VK2WI News, 16th March 1997
Richard P. Murnane
WIA NSW Division News, 16th March 1997
Web: http://marconi.mpce.mq.edu.au/wia/
Email: wia...@sydney.dialix.oz.au
NEW MEMBERS.
A warm welcome is extended to the following new members approved at the
Council Meeting on Friday night 14 March 1997.
VK2AO Dennis PEAKE of Colo Vale
VK2EYC lan D McKAY of Killara
VK2IEQ Paul JENNI of Drummoyne
VK2JPR Glen F. ENGLISH of Mt Kuring-gal (Welcome back!)
VK2AYD David PILLEY of Wauchope
VK2WE Kenneth MATTHEWS of Tanilba Bay
VK2XN Wayne FOURACRE of Narrabri
VK2PB William PAULL of Narrabri
VK2EAU Michael HALLINAN of Coleambally
VK2WHD William DOUGALL of Dunedoo
VK2VCR Anthony WILLIAMSON of Goulburn
VK2KXN Nicholas McLEAN of Russell Lea
VK2ADG Robert LOFTUS of Northmead
VK2ASW Donald POLLARD of St Ives
VK2BKP John PICKETT of Wamberal
VK2TUF Brett COADY of Lane Cove
VK2VUB Leo BUTCHER of Cessnock
VK2KWY David HENDERSON of Corrimal East
VK2KKT Karl TOMSON of Parramatta
(Associate Member) Jan Jozef OKSIUTA of Doonside
We hope you will have a long and happy association with the WIA.
--Eric Fossey VK2EFY, Divisional Secretary.
TRASH & TREASURE SALE
Because the last Sunday in March is Easter Day, the March Trash &
Treasure Sale will be held on the Sunday After Easter - that's the 6th of
April.
DIVISIONAL EXAMINATIONS
The next examinations will be held at Amateur Radio House Parramatta
next Sunday 23rd March 1997. Candidates who have lodged applications
are requested to report at 12 noon, and the exams will start as soon after
that time as possiblem but no later than 12.30pm.
Please apply to the office for the necessary forms. Applications close on
Thursday 13th March. Acceptance cannot be guaranteed for any
applications received after that date.
--Submitted by Eric Fossey VK2EFY - Divisional Secretary.
THE AFFILIATED CLUBS NET IS BACK
The Affiliated Clubs Net is to be resumed on the third Wednesday of the
Month commencing next Wednesday 19 March at 7.30 pm EST on 3.595
MHZ plus or minus QRM.
So clubs I hope to see at least one and possibly more from each club on
air.
--Ken Westerman VK2AGW, Affiliated Clubs Officer.
ATTENTION BROADCAST TEAM
The Broadcast Roster for the next three months will be drawn up soon, so
please advise Pixie VK2KPC at the Divisional Office of any dates that you
will not be available.
WICEN NEWS
A new addition to the WICEN calendar is the Tom Quilty Horse Enduro, run
by the eponymous Dan VK2GG, on Saturday 7th June; this is a 24-hour
event, midnight to midnight.
Tomorrow is the Hunter meeting, and it will feature a talk by Telstra. Next
weekend is the VRA Mid Year Conference, at Wombeyan Caves, and
WICEN will be well-represented here.
On 13th April is the Forster Triathlon. This is an all-day event, early
morning to late evening, and about 25 operators are required for this event;
food, drink, fuel and T-shirt are provided. Operators will need to bring
equipment for 2m and 70cm voice, and will also need to contact Steve
Pettet VK2KXQ, phone number (065) 55-3177, or PO Box 122 Forster, for
further details. Following this is the Watagan Mountains Car Rally, over
the weekend of 19-20th April, for which Andy VK2XRX is the contact;
around 20 people are required for this exercise.
WICEN is always looking for members to provide the community with
communications assistance. Write to WICEN (NSW) Inc, PO Box 123, St
Leonards 2065 for further information, or come up on one of the WICEN nets.
If any region has any news or info they would like published, then please
contact the Publicity Officer. If further information about WICEN (NSW) is
required, please contact the State Coordinator, Alan VK2YYJ, on 015-097-217.
-- Dave Horsfall VK2KFU, WICEN (NSW) Inc. Publicity Officer
DX NEWS
MADAGASCAR - 5R8KH, 5R8DG and 5R8EW are now active on SSTV.
Keep a look out on the SSTV calling channel, 14230 kHz.
ZAMBIA- Brian 9J2BO is active on 6 meters.
ST. MARTIN - Bob FJ/K1YJK will be active from St. Barthelemy Island
March 17 to 31, on 160 through 10 meters, mostly CW. Look for him on
the low end of the CW band edges. He will also be active on 20 through 10
meters SSB in a limited manner, in the CQWW WPX SSB Contest on 29th-30th March.
