NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31

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Text File | 1992-12-22 | 16.0 KB | 477 lines

Newsgroups: aus.radio Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!spool.mu.edu!umn.edu!math.fu-berlin.de!informatik.tu-muenchen.de!regent!monu1.cc.monash.edu.au!monu6!bruce.cs.monash.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!metro!ipso!runxtsa!richardm From: richardm@runx.oz.au (Richard Murnane) Subject: VK2WI Weekly News, 20th December 1992 Message-ID: <1992Dec19.134851.3495@runx.oz.au> Organization: RUNX Un*x Timeshare. Sydney, Australia. Distribution: aus Date: Sat, 19 Dec 92 13:48:51 GMT Lines: 466 [On behalf of the VK2WI broadcast team, I'd like to wish you all a very happy Christmas, and best wishes for 1993] VK2WI Broadcast, 20th December, 1992. Copyright 1992 WIA (NSW) & contributors. Material may be used elsewhere if the source is acknowledged. VK2WI WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN for 20th December, 1992 THE MAJOR NEWS ITEM THIS WEEK: Join the WIA and Win a New Rig Amateur Radio Examiners under Investigation Some Choice! New Radio Club Forms to Save Middle Head Radio Station More Special Event Stations JOIN THE WIA AND WIN A NEW RIG We'd like to remind you that members who renew, or non-members who join the WIA before 28th February 1993 will be eligible to win a new rig from Kenwood, in the NSW Division's special membership and recruitment promotion. First prize is a Kenwood TM-732A dual band 2m/70cm mobile transceiver, while second prize is the new Kenwood TH-28A two metre handy-talkie, which was launched a few weeks ago. Total value of the prizes is close to $1800. There are NO special forms to fill in or convoluted quizzes to answer. Both prizes will be awarded by way of a draw, and presented to the winners early next year following close of the promotion. Thanks go to Kenwood Electronics Australia who have generously sponsored this promotion by donating the prizes. All grades of membership are eligible. So, if you were thinking of joining - DO IT NOW! And if your renewal comes up now - or even later - GET IT IN! This promotion has been organised by Roger Harrison VK2ZTB from the newly-formed Advertising and Publicity Section of the NSW Division of the WIA. DIVISIONAL NEWS The divisional office has now closed for the Christmas holidays, but will open again on the 11th January 1993. You can still submit items for the broadcast by the usual means, but if you send items by post, please clearly mark the envelope for the attention of the broadcast officer. This week's bulletin is the last live broadcast for the year; the broadcasts for the 27th December and 3rd January will be pre-recorded and will go to air in the morning only. In the Sydney metropolitan area, the Gladesville Amateur Radio Club will retransmit the broadcast in the evening, via VK2TVG, on TV channel 35. Hunter Branch, VK2AWX, has advised that its broadcasts for the year finished last week, and will recommence on the 8th February 1993. And the regular RTTY broadcasts from VK2TTY have finished for the year; they resume on the 10th January next year. At the last Council meeting, the problem of incresed pager intermods was noted. It appears that a new pager network has been installed in the last few months, which set up a whole new batch of intermods which fall into the VHF repeater input sub-band. The Divisional Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) has been asked to report back to Council on the problem. NEW MEMBERS We'd like to welcome the following Amateurs, prospective Amateurs, and Shortwave Listeners who recently joined the Wireless Institute of Australia. They are: Peter Bulanyi VK2GVO Eric Fossey VK2EFY (welcome back, Eric!) Han Goldhofer VK2GOL Robert Heaton Aiden Kavanagh Clive Luckman VK2GUX Frank Mike VK2DHM Shane Norman Matt Ryan David Thomas Paul Titze Fred Gubbins Please join us in welcoming our new friends to the oldest division of the oldest Amateur Radio society in the world. The New South Wales Division will begin Amateur Radio classes, on the 1st February 1993. If you'd like to get yourself an Amateur Radio license, if you'd like to move to a higher grade of license, or if you'd just like to learn more about Amateur Radio, please contact the divisional office, by writing to PO Box 1066, Parramatta 2124, or phone for more information when the office reopens on the 11th January. CAREFUL WITH THAT JUNK MAIL! Starting with this month's issue, "Amateur Radio" magazine is being hand delivered to about 2/3rd of members, using the same company that fills your domestic "in-tray" with promotional literature. If you automatically direct your junk mail to the recycling bin, please make sure you and your family check carefully, to make sure that "AR" doesn't suffer the same fate. There may have been some teething troubles with the new delivery system, so if you haven't received your copy of "Amateur Radio" magazine yet, please contact the divisional office. 