
auctioneer of renown, Wally/VK4DO participants were soon parted with their
monies and proud owners of new aspects of the amateur radio hobby.
And Alan is very happy - he has cleared some room to make a workshop area
and a hobbies room downstairs.
Calculator Night !
Join the TARC Radio Theory Class Members to discover the mysteries
and brush up on your calculator skills - especially as applied to radio !!
Be there on Thursday 25th and become a REAL number cruncher.
Bring your favourite scientific calculator - a note pad and pen - as you
may need to write down the elusive combination of keystrokes to do some
of the functions -
Remember each calculator seems to use a different mixture of logic for
some of the common radio functions !! So, extract digits and be there!
Club Rooms SES HQ Green Street West End from 7pm
Pot Luck Dinner not far away !
You dont have long to decide on what you will take to theTARCinc Pot
Luck Dinner to be held at the QTH of Tony/VK4TJS on Friday 2nd April
starting 6-30pm ! Since the dinner will be held pool-side, play it safe
and do not bring anything in Glass!
Bring you pewter mugs though - as Tony is an advocate of true "home brew"
and will be tapping a keg for the occasion.
Don't miss out on a berth at FNNQARG !
Hot news in from South Mission Beach is that places to stay and
camp at the Beachcomber Coconut Village are getting scarce fast !
Info from Elmira is that the bookings for accommodation in cabins and
tents on the FNNQARG! weekend, June 11 to 14, were slow to start
with but are filling at a much greater rate than expected.
So if you want to be on site for FNNQARG! get busy now.
Ring Elmira or Jan at the Beachcomber on 4068 8129 to book.
That's it from me.. John Stevens VK4AFS, coming up on the Q you'll
hear from VK4FUQ, VK4AA, VK4BB and Jeremy Boot G4NJH...
but before then I would ask all rebroadcasters of QNEWS to
pick up the microphone and give us your call sign and QTH.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAJOR GATHERINGS IN VK4 FOOTPRINT
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.
April 18 WIAQ AGM is 10AM 18th April at Rockhampton Leagues Club corner
George & Cambridge Sts Rockhampton.
May 1/2/3
Clairview Get Together (located between Mackay and Rockhampton)
May 8 BARCFEST at Holland Park Bowls Club in Brisbane.
That's 39 Abbotsleigh St and it opens at Nine.
Club Displays, disposals, Commercial Displays and Sales
Computer Gear, Bar and Canteen by Bowls Club but best of all
Entry Fee just $5.
Contact Kev vk4zr 3273 2738
Bryan VK4KWB 3235 2123 (work)
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
March 27 Sunshine Coast
Exams may be conducted at other times by special arrangement.
Intending candidates should contact
Ron VK4GZ telephone 5448 4063, or
Dave VK4KDL telephone 5448 7649.
May 29 SUNSHINE COAST
Exams may be conducted at other times by special arrangement.
Intending candidates should contact
Ron VK4GZ telephone 5448 4063, or
Dave VK4KDL telephone 5448 7649.
July 31 SUNSHINE COAST
Exams may be conducted at other times by special arrangement.
Intending candidates should contact
Ron VK4GZ telephone 5448 4063, or
Dave VK4KDL telephone 5448 7649.
Sept 25 SUNSHINE COAST
Exams may be conducted at other times by special arrangement.
Intending candidates should contact
Ron VK4GZ telephone 5448 4063, or
Dave VK4KDL telephone 5448 7649.
Nov 27 SUNSHINE COAST
Exams may be conducted at other times by special arrangement.
Intending candidates should contact
Ron VK4GZ telephone 5448 4063, or
Dave VK4KDL telephone 5448 7649.
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
BUNDABERG
Examinations on request.
Contact Rusty VK4JM on 4159 6224.
e-mail rustymcg@dodo.com.au
DARLING DOWNS - TOOWOOMBA - HIGHFIELDS - WARWICK
Only two weeks notice is required for those wishing to sit for any subject.
Contact Matthew Weatherley VK4HWM 4698 7775 or email
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
SUNSHINE COAST
Saturday 31 January, 27 March, 29 May, 31 July, 25 September and 27
November.
Exams may be conducted at other times by special arrangement.
Intending candidates should contact
Ron VK4GZ telephone 5448 4063, or
Dave VK4KDL telephone 5448 7649.
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
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
Amanda Winchester, VK4HIP is registered as a Justice of the Peace
3/148 Maroochydore Rd, Maroochydore 4558
Phone 5443 5708 (Outside school hours please)
Geoff Sanders, VK4KEL is registered as a Justice of the Peace
(Qualified) and is on telephone 5445 0280
CONTESTS AWARDS and SPECIAL EVENTS WITH CHRIS EDMONDSON VK4AA/VK3CE
WIA FEDERAL CONTEST EMAIL= contests@wia.org.au
OFFICIAL VK Contest Site = www.vkham.com/contests/index.html
CONTESTS AWARDS and SPECIAL EVENTS WITH CHRIS EDMONDSON VK4AA/VK3CE
Date Event/Contest
---- -------------
March
19-21 John Moyle Field Day
20-21 CLARA and Family
April
...-17 AUSTRALIAN POSTCODE CONTEST
...-17 SKIRMISH - TARA
...-17 Holy Land Contest
...-23 Harry Angel Memorial Sprint.