JUAN DE NOVA ISLAND - FR5ZQ/J is now active on CW and SSB. His
length of stay, and QSL route, are unknown at this time.
GUANTANAMO BAY - KG4AU has been active as a Multi Op/All band
entry in the BARTG Spring RTTY Contest this weekend.
CZECH REPUBLIC - LX1NO and others are planning to be active from
OK-land as a Multi/Single entry in the CQWW WPX SSB Contest.
ST. HELENS - Ray Hudson ZD7RH is active on 20 through 10 meters with
an FT 101E and wire antennas.
BURKINA FASO - Dan N9XAG, currently active as XT2DP, will go QRT in
either April or May.
--ARRL DX Bulletin 13, dated 13 March, 1997
SPACE NEWS
RS-16 SATELLITE IN ORBIT!
A new Russian Amateur Radio satellite--designated RS-16--was launched
recently, with an average orbital altitude of 460km and having a 3000km
wide footprint on Earth.
RS-16 is expected to be a Mode A (2 meters up/10 meters down) satellite,
like RS-10 and RS-15. It's the first Russian satellite to have a 70-cm
beacon, but that beacon is not yet operational. Beacon frequencies are
29.408, 29.451, 435.504 and 435.548 MHz.
When the transponders are operational, the RS-16 frequencies are
expected to be: uplink, 145.915 to 145.948 MHz; downlink, 29.415 to
29.448 MHz. Transponder power output will be 1.2 or 4 W. Orbital
elements and additional information will be announced as they become
available.
LITTLE LEO BATTLE MOVES TO NEXT LEVEL
Proposals by the low-Earth-orbiting satellite industry--the so-called "Little
LEOs"--to share spectrum with Amateur Radio at 146, 220 and 440 MHz
were among those turned in this week to the FCC advisory committee that's
planning for WRC-97. The report of Informal Working Group (IWG) 2A,
which wrangled with proposals involving mobile-satellite services, includes
the Little LEO's controversial "flexible allocation" plan to share spectrum
with amateurs and others--but only as an annex to the report that also
includes the objections raised by other participants, for consideration and
disposition at a higher level.
As part of their flexible allocation strategy, Little LEO interests last month
proposed including 219-225 MHz in their list of desired allocations for the
nonvoice, nongeostationary (NVNG) mobile-satellite service. Little LEO
targets now include 146 to 148, 219 to 225 and 430 to 450 MHz. The
ARRL and AMSAT were among those objecting.
IAC Chairman Scott Harris told participants at the March 5 meeting that the
committee was only advisory, and that the government will make the final
decision on its ultimate WRC-97 positions. The Final Report of the Industry
Advisory Committee is expected to go to the FCC in about two weeks.
FCC PROPOSES CHANGES IN SPREAD SPECTRUM REGS
Responding to a 1995 petition from the ARRL, the FCC has proposed to
adopt changes in its Amateur Service rules governing spread spectrum
operation. The League's petition asked the FCC to relax its rules to give
Amateur Radio more opportunities to contribute to the development of
spread spectrum techniques.
Specifically, the League sought to have the FCC relax restrictions on
spreading sequences and asked for greater flexibility in spreading
modulation. In response, the FCC now has proposed to drop rules
restricting amateur stations to transmitting only frequency-hopping and
direct-sequencing spreading techniques. As requested by the League, the
FCC also has proposed to require automatic power control for spread
spectrum transmitters, to ensure use of the minimum power level needed to
carry out communication.
The FCC also went along with the League's request to permit brief test
transmissions using spread spectrum and to allow international spread
spectrum communications between amateurs in the US and those in
countries that allow hams to use spread spectrum. The current rules allow
only domestic communication.
The FCC said the rule amendments would "increase spectrum efficiency
and allow amateur operators to contribute to technological advances."
-- those news items from the ARRL Letter, #10, 7 March
CLUB NEWS
WAVERLEY AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 19th March, being the 3rd Wednesday
of the month. Jim Ayling, VK2KQ, will describe the gear he has developed
and his experiences as part of the WICEN team at this weekend's Triathlon
event at Orange. Doors open at 7:00 pm and the meeting starts at 7:30. All
interested in Amateur Radio are invited to come along and see what the
society is up to.
The first Saturday afternoon of each month is project day, so drop in on
April 5th from 1:30 onwards and get involved in some practical work or just
come along and socialise. Project day has proved most useful to a number
of members by helping them fix rigs with faults or just to receive assistance
in the operation of complex modern rigs.
The Society's clubhouse is located in Vickery Avenue, Rose Bay, off New
South Head Road, next door to the Rose Bay RSL Club, where a number
of members gather for a meal before the meeting.
