Reply-To: nationalnews@wia.org.au

Weekly news from the WIA:
MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2022-08-21.mp3 Text edition:

2022 AUGUST 21 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA ------------------------------------------------------------*

THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK

THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos

------------------------------------------------------------*

TODAYS NEWS IS PRESENTED BY ALARA.

PRESIDENT VK2AYL MICHELLE
CONTEST MANAGER VK5MAZ MARIJA
VICE PRESIDENT VK5YL SHIRLEY

AND IS HOSTED TODAY BY VK7 STATE REP LINDA VK7QP
The Sesquicentenary of the Overland Telegraph

On the 22nd August 1872 the construction of the Overland Telegraph
line between Adelaide and Darwin was completed. This year marks the
150th anniversary since this achievement. It has been described as
the greatest engineering feat carried out in nineteenth century
Australia.

Within months it was linked to the Java-to-Darwin submarine
telegraph cable, and Australias communication time with Europe was
reduced from months to hours. Australias isolation from the rest of
the world was lessening.

Charles Todd, South Australian Superintendent of Telegraphs, 1872:
We have this day, within two years, completed a line of
communications two thousand miles long through the very
centre of Australia, until a few years ago a terra incognita
believed to be a desert.

The construction started at both ends, Darwin and Adelaide, and the
joining point was at Frews Ponds, 25 km south of Dunmarra,
Northern Territory, on the 22nd of August 1872.

All telecommunications and the internet in Australia can be pointed
back to this moment in time. This is the start point. Everything
evolved from here.

Even when the two points of the line were a few miles apart, they
were sending messages by horse-back to complete the gap.

Alice Springs, which was established as a repeater station, became
the administrative hub for central Australia.

Doug Johnson VK2XLJ has a fascinating look at this on the website
ot150.net
Source:
ot150.net/

( Doug Johnson vk2xlj@hotmail.com )

WIA

JOIN THE WIA
tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y
ROSTERED WIA DIRECTOR BRINGING US NEWS FROM THE WIA
ON HAPPENINGS AT BOARD LEVEL WILL BE IN ROTATION:-
President Scott VK3KJ
Greg VK2GPK
Peter VK8ZZ
Lee VK3GK
Chris VK3FY --------------- AUG 21
Peter VK4EA --------------- Aug 28
Steve VK2TSG -------------- Sept 4

--------------
NOW CONTEST WISE:-
--------------
2022
--------------

ALARA CONTEST AUGUST 27 and 28
alara.org.au

Marija VK5MAZ ad-libs on the ALARA contest

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

WIA - NZART OCEANIA CONTEST

PHONE - First full weekend in October
0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

CW - Second full weekend in October
0600 UTC Saturday to 0600 UTC Sunday

Log deadline for ALL logs - 31 October.

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

WIA VHF - UHF FIELD DAYS

Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, manager for the VHF-UHF Field Days wrote us
to say "as contestants are aware, with the passing in January of
Mike Subocz VK3AVV, developer of the VKCL contest logger and of our log-checking software, there has been a hiccup in processing Field
Day logs while we awaited probate of Mikes estate.

Field Day events have continued and, in the meantime, we have sought
to develop a means for determining and publishing results from logs
submitted.

For all contestants who submitted logs for the past three Field Days
that is, the Spring 2021, Summer and Winter 2022 events I have
good news. Firstly, all the log files sent to the Field Day log
uploader on the WIA website have been retrieved successfully.

Secondly, while you have all been waiting patiently for the
preparation and publication of results, a small team of problem
solvers has doggedly worked at finding a log-checking application
suited to our purpose to satisfy your not unreasonable desire to
know how you went.

And how others went, too.

Well, a log-checking application suited to our purpose has been
found and panel-beaten into shape so as to do the job required.

Accordingly, this past week, work has proceeded to prepare a table
of claimed scores for the 2021 Spring event from the logs submitted.

You will find this posted on the VHF-UHF Field Days website.
Download it and take a look.

For those reading this before Sunday 28th news, you have until
midnight Saturday 27 August to respond if you have any issues or
queries.

Similarly, claimed scores for the 2022 Summer and Winter events will
be posted to the website also. Likewise, therell be roughly a week
to review and respond to each.

Once this process is completed, tables of final scores will be
compiled and published on the WIA website.

wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/

(Roger VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News Text Edition)

NOW THE NEXT SPRING CONTEST IS
0100 UTC Saturday 26 through 0059 UTC Sunday 27 November

--------------
--------------
DX WINDOW--------------
--------------

The Pakistan Amateur Radio Society (PARS) is operating under the
special callsign AP 75 PAK and Pakistani operators have been using
the special AP75 prefix during August

This is to celebrate 75 years of Pakistan Independence.

Please look out for AP75... callsigns On satellites, HF and also on
6 meter.

An award will be given for any combination of 5 QSO's with AP75
stations. Repetitions with same stations on same mode or same band
will not be counted.

Full details at
pakhams.com

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

Members of the Saudi Amateur Radio Society, HZ1SAR, are on the air
as HZ1CPCF for the Crown Prince Camel Festival special event, until
September 4th. Be listening on 20, 17, 16 and 6 metres where the
operators are using CW, SSB and FT8/FT4. QSL to HZ1SAR.

(OHIO PENN DX)
--------------

A year-long special event is call HG 2 PS.