Honours WWI Veteran VK4HA who until becoming SK
WAS WORLD OLDEST AMATEUR AT AGE 106!
May
..1-.7 WESTLAKES CQ REPEATER CONTEST
..8-.8 WW MILLS WEEKEND
...-22 VK-TRANS TASMAN 80m Phone
Jun
...-.5 VK-TRANS TASMAN 80m CW
12-13 ANARTS RTTY CONTEST 2004
12-13 Westlakes Super Contest (all mode all band) *
...-19 KIDS DAY USA 2004
26-27 ARRL Field Day (AMERICAS REGION 2)
July
...-.3 Jack Files Contest VK
...-.3 ZL Memorial 80 meter
...-17 160M VK/ trans-Tasman Contest
Aug
...-.6 QRP Day (CW/FM/SSB)
14-15 Remembrance Day Contest
21-22 Lighthouse Activation Weekend.
28-29 ALARA
Oct
...-.2 Oceania DX Contest SSB
...-.9 Oceania DX Contest CW
Nov
13-14 VHF/UHF Spring Field Day
Dec
...-26 Ross Hull Memorial VHF Contest (until Jan 10, '05)
G'Day to all once again, and for those who may have missed it last week we have
a change of date for the Harry Angel Memorial Sprint, so please be ready to
write.
WIA Federal Contest Manager Ian Godsil says that as a result of
suggestions about some of our VK contests, it has been decided
to try some of the events at times other than Saturdays. Also, some of the
contests will test new ground by expanding their rules to some extent.
The date of the Remembrance Day Contest remains unchanged, and will stay as the
weekend nearest to the 15th of August each year. (That date, for those not
quite sure, marks Victory in the Pacific Day in World War II).
Please read the rules carefully for other changes, however, noting especially
the change of address for sending logs for the John Moyle Field Day, and the
change of dates for both the Harry Angel Memorial Sprint and for the QRP Day
later in the year.
The reason for changing the Harry Angel around is simple good manners and good
sense, given that it's primarily aimed at returned servicemen.
Many contesters will know that when Harry Angel, VK4HA, passed away in 1998
he'd reached the incredible age of 106 years. We need hardly add that, at the
time of his passing, he was the oldest radio amateur on Earth.
But fewer of you will know that Harry had well and truly done his bit for world
peace, too, by serving valiantly in the First World War. In honour of his
service, and in recognition of his lengthy involvement with amateur radio, the
annual sprint-type contest which bears his name was born. It's 106 minutes in
duration and is run on the 80 metre band.
It is unashamedly aimed at service folk, too, which is why it has until now
been run on Anzac Day. But Anzac Day is a big commitment of its own to so many
of our treasured service men and women, particularly as they get older, hence
the need to _move the event to an earlier date, just two days before Anzac Day.
This way, we can keep remembering Harry as a truly
special bloke, and can then honour our commitments to the diggers. A good move.
So please note, the Harry Angel Memorial Sprint has been moved, and will now be
contested on April 23.
Okay, so what's on the calendar?
Well, March 19 to 21 is the V8 Supercar kickoff round in Adelaide, but of
greater import to a radio buff is that the very same dates are the John Moyle
Field Day. Yes, it's on right now, so none of you should be listening. But
another important note: for details on how and where to send your JM logs, you
MUST check out the Federal website at wia.org.au or visit the official
VK contest page at vkham.com and follow the links.
March 20 and 21, so it's also this weekend, hosts the CLARA and Family Contest.
April 17 has the Australian Postcode Contest, and this one's our spotlight
contest for this week.
The aim of the Australian Postcode Contest is for stations worldwide to work as
many different Australian Postcodes as possible. The contest is held on the
third Saturday of April each year, which, in the good year of 2004, is the
17th. You use all HF contest bands on both SSB and CW.
Get the full rules from the Contest web page - again, it's at vkham.com - and
send completed logs, postmarked no later than one month after the contest, to:
The Manager,
Australian Postcode Contest,
Oceania DX Group,
PO Box 929,
Gympie,
Queensland 4570
Australia
The overall winner will receive a plaque kindly donated by VK4FW.
Now, just to polish off this week's calendar, look out too on April 17 for the
TARA Skirmish and the Holy Land Contest, making three contests on the one day,
and, of course, on April 23 join in the Harry Angel Memorial Sprint.
