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ZL2TZE > QNEWS 14.11.03 23:26l 1094 Lines 39946 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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THE BEST QNEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
---------------------------------
PREAMBLE -
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have just received a telephone call from the ACA advising the
Australian amateur radio community that an announcement will be made on
the ACA web site on Monday 17 November 2003. I understand that the
announcement will detail the interim changes that will be enacted as
part of the reform of the amateur radio service.
The ACA will do it utmost to make the release available early on Monday
but warns that the exact timing of the information release may be
delayed and that interested parties are to monitor the site during the
day
73s de Ernie VK1LK
Following on in this edition of QNEWS a special report outlining the
changes, this as Editor GraHam VK4BB talks with ACA's Mark Loney.
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
A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ACA
ACA have announced as of January First 2004 CW will no longer be a
requirement for Amateurs to operate on the HF bands.
In this weeks QNEWS audio you'll hear from ACA's Mark Loney with the
complete details.
From Monday November 17 (check mid morning) the ACA site will have the press
release
under the signature of Dr. Bob Horton.
WIA President VK1LK will also be heard, his comments on the announced
changes towards the end of this edition.
NO SUCH BEAST!
There is no such thing as 'temporary' operations granted to Amateur Radio
here in VK. Overseas operators operating in Australia need an Aussie
licence and callsign - period.
An "all too common" occurrence is visitors stretching the credibility of
"temporary /VK" operations.
A station signing himself as KD7OID has been heard on 10.130 MHz using
the call as KD7OID/VK/4. We are not sure if this is even the genuine
KD7OID but says his name is "Mark".
Remember if you hear such call signs the thing to do is IGNORE, but get
as much detail as possible then report to your IARUMS coordinator.
WIA Director David Jones has given formal advice, that the federal
convention for 2004 will be held at the Virginia Palms Conference Centre,
Boondall, in Brisbane from Friday 2nd April to Sunday 4th April.
Given the raft of matters to consider, it may well become prudent to
commence the Friday (informal) session earlier than the normal time of
around 12.30 pm.
Centre is all on one level, has covered walkways between accommodation rooms,
conference rooms and meals areas, and also has outside casual sitting areas
that would facilitate working groups in smaller numbers.
It is only about 15 minutes from the airport.
Report on the VK2 WIA Restructuring Meeting Held 20031107, this by WIAQ
President Ewan McLeod.
As I indicated on last week's QNEWS, a regular monthly meeting
of the VK2 Divisional Council was convened on Friday the 7th of
November. One of the agenda items was to discuss the future of
the WIA and the potential for restructuring into a National WIA.
It was attended by all Councillors. Chris Jones VK2ZDD had been
invited by the President, Brian Kelly VK2WBK, to address the
meeting on the topic of WIA restructuring.
The New South Wales Divisional Secretary, Owen Holmwood
VK2AEJ, advises the meeting was a lively affair. The primary
result of the discussion was the decision to establish a restructuring
committee of radio amateurs experienced in restructuring matters.
Their backgrounds are diverse and include, among others, legal,
business and accounting experience. Their decisions and guidance
will be well founded.
These are early days in the process and many internal committee
matters have to be attended to, not the least of which is the
establishment of the terms of reference for the committee.
Following my announcement on last week's QNEWS of the VK2
meeting, reports have been received of long and lively discussions
on various repeaters about potential restructuring of the WIA. This
is healthy debate for the WIA and the VK amateur radio fraternity
in general. Please do not allow your views and opinions to float
away to wither and die on the air waves. Record them on paper or
electronically as, in the future, I am sure the members of the
Restructuring Committee will be calling for input and it is better
your individual and collective thoughts are not lost in the interim.
This request applies to all VK amateurs and those aspiring to
become amateurs, not only VK2 amateurs and not only those who
are members of the WIA.
GENERAL INTEREST NEWS FROM 'DOWNUNDER'.