Hams are marking the 200th birthday of Sandor Petofi, a revolutionary
and celebrated poet.

The station will be on the air until March 15th, 2023.

Be listening on all bands for operators using CW, SSB and FT8.

QSL via HA 8 RD, ClubLog or LoTW.

(ARNewsLine)

--------------
French Special Event

Operators Laurent/F1SNK, John/F4EEY, Richard/F5LLZ, Pierre/F5LTM,
Michel/F5MKD and Andre/F6APU will activate the special callsign
TM150FOR from Strasbourg, France, during the following days in
September:

1st, 3-4th, 10-11th, 15th, 17-18th and 24-30th.

Their activity is to commemorate 150th anniversary of the 'fortify
belt,' 14 forts built around Strasbourg that protected the city.

Activity will be on various HF and VHF bands using CW, SSB and
FT8/FT4.

QSL via F5LLZ, direct or by the Bureau.

OPDX

------------------------------------------------------------*
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
& the World Wide sources of the WIA.
REGION ONE

IARUMS newsletter - Over The Horizon Radars

IARU Monitoring System (IARUMS) Region 1 newsletter says in July,
like every month for many years, Over The Horizon Radars were the
most numerous transmissions causing interference to our HF amateur
radio bands

The front runner was the RUS Contayner received in all bands from
40 to 12 m. The CHN OTHRs sending short bursts were also very active
and were mostly observed on the 20 m and 15 m bands.

The International Amateur Radio Union Monitoring System (IARUMS)
Region 1 July 2022 newsletter can be read at

iaru-r1.org/

REGION TWO

From Baltimore comes the fascinating story, bound to interest all DXers.

Ever since humans could first observe sunspots about 400 years ago,
we've been using them to try to define the solar cycle. Approximately
every 11 years, solar activity such as sunspots and solar flares
ebbs and flows, causing changes to weather patterns on Earth and
occasionally threatening telecommunications. Predicting these
changes reliably could help everyone from farmers to the military. Traditionally, scientists have used the concept of a "solar minimum,"
when solar activity is reduced, to mark the beginning of each cycle.

But the "solar minimum" framework is somewhat arbitrary and
imprecise, explains Robert Leamon, research scientist at the
Partnership for Heliophysics and Space Environment Research, a UMBC
partnership with NASA.

Leamon led new research showing that a "solar clock" based on the
sun's magnetic field, rather than the presence or absence of
sunspots, can precisely describe and predict many key changes
throughout the solar cycle. The new framework offers a significant
improvement over the traditional sunspot method, because it can
predict surges in dangerous solar flares or changing weather trends
years in advance.

REGION THREE

EARTHQUAKE BALLOONS IN THE STRATOSPHERE:

If you want to detect an earthquake on Venus--good luck. The planet's
surface is hot enough to melt lead, and the atmospheric pressure is
crushing. No ground-based seismometer could possibly survive.

What's an extra-terrestrial seismologist to do? Launch a balloon.

For the first time, a network of high-altitude balloons has detected
a strong earthquake using infrasound sensors in the stratosphere.
Results from the mission were just published in the Geophysical
Research Letters. Now that the technique has been proven on Earth,
researchers want to try it on Venus.

Full story in thursday aug 11 edition of space weather @ Spaceweather.com.

A new paper just published in the Geophysical Research Letters
reports the detection of a magnitude 7.3 earthquake by a fleet of
balloons floating through the stratosphere above Indonesia's Flores
Sea. On-board infrasound sensors registered acoustic waves rippling
upward from the sea surface below, proving that, here on Earth,
balloons can be used as seismometers.

"The same technique should work in the atmosphere of Venus," says
Raphael Garcia, the study's lead author and a planetary scientist
at the Institut Suprieur de lAronatique et de lEspace of the
University of Toulouse. "Balloon-based sensors could float high
above Venus's deadly surface, collecting data at a safe distance."

In the fall of 2021, the Centre National dEtudes Spatiales (CNES)
launched a fleet of 16 balloons from Mah Island in the Seychelles
archipelago. Unlike ordinary weather balloons, which explode in a
matter of hours, these were "superpressure balloons," which can
remain aloft for months. Stratospheric winds carried them over the
Flores Sea.
Hams in India have been waiting since 2019 for the return of
HamFest India in person and it is now back on the calendar.

Jim Meachen reporting on ARNewsLine said "The organising committee
for HamFest India has announced the event's return on the 12th and
13th of November in Mysore, Karnataka. As with so many other major
amateur radio events, this well-attended event, which made its debut
in India in 1991, had not been held in person as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic.

K. Shankar Prasad, VU2SPK, the event's general convenor, said the
committee is putting together an agenda and a website and both
should be available soon. The website is under development at
www.hfi2022.com
We finish international news this week and have to say

WE NEVER SAUSAGE A THING

Over the past few weeks, NewsLine has carried stories about the
fabulous images transmitted back to Earth from the James Webb
telescope. Now in WIA's weird and wonderful' an update, a report
that has.....even more...meat to it.

Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away there was a French
physicist with a report that was also far, far away...in this case,
from reality: In late July, a very excited scientist, Etienne Klein,
posted an image on his Twitter account, identifying it as the
James Webb telescope's highly detailed capture of Proxima Centauri
which, at 4.2 light years away from Earth, is the closest star to
the sun. It is so close to the sun, in fact, you might say it
sizzles.

