OpenBCM V1.08-3-g9b42 (Linux)

Packet Radio Mailbox

HB9ON

[OpenBCM]

 Login: GUEST





  
VK7AX  > BCAST    15.03.20 00:33z 581 Lines 19459 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 33754_VK7AX
Read: GUEST
Subj: VK National News 15Mar20
Path: HB9ON<IW8PGT<I3XTY<I0OJJ<I0OJJ<N6RME<CX2SA<VK7AX
Sent: 200315/0026Z @:VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC #:33754 [Ulverstone] $:33754_VK7AX

>From vk7ax%vk7ax.#ulv.tas.aus.oc@i0ojj.ampr.org Sun Mar 15 01:30:25 2020
Received: from i0ojj.ampr.org by i0ojj.ampr.org (JNOS2.0n.beta) with SMTP
	id AA103326 ; Sun, 15 Mar 2020 01:30:25 +0100
Message-Id: <33754_VK7AX@i0ojj.bbs>
>From: vk7ax@vk7ax.#ulv.tas.aus.oc
X-JNOS-User-Port: Telnet   (i0ojj @ 44.134.32.240)  -> Sending message

From: VK7AX@VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
To  : BCAST@WW


Text edition: Weekly news from the WIA:

MP3 edition of news available at: 
http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2020-03-15.mp3 


Text edition:
March 15 2020 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA

 
(Note.. please remove spaces in email addresses before using)


2020 MARCH 15 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA

------------------------------------------------------

WIA  NEWS MARCH 15

Board Comment Sunday 15th March 2020

Good morning, this is Mike VK8MA, a director of the WIA. 
Today I would like to offer a comment on a subject that might not be 
fully understood. 
Even I have only had this clarified recently. 
It only impacts a few Amateurs and is not a major issue.

Some of you, including myself, have moved from state to state and followed 
the old procedure of obtaining a new callsign in the new state with an 
appropriate prefix e.g. VK2, 3, 6 etc. I have had 4 callsigns in 4 states. 
You can still do this and some people like having a prefix that 
indicates their state, but depending on the state, you may not be able 
to get your previous suffix, due to unavailability.

What is not widely known is that in fact you are only required to do a 
change of address with ACMA and you can keep your callsign. 
Several Amateurs have in fact done that. 
It does give a new slant on the “Callsign for Life". 
It is up to you which way you approach your interstate move.

Meantime, still on callsigns, we are in the throes of compiling the statistics 
from the recent poll and fellow director Aidan will deliver the results ASAP.

This has been Mike, VK8MA.


------------------------------------------------------


Hello, I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I've been thinking.

 

As I think we may be getting overwhelmed with all the stories concerning 
corona virus, I also think we must consider the tasks that are ahead for 
us as members of clubs and as individuals. 
As whole countries have gone into lock down and events where people congregate 
are being cancelled it is the right time to consider what actions we 
should be taking too.

 

We know that the nasty little virus can survive on surfaces once it is 
breathed out by people who are infected. Apart from the use of soap and 
water to thoroughly wash hands with the alternative of hand sanitiser 
there are things like ensuring surfaces are cleaned. 
This is not only food preparation areas but all surfaces that people might 
touch with their hands. Seating, desk tops and door handles are all items 
that deserve, rather demand the disinfectant spray over.

 

Maybe we can ensure that boxes of paper tissues and waste containers are 
strategically placed around areas where people meet. 
Maybe we can follow the example from the White House and space the seating 
at arms length to limit chances of cross infection. 
As the figures from overseas suggest the people who are the most susceptible 
to covid-19 disease are the age group over 70.

People with compromised immune systems are also of great risk and these 
are matters we should consider when planning our gatherings, 
meetings and other events.

 

The positive in the situation is that if we are required to self isolate, 
providing we are in good health, otherwise, and in good spirits, 
a fortnight locked away at home is an opportunity for doing things like 
operating, completing projects and indulging in some unobstructed amateur 
radio luxury.

If the indications from China are correct, many of the delivery issues 
should soon be lifted and production returned to normal as the impact of 
the virus wanes in that community. As we endure a strange phenomenon called 
a pandemic, some of us may be able to enjoy some fresh operating times. 
We can trust that those we love and care about remain safe and healthy 
as we do our best to protect each other.

 I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think, how about you?