Digital Radio Trials in Sydney and Melbourne
Observant readers of Sydney newspapers may have recently seen ads for trials
using the new digital radio broadcasting mode, in the 202-208MHz region of
VHF Band III, in the VHF TV Channel 9A. The trials commence in Sydney on
17th November, as part of a series of trials that may last up to 18 months,
sanctioned by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA).
Trial transmissions in Sydney will use the Eureka 147 Digital Audio
Broadcasting system, receivers will be featured at stores carrying
"Alpine Car Audio" equipment.
Commercial Radio Australia Ltd is coordinating the trials on behalf of all
Sydney commercial stations, the ABC and SBS, and will invite some community
and narrowcast stations to participate so that all incumbent radio
broadcasters have a chance to assess the new technology.
Sydney siders are advised that if you do experience any changes to your
television reception during the trial commencing 17th November, you can
call the DIGITAL RADIO HOTLINE: 1300 139 318.
Melbourne will see tests with program content from WorldAudio (operators
of many 1020am channels in VK) SBS, ABC and Sport927.
Internet links are:
http://www.digitalradiotrials.com.au and http://www.commercialradio.com.au
(Reporters VK1KEP/VK4BB/VK4BAT)
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
WIA EXAM CLOSURE
WIA Federal Education Officer VK4AGS Ron says he "Contacted Fed Office a
couple of weeks ago and they informed him they were writing to all
examiners etc advising of the closure procedures, dates etc".
Essentially the office will be closed 5 weeks, 22/12 to 27/1.
Exam requests need to be submitted by December 8 so hop to that one!
very short notice!
Examiners may hold a surplus supply to cover contingencies over this
closure period. Unused surplus is returned when the office opens.
Results may be delayed longer than usual.
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE - PRESENTED BY VK2UW CHRIS WRIGHT
VK Coordinators for I.A.R.U.M.S.
VK Federal Coordinator.
VK8HA Henry Andersson vk8ha@octa4.net.au
P.O. Box 619
HUMPTY DOO N.T. 0836
VK3TZE Jimmy intruders@wiavic.org.au
VK4ZRT Wayne vk4zrt@wia.org.au
Intruder Watch Coordinator,
c/- Gladstone AR Club,
PO Box 1030, Gladstone 4680.
VK5EV John
VK7RB Rob vk7rb@netspace.net.au
VK8HA Henry Andersson vk8ha@octa4.net.au
IARUMS NETS
Friday 0730 UTC 7.065.5 with VK4CEU David.
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 No broadcasters
21.000 to 21.450
28.000 to 29.700
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA INTRUDER WATCH REPORT OCTOBER 2003
The OHR / CODAR interference on the 24MHz band is still a problem to
Amateurs using this band..
The difference now is that the Northern Region 3 appears to be more
'in the line' than down here in VK-land..
The interference here in Humpty Doo, PH57NK, is very low, not strong enough
to raise the S-Meter on the ICOM Xcvr connected to an 8-Element Log
pointing at the Previous Site which is about 20 kM away from Antenna of
VK8HA.
The CODAR appears not to be working as a Indonesian 'People-Smuggler"
managed to get through to the Coast Northeast of here!!!!
VK6XW logged another 96 Intruders on the 14 MHz band over October.
The majority were the "USUAL' Indonesians with a lot of Various Chinese
speaking Intruders.
VK4-Observers report 17 Intruders on the 14MHz band.
ALL UI Dentified.. Also some of the Chinese Intruders on 28MHz band..
Cheers and all the best from Henry in Humpty Doo, vk8ha@octa4.net.au
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
VK7 15-16 Nov SUBARU SAFARI organiser Gavin VK7HGO
VK7 ? Nov Classic Car Rally VK7 NW Branch for further details
VK6 ? Nov OXFAM staging a walking event in the Busselton area
VK4 ? Nov Cardwell Forest Rally (TARC)
VK4 ? Nov Eco Adventure 24 Hour Sprint (TREC - CARC)
VK3 ? Nov Blue Light Motorcycle Rally - Noojee.
VK5 20-23 Nov Classic Adelaide Rally - Adelaide region
*VK3 21-22 Nov Bruthen Scout Challenge at Angus Vale.