In this case, it sizzles like sausage -->
because that's what it turned out to be:
a single round slice of chorizo, a type of savoury Spanish smoked
sausage, in close-up under the camera lens. Klein later admitted his
post was a light-hearted deception but only after thousands of his
Twitter followers - who presumably were NOT vegetarians - had
approved of the image. He told French media later that the tweet was
meant only as a joke and insisted that any and all reports of
celestial sausage are, you might say, tough to swallow.

You might even call it a bit of baloney. ------------------------------------------------------------*

VK5YL SHIRLEY AD-LIBS ON WHERE IN VK5 THE NEWS CAN BE HEARD

------------------------------------------------------------* ------------------------------------------------------------*

WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS PRESENTED BY VK2AYL
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - ALARA

Michelle ad-libs about the ALARA contest here..

WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER

End of mission for two ham radio CubeSats

The Manila Bulletin reports on two amateur radio CubeSat's, built by
Philippine students and carrying APRS Digipeaters, that have now
re-entered the Earth's atmosphere

The newspaper says:

After 10 months in orbit, the countrys first local university-built
Filipino cube satellites, CubeSats Maya-3 and Maya-4 re-entered the
Earths atmosphere Aug.4 and Aug. 8 respectively, ending their
mission, the Philippine Space Agency has said.

Built in a local university setting, the two cube satellites were
designed and developed by the first batch of scholars under the
Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University
Partnerships (STeP-UP) project of the STAMINA4Space Program.

Maya-3 and Maya-4 were pivotal in the development of the local
space industry. These CubeSats are experimental and educational
platforms, and while all low earth orbiting satellites will
eventually fall to earth, what matters more are the lasting
intangibles that the project brought knowledge, skill, partnerships
and confidence that we can do it, said Dr. Maricor Soriano,
program leader of STAMINA4Space Program.

PENNSYLVANIA CLUB MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY 'ABOARD' MARS ROVER

Hams in one Pennsylvania club are celebrating a relationship with
the Mars rover that began 10 years ago. Randy Sly W4XJ had those
details on a recent ARNEWSLINE program

How do you celebrate a 10th anniversary? A Dinner? A Party?

The Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club in Philadelphia decided to send
its club call, WM3PEN, on a long vacation that would take 255 days
to get there. They teamed up with NASAs Mars Science Laboratory
rover, Curiosity, to visit Bradbury Landing, on Mars. The boarding
pass was purchased on April 25, 2011 and Curiosity, with their
callsign on board, landed on the red planet in early August, 2012.

Since the landing, Curiosity and WM3PEN have travelled nearly
18 miles searching for the perfect location for the Dxpedition.

The folks at WM3PEN also thought it would be a good trip to team up
with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since they decided to make it a
CW event. To help measure size and distance, the JPL engineers
carved out the dots and dashes of the letters J-P-L in the tire
treads. How could a ham argue with a CW buddy along for the ride?

NASA reports that engineers are devising ways to minimize wear and
tear and keep the rover rolling: In fact, Curiositys mission was
recently extended for another three years.

When asked whats next for the WM3PEN team, callsign trustee
Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, said that after just coming off Field Day and
the 13 Colonies Special Event in June and July, it will be time to
relax before planning the next adventure.

WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ILLW
illw.net/

Lighthouse weekend is alive now, weekend, 20-21 August and it's a
great opportunity to chat to a lighthouse and work some rare DX.

There will be over 350 lighthouses on the air in over 40 countries.
Germany has 70 registered, USA 41, Australia 38, England 19.
Some smaller countries with 1 entry are Canary Islands, Cyprus,
Gibraltar, Iceland, Isle of Man, Latvia, Malta.

As this will be the 25th anniversary for the International
Lighthouse Lightship Weekend, one of the Indian supporters has
organised a set of first day cover postage stamps to be printed.

After the event there will also be a 25th anniversary certificate
available for download from the ILLW web site for those who would
like to have a record of their participation in the event.

It is interesting to note that some stations have taken part in the
event every year some, with the same call sign and some at the same
lighthouse. It is the support of amateurs globally that has grown
this event into what it has become, one of the most popular events
in the amateur radio calendar

(southgate)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
IARU REGION 3
Emergency Centre of Activity (CoA) frequencies
3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz
Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz

Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360kHz
RADIO PREPAREDNESS PROJECT BEGINS IN TRIPURA

A new emergency-preparedness strategy by officials in the
northeastern Indian state of Tripura is giving high priority to
amateur radio.

As many as nine new amateur radio stations are being set up by the
government of Tripura in India in an attempt to improve
communications during disasters. The State Disaster Management
Agency told reporters during a recent press conference an estimated
1500 trained volunteers have already stepped forward to operate the
stations as they become available. The first station will be ready
to go on the air shortly and will be based at the State Emergency
Operation Centre in the Secretariat Complex. The remaining eight
still require proper licences from the Ministry of Communication.

The state officials said that ten more automated rain gauges and
seven automated weather stations will also be installed in urban
areas by India's Meteorological Department.

Officials said they had hope that these additional measures would
increase all teams' abilities to provide lifesaving response in the
state, which is prone to a variety of catastrophes, including
flash floods, strong winds and heat waves.

