Reply-To: nationalnews@wia.org.au

Weekly news from the WIA:
MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-02-18.mp3 Text edition:


2024 FEBRUARY 18 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

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

NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING FEBRUARY 18 2024
IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

THIS WEEK:-
DISCUSSION POINT with Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP. -

Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH. -

WIA DIRECTOR VK2TSG Steven Green (audio only).

AND the new kid on the block, he's just turned Ten, obtained his
Foundation Licence, whoops as of tomorrow it's called FOUNDATION QUALIFICATION.. VK2COD.
PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB

DISCUSSION POINT

Hello, Im Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and Ive been thinking.

Tomorrow is the day that license fees are no longer required as the
Class Licence regime comes into force. There is still some confusion
about how certain matters will be dealt with under this new framework
but it seems that the ACMA has been quite assiduous in following up on
detail. It remains to be seen if we will end up with the regulations
spelled out in plain language for everyone to understand, not just
public servants.

Im Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, that's what I think, how about you.

AR MAGAZINE

This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison
VK2ZRH.

Once again, I have to speak to you . . . . seriously.

Last Wednesday, with my heart in my mouth, I was preparing to tell you all
the sad news that Amateur Radio magazine as we all know and love it with
all its charms and occasional flaws had come to an end; that the issue you have just received, or bought, was to be . . the last.


In my piece two weeks ago, I mentioned that there was a hiccup, an unforeseen circumstance, holding up Issue 1. And that, after some particular efforts
were exerted, the issue rolled off the press and the hiccup was averted.


However, hardly a week had passed and the remains or the echo of that old hiccup threatened to derail the continued publishing of Amateur Radio
magazine.


The hiccup, came from a surprising quarter. Nevertheless, a cure for the
hiccup was applied, thanks to the stalwart efforts of the Publications Committee, and disruption was once again averted.


Take a big breath. Thank goodness there will be no repeat this year of the debacle of 2020 that you will recall, when Issue 2 was not published until August a five-month delay. And, with the grateful cooperation of our
printer, members then got each issue month-by-month until all six were completed.


Incidentally, this saved the Institute from getting into trouble with the consumer protection laws.


So. The good ship Amateur Radio magazine sails on with all its charms and occasional flaws nobodys perfect. Look in the mirror.


Amateur Radio magazine, Volume 92, 2024.More guts. Less gab.
Proudly produced and printed in Australia.
Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.
WIA

JOIN THE WIA
tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

WIA DIRECTOR VK2TSG STEVEN GREEN

(Apologies from the Editor but the Directors report was only supplied
as audio.. )
------------------------------------------------------------*
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC,
ARRL, NZART, eHam, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, eHam,
ICQPodcast, Radioworld.com Hackaday and the World Wide sources
of the WIA.

Good news first, since January the 4th the broadcasting station
KTWR from Guam, 9900 and 9910 kHz, ceased sending secondary
transmissions on the 30 m band 10124 and 10134 kHz.
The German Society, DARC IARUMS national coordinator Daniel, DL3RTL,
had involved the German Federal Network Agency, BNetzA for the purpose
of issuing an international complaint.

Now the bad news, transmissions of the Australian Jindalee
Operational Radar Network were often received on the 30 m band
particularly in Europe.
2 Arrested after Theft of Copper from Destroyed Radio Tower.

Two people have been arrested in Texas in connection with the theft of
copper from a radio tower in Oklahoma last month.

The Choctaw County Sheriff said that the two were identified by scrap
yard employees in Texas, where one day after the 15th January
incident, they tried to sell copper wiring from the coax line.
Authorities said that Payne Media Group, the broadcast station's
owner, was contacted and confirmed that the copper had come from the
tower for KITX, a 50,000-watt station serving southeast Oklahoma and
northeast Texas.

The station has been live streaming and operating with limited
broadcast range following the destruction of the tower. Its guy wires
had been cut and its backup generator also was destroyed.
In the Caribbean, Australian-made goods are synonymous with quality.
For emergency management teams tasked with saving lives and property,
quality is key and thats why theyre choosing Barrett Communications.

The island nations of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tobago, as
well as the region wide Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
have all turned to Barrett Communications HF radios and equipment.

CDEMA, based in Barbados is made up of 19 participating states.
In 2021, CDEMA purchased HF radio equipment and accessories, as well
as the supply of an HF base station transceiver and supporting
accessories from Barrett Communications.