VK1 22 National Capital Rally - Canberra region
VK2 23 Nov Bridge to Bridge Ski Run
*VK3 29 Nov Alpine Veteran Car Rally Lakes Entrance/Swifts Creek.
VK2 30 Nov RTA Cycle Ride.
VK1 6 Dec Rallye des Femmes
*VK3 26-31 The Murray Marathon. Contact Carol on 5962 6098.
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
Nov. 2 Operation Teamwork ll.
WICEN provided back up communications, voice and data for
Country Fire Authority and Victoria Police in a simulated
pre bush fire season exercise in the Dandenong Ranges..
Nov. 9 Geelong / Otway Challenge.
A 160 km bike ride Geelong to Lorne and back.
A charity event for the HEARTBEAT organisation.
Coming events:
Nov. 21/22. Bruthen Scout Challenge.
An annual event involving bushcraft and navigation to be
held at Angus Vale on the Mitchell River.
Nov. 29. Alpine Veteran Car Rally.
10 stages between Lakes Entrance and Swifts Creek.
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.
WICEN VK4
(State Coordinator, Ewen McLeod VK4ERM)
Staff of offshore island resorts in the Whitsunday Islands will be better
prepared for natural disasters, thanks to a new training package.
Minister for Emergency Services Mike Reynolds said the Emergency Management
on Offshore Island Resorts training program on compact disk was an
innovative way of training island staff in disaster management preparation,
and would provide visitors to the islands with additional peace of mind.
Purpose of the training CD came from a request by the Whitsunday Shire
Council Local Government Counter Disaster Committee to produce an
education and awareness-training program for Off-Shore Island Resort
supervisors to use to train staff pre-Cyclone Season for Cyclone and
Storm Tide events.
(Justin Coomber)
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.
VK4EHT WIAQ ALTERNATE FEDERAL COUNCILLOR BRUCE JONES
The holiday season is approaching and many clubs make changes to their
regular activities. If you would like your clubs activities over the break
to be publicised in QTC then send the details to the QTC editor.
Email as in the online version of QNEWS or even by packet to vk4eht@vk4zgq
There will be no January edition of QTC so to get any notice in December
issue, send it in by the 22nd of November.
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.
G'day to Rod VK4VRD is doing the callbacks Sunday in Brisbane, Rod now has
upgraded, passed his morse thanks to the ACA who due to Rods illness
conducted the examination at Rods House.
CLUB ACTIVITY WITH BRIAN COLEMAN VK4LH IN MACKAY
BAYSIDE
teletext page 901
Net 3.567 Wed 1930
The Bayside District Amateur Radio Club Inc will hold their
Christmas Function at the Capalaba Sportsman's Club, Ney Road
Capalaba on the 27th of November. All members and friends
are invited to attend. Be there from 6pm and meet up with old friends.
A number of the Bayside members were seen down at the Gold Coast
Ham Fest looking for a bargain. I haven't heard of any treasurers
being bought on the day. Personally I only bought a DTMF mike for $10.00
DARLING DOWNS
teletext page 915
DDRC Club member Andrew Chapman VK4ZAN, at his own expense, has on air
in Toowoomba IRLP Node No. 6889 on 70 cms repeater VK4RTW.
The DDRC Management Committee accepted on Monday 10th. November 2003
the following report:
Club Members Ian Tinney VK4KAD, John Kik VK4TJ and Matthew Weatherley VK4HWM
had an informal meeting on Sunday 9th. November 2003 to discuss how they
felt about Ron Bertrand's Courses, resulting in them offering themselves
to Ron as Mentors/Facilitatos and to be of assistance to him as required
where they live, and to be under his direction.
If the Club or indivitual members wish to be involved with them, they are
welcome. They would appreciate it if the Club could give them non-financial
support in their endeavours to assist Ron and those seeking to become
Amateurs.