(arnewsline)

The Southern Hemispheres premier critical communications and
public safety event, Comms Connect, will welcome a keynote
presentation and an expert panel from the newly formed Public Safety
Network in New Zealand. The Public Safety Network is the new
communications service that will be used by New Zealands frontline
emergency services responders Fire and Emergency, Police,
St John and Wellington Free Ambulance.

One of the leads in this integration project is Neal Richardson
from NZ Police, who will be one of two keynotes on the day to open
the program for Comms Connect Melbourne on 20 October.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ROAR
ROTARIANS OF AMATEUR RADIO
website: froar.org
email: webmaster@ifroar.org
FaceBook: facebook.com/groups/RotariansROAR/
0645z - 0730z ANZO Net 7.118 (varies due to propagation)
0730z - 0830z International net 14.293 (varies due to
propagation)
Hi Everyone

As you have heard here on National News recently, REAST is having a hamfest/conference in Hobart on November 5 and 6 this year Diane
VK4DI has been busy organising a gathering of Rotarians.

So far Bill VK4ZD and Diane VK4DI Phil VK2MCB and his wife Carol,
Peter VK3KCD and John ZL2JPM and his wife Helen are attending.

some are only going mainly for the weekend plus a day either side
and others are planning on a longer visit.

I have booked a table for a ROAR display on the Sunday so no one
else needs to book as a vendor / preloved goods unless they want
their own spot.

So this is the first chance we've had in recent times to have a
social get together we thought it would be a good opportunity for
anyone who is attending to have a meal somewhere in Hobart on Sat
night.

Please let us know who's looking at attending so we can get an idea of
numbers and make a tentative booking in advance.

vk4di@mainlink.net.au

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE
(The Plumbers Delight)
10 GHz QSO between Portugal and Canary Islands

On July 30 Michael CT1BYM and Cecilio EB8BRZ achieved a contact on
10 GHz from Portugal to the Canary Islands

In this translation of a post on the REP site Michael CT1BYM writes:

During the evening of July 30 a QSO was made between EB8BRZ (IL28HA)
and CT1BYM (IM57PC). This was my first ever QSO done at 10GHz
between EA8-CT, using tropospheric propagation, distance around
1187km. It was also a first for Cecilio, EB8BRZ.

A sectorial beacon was installed in my balcony, direction EA8, with
2W and a 10dBi horn, transmitting CW and Opera. The beacon runs
247, helping identifying the possible QSO window. Beacon runs at
10368.825MHz, TCXO disciplined.

The beacon signal was received at EB8BRZ at 19:34UT, so we decided
to go to SSB immediately.

At Cecilio, EB8BRZ, the working conditions were a 60cm Procom prime
focus dish, 2W, IC-705 for IF

(Source Portugal's national amateur radio society REP)

tinyurl.com/IARU-Portugal

THIS IS REWIND AND THIS IS LINDA VK7QP

RTTY turns 100

On August 9, 1922 a text was typed in an airplane and simultaneously
printed out at a ground station

With this experiment, the US Navy Department gave the telex
procedure wings - exactly 100 years ago. From now on it was possible
to transmit texts wirelessly at a speed of up to 100 words per
minute. The ministry immediately pushed for messages to be made
available in the opposite direction, namely from the ground to the
plane. It was the birth of radio telex - "RTTY".

After the Second World War, the first telexes came into the hands of
radio amateurs, who then modified their transmitters for frequency
shift keying (FSK). RTTY had now also arrived in the amateur radio
service.

With the advent of personal computers at the beginning of the 1980s,
they replaced the previously widespread electromechanically
generated RTTY with very simple RTTY programs. With the introduction
of digital technology and the development of new types of
transmission such as PSK31 and later FT8, RTTY has lost its previous
importance in amateur radio. It's different in the maritime radio
service: Despite modern and fast digital processes, RTTY
transmissions still have their place there, e.g. to warn of dangers
or to transmit current sea weather reports to the skippers.

loc.gov/pictures/item/2002697173/
darc.de/

------------------------------------------------------------*

2022 Social Scene
VK5 - AREG Car Boot Sale Sept 3 (THREE) David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5tr)
VK4 - SunFest Sunday 18 September 10:00 AM Mountain Creek State
School (noreply email)
VK6 - PerthTech October 21-23 (vk6pop)

VK7 - November 5-6 Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo.
Hobart reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/
VK3 - Rosebud RadioFest November 20 9.3Oam. (vk3pdg)
2023

VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com)

------------------------------------------------------------*

_______________________________________________
Vk1wia-news mailing list
Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news


--- MBSE BBS v1.0.8 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: Wireless Institute of Australia (3:633/280.2@fidonet)

Reply-To: nationalnews@wia.org.au

Weekly news from the WIA:
MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-01-07.mp3 Text edition:

-------------------------------------------------------------------69

2024 JANUARY 7 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA ------------------------------------------------------------*

THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK

THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos

------------------------------------------------------------*

And so it's welcome, welcome, welcome
How do you do hellow
We'll give you all the pertinent facts in this
The first edition for 2024 of
NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING JANUARY 7
IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

THIS WEEK:-

WIA Director and President Scott Williams VK3KJ. -

WIA Returning Officer John Marshall. -

WIA Director Giles Kirby VK5GK. -

WIA's manager of VHF-UHF Field Days Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.

PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB
WIA

JOIN THE WIA
tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

Hi there, this is WIA Director and President Scott Williams VK3KJ
and welcome to the WIA broadcast for the first time in 2024.

I hope all WIA members and broadcast listeners had a very enjoyable
Christmas and celebrated the commencement of the New Year.
Our thoughts certainly go out to all of those that have been impacted
by these adverse weather events leading up to Christmas and in the
past week.

I know Queensland has been hit very hard with of course cyclone Jasper
causing significant damage and flooding in the region around Cairns.
And then just to top things off, Christmas day brought significant
damage to the Gold Coast region with monsoon type rain fall and severe
damaging winds. I know the Tamborine mountains and slightly inland
from the Gold Coast was most impacted with many houses lost and many
tens of thousands of people without power for many many days. In fact,
I have a friend on the Gold Coast in the Hinterland who is still
running on generator power whist they try and rebuild the electricity
supply network in his area.

Let hope these extreme weather events end soon and we can all enjoy
this holiday and festive season a little more.

I want to share some very sad news that we have received at the WIA
in the past days. Patrick Emery (Manager, Licensing Allocation
Section) of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), experienced a medical event on Christmas Eve and was subsequently
diagnosed with an advanced brain tumour. He was rushed to Austin
Hospital in Melbourne however, Patrick passed away peacefully
surrounded by his beloved family. Our thoughts and condolences are
with Patricks wife, two daughters, family, friends and colleagues
at this tragic and very sad time.

Patrick was 52 years of age, a qualified Lawyer and someone that at
the WIA we respected tremendously. He has been instrumental in leading
the recent consultations in class licensing and someone that we at the
WIA considered very engaging, professionally competent and fair.

Patrick was also a well-known music writer and published articles in
The Australian, The Age and a range of other print media. I know the
music industry are in shock with Patricks passing and of course at
the WIA we will miss him immensely.

Thats it for me this week and I will keep it short and sharp. I am
still on annual leave and enjoying some time around the property and
of course making that odd contact on air.

The new DXCC and awards year has kicked off for 2024 and already I see
some VKs have worked over 100 countries within 24 hours. There is
plenty of activity on the bands so hopefully between thunderstorms,
bolts of lightning and heavy rain, you will find a moment to enjoy
this great hobby.

I hope everyone has a prosperous and safe 2024.

Thats it for me this week and this has been Scott Williams, WIA
President for this weeks WIA National News.

DECLARATION of ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Clause 14 of the Constitution of the WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
(WIA) specifies the way in which Directors of the WIA are to be
elected to that position.

Three (3) directors will retire at the conclusion of the next Annual
General Meeting which will be held in May 2024, namely Lee Moyle
VK3GK, Steven Green VK2TSG and Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY. Each retiring
director was eligible for re-nomination. A call for nominations for
the position of Directors of the WIA was made in the WIA National News Broadcast and in Amateur Radio Magazine in accordance with the
Election Regulations.

I advise that I have received Three (3) valid nominations from WIA
members for the position as director of the WIA by the advertised
closing date for nominations, as follows:-

Steven Green VK2TSG
Lee Moyle VK3GK
Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY
As advised in the Call for Nominations there will be three (3)
vacancies at the conclusion of the AGM to be held in May 2024 and
therefore no election will be necessary. I therefore formally declare
these Three (3) nominees as having been elected to the position of
Director of the Wireless Institute of Australia. These Directors elect
will take up their role at the conclusion of the Annual General
Meeting in May 2024. They will remain in that role for a period of
two (2) years.

The existing four (4) continuing Directors are:-
Scott Williams VK3KJ
Peter Schrader VK4EA
Peter Clee VK8ZZ
Giles Kirby VK5GK

These continuing four (4) directors will retire at the conclusion of
the Annual General Meeting in 2025.

I, John Marshall, the duly appointed returning Officer of the
Wireless Institute of Australia confirm that these results are valid
and in accordance with the Constitution of the Wireless Institute of
Australia and the Election Regulations.

The Constitution and Election Regulations of the WIA provide that it
is mandatory for the announcement of the incoming directors be made at
the Annual General Meeting. However, is has been the norm to announce
the results prior to the AGM once they have been finalised by the
Returning Officer.

I wish the incoming directors well in there forthcoming 2-year term.
This is John Marshall, WIA Returning Officer

This is WIA Director Giles Kirby VK5GK.

Happy 2024 to everyone. Just a short one from me today.

Wed like to remind members that nominations for the WIA Merit Awards
to be presented at this years AGM in Bundaberg should be submitted to
the WIA secretary ( secretary@wia.org.au ). Nominations for this award
will close on March 1st 2024. Details are available on the WIA web
pages.

wia.org.au/members/wiaawards/about/

I look forward to meeting many of you in Bundaberg this May 4th.

It will also be interesting to see what solar cycle 25 holds for us
this year. Will it be larger than predicted or just sooner. Hopefully
the New Years Eve solar flare was a good omen.

Best wishes everyone. This was Director Giles Kirby (VK5GK). 73s.

------------------------------------------------------------*
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

WIRELESS WEATHER AFFECTING THE PACIFIC OCEON AREA.

Mere hours after emerging over the sun's eastern limb on Dec. 31st,
big sunspot AR3536 erupted, producing a major X5-class solar flare.

This is the strongest flare of Solar Cycle 25 (so far) and the most
powerful eruption the sun has produced since the great storms of
Sept. 2017.