-------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club,
 ARRL, RAC, NZART AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the World Wide sources of

 USA TO BVI

 Tuesday an international group set sail from New York to the
 British Virgin Islands to re-activate the VP2VB call sign of
 Yasme fame for 6 days, focusing on the low bands with two stations.

 VP2VB was the call sign of the legendary Danny Weil, VP2VB,
 skipper of the Yasme series of sailing vessels that carried the
 adventurer traveled from one DX location to another in the 1950s and
 early 60s.

 His activities provided the impetus to create The Yasme Foundation.

 This month?s VP2VB DXpedition will trace Weil?s original route
 in the British Virgin Islands under a special license authorization,
 to pay homage to those early years of DXing and to honor the spirit
 he embraced, which inspired a generation of DXers.

 This latter-day VP2VB DXpedition will count toward Yasme awards
 and marks the first activation of VP2VB in more than 60 years.





 INDIA

 Agencies on alert as use of illegal wireless sets causing curry on
 the bands.

 New Indian Express reports the use of unauthorised wireless sets
 is raising major security concerns, unauthorised wireless set users
 from the state are into the same frequency used by HAM radio
 operators for communication on 2 meters.

 Intelligence agencies have launched a probe as they suspect that a 
 few groups are using smuggled cordless handsets to communicate in
 unapproved bandwidths even repeaters to strengthen the signals are
 being set up illegally by these groups to extend their reach,? said
 an intelligence officer.




 PORTUGAL

 Portuguese radio amateurs seek license changes

 Portugal's amateur radio associations has submitted a joint proposal
 for legislation for the Amateur Service and Amateur Satellite
 Services to the Secretary of State.

 Proposals included, among others, the following points:
 Exempt young people up to 16 years old inclusive, from the exam 
   fee.
 Establish that young people aged 17 to 25, inclusive, will pay only
   25% of the exam fee.

 



 SENEGAL

 F 5 PRU in Senegal has been informed by the Senegalese Telecom
 Regulatory Authority, that the WRC-15 Amateur Secondary Allocation
 5351.5 ? 5366.5 kHz is now allowed in country.
 
 The IARU Region1 bandplan can be used with a maximum power limit
 available of 15W EIRP. 

 Listen for F5PRU Yves who has been living in Senegal for 18 months
 mainly around 5354 kHz in CW mode and sometimes on 5357 kHz FT8 Mode.

 He lives near Dakar and although he suffers from QRM early evenings,
 this lessens later on in the night.





 USA

 ARRL reports with Dayton Hamvention? 2020 a little more than 9 weeks
 away, Hamvention officials say they are closely following the
 coronavirus (COVID-19) situation 

 Show organizers will post updates as the May 15 ? 17 event nears,
 but they?re optimistic that coronavirus will not be an issue.

 ?At this time, the Hamvention Executive Committee has been in
 contact with the Greene County Public Health Department, and we
 do not anticipate any impact because of this issue,? a March 3
 Hamvention statement said.


-------------------------------------------------



 March 28-29 the CQ World Wide WPX Contest will be on and NEXT
 weekend sees two "big ones".

 WIA John Moyle Field Day 21-22 March from UTC 0100 on the Saturday
 to 0059 Sunday 22. Also this coming weekend Australia will be
 defending its crown in the Commonwealth Contest as the winner of the
 team section in both 2018 and 19.

 Late info in I know, but Steve Ireland VK6VZ has filed this report


 This coming weekend Australia will be defending its crown in the Commonwealth
 Contest 2020 as the winner of the team section in both 2018 and 2019.
The Commonwealth Contest 2020 runs from 10.00 UTC on 14 March until 10.00 UTC 
on 15 March.  
It is CW only, on 3.5, 7, 14. 21 and 28MHz. Entrants exchange serial numbers 
starting with 001. 

The stations that form the two Australian five-person teams taking place in 2020
 are: Kevin VK6LW, John VK4CT, Barry VK2BJ, Steve VK6VZ, Alan VK4SN, 
Allan VK2GR, Brian VK3MI, Patrick VK2PN, Steve VK3JA and Rob VK6HG.

In addition we  have five Wireless Institute Australia headquarters stations 
supporting us, consisting of VK2WIA, VK3WIA, VK4WIA, VK5WIA and VK6WIA. 
Many thanks to Tommy VK2IR, Lee VK3GK, Trent VK4TS, Grant VK5GR and Peter VK6RZ 
who have volunteered to help us by operating the HQ stations for as long 
as they can.