Now here's some early advice for June 12 and 13. It's the brand new Westlakes
Anniversary Year Super Contest. It'll be on all bands HF to UHF, using all
modes. We'll have more information from the club as the time gets nearer.
Finally for me this week, let's delve into the Special Events bin An authority
has been granted by Industry Canada to Bill Metcalfe to use the Special Event
Callsign VC6X to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Lieutenant Alexander
Roberts Dunn who was the first to receive the Victoria Cross for his military
heroism during the Crimean War of 1854-1856. The authority for VC6X is valid
from May 20 to June 20, 2004.
We'll see you on the bands for the John Moyle, and as many of you as possible
the weekend of April 2/3/4 at Virginia Palms in Brisbane for the WIA Federal
AGM.
Let's look at some URL's then it's cheers all from Chris Edmondson, VK4AA.
John Moyle Field Day Contest 2004
For more details check out the official VK contest page
www.vkham.com/contests/index.html
(Eric VK4NEF, via VK7WI NEWS)
APRIL 17 2004
POSTCODE CONTEST
e-mail to odxg@keylink.com.au
The overall winner will receive a plaque kindly donated by VK4FW.
APRIL 17
HOLYLAND CONTEST
Complete rules are in cyberspace at iarc.org.
(Hagal International via ARNewsLine)
SPECIAL EVENTS
* denotes new on calender
MARCH 01 - 31
UoSat Twenty Years in Space
On 1 Mar 2004, UO-11 (aka UoSat-2) marked 20 years in space and AMSAT-UK
will be issuing a commemorative QSL card for listener reports from
stations hearing the signals during the month of March.
The reports MUST be made by way of the reporting page on the web site and
the QSL card will be in the form of a downloadable "E-QSL".
AMSAT-UK website http://www.uk.amsat.org/
For further information please post on the UO-11 Forum on the
AMSAT-UK web site at http://www.uk.amsat.org/aukbb/index.php
or contact the AMSAT-UK secretary Jim Heck G3WGM
E-mail: g3wgm@amsat.org
*MAY 20 - JUNE 20
Authority has been granted by Industry Canada to Bill Metcalfe
to use the Special Event Callsign VC6X to celebrate the 150th
Anniversary of Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn (1833-1868) who is
the first to receive the Victoria Cross for his military heroism
during the Crimean War of 1854-1856.
The authority is valid from May 20, 2004 to June 20, 2004
(RAC)
ENDS JUNE 30th 2004
EI-0-EU
Mayo Radio Experimenters Network in Ireland have activated special event
station from Mayo to commemorate Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the
European Union.
EI0EU runs for 6 months starting January and runs up to the end of June.
(irts news)
ENDS DECEMBER 31 2004.
SPECIAL EVENT STATION ZS-100-FLY
A special event station has started operating from ZS to celebrate
100 years of powered flight.
The call sign of ZS 100 FLY is being used and 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. The station will operate on all HF Bands and 2 metres.
* denotes new on calender
=======================================================================
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report
(Measure twice - Cut once!)
A little hard to show rigs via audio, however this will whet your whistle.
ARRL Headquarters staff got a hands-on preview of the not-quite-yet-released
ICOM IC-7800 transceiver, thanks to Icom Engineering Manager John Gibbs,
KC7YXD.
ICOM's top-end Amateur Radio HF plus 6-meter transceiver has among
its multitude of features, a seven-inch color TFT display,
two independent receivers, a spectrum display, CW autotune, and RTTY and
PSK31 capability just by plugging in a keyboard.
The IC-7800 will replace the venerable IC-781.
Although a retail price has not yet been firmed up, it's anticipated that
owning an IC-7800 will set buyers back less than $11,000 US.
Whats that in Aussie terms? a half of our yearly basic wage?
Keep on dreamin!!
(sourced to arrl letter)
DX EDGE, with BEACON and NET ADVICE
MARCH 15---19
Fraser Island.
QSL direct
PO Box 101,
Laidley 4341 QLD
Australia
You MUST QSL direct and MUST include SASE + 1 IRC or US $ 2.00
Further information from President John VK4MJC.
MARCH - APRIL 2004 DXpedition
3B9C DXpedition to Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean,
March 20 to April 13 2004 will operate no fewer than 15 separate
stations on virtually every band and mode possible.
The 3B9C Rodrigues Island DXpedition has been granted an
ARRL Colvin Award.
The ARRL Colvin Award Committee has elected to make a contribution to
the 3B9C DXpedition to Rodrigues Island which starts operation on the
20th of March. Wayne Mills, N7NG, of the ARRL, said: "We recognise
the good work, particularly in promoting activity beyond the interest
of the usual players. We'll be looking forward to seeing how many
potential DXers 3B9C can bring out of the woodwork." The book 'YASME
- The Danny Weil and Colvin Radio Expeditions', by James D Cain,
explains the background to the Award. It says, "While he never made a
public fuss about it, Lloyd Colvin, W6KG, gave an insurance policy on
his own life to the ARRL and made an annual contribution to the
League to pay the premium. . . It was Lloyd's intent that the income
generated by this endowment, to be called the Colvin Award, would be
used to further the aspect of amateur radio that he held most dear:
the strengthening of international friendship through DXing."