Radiation from the flare caused a deep shortwave radio blackout over
the Pacific Ocean.

spaceweather.com/images2023/31dec23/blackoutmap.jpg

Ham radio operators noticed loss of signal at all
frequencies below 30 MHz for more than 60 minutes after the flare's
peak.

It was too soon to know for sure, but this explosion probably
launched a coronal mass ejection into space. Because the blast site
is located near the extreme eastern edge of the sun, the CME was
unlikely to have a significant Earth-directed component.

Update: This explosion caused a solar tsunami. You can see the shock
wave in this animation from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

spaceweather.com/images2023/31dec23/tsunami_red_strip.gif
Last week on the news we, whilst doing an item on CQ Magazine
mentioned how CQ-DATV ceased its free online publication in 2021.

Although that IS still to be read on the net, clarification re
'Status of CQ-DATV is in error.

Terry Mowles VK5TM, as the PDF editor for the magazine, made contact
to advise that CQ-DATV is an independent publication out of the UK and
has no association at all with CQ Communications, Inc.

The free magazine is still produced every month by Ian Pawson G8IQU,
Trevor Brown G8CJS, Terry Mowles VK5TM and Jim Andrews KH6HTV.

Now even further...

Mark WC3W from dxmarathon.com says the annual DX Marathon Program will
remain viable with or without CQ Magazine.

The program does not receive any financial support from CQ nor do they
draw any resources to operate the DX Marathon program from them. They
do publish the rules in usually the November issue (still to be
printed) for the following year, and the program results in the June
issue.

Bottom linedo not be concerned with regard to the DX Marathons
viability, Mark WC3W says, "We will do just fine with or without
CQ Magazine."

In this weeks operational news from the WIA National News Service,
Felix VK4FUQ will have more on this current years DXMARATHON...
Stay Tuned.

dxmarathon.com/
Hams Help Community Radio Station Get Back on Air

ICQPODCAST have reported that because of amateur radio, community
radio station KNYO, is going to start this new year very differently
from the way it did last year.

Eleven months ago, the low-power FM station in Fort Bragg, California
lost its antenna after the collapse of the 70-foot pine tree which was
being used as its tower. The FCC authorised a temporary fix that
authorised the antenna to be installed on a mast, but, only one-third
that height, but it did get the all-volunteer station back on the air.

Then an October thunderstorm struck and the signal went silent again.

That's when hams from the Mendocino County Amateur Radio Communication
Service, NC 6 MC, stepped in.

After station volunteers could not determine what had gone wrong, the
club's president Derek, KE6EBZ, sent a team over to help investigate.
These hams discovered that lightning had struck the antenna during the
storm. The lightning arrestor was damaged and several connectors had
been knocked out. Repairs quickly got underway.

Hopefully, 2024 will begin with smoother operation - and better
weather - for station KNYO.

If not, amateur radio is standing by.
WEIRD AND WONDERFULL

The Lost Cosmonauts of the USSR: dramatic transmissions picked up from
outer space.

Have you heard about the secret space programs of the USSR?
Lost Cosmonauts in Space?

It is almost a plot out of a science fiction movie. There are hundreds
of books and publications around the world which have talked about the
space race and the numerous incidents that occurred. The Story about
'Lost Cosmonauts' begins with two Italian Brothers, Giovanni and
Achille Judica-Cordiglia who were amateur radio operators with an
incredible passion for picking up transmission from space: specifically transmission between Russian cosmonauts and Soviet Ground control.

Utilizing a very limited set up, the two Italian brothers allegedly
intercepted signals which were sent by the Sputnik Satellite and even
eavesdrop on Laika, the canine explorer aboard Sputnik II.

Some believe that somewhere in the vast darkness of space, currently
over 9,000 million kilometres away from the Sun, the first human being
is reaching the limits of our Solar System. The Cosmonauts body,
perfectly preserved, is frozen at 270 degrees below zero, and the tiny spaceship drifted for over 50 years away from Earth at a speed of
almost 30,000 km per hour. This would mean that this is the first
cosmonaut lost in space, forgotten in the secret history of
mankinds attempt to conquer space.

According to many conspiracy theories, early missions of the Soviet
Space Program experienced terrible accidents in their attempt to
conquer space. These failures resulted in loss of life: many
Cosmonauts made it to space but never actually made it back home.

A mysterious signal picked up May 1961, is a dramatic transmission
where the voice of a woman can be heard the transmission features
the last minutes of a Russian female cosmonaut as her capsule burned
up during re-entry into Earths atmosphere.

During a period of four years, the Cordiglia brothers released a total
of nine recordings but THAT ONE is the most interesting of all.

Links to the story and to the recordings are in this weeks Text
Edition.

tinyurl.com/4jkvdd7y -------------------------------------------------------------------*
HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

--------------
--------------
NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
--------------
--------------

The 2024 CQ DX Marathon

The CQ DX Marathon is designed to promote DXing activity throughout
the year. Credit is given for contacts on all amateur bands
(160 to 6 metres) including those not normally used for contesting
(60, 30, 17 and 12 metres). Contesting QSOs can be used as long as
they are made from the same station operation.

The CQ DX Marathon is a yearlong activity, it began at Zero Hours
UTC Monday last, the first of January and ends at 23:59 UTC
Tuesday 31 December 2024.