Just a reminder that our Internet web page, maintained by Ben Buxton,
VK2XUF, is regularly updated. It includes photos taken by Raffy Shammay,
VK2LRF, of many of our members, together with their Email addresses.
You can search for "Waverley Amateur Radio Society" or use the links from
the WIA or other local society pages to find us.
--Simon Buxton, VK2EII, Club President
VHF DX GROUP
THE VHF DX GROUP IS AN INFORMAL ASSOCIATION OF ACTIVE
VHF AND UHF OPERATORS. THE GROUP WAS FORMED TO
PROMOTE NON-REPEATER ACTIVITY AND TO HELP JUSTIFY OUR
GENEROUS ALLOCATIONS IN THE VHF SPECTRUM AND ABOVE.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE VHF DX GROUP WILL BE NEXT
TUESDAY AT AMATEUR RADIO HOUSE, PARRAMATTA, STARTING
AT 7:30 PM,
AT THE MEETING WE WILL BE BE HEARING MORE ON AIRCRAFT
ENHANCEMENT PROPAGATION FROM GORDON MCDONALD
VK2ZAB, FOLLOWING HIS INTERESTING PRESENTATION ON THE
TOPIC AT THE WYONG FIELD DAY.
THIS WEEKEND IS THE JOHN MOYLE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY. KEEP
A LOOKOUT FOR PORTABLE VHF STATIONS NEEDING CONTACTS,
AND ESPECIALLY A MAJOR EFFORT BY MEMBERS OF THE
BRISBANE VHF GROUP WHO WILL BE OPERATING PORTABLE ON
144, 432 AND 1296 MHZ FROM A FIELD DAY SITE NORTH OF
BRISBANE. THIS STATION SHOULD BE WORKED AS FAR SOUTH
AS SYDNEY.
DON'T FORGET THE TUESDAY ACTIVITY NIGHTS ON 144MHZ AND
THE GROUP'S SUNDAY MORNING NET ON 146.550MHZ FM AT 11.00 AM.
--SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF RICHARD SOULIE, VK2ARS
HORNSBY & DISTRICT ARC.
The next meeting takes place, on the 25th. March 1997, at 8:00 pm.
Meeting place is, Mount Colah Community Centre, Pierre Close, Mount
Colah. ( Near the Eastern Entrance to the Railway Station ). This is the
formal monthly meeting, taking care of all business that has arisen, since
our last formal meeting.
When all business has been taken care of, a Lecture by VK2NJC, Colin
Craigen, a member of an investigation team, in the U.K. to identify, and
generate interference, to the Radio Direction Finding Beams Transmitted
by the Germans in 1939. These Radio Direction Finding Beams, were
used to guide the German, bombers to London. Lecture is with video
supplement. Remember the T.V. Series " The Secret War."
TRAINING CLASSES: The cutoff point may have been reached, but still
ring Tony, you never know your luck, it may be extended. The training
classes are held each, Thursday evening at 7:15 pm., in a hall at the corner
of Palmerston Rd. & Burdett St. opposite the Hornsby Hospital. For more
information phone, Tony VK2BTL on 9487 3383.
The Club conducts, a net every Monday night, at 8:00pm. on VK2RNS.
The frequency is 147.250 with a positive offset. Feel free to join in. All are
welcome. Listeners set your scanner to 147.250.
Should you wish to know more about the Club, or its activities, please write
to :. H.A.D.A.R.C. at Post Box 362, Hornsby, 2077. or contact the Publicity
Officer, John on 9807 2490.
Submitted by John W Turner VK2WRT - Publicity Officer.
MANLY-WARRINGAH RADIO SOCIETY
This week, the Society bids a sad farewell to past president Marque
Crozman VK2ZLZ, who is migrating to Queensland. Marque, we hope will
keep in touch, using a VK4 call and Internet!
Meanwhile, life goes on at the club, and this Wednesday is lecture night,
when Jeff Yates will tell us everything we ever wanted to know about
underground cables but were afraid to ask.
Jeff is a practising power engineer who has had much experience in
undergrounding power cables along the Barrenjoey Peninsula and
elsewhere. A lively raconteur, Jeff will tell of the realities of undergrounding
and of the fables embraced by those who scream for it but whose zeal does
not extend to an appreciation od the costs and problems involved.
As usual, the meeting starts at 8:00pm at the club rooms, located at the
Warringah Volunteer Services Centre, Kamber Road, Terrey Hills. The club
meets there every Wednesday night, with business meetings on the second
Wednesday, and lectures on the thrid Wednesday of every month. Doors
open at 7:30 pm for an 8:00 pm start, and visitors are always welcome.
If you need directions, just call in the club's 2m repeater, VK2RMB, on
146.875 MHz, or phone (02) 9450-1746 on Wednesday evenings.
--Richard Murnane VK2SKY
CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB INC.