Beyond radios, the Caribbean has turned to Australian-made goods for
other emergency response systems. Australian shipbuilder Austal has
for more than a decade delivered a total of 13 ferries and coast guard
patrol vessels to Trinidad and Tobago.
Potential for Canada to Ban SDR Devices

Over concerns of devices such as the Flipper Zero that can record and
replay wireless signals used for remote keyless entry in cars, Public
Safety Canada is proposing a ban of such devices which could include
software defined radios (SDR).

Pursuing all avenues to ban devices used to steal vehicles by copying
the wireless signals for remote keyless entry, such as the Flipper
Zero, which would allow for the removal of those devices from the
Canadian marketplace through collaboration with law enforcement
agencies.

Flipper Zero has requested evidence that their devices have been used
in criminal activity, suggesting there currently is none.
100 NEW DAB+ TRANSMITTERS ACROSS FRANCE

Throughout 2023, network operator TDF worked to deploy 100 new DAB+ transmitters at 70 sites across mainland France. Through this effort,
more than 55% of French citizens have access to DAB+ digital radio
signals and more than 550 radio stations broadcast using the
technology in the country.

TDF is now currently focused on the second phase of deploying the
M1 and M2 national multiplexes, which carry 13 services. Since
October, TDF has brought online 44 DAB+ transmitters, this second
phase, which brings DAB+ reception to new motorways across the county,
is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2024.
Qualifying CubeSats from developing nations will be able to get a free
ride into space soon under an agreement signed last month between the
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and Exolaunch.

The Berlin-based company known as Exolaunch agreement is part of the
Access to Space for All programme that opens the door to space for
countries that might not otherwise have such access and presents
opportunities for the next generation in developing countries to put
their STEM education to work with an eye toward pursuing a space
related career.

-------------------------------------------------------------------*
HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT

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

ON NOW - the ARRL DX CW Contest Feb 17-18.
Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.
-------------

NEW ZEALANDS Jock White Memorial Field Day WILL BE NEXT WEEKEND
24/25 Feb.
------------

ARRL DX Phone Contest March 2-3
Use only the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

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

IARU HF World Championship July 13-14.

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

Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest July 21st
This contest is another official WIA Contest and will count towards
the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

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

AUGUST 17 - 18 Remembrance Day Contest.

This contest commemorates the Australian Amateurs who died during
World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and
help improve the operating skills of participants.

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

44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
last FULL weekend of August.

ELIGIBILITY?

All licensed operators throughout the world are invited to
participate. Scout and Girl Guide groups are encouraged to
take part using their Club's equipment and callsign.

YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.

CONTEST: Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours:
STARTS: Saturday 25th August 2024 at 0600 hours UTC
ENDS: Sunday 26th August 2024 at 0559 hours UTC

SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES: All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
Contacts made on ECHOLINK will also be accepted.

(alara web page)

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

DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.

Need a bit of help in the DX world?

ARNSW Members are invited to the first in a series of HF antenna
presentations on Sunday the 25th of February 2024 at VK2WI Dural.

This event, at 10am, will feature presentations of interest for all
levels of expertise.

Its a chance to;
- Gain insights into portable operation techniques
- Learn strategies to improve your home station setup
- Engage with practical demonstrations led by experienced operators
- Connects with specialists ready to provide assistance and advice.

Reserve your spot now by emailing events@arnsw.org.au

(vk2wi news)

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

MADAGASCAR.

Eric, F6ICX is QRV as 5R8IC from Sainte-Marie Island until March 31.
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using mainly CW.
QSL to home call which again is F 6 ICX

(arrl)

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

SAMOA.
Operators YT1AD, YU3AA, UA9OLY, and RC9O will be QRV as
5W8A, 5W0AA, 5W0LY, and 5W0RC, respectively, until Monday 19th
February 10 to 19.

Activity on the HF bands. QSL to home calls .

(arrl)

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

TONGA.
Bob, W7YAQ and Al, K7AR are QRV as A 31 DK and A 31 DL, respectively,
from Nuku'alofa until February 27. Activity will be on the HF bands.
QSL via LoTW.

(arrl)
--------------

EASTER ISLAND.

On the wireless is CB 0 ZA from Robinson Crusoe Island until February
24 on 160 to 6 meters, including 60 meters, using CW, SSB, RTTY, and
FT8 in DXpedition mode.

QSL via N 2 OO.

(arrl)

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

SPAIN

AO 100 RADIO is on air all February in celebration of World Radio Day
which was last Tuesday, February 13 and the 100th anniversary of the
start of regular radio broadcasting in Spain.

QRZ.com for details.

(NewsLine)
------------------------------------------------------------*
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

EAST MEETS WEST - or does it?