Contacts through repeaters or satellites are not allowed for credit,
nor are contacts with maritime or aeronautical mobile stations. All
contacts must be made entirely over amateur radio frequencies.

EchoLink-type, DMR, All-Star, etc., contacts do NOT count.

Modes for which the operator is licensed may be used.

Examples of the modes to be used in the DX Marathon programme are
CW (utilises the International Morse Code)
Phone (USB, LSB, DSB, FM (voice), AM)
Digital: PSK, RTTY, FT8, FT4

(SARL)
VKCC The VK Contest Club have just held their annual luncheon, VK4TS
Trent Sampson joins us:-

Hello everyone! Despite Mother Natures fury hitting the Gold Coast
with tornadoes and heavy flooding, a resilient group defied the odds
to gather at Mango Hill Tavern for our annual meet-up on Saturday,
December 30th, 2023.

In the face of adversity, these intrepid souls embraced the day:
VK4CT, John, accompanied by his partner in crime, XYL Liz; VK4CZ,
Scott; VK4DX, Mike; VK4TS, along with his better half, XYL Lorraine;
VK4XU, Sonny; VK4UH, Kevin, and VK4UV, Colin formed the core of our
indomitable group. Not forgetting VK4DI, Di, and VK4ZD, Bill, who
added their vibrant personalities to the mix.

The weather might have tried to dampen our spirits, but it couldnt
deter this bunch of enthusiasts passionate about all things radio.
We might have been fewer in number, but the camaraderie and enthusiasm
were undiminished. Stories were shared, knowledge exchanged, and the
day was a testament to the resilience and determination of our
community.

While some couldnt join due to the adverse conditions, the spirit of togetherness and passion for our hobby burned bright in Mango Hill
Tavern. Here's to the unbreakable spirit of the amateur radio
community, weathering storms both literal and metaphorical, always
coming together stronger.

Until next time, keep those radios buzzing and spirits high!

(Trent VK4TS)
--------------
Ross Hull Memorial Contest.
Running on VHF and above for the month of January.
You nominate the best 7 day or 2 day period per category.

For more information visit the contest page at wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/

(VK2TBC)

-----------------------------------
JANUARY 2024 VHF-UHF Summer Field Day.
13 - 14 January.
0100 UTC Saturday to 0059 UTC Sunday BUT to make it a
little fairer in VK6, they add 3 hours onto start and
end times.

This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, manager of the VHF-UHF Field Days.

The Summer 2024 event will proceed as planned.

In the meantime, renewed efforts to catch up preparing results for past
contest are under way thanks to a small team of volunteers. Keep an eye on
the Field Days web page.


So, get your gear together for the Summer VHF-UHF Field Day and enjoy it!

This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.

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

AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST

This contest is to encourage Amateur Radio promotional Activity
around the world and is designed to encourage friendly participation
and help improve the operating skills of participants.

It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26th of January.

Amateurs here in in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs
around the world. Some VK operators will be using the AX prefix to
celebrate Australia day, as its wanted by many amateurs.

Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
squares.

(wia.org.au)

--------------
DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.
--------------

FRENCH AMATEUR'S SPECIAL EVENT HONOURS POLISH MARTYR

Several special event stations go on the air from around the world
each year in August, coinciding with the anniversary of the death of
St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. He was born, however, in January and an
event is on marking the 130th anniversary of that day.

He was a Polish priest, Maximilian Maria Kolbe, martyred in Auschwitz
during World War II.

Hams often hold special event stations in August to mark the date of
his death. One ham in France -- Jeff, F 4 IIQ chose to mark his
birth on January 8th. He is on air with callsign TM 130 SMK to the
9th of January, Tuesday this week.

The Franciscan priest, who was canonized in 1982, is considered the
patron saint of amateur radio for having founded a monastery in Poland dedicated to communications. The monastery housed a short-wave radio
station with the callsign SP 3 RN. When the monastery was shut by the
Nazis in 1941, Maximilian Maria Kolbe was arrested and sent to
Auschwitz where he volunteered to take the place of another man who
was marked to die. The priest was executed by lethal injection after
having been placed in a starvation bunker.

Father Kolbe is also the inspiration for the Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Net, which was founded by two amateurs in the US in 1998. It meets on
80 and 20 metres Sundays.

(ARNewsLine)

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

EAST KIRIBATI.

Members of the Rebel DX Group are QRV as T 32 TT from Christmas
Island, IOTA OC-024, until January 12 on 160 to 6 meters using CW,
SSB, FT8, and FT4.

QSL via OQRS.

(eHam and vk4bb)

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

MOROCCO.

Yannick, F6FYD is QRV as CN 2 YD until March 15.

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

THE VAAL DAM CELEBRATES ITS 85TH BIRTHDAY

The Sasolburg ARC will be operating ZS 85 VDAM now to 1 April
to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the opening of the Vaal Dam.

There is a special QSL Card available - send your QSL card to the
Sasolburg ARC to receive the ZS 85 VDAM QSL Card.

--------------
NAMIBIA.

QRV is V 51 WH from Omaruru until the end of April Activity is on
160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters for those in the world able to
use that band.

V51WH.

QSL to Gunter, home call is DK2WH

(eHam)
--------------

MALAWI.