In order to make the best possible score it is important for each member of 
the Australian squad to work as many “bonus stations"¯ as possible.  
The good news for us is the first three contacts we make with each Australian 
state other than our own on each band each earns us a vital twenty bonus points, 
so please join in and work us!

This year the Commonwealth Contest is on the same weekend as the WIA's 
John Moyle Field Day, with many Australian radio clubs taking to the outdoors. 
If you are competing in the 'John Moyle', please look out for Commonwealth Contest 
competitors both inside and outside Australia and keep a separate log for 
both events - it will make the JMFD even more fun! 

For those who would like to keep a log in the Commonwealth Contest, the brilliant 
free software logging program called SD, written by Paul EI5DI can be used.  
This runs under Windows and can be downloaded from: ei5di.com/



The Radio Society of Great Britain's Commonwealth Contest is one of the oldest 
radio contests in existence, having been first run back in 1931 when it was 
known as “British Empire Radio Week"¯ and lasted for six days! Its objective was
link all those having an interest in the amateur radio within the then empire. 

All those countries that were part of the British Empire including Australia, 
of course were invited to participate.  While the sun set several decades ago 
on the empire, strong ties still exist between the countries that once were 
part of it and the contest still exists, but in a much shorter format.

British Empire Radio Week metamorphosed into the 24-hour British Empire 
Radio Union or BERU (pronounced berroo) contest in 1935. 
Then in 1976, BERU became knowns as the Commonwealth Contest, but everyone still 
calls 'CQ BERU'. 
You can find the rules at the RSGB HF contest site at: rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2020/rberu.shtml

The team contest started in 2007, where the teams taking part reflecting 
those that took part in the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

I hope to see you in Commonwealth Contest 2020.
 73s from Steve Ireland, VK6VZ, Australian Team 1 Coordinator

  --------------
 THROUGH THE DX WINDOW
  -------------- 

  --------------

 Andaman Islands DXpedition news 

 VU4R Team will be active from 20th to 31st March 2020 in Neil
 Islands, Andamans and will focus mainly on low bands 160, 80, 40M.
 
 VU4R Dxpediton will also be operating during the CQ WPX SSB Contest,
 March 28-29 giving the contest yet another Rare prefix!


 --------------

 --------------

 2020 activation of GB0GLS

 First Saturday in May, that is Saturday 2nd May 2020.

 Depending upon conditions they will operate on 80/40/20 and possibly
 17 metres using both SSB and CW modes and for CW GB0GLS will keep
 the exchange simple to encourage newcomers to the mode. 

 GB0GLS is a special event station to commemorate the role played by
 the work of the Radio Security Service in Northern Ireland during
 WWII, in particular Gilnahirk Listening Station which was manned by
 the civilian staff of the General Post Office.


 --------------

 --------------

 Timor-Leste DXpedition 

 A team, including VK2IA will operate from Timor-Leste from
 October 11th until November 8th. This includes the participation
 as Multi-Multi entry in the CQWW SSB.



------------------------------------------------



 WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

 5 MHz

 Our 'International News Man', VK2LAW, reported earlier on how
 the WRC-15 Amateur Secondary Allocation for 5 'Megs' is now
 allowed in Sengal.

 Well across on the other side of the Atlantic the Dominica Amateur
 Radio Club reports the use of the 60-meter (5 MHz) band with an
 EIRP of 25 watts has been approved in the Dominican Republic.

 Quite a few power restrictions exist however, one being a lower
 power when Dominica Hams are aeronautical mobile.

  



  



 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER

 A story written in SouthGate AR News recalls achievements of
 Australian amateur radio moon bounce pioneer Ray Naughton VK3ATN
 who passed away in 2012 

 55 years ago, the quiet electronics store owner from Birchip, in
 western Victoria, successfully completed Australia's first ever
 moon bounce. VK3ATN was told at the time that it was impossible with
 what experts said was limited equipment but he proved industry
 experts wrong, resulting in an all-expenses-paid trip to the USA
 to share his knowledge with scientists. 

 In July 1966 Ray received the first copyable signals from California.
 On November 28, 1966 he had a two-way contact with New Jersey and in
 December '66 Ray and K6MYC in California finally completed a two-way
 contact after nine months of trying. 
 





 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station is celebrating the
 successful launch and docking of the SpaceX-20 commercial resupply
 mission to the International Space Station.