(rsgb/g4njh)
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.
UNTIL DEC 31
OZ8A is in Greenland and will be active using the special call OX2KAN
to celebrate the 175th anniversary of his town.
He operates mainly on CW on all the HF bands. There are also
plans to operate from the NA-134 IOTA island group.
TILL JUNE 2005
Dwayne Barbee KE4RVT is the latest ham on the air from war-
torn Iraq. Q-R-Zed dot com reports that Barbee received his Amateur
radio license from the Ministry of Communication on January 25th. He
has been assigned YI9RVT and will be operating SSB and CW on all
bands for the next 12 to 18 months from the city of Al Kut.
(qrz.com via the ARNewsLine)
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.
November through March 0900 UTC 7.068 MHz
April through October 1000 UTC 3.685 MHz
A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR AO-40
A weak "noise" on the AO-40 2.4-GHz beacon frequency has raised hopes that
AO-40 may still be alive. AO-40 has been silent since January 27 (UTC), in
the wake of a precipitous voltage drop. The satellite's controllers
believe that one or more shorted battery cells are at the root of the
problem.
Colin Hurst, VK5HI, of the AO-40 command team reports that on March 9
between 0310 and 0320 UTC (orbit 1541) he "noted a noise peak of 4 to 5
dB" in the vicinity of the expected beacon frequency after he'd issued a
transmitter reset command sequence to the satellite. After listening for
about 15 seconds, he issued a command to shut down the transmitter, and
the noise disappeared. Hurst said he also transmitted several commands
involving the auxiliary batteries but did not attempt to turn the beacon
on again.
"This tends to suggest that the IHU [Internal Housekeeping Unit computer]
and L Band [1.2 GHz] receiver are operational," Hurst said.
Updates on AO-40 are available on the AMSAT-DL Web site
http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm
(arrl letter)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- THE 'FIR' PIECE --- FEMALES IN RADIO
ALARA - AUSTRALIAN LADIES AR ASSOCIATION
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~bishops/alara/
Net is held each Mondays on 3.580 MHz, commencing at 1030 UTC.
(1000utc during daylight saving)
geencee@picknowl.com.au
ALARAMEET 2005 to be held in Mildura.
Audio editions feature Susan VK7LUV
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SOTA
www.sota.org.uk
John Linford g3wgv@aol.com
ZS ACTIVITY http://www.qsl.net/sotasa/
SOTA EXPANDS TO GERMANY
According to the RSGB, the 'Summits on the Air' - or 'SOTA' - awards
program has announced that the Alpine region of Germany is the latest
geographic area embrace this awards project.
The Alpine SOTA program began operation on March 1st and is already
being heralded as a success. The parent 'Summits on the Air' program
began in 2002 . Since then there have been over 2000 hilltop
activations and 15,000 contacts made.
(GB2RS via ARNewsLine)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF AND ABOVE (the plumbers delight)
GIPPSTECH
The GIPPSTECH conference is made up only from its individual parts so with
only a bit over 4 months to go to the next GIPPSTECH conference, the
coordinator Peter VK3KAI has called for papers to be presented at this
year's conference So if you have any topic you might like to present
as a technical paper up to 1 hour or a short segment presentation of
say 5 to 10 minutes, now is your chance to get those ideas down on paper
and let Peter know what you have in mind.
You can contact him using the link from the club's website
www.qsl.net/vk3bez or through his e-mail address at vk3kai@qsl.net
THE LOWDOWN COLUMN INCLUDING PRECISION BEACON TRANSMISSIONS
Join the DownUnder LF Group's Mailing List:
http://www.egroups.com/list/lofexp/
lowexp@egroups
BEACONS via e-mail: zl1bpu@nzart.org.nz
Precision Beacon Transmission
Mike VK2BLR is operating continuously on 3610.000kHz
using a VNG-style format.
Murray, ZL1BPU, is keen to hear from volunteers prepared to make
similar transmissions once a month. When one or two more participants
are available in VK/ZL they will be able to publish a regular roster.
Murray can help with details of the inexpensive transmitter and
precision exciter required.
Murray can be contacted via email at: zl1bpu@nzart.org.nz
See following website for up to date times frequencies etc.
qsl.net/zl1bpu/micro/Precision
(Murray ZL1BPU)
***************************
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.
Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to
the actual broadcast date, e-mail qnews@wia.org.au
Callbacks 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".
Compiled by VK4BB /
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