OCTOBER CLUB NEWSLETTER BRANCH 11 GISBORNE

[ali.a...@xtra.co.nz]

FIRST LIGHT

The Official Newsletter , Branch 11, ZL2AA 

Gisborne NZ. 12 October  2009.

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HOW LUCKY ARE WE ?

 

 

Danger zone just a stone's throw away

DEBORAH SMITH SCIENCE EDITOR

October 2, 2009

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Earthquake map.

 

DANGER is all around us.

 While Australia sits pretty in the middle of a large continental plate, our slow drift to the north-east causes chaos, encircling us in a massive ring of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

''We've got the most active areas in the world to our north and east,'' said Gary Gibson, a seismologist at Environmental Systems and Services in Melbourne. ''We are in the centre of the seismological world.''

Out near Samoa, our plate meets its match - the mighty Pacific plate that is thrusting westward under ours at a rate of 86 millimetres a year.

North near Sumatra, the opposite is happening. It is being dragged under the Sunda plate with about 65 millimetres a year disappearing almost straight down to be recycled deep in the earth.

While these movements at plate boundaries sound minuscule, their impact is colossal, as shown by the two unrelated events this week, on one day: the magnitude 8.1 earthquake and local tsunami near Samoa, and the magnitude 7.6 earthquake near Panang.

Earthquakes and tsunami have long racked our region, and despite new technologies to detect them, some ancient wisdom needs to be revived to survive, say scientists.

Kevin McCue, president of the Australian Earthquake Engineering Society, said tsunami warning systems were useless in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

All residents and tourists to the South-West Pacific and South-East Asia needed to learn a simple message, that waiting for a phone or radio alert could be fatal. ''If you are near the sea and feel a large earthquake [that lasts longer than 30 seconds] then immediately make for a spot at least 10 metres above the high-water mark and wait there for several hours.''

Tony Leggett, of the Bureau of Meteorology, said people also needed to be aware that the tide did not always go out before a tsunami hit.

Tsunamis seemed more common because of better communications from remote areas. Fifty years ago, this week's devastation in Samoa might have gone unnoticed elsewhere, or been dismissed as the result of a ''freak wave'', he said.

While scientists had accurately predicted the spread of the Samoan tsunami, the science of determining which earthquakes would cause big waves was ''primitive'' compared with weather forecasting, he said.

This meant authorities were still erring on the side of caution in issuing tsunami alerts. The impact of giant waves, however, had grown due to population increases. ''And more people are living on the coast,'' he said.

Only about one of the 1.5 million earthquakes a year, on average, are magnitude 8 or above. But five of the eight earthquakes of this size around the world since the gigantic 9.3 Boxing Day earthquake in 2004 have been in the ring of fire around us.

Mr Gibson said magnitude 7 earthquakes were common to our east and the region had experienced a few of magnitude 8.

''It has never had a magnitude 9. But I think our time will come for a big one on this subduction zone,'' he said.

Mr McCue said Australia should be more proactive in helping its neighbours prepare for these inevitable events, rather than only giving help after the disasters have struck.

Earthquake monitoring systems needed to be upgraded in countries such as Vanuatu, Fiji and PNG, and building codes needed to be developed and implemented, to stop schools and hospitals from being destroyed.

More engineering and earth science students from these countries should be trained here too, he said. ''There is a lot Australia could do between disasters rather than sitting waiting.''

Australia will have a minimum two-hour warning of an underwater earthquake causing a tsunami in our region that would reach our shores, Mr Leggett said.

While we have far fewer earthquakes than our neighbours, we should not be complacent, Mr Gibson said.

They were usually closer to the surface, which meant they had more impact, and they could also be very large.

 

 

 

                                                                     Ham radio supports disasters                                                                          
            

 

A severe tropical storm in The Phillipines and earthquakes in Indonesia have seen radio amateurs providing emergency communications and other relief and recovery assistance.

Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA) President, Dr Joey Panganiban DU1BP reports that a tropical storm named "Ondoy" hit the Philippines five days ago creating a tragic calamity with hams swinging into action to help.

Joey DU1BP said, "We have mobilized our amateur radio clubs for the relief operations. The frequencies of 7.045 MHz have been used for general announcements while 2-metres FM is for our community operations."

The disaster has affected more than two million people and the death toll is headed for around 300.

Joey DU1BP said, "All amateur and civic radio clubs are now on operation in Metro Manila under the guidance of the National Telecommunications Commission and PARA."

He said the PARA Secretariat has been designated to receive donations and soliciting donations both in kind and cash for the victims.

Joe DU1BP said, "What the evacuees need is food that are ready to eat (those without much preparation) such as canned goods, noodles, rice, bread, coffee, milk, sugar, salt and water."

"They also need medical attention and medications needed for cough, colds, fever, diarrhea and vitamins. These items will be repacked and given direct to the recipients, using community officials as contact points."

Meantime a powerful earthquake rocked western Indonesia on Wednesday, trapping thousands under collapsed buildings and triggering landslides.

At least 75 people were killed on Sumatra island after the 7.6 on the Ritcher scale earthquake strike. A follow-up strong nearby inland earthquake caused even more damage.

In a brief message just hours after that disaster from the Organisasi Amatir Radio Indonesia (ORARI), received by IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee Chairman, Jim Linton VK3PC, it has been confirmed that hams are involved there too.

Wisnu Widjaja W1SNU/YB0AZ reports "We are active on the field now to support the emergency Communications in West and South Sumatera, Indonesia. Now, we are using 2-meters and 40-meter band."

More information can be expected in coming days.
However no reports so far of amateur radio emergency communications in the Pacific as a tsunami hit Samoa leaving a trail of death and destruction.