New SOTA Group is Growing for WEST Malaysian Hams.

Barely 6 weeks old, the West Malaysia SOTA Association is growing its membership and encouraging hams to join if they are interested in
chasing or activating mountain summits as a portable operation. This
West Malaysia SOTA Association, launched on the 1st of January does
NOT include the two Malaysian states that belong to the EAST Malaysia
SOTA Association.

The association's manager, Piju, 9M2PJU, is the Malaysian coordinator
for communication with other SOTA organizations and his role is to
ensure Malaysian SOTA ops follow all relevant regulations and
standards. Piju said that the West Malaysia region has 373 summits.

Bonuses will be given to hams who activate during the monsoon season
or during other harsh-weather conditions.

(sourced to ICQPODCAST)

WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

Virgin Galactic has temporarily halted its operations after a small
part, an alignment pin, unintentionally detached from the mothership
of its rocket-powered space plane during the Galactic 06 space tourism
flight on January 26.

The company assured that the part's loss did not compromise the
mission's safety. The alignment pin is, however, crucial for pre -
flight procedures, ensuring the spaceship aligns with the mothership.

The Federal Aviation Administration will conduct a mishap
investigation, requiring Virgin Galactic's final report and corrective
actions approval before resuming flights.

{ans}
Mars Ingenuity Helicopter Flies Into History Books

Ingenuity has ended its mission after 72 flights on Mars in three
years - way beyond its original goal of five flights in 30 days.

After its successful marathon mission to demonstrate powered,
controlled flight on another planet, Ingenuity sustained rotor damage
but the helicopter leaves us with an impressive list of
accomplishments and a strong legacy.

(nasa)
Ongoing efforts persist in the bid to resolve the critical computer
glitch affecting NASA's Voyager 1, the most distant human-made object
in space, which has disrupted telemetry data transmission since 14th
of November 14.

The glitch, impacting the Flight Data Subsystem, has prevented access
to vital information regarding the spacecraft's propulsion, power and
control systems.

Suzanne Dodd, the Voyager project manager, acknowledges the severity
of the situation, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue due
to Voyager 1's age and declining nuclear battery power. NASA remains
resolute in its commitment to resolving the issue and ensuring the
continued success of the historic Voyager 1 mission.

(ANS)

WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA

AF-016

Reunion Thierry, FY4JI is active on various bands as FR 4 AV from
Reunion Island (AF-016) until March 11.
QSL via EA 5 GL

(sarl)

AF-057

Borut, S53BV is active from Nosy Be island as 5 R 8B V during February
17 to March 3 on 80 & 40m; CW/SSB.

He has a full size vertical on the beach, but it will be holiday-style activity. QSL via Home call S53BV, Club Log is updated daily.

(dx-world)

NA-056

Isla de la Juventud will see a nine-man Cuban team, known as the
Pirates DX Groupe active from Isla de la Juventud, NA-056 as T 44 DX
March 21-25 on HF and VHF bands using various modes.

Safest QSL route would be Log Book Of The World or maybe a Russian
QSL Manager, RW 6 HS.

(dx-world)

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

My name is Alan and I am Alec VK2MV's younger brother.

I have just earned my foundation license when I was 9 years old and
I have just turned ten. The day after my tenth birthday I received my
call sign, VK2COD.

It is good to be an amateur radio operator now.

I saw my brother VK2MV and my Dad, VK2LP, operating a station and that
gave me the will to get my own licence. I have been studying for about
a year and now I finally have it.

As a YOTA, I plan on operating parks with my dad and doing radio stuff
at scout camps with my brother. I am a cub scout and it is good to
have a radio badge on my uniform now. Hopefully I will make contact
with you soon.

For WIA National News, I am Alan VK2COD in Sydney.

WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING

Jota always 3rd weekend in October so scrawl it on the wall NOW.
Sacramento Girl Scouts Build a Ham Radio to Talk to Astronauts:

A team of Girl Scouts have tested out their ham radio equipment in
East Sacramento, this they built in partnership with the River City
Amateur Radio Communications Society, to talk with astronauts on the International Space Station.

The group was one of 11 educational institutions selected in the
USA for The National Aeronautics and Space Administration STEM
program.

(eHam)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.

A REMINER TO VIEW THE NEWS ON ATV OR YOUTUBE

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

VK2 - HF Antenna Day by ARNSW February 25 at Dural. (vk2wi)

VK4 - Gladstone Amateur Radio Club BBQ 9th March (vk4xmc)

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.

VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)
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.

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

_______________________________________________
Vk1wia-news mailing list
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)