The Central Coast Amateur Radio Club will be hosting a lecture entitled
"Stormwatch" next Friday 21st March, 1997.
The speaker will be Mr. Ken Batt from the Bureau of Meteorology. Ken will
be talking about weather patterns around the Sydney area with particular
emphasis on storm events.
All members and visitors are invited to attend this lecture to be held next
Friday 21st March in the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club Clubrooms,
Dandaloo Street, Kariong.
--JOHN POGSON, LECTURE ORGANISER
ORANA REGION AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
The Bi-monthly meeting of the Orana Region Amateur Radio Club will be
held on Thursday 27th March at 8 PM in the Scout Hall in Talbragar St Dubbo.
Mr John Moss from Telstra Dubbo will talk on Fibre Optics into the 21 century.
--Article Submitted by Ken Westerman VK2AGW Dunedoo
COMING EVENTS
John Moyle Memorial Field Day...............................................Ends
today
Wyangala
Triathlon...............................................................Today
Australasian Communications & Computing Ass'n
meeting...........................Monday
Hunter WICEN
meeting............................................................Monday
VHF DX Group meeting at
Parramatta.............................................Tuesday
Affiliated Clubs Net on 3.595 MHz
(7:30pm)...................................Wednesday
Waverly ARS
meeting..........................................................Wednesday
Manly-Warringah Radio Society lecture
night..................................Wednesday
Radio Veterans meeting at Amateur Radio House,
Parramatta.....................Thursday
CW Operators QRP 80m
Scrambles................................................Thursday
Central Coast ARC
meeting.......................................................Friday
VRA Mid-Year Conference at Wombeyan Caves..............................Saturday
Sunday
Divisional examinations at Parramatta......................................next
Sunday
Hornsby & District ARC
meeting....................................................25th
Orana Region ARC
meeting..........................................................27th
Easter
Sunday.....................................................................30th
(Note: Trash & Treasure Sale postponed to 6th April)
APRIL
Divisional Trash & Treasure Sale (postponed from
March)...........................6th
St George ARS classes
begin.......................................................7th
Divisional AGM and Council
elections.............................................19th
BROADCAST ROSTER
Next Sunday, 23rd March 1997
Morning:
Announcer: Pixie VK2KPC
Engineer: Eric VK2EFY
Evening:
Announcer: Tony VK2DJW
Engineer: Alan VK2XAT
--
Richard Murnane, Amateur Radio station VK2SKY
Email: rich...@zeta.org.au
Web: http://www.zeta.org.au/~richardm/
Packet: vk2...@vk2op.nsw.aus.oc
Barry O'Grady
rich...@zeta.org.au (Richard P. Murnane) wrote:
:WIA NSW Division News, 16th March 1997
: WICEN NEWS
:
:A new addition to the WICEN calendar is the Tom Quilty Horse Enduro, run
:by the eponymous Dan VK2GG, on Saturday 7th June; this is a 24-hour
:event, midnight to midnight.
Oh yes, that really sounds like an emergancy. You people are so
desperate to play with your two way radios that you latch on to
anything even though it is outside of the amateur radio code to
provide such a "service".
The reason you never get a chance to play with the big boys anymore
is that they have their own radio networks and they are fed up with
you playing radios while they are trying to do their job.
Get a life.
:Tomorrow is the Hunter meeting, and it will feature a talk by Telstra.
Telstra sucks, and most of their employees will agree with me.
:
: SPACE NEWS
:
: RS-16 SATELLITE IN ORBIT!
:
:A new Russian Amateur Radio satellite--designated RS-16--was launched
:recently, with an average orbital altitude of 460km and having a 3000km
:wide footprint on Earth.
:
:RS-16 is expected to be a Mode A (2 meters up/10 meters down) satellite,
:like RS-10 and RS-15. It's the first Russian satellite to have a 70-cm
:beacon, but that beacon is not yet operational. Beacon frequencies are
:29.408, 29.451, 435.504 and 435.548 MHz.
In Australia a meter is not a measure of distance. Get your act
together.
=====================================
Email address is bar...@fastlink.com.au
Please remove the 1 from return address when replying.
Unsolicited commercial emails are not wanted.
Responses to my article are welcome.
Terry Dawson
bar...@fastlink.com.au (Barry O'Grady) writes:
>:Tomorrow is the Hunter meeting, and it will feature a talk by Telstra.
>
>Telstra sucks, and most of their employees will agree with me.
Oh yeah ? You've spoken to most of them about this before speaking on
their behalf I suppose.
Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed or something?
Terry
--
-- ObSig --
Terry Dawson, VK2KTJ, te...@perf.no.itg.telecom.com.au, Sydney, NSW, Australia
-- Linux: standard and fully integrated support for Amateur Radio protocols --