Jim Linton VK3PC

 

 

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Flooding in India,   Phillipines,   Italy  ,     earthquakes in Indonesia , Phillipines and Samoa .     How serious do  WE  take these  events that happen all around us ,  here in Godzone country ??

 

Listening on our 680 repeater I heard laughter and comments to the effect " are you going down to watch the Tsunami " , and comments  made about  the so called warning system , "  I suppose  ' they '   need to cover themselves  even though it is  an non event on our Gisborne shores .  ( Presumably a reference to civil defence and the morning breakfast show issuing warnings of a possible tsunami  and to head for high ground.  )

 

Now how complacent is that ?  .     

 

  I for one ,   never even knew there was a tsunami warning   , until I heard about it hours after the warnings were issued . 

 

If there had been a tsunami   I , and my family  might not be here now .    That scares me !

 

Just how prepared are we ?    How prepared are you ?  For example ,  look at how your radio station is set up  . Is it located on a shelf  /  desk ,  or some other horizontal surface ?.   Are the transceivers  ,  Psu's etc  , restrained against severe shocks ?.

 

Judging by some of the photos of recent local stations none seem to be restrained , ( nor is mine  yet ) . 

 

When another  7.8 on the Richter scale hits us  , will you still be able to use your station  , assuming you don't have to abandon it  for high ground ,   or will you be looking at a  useless  pile of junk on the floor  ? .  Ed

 

 

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 A timely reminder

Email from ZL2RC ,  Roger.
 

 

Hi to all;

 

Today, 690 went off the air after a short time on relying on the "good" batteries, and 690 was IDLE - ,  as in,  not being used   (  load around 60mA , the same as three, standard LED's ).

 

The entire site lost mains power and the genset did not start  (some of you may have noticed TV1 and TV2 was off the air).

When the generator was restored back to operating, 690 came back on the air.

 

Here is an excellent example of what could , and probably will , happen during a major disater and when the repeater site is needed. 

 

If the Club is serious on   "emergency operation", then a decent set of NEW batteries is required. None of this ,  "there is a big generator up there" , rubbish ;     today  has proven otherwise.

Depending on the type of batteries   ( the National System, drawing up to 12A on full use ), there definitely will be a limited operating time, but even if for a few days, that may make a difference.

I would suggest a minimum of four NEW batteries, 6 volt, 225 a/h units, two sets- one for the NS and the other for 690 and digi, unless future decisions on placement of equipment is changed (such as eliminating some repeaters). Ideally larger units for the NS, but the above is better than nothing.

 

There has been too much reliance on doing as cheap as possible and everytime we get caught with our pants down. The question is,  how serious do we want  to be with the radio  /  operating  /  public service side of the hobby? .     It is becoming tiresome .

 

73

Roger 2RC .

 

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CLUB NEWS

    Club night will be Monday ,  12th October , 7.30pm , Bryce St scout hall.

 

 

On behalf of the club , sincere condolences to Mike  ZL2cc on the sad loss of his daughter in the UK.

 

 

Club activities

Points of discussion :   maintenance and retention of repeaters and financial expenditure on these , relocation of IRLP , Jota ,  Museum of technology  club rooms , and other matters discussed and raised  at the recent committee meeting .

 

"Skite night"

Bring your QSL cards to show and skite about how them.

We are looking for the oldest,glossiest and hardest.

 

APOLOGIES :

 

ZL2AIX,  I will be away in Hamilton on the 12th  , sorry to miss all the fun.

 

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JOTA

 

JOTA  17 th - 18th October 2009

 

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While I was in the UK I visited the Loughborough club at a local water mill that was open to the public on a Sunday.

They had up a "DZZ" (80/40m trapped dipole) antenna in the trees and operated from an upstairs area of the mill. The radio "shack" was open to the public and while I was there about ten people came for a look and a chat.

They operated 80m all day in "chat mode" and had a small pileup waiting for a chat.

The pictures are of Chris G1ETZ who some of you may have spoken to on JOTA and the operator who I think is Stan.

 

Mike S Mather ZL2CC.

 

(  Sorry Mike, the pics of Chris  and G4AMN  antennas were way too big and I don't have time to resize them tonight   Ed. )

 

 

THE RADIO STATION OF   G4AMN

 

ZL2CC, Loughborough Club.

 

 

 

 

G4AMN

G4AMN

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Congratulations :

Congratulations to  Douglas  ZL1BFR ,  being awarded a  Paul Harris Rotary fellowship for services rendered .

Nice pic and background information in the Gisborne Herald  Douglas.

Who says we don't have class in Branch 11.   No riff raff  in this club .    Hi .

 

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For sale : TH3Jr.3 element beam..has been damaged  on one element but been repaired and checks out on all 3 bands...contact

Tom ZL2MOT

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A Tale Of Two Old Wives.

There once lived two cantankerous  old wives ;

One old wife asserts to the other.. it is obvious , my dear , radiation occurs mainly from the middle portion of a dipole because that is where the current is strongest and the magnetic field the most concentrated.

 

The other old wife asserts that it is obvious radiation occurs mainly from the ends of a dipole because that is where the highest voltages occur and the electric field is most intense.

 

Since the pair of arguments are logically identical in form , then they are both  of equal validity.

But because it is impossible to reconcile two cantankerous old women.....THEY CANNOT BOTH BE RIGHT.......

Only one conclusion can be drawn....

BOTH ARGUMENTS ARE FALSE. ! 

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I better sign , lest  my  xyl reads this and accuses me of .......

 

Before I go , I will leave you with these two thoughts .

 

1/    Old age is when you know  ALL the answers , but no one asks you the questions .

2/     Some people make it happen,  some people watch it happen , and some people say

 "  WHAT HAPPENED  "

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Sayonara ,

73

ZL2AIX  Ed