 One payload on the flight was the ARISS Interoperable Radio System
 which ARISS calls ?the foundational element of the ARISS
 next-generation radio system? on the space station.

 The Dragon cargo capsule docked successfully with the space station
 on March 9





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO

 RAYNET helps in flooding emergency

 North Humber RAYNET were recently activated during the widespread
 flooding that occurred in East Yorkshire.
 
 A temporary control station was first established with thirteen
 members attending the developing situation over three days.
 Members were positioned at Vehicle Check Points, flooded roads and
 worked alongside Yorkshire 4x4 Response vehicles as well as being
 co-located in the local Town Council emergency control centre.

 Most of the radio traffic was carried over 144MHz, with some on
 70MHz





--------------------------------------------------------------------


2020 Social Scene

VK4 - Tannum Sands Gathering March 14 (wia)


VK7 - Meet the Voice event, Ross Recreation Centre Sun 22 March (vk7tw)

VK3 - EMDRC HamFest Sunday March 29 ( A Scott)


VK4 - REDFEST 2020 18th April. St. Michael's College
Old Toorbul Point Rd from 8am (vk4tfn)


VK6 - PerthTech May 2 at Bassendean (vk6pop)

VK - WIA Annual Conference, Hobart 8-10 May. (vk7tw)

VK4 - CHARC Theresa Creek Campout Friday 29 til Sunday 31 May (wia)


VK5 - South East Radio Group Annual Convention and
Australian Fox Hunting Championships. June 6-7 (vk5hcf)


VK3 - Gippsland Gate Radio and Electronics Club HamFest Sat July 11
Cranbourne Public Hall (vk3qx)

VK3 - GippsTech 2020 July 11 (vk3wre)

VK4 - Caboolture Radio Club HamFest July 11 (vk7jea)


VK6 - NCRG HamFest Sunday 30th August (vk6ya)



VK4 - CHARC Inc. AGM Weekend Sept 25-27 at Fairbairn Dam (wia events)

VK - ALARAMEET 2020 Bendigo October 2 - 5 (vk5yl)

VK7 - VK7 biennial HamFest November (vk7tw)



2021

VK4 - TARC Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp 2021
Thursday afternoon 21st to Tuesday afternoon 26th January 2021

Girl Guides Association of Queensland Campsite and Training
Centre, 46-56 Toolakea Beach Road, Bluewater.

AX4WIT will be on-air from the camp. (vk4zz)







Submitting news items

 If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion in the
 VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to
 
	nationalnews @ wia.org.au   

 and don't JUST send url's links or posters,
 but take the time to pen YOUR contribution. 

 To submit audio 

	email nationalnews @ wia.org.au 

 and ask for the current password then read "how to submit items" 
 in the weekly news page on
 http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
  
 We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 2 minutes in length
 as we only have a half hour.

 Remember the sooner you submit material the more the likelihood of it
 being broadcast in the very next edition of WIA National News.
 Each item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of
 mentions, please submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh'
 and always if the news room is to read your item ---
 write it in the 3rd person.

 
 A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug
 DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put
 your supporters 'goods' in this text edition "no worries."

 We cannot give blatant 'plugs' to raffles. (new Jan 2019)

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

 TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA

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

	e-mail nationalnews @ wia.org.au

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

 Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
 their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast. 
 Who and where are they?
 http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
 
 The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
 WIA affiliated clubs and active amateurs residing in Australia and
 the globe. 

 We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
 Australia and participation in the activities of local clubs.
 Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit
 material and do not necessarily reflect those of the rebroadcasters,
 nor the National WIA, but IF broadcast, are done so in the spirit in
 which they were submitted." 

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

 If you have call-backs to contribute to the National News call back 
 tally then please send through your call-backs to

	 callbacks @ wia.org.au


 How do I join this National News List? 
 (subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.)
 
	Email to vk1wia-news-join @ lists.wia.org.au
 
from the email account that you wish the emails to go to.


 How do I leave this National News List? (unsubscribe your weekly feed)
 Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want to
 unsubscribe from.  Send unsubscribe to the list
 
unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave @ lists.wia.org.au

 You will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the instructions
 given in that mail to complete the unsubscription. 
 
 Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably
 receive another message confirming your unsubscription from the list,
 and at that point you should stop receiving messages.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 		(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)



Read previous mail | Read next mail


 11.04.2026 13:17:01zGo back Go up