(Matthew Weatherley VK4HWM)
GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY
TeleText page 911
http://www.goldcoastamateurradio.com
Remember the 30th November as this is the day we defend the Kortz Cup
with the Lismore Group and the picnic will take place at 10.30am at
Bicentennial Park, Pottsville. This is a more suitable venue as it is
flat, plenty of room and bush trails for fox hunting and also shelter
should the day turn bad.
Wicen members call in every Tuesday evening at 20.00hrs on 146.950 for
exercises and call ins.
The club House is open every Saturday at 85 Harper Street Nerang at 1pm
and amateurs are welcome to come on in and say Hi.
On the 6th December at 10.00am will be our last General Meeting for the year
and look forward to meeting members and then on the 13th December will be
the Club Christmas Party, everything will be supplied by the club so we
will be looking forward to catching up with friends we haven't seen for a
while.
Remember exams can be held at the clubhouse at any time to suit the
candidate just contact our Education Officer Kath vk4ku on 3339-3530
Fast track and AOCP courses will be held in the new year and once again
please contact Kath for more information.
That's all for now Kaye vk4hka Vice President/Publicity Officer
LOGAN WEST
November meeting has been cancelled.
ROCKHAMPTON
TeleText page 918
IRLP NODE 6973 ;
19th November the RADAR Club meets at Charles St SES building Rockhampton
7.30 pm
TABLELANDS RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB
TeleText page 922
DATE CLAIMERS
Nov 29 TREC Christmas party, dinner a sit down meal.
TOWNSVILLE
TeleText page 919
vk4wit@wia.org.au
http://www.vk4tub.org/tarc/
Final club meetings for 2003 include:-
18th November Social and Backscatter Meeting,
22nd November AGM
2nd December Management Meeting.
The Radio Theory Class will go into recess during the festive
season, with the final Class for 2003 being held Thursday December 11th.
TARC 2003 XMAS Party
with Monster Kilometer of Treasure and XMAS Parcel Auction
Sunday 14th December from 2pm to 7pm at Aitkenvale State School
opposite K-Mart.
Monster Xmas Lights Tour 2003
Happens Friday 19th December -
TARCadians, visitors, friends and family are invited to assemble
their mobile shack chariots from 6pm at the Garbutt Shopping Centre Carpark,
entry via Gorden Street, mobiles will then proceed in tag-a-long fashion
under the guidance of Wallaby Bob and Jeanette, commentary on 146.500.
Tour participants are asked to be self sufficient with seating, tables,
drinks and nibbles and dress up for the occasion!
TARC Australia Day Weekend Family Radio Camp
Friday Evening 23rd January 2004 to Monday Afternoon 26th January at
Girl Guides Campsite, Rollingstone.
AX-4-WIT will be on-air from the camp to provide directions and contact.
Next Amateur Radio Hour Shows :
Live on 4TTT-FM 103.9FM Wednesday Community Access 7pm-8pm
3rd Dec The Amateur Radio Hour Xmas Special ho ho ho !
7th Jan The Amateur Radio Hour New Years Special with no added hangover !
4th Feb The Amateur Radio Hour Short Month Extravaganza.
VK4 AREA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF
VK4MR and VK4VKD (and families) will be taking the One Man Tower demo
unit and a 17el 2m/70cm duo-band antenna to Jollies Lookout on Sunday 30th.
Nov. 2003 - the object being to work as many stations as possible on
2m and 70cm - vertical and horizontal FM and USB.
Their intention is to have the portable station set up early in an
effort to try for DX stations during the morning aircraft enhancement
session on 144.200MHz. and then attempt to work stations in as wide
an area of QLD. as possible.
The portable station will consist of the tower/antenna, of course, and
the tx/rx will be a Yaesu FT847 at 50w., running off battery power
(2 x 100amp USB) for as long as it holds out;-).
So fingers crossed that the wx and Murphy are kind!
Maybe there are some other hams who would like to pack a picnic
and join them up there. (Kevin would love to be able to take a group
photo up there around the demo trailer).
MAJOR GATHERINGS IN VK4 FOOTPRINT
2004
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)...