Don, 7Q6M is QRV until May 13, 2024 and has also been active on 160
meters. QSL via LoTW. ------------------------------------------------------------*

WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,
PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.

hema.org.uk/index.jsp
minesontheair.com/about-mota
parksontheair.com/
sota.org.uk
sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/
facebook.com/SotaAustralia/
wwffaustralia.com/
https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23

Midway through last month, December, we brought you news of SOTA's
2024 10 Metre SOTA Challenge.

Yes Summits on the Air are holding a year-long challenge taking place
on the 10 metre band from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.
SOTA is encouraging the use of 10 meters as solar cycle 25 is
projected to peak.

NOW AN UPDATE.

This in from SOTA.

There will be a special 10m Challenge results page but note, lots of
you said you DON'T WANT SOTA contests and we listened. There will NOT
be an overall winner or association winners.

BUT

Have fun climbing and working... the mountain tops if not the winning
ladder.

(sourced to icqpodacst)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS LOW DOWN

A TREASURED TRANSMITTER'S ENDURING MESSAGE

As we step across the threshold of a new year, it's a comfort to know
that some things endure. They were built to last - and in fact, they
DO last. One example is the tradition of a message of Christmas peace, transmitted from a historic transmitter in Sweden.

On Christmas Eve morning, the World Heritage Grimeton Radio station
carried a message to the world, older than the 100-year-old
transmitter herself. It was a message of peace sent via Morse Code.
Hams and non-hams alike from around the world tuned in via SDR or
other means to hear the code being sent via the Alexanderson
Alternator SAQ signal on 17.2 kHz long wave.

Others simply witnessed the event on YouTube, where spectators from
Poland, Belgium, Colombia, Brazil and Australia left words of support
and appreciation.

The history behind this transmitter is as cherished as the message it
carries several times each year: With every transmission it
underscores the progress we have made over the years in wireless
communication -- while affirming the progress the world still needs to
make in so many other areas.

(ARNewsLine)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024

Australian lights planned and advised to WIA :-
AU 0102 Point Charles NT - Darwin AR Club

SO If YOUR VK ZL club has plans for this years ILLW let us now PRONTO
so we can help promote to the world, SURELY (Shirley) they is more
than just Darwin already to pop on air lighting up the bands August
17.
Maritime Radio Historical Society old KPH Over the Air Cryptographic
Challenge.

January 20, KPH will transmit a coded message consisting of 5-digit
groups. The message will be encrypted using typical Cold War numbers
station cryptographic procedures. All KPH listeners are invited to try
their hand at receiving and decrypting the message. Certificates will
be awarded to those who successful decode the message. Additionally, a
special certificate will be awarded to the first person to decode it.

Broadcast frequencies for the January 20 event, starting 2100 UTC
are:-

CW: 425.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8, and 22477.5

RTTY: Following the CW transmission: 6324.5, 8427.0 and 12585.5

Additional details and rules can be found on the Maritime Radio
Historical Society website.

radiomarine.org/mrhs-events

(ard)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
(Youngsters On The Air)
facebook.com/yotaregion2
facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
twitter.com/hamyota
ham-yota.com

Just as Youth on the Air month ended on the last day of December,
Ham Radio Kids Day was just getting warmed up.

The annual ARRL event took place yesterday, Saturday the 6th of
January as a way of showing youngsters the kind of fun they can have
on the air - and to interest them in science and technology. One
group, The New Providence Amateur Radio Club in New Jersey operated
the event with the youngsters at the Salt Brook School.

During the event, youngsters were on the air under the supervision of
licensed hams. Kids called "CQ Kids Day" and the kid-friendly exchange
was name, age, location and favourite colour.

(sourced to ARNewsLine) ------------------------------------------------------------*
2024 IT'S A DATE

Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section

Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found
on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.

VK3 - BARG HamFest 4th of February next door to BARG clubrooms
at Ballarat Airport 10:00 am.
barg.org.au/ (vk3kqt)
VK4 - Redcliffe and Districts REDFEST April 6 (vk4tfn)
VK - WIA AGM MAY 4 5 - BUNDABERG. (vk2tsg)
VK - National Volunteer Week Monday 20 Sunday 26 May 2024.
National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australias largest annual
celebration of volunteers and their important contribution to
our communities.

VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (vk3pdg)

Reception Reports

WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a
welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs
straight after the Local News. Local news follows National
news in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would
email their reception reports and location to
callbacks@wia.org.au
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 send BOTH the audio and the text

We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 mts 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 recorded 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. (First if YOU are
reading your own item). If you are mentioning your own name / call
in the story, say something like "and myself, Pat, vk11abc"

Promote your local rebroadcast; details on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/

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 will not give blatant 'plugs' to raffles, be it raffles
at the event or "on-line".

------------------------------------------------------------*

Oh... and to contact us with your news because
If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!

WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on
wiaq.org.au

BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!! thanks to Tony VK7AX
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/

wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
to the original text version and original audio on wia site) ------------------------------------------------------------*

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

TWITTER 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?
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
Promote your local rebroadcast; details on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
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."

If you would like to see the call-backs reported each
broadcast, OR 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 a message confirming your unsubscription
from the list and at that point you should stop receiving
messages.

------------------------------------------------------------*

_______________________________________________
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Vk1wia-news@lists.wia.org.au http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news


--- MBSE BBS v1.0.8.4 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: Wireless Institute of Australia (3:633/280.2@fidonet)