Sep SUNFEST, already the dates set for next year, Saturday September 11
WIA EXAMINATIONS IN VK4
Nov. 29 SUNSHINE COAST
Intending candidates should contact Ron VK4GZ on 5448 4063 or
Dave VK4KDL on 5448 7649 by the first Tuesday in the month.
Dec. 07 Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club Inc are holding examinations
Details, contact Laurie Pritchard VK4BLE on 3284 8859 ah or
via the clubs email address rdrc4@hotmail.com
ATHERTON TABLELANDS
Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club conducts examinations on
request for the Atherton Tablelands area.
Contact the Secretary, Dale McCarthy - VK4DMC 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 contest time table for 2003-4
===========================================================
* denotes new addition to calendar
Date Contest
---- -------
2003
Nov
15 - 16 ARRL International EME Competition
15 - 17 ARRL November Sweepstakes (Phone)
Dec
5 - 7 ARRL 160 Meter Contest
13 - 14 ARRL 10 Meter Contest
26 ROSS HULL VHF CONTEST
2004
Aug 21-22 Lighthouse Activation Weekend.
Check the OFFICIAL VK Contest Site, www.vkham.com/contests/index.html
==============================================================
WIA AWARDS ROSTER FOR AR MAGAZINE
December. ITU allocated callsign list.
2003 PHILIP J. MC GAN MEMORIAL SILVER ANTENNA AWARD WINNER
Tim Lewallen, KD5ING, of Texas, is the winner of this award given annually
to an ARRL member who demonstrates outstanding volunteer public relations
success on behalf of Amateur Radio.
KD5ING is an ARRL Public Information Officer for the North Texas Section.
Not long after Lewallen took on his position earlier this year,
the space shuttle Columbia disaster occurred. Hams in Texas immediately
got involved in the debris recovery effort, and He implemented a
media plan that garnered a lot of positive press for the ham radio
emergency responders, and Amateur Radio in general.
"Through his efforts and cooperation with the response agencies, Amateur
Radio was cast in a very positive light," said ARRL Public Relations
Committee Chairman Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR.
The McGan Award was created in 1993 in memory of Phil McGan, WA2MBQ (SK).
He was a journalist, the first chairman of the League's Public Relations
Committee and an enthusiastic supporter of volunteer PR efforts to benefit
ham radio.
(arrl letter)
**********************************************************************
SPECIAL EVENTS
* denotes new on calender
NOVEMBER 21-23
SPECIAL EVENT STATION ZS1-SALT
A group of ZS Division 1 Amateurs, all Boland Amateur Radio Club members,
are going to operate a Secial Event Station over the weekend 21 - 23
November from the Sutherland Observatory in the Northern Cape Province of
South Africa. The purpose is to make amateurs WW aware of the largest
telescope in the Southern Hemisphere.
The station will be identified by the callsign ZS1SALT
(acronym for South African Large Telescope).
All HF frequencies will be used and the station can be worked on phone,
CW and digital modes.
HOWEVER note ONLY direct QSL cards will be accepted; to:
P O Box 273, STRAND. 7140.
For additional information on the project, please visit the website:
www.salt.ac.za
as well as the Boland Amateurradioklub website at:
www.qsl.net/zs1bak
(audio from dennis green zs4bs/(SARL))
*NOVEMBER 22-23
Special Event Station EI4LDF
The Bayside Scouts Radio Group, with the co-operation of Howth Martello
Tower Heritage Group and Fingal County Council will set up a Special Event
station at the Tower on Saturday and Sunday November 22/23rd using Callsign
EI4LDF.
The Station will commemorate the visit to the Howth Tower by American
Inventor, Lee de Forest 100 years ago where he set up a Morse telegraph
station and conducted 35 wpm Morse code transmissions to another similar
station located across the Irish sea near the South Stack Lighthouse,
Anglesey, North Wales.
VIETNAM, 3W.
Eddy is QRV as 3W-22-S until December 31 to celebrate the
22nd South East Asian Games hosted in Vietnam.
QSL via operator's instructions.
LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD NOW WORKS ON MACINTOSH COMPUTERS
ARRL's Logbook of the World continues to grow and expand, and it's now
operational on the Macintosh OS X operating system. Mac enthusiast Steve
Palm, N9YTY, compiled a version of TrustedQSL to work with newer Macintosh
computers.
For a complete overview on Logbook of the World, just head on over to the
LoTW Web page at www.arrl.org/lotw
(ARRL LETTER)
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report
(Measure twice - Cut once!)
World's Fastest Transistor
Looking something like a piston in a cylinder but at a nano-metre scale, the
world's fastest transistor has been demonstrated by a team at the University
of Illinois.
Their latest device, with a frequency of 509 gigahertz, is 57 gigahertz
faster than their previous record holder and could find use in applications
such as high-speed communications products, consumer electronics and
electronic combat systems. The 500GHz device is 37 percent faster than the
370GHz mark they achieved in January this year.
Feng and graduate students Walid Hafez and Jie-Wei Lai fabricated the
high-speed devices in the university's Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory
(http://www.micro.uiuc.edu). Unlike traditional transistors, which are built
from silicon and germanium, the Illinois transistors are made from indium
phosphide and indium gallium arsenide.
(Reporter: Peter Ellis VK1KEP)
MEDIA WATCH and PR OPPORTUNITIES
David Catlin VK2JDC out at Parkes NSW says the Parkes & District ARC
is very keen to rebroadcast QNews on the Grenfell Repeater via IRLP
node 6211, "can we become a rebroadcaster of the Q"?
...sure thing guys.. go for it, just reply each week with your callbacks..
To complement the VK2 News the plan is to rebroadcast QNEWS Monday evenings
at 8pm local and on Wednesday morning at 11am via IRLP node 6211.
The Grenfell repeater 147.100 MHz + offset has tremendous coverage over
the central west of NSW is can be accessed from Orange, Parkes, Forbes,
Cowra and West Wyalong. As you can see it has a couple of hundred square
kilometre footprint. It also covers the Newell Highway the major route
from Melbourne to Brisbane from West Wyalong to just north of Parkes.
Nathan Broofield sent us a "quick e-mail to let us know that QNEWS is
being re-broadcast twice weekly via the NEW VK2RSW Repeater located in
Springwood NSW and covering the Lower Blue Mountains area from Wilberforce
in the North to Appin in the South, Granville in the East to Wentworth Falls
in the West.
The QNEWS audio is played at 19:30 Hours every Sunday and every Wednesday
evening. The repeater license is in the name of the Nepean Amateur Radio
group but is maintained and owned by Craig Campbell VK2TAB.
Craig is also the Node owner of IRLP Station 6280 and Nathan is the node
Administrator.
Gold Coast Hamfest featured in a full 40second TV news item on NBN-9
this week. Story presented by Rob Readings included a short grab of
the Hon. Lex Bell - State Member for Surfer Paradise. LLB OAM and the
Gold Coast Amateur Radio Socities Patron - Lex really looks after the
Gold Coast Club by attending their larger community functions.
(Audio grab from website is a TV media film x ch9)
DX EDGE, with BEACON and NET ADVICE
* new on calender
*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)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (or Every pixel tells a story)
Southern VK7 ATV
Some good work has been made to the ATV repeater site on Guy Fawkes
Hill. A colour camera on the Repeater 2 building is mounted on a rotator
which is on top of the building. The rotator can be made to pan and tilt
using DTMF tones from anywhere around Hobart.
At the moment the transmitting antenna is set in one direction but
hopefully it will soon be an omnidirectional arrangement and with a
lot more RF power.
For more info regarding the reception of the ATV signal contact ken VK7DY.
(vk7wi)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
A call has gone out to ZS operators by Oakdale AR Club in their latest
"Acorn Times" for more use to be made of packet radio in South Africa.
Seems normaly over 600 odd ZL/VK packets on their boards but few ZS
originated messages.
So THAT'S where those VK messages end up!
Bluetooth and Spectrum Pollution
Just when you thought you'd heard it all, Bluetooth has announced last week
that, for the first time, one million Bluetooth devices have been shipped in
a week. Even if the technology-savvy and radio-active Aussie market gets
only one percent of this world-wide output, that's a lot of 2.4GHz action
coming to the airwaves near you over the next weeks and years.
Expect Bluetooth to appear in every type of commodity electronic device that
might need data transfer, such as: portable MP3 players, cameras, set-top
boxes and DVD players, TV sets, cordless headphones and ear-pieces, cars
(for cordless phone calls). Already, Bluetooth is in laptop computers.
"Radios that comply with the Bluetooth wireless specification operate in the
unlicensed, 2.4 GHz radio spectrum ensuring communication compatibility
worldwide. These radios use a spread spectrum, frequency hopping,
full-duplex signal at up to 1600 hops/sec. The signal hops among 79
frequencies at 1 MHz intervals to give a high degree of interference
immunity."
(Reporter: Peter Ellis VK1KEP)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
ANDY THOMAS BACK IN SPACE
Andy held the call VK5JAT but was, of course, known as VK5MIR from the
Mir Space Station for 22 exciting weeks a few years ago, during which time
he was very, very active on 2m simplex.
NASA has named Andy as one of 3 more astronauts to its next space shuttle
flight, a mission to test techniques for repairing wing holes like the
one that doomed Columbia.
Andrew Thomas, an American-Australian engineer who was the last to live
aboard Russia's Mir station has spent the past nine months assisting the
families of the Columbia crew.
(Chris Edmondson, VK4AA)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
Peter Ellis VK1KEP reports "It seems that the USA is working on a
"Weapon of Metalic-component Destruction", using high-power microwave
(HPM) weapons.
The cover story of the IEEE magazine, Spectrum (November 2003 edition), by
Michael Abrams, says that the name "high-power microwave (HPM)" is the
give-away.
HPMs generate an intense "blast" of electromagnetic waves in the microwave
frequency band (high megahertz to tens of gigahertz) that is strong enough
to overload electrical circuitry. Most types of matter are transparent to
microwaves, but electronic enthusiasts know that metallic conductors like
those found in metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS), metal-semiconductor, and
bipolar devices, strongly absorb them, which in turn heats the material. A
high-power microwave (HPM) weapon can induce currents large enough to melt
circuitry, but less intense bursts can temporarily disrupt electrical
equipment or permanently damage ICs, causing them to fail minutes, days, or
even weeks later. People caught in the burst of a microwave weapon would be
untouched and might not even know they'd been hit!
There is already a report that the US Armed Forces may have used an HPM
weapon, during the invasion of Iraq, to put a TV station off the air.
Find more about high-power microwave (HPM) weapons at the web site of the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) magazine, Spectrum,
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org
(Reporter: Peter Ellis VK1KEP)
FEEDBACK TO THE Q
Two Presidents line up on the Q with feedback.. The WIA Federal President
Ernest Hocking and the President of the Brisbane VHF Group, VK4OE
Doug Friend who tells us how on Tuesday the 11, at 02:15z WA1ZMS/4 worked
W4WWQ/4 on a frequency of 403 GHz!
This over a distance of 0.521 Km.
The weather at the time of the QSO was:
Temp: 3.9C
Dew Point: 1.1C
Relative Humidity: 82%
Station pressure: 1006mb
The weather conditions result in a total atmospheric loss of 14.4dB per km!
When colder and dryer winter WX arrives, they have hopes of trying to break
the 1km distance barrier."
(WA1ZMS on the W1MBA microwave e-mail reflector via VK4OE)
Fellow amateur radio operators this is VK1LK Ernest Hocking President WIA.
Today is indeed an historic day in the history of amateur radio in
Australia.
Today Dr Bob Horton, the Deputy Chairman of the ACA has made an
information release on the widely anticipated removal of Morse code testing
requirements for Australian amateur radio operators. As identified in Dr
Horton's information release the removal of the Morse testing requirement
will not come into force until 1 January 2004. The proposed changes will
require no changes to existing licences or callsigns and so amateurs across
Australia will be able to enjoy access to HF operation from the beginning of
2004. I look forward to hearing many new operators on HF over the New Year
break including all of you interested in ensuring the preservation of on air
CW. With any luck I will be able to get some time on air myself and hope to
be operating QRP CW over the holiday on 80, 40, 20, and 15m
I would urge you all to respect the timing of the new conditions and resist
the desire to get on air early. There is still a lot of work to undertake
before the full amateur radio reform process is complete and we must all
respect the need to operate with the restrictions of the LCD until this
reform is complete.
It is also good to hear that after many years of preparation by members of
both the ACA and the WIA that the 80m DX window will be made available to
amateurs again with effect the 1st of January 2004. The planning and
administrative effort required to achieve this should not be underestimated
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the ACA
and WIA /ACA liaison committee who worked to achieve this excellent outcome
for amateur radio in Australia. Thank you.
I look forward to hearing you on all on air over the New Year holiday period
and will suggesting that a special on air activity day be organised to
celebrate this historic occasion
73 and all the best in amateur radio de Ernest Hocking VK1LK
IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK:-
PREAMBLE -
ACA ANNOUNCEMENT ON WEB
NATIONAL NEWS
A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ACA CW REQUIREMENT DROPPED IN VK
There is no such thing as 'temporary' operations granted in VK.
WIA convention for 2004 will be held at Virginia Palms Conference Centre.
Report on the VK2 WIA Restructuring Meeting Held 20031107.
GENERAL INTEREST NEWS FROM 'DOWNUNDER'.
Digital Radio Trials in Sydney and Melbourne
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
WIA EXAM CLOSURE
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE - PRESENTED BY VK2UW CHRIS WRIGHT
WICEN/RESCUE RADIO INTERNATIONAL WITH ROBERT VK3KRB
VK4EHT WIAQ ALTERNATE FEDERAL COUNCILLOR BRUCE JONES
2004 WIAQ GRANTS CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
G'day to Rod VK4VRD is doing the callbacks Sunday in Brisbane.
CLUB ACTIVITY WITH BRIAN COLEMAN VK4LH IN MACKAY
BAYSIDE
DARLING DOWNS
GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY
LOGAN WEST
ROCKHAMPTON
TABLELANDS RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB
TOWNSVILLE
VK4 AREA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF
VK4MR and VK4VKD (and families) will be taking the One Man Tower demo
MAJOR GATHERINGS IN VK4 FOOTPRINT
WIA EXAMINATIONS IN VK4
VK4 AMATEURS WHO ARE JP's
Chris VK4AA reads each weeks contest time table for 2003-4
WIA AWARDS ROSTER FOR AR MAGAZINE
2003 PHILIP J. MC GAN MEMORIAL SILVER ANTENNA AWARD WINNER
SPECIAL EVENTS
NOVEMBER 21-23 SPECIAL EVENT STATION ZS1-SALT
NOVEMBER 22-23 Special Event Station EI4LDF
VIETNAM, 3W.
LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD NOW WORKS ON MACINTOSH COMPUTERS
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report
World's Fastest Transistor
MEDIA WATCH and PR OPPORTUNITIES
IRLP node 6211, "can we become a rebroadcaster of the Q"?
IRLP node 6280, QNEWS is being re-broadcast twice weekly.
Gold Coast Hamfest featured in a full 40second TV news item on NBN-9
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (or Every pixel tells a story)
Southern VK7 ATV
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
A call has gone out to ZS operators by Oakdale AR Club in their latest
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
ANDY THOMAS BACK IN SPACE
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
Peter Ellis VK1KEP reports on HPM
FEEDBACK TO THE Q
Two Presidents line up on the Q with feedback.. The WIA Federal President
Ernest Hocking and the President of the Brisbane VHF Group, VK4OE
***************************
QNEWS - we've reported...YOU decide.
Compiled by VK4BB /
Special Interest Group news read by VK4FUQ, VK4AA presents Contests
Packet: qnews@vk4wie.#bne.qld.aus.oc
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