1993 AUSTRALIAN RADIO AMATEUR CALLBOOK Now that the divisional office has closed for the holidays, it's too late to get one for Christmas, but there's always 1993: the Divisional office has stocks of the latest Australian Radio Amateur Callbook. Price is $11.00 to members who collect their copy at the office, or $12.50 posted. For non-members, price is $12.50, plus $2.50 postage and packaging if applicable. For more information, please contact the divisional office when it reopens on the 11th January 1993. AMATEUR RADIO EXAMINERS UNDER INVESTIGATION Those of you who conduct Amateur Radio examinations might like to note the following item, which appeared in the latest issue of the WIA Exam Service newsletter, and from which we quote: "Currently, four accredited examiners teams are under investigation by the Department of Transport and Communications, for apparent irregularities in the conduct of examinations. Please ensure that the examinations you invigilate are conducted strictly in accordance with the DoTC regulations and the administrative rules in the WIA Exam Service Examinations Manual." That item from Bill Roper VK3ARZ was sent to us by Jim Linton VK3PC. SOME CHOICE! Listeners will recall that CHOICE magazine (the journal of the Australian Consumers Association) some time ago implied that "HAM" radio operators made a habit of using scanners to listening in to cellular telephone conversations, with scanners. Following an outcry from concerned Amateurs, including the Federal office of the WIA, "CHOICE" magazine agreed to clarify the matter in a subsequent issue. A "clarification" was indeed published, but they still appear to be confused. They explained (on page four of the December issue) that the term "HAM" could apply to any Amateur radio operator, whether LICENSED OR NOT. We don't know what an "unlicensed amateur radio operator" could possibly be so perhaps concerned Amateurs might like to contact them, and explain to them the error of their ways. The Australian Consumers Association (who publish "CHOICE") can be contacted by telephone on (02) 558-0099, by fax on (02) 558-9341, or by writing to 57 Carrington Rd, Marrickville, NSW 2204. -- Dave VK2KFU, resident activist FROM THE DIVISIONAL LIBRARIAN During the year, the solid state applications section of the Divisional Library received two large donations of handbooks, bringing the total to over 600 books held. Our librarian, Aubrey VK2AXT would also like to thank the late VK2ON, and VK's 2BLQ, 2GNT, 2ENG, 2JTD and 2PEJ, plus many others who have donated books and magazines. Aubrey says he hopes everyone enjoys the festive season, and a healthy and prosperous 1993. THE 1993 GOSFORD FIELD DAY We'd like to remind you that the next Gosford Field Day, run by the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club, has moved to a new, larger venue at Wyong Racecourse; the event takes place on 28th February 1993, and will feature all the attractions which have been popular in past years, plus many new ones. NEW RADIO CLUB FORMS TO SAVE MIDDLE HEAD RADIO STATION Middle Head on Sydney Harbour is an area devoted to military installations; recently, the land from water's edge back to the installations has become part of Sydney Harbour National Park. Part of this area used to be a military radio station; then it became the Radio Branch monitoring station, then a state government facility, and now it has been decommissioned. The State Government now plans to dismantle the Middle Head radio station, but there are some Amateurs who feel it's worth preserving it, and turning it into a communications museum. The new SYDNEY PROGRESSIVE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (SPARC) has been established to do just that. If you would like to find out more about the project, and help to preserve an important part of our radio heritage, then please contact club secretary Alan Avery on (02) 969-6721, or Peter Jensen VK2AQJ on (02) 960-1486. -- Peter Jensen VK2AQJ SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS In South Australia, VI5VIA will be active from 29th January to 1st February 1993, to commemorate the closing of Adelaide Marine Radio 'VIA' on the 31st January. The station will be operating on all HF bands and some VHF/UHF operation will also take place. More details as well as some history about VIA's marine communications history will follow in future bulletins. This event is being co-ordinated by Tony VK5WC, John VK5ZRH and members of the South Coast Amateur Radio Club Inc. Some months ago, Army Signals Station VMA "commemorated" its closure by pirating on the Amateur bands, and the WIA was criticised by the editor of a certain magazine for having the pirate put off air. Setting up a special event station seems a more appropriate way to commemorate this event, and we congratulate the South Coast Amateur Radio Club for organising this station. Fedor R0L maritime mobile started a round-the-world DXpedition last month. Listen out for him on the following frequencies each day: 08:00 UTC on 21.375 kHz 08:15 UTC on 14.275 kHz On Saturdays and Sundays, he is also on air at 0100 and 0500. Fedor Koniuhov plan to land on the Easter Island (CE0A), then on Bouvet Island (3Y). The DXpedition is planned to last up to 18 months. -- Yuri Zaruba UA9OBA Ross UX0UN is once again active from Cambodia; you can find him on the Southern Cross net on 20 m and also on 50 MHz. Ross should be fully operational with 150 watts and 5 element Yagi by Feb 93. QSL direct only via VK3OT: PO Box 622 Hamilton Victoria 3300 And don't forget that on the Northern Beaches, Richard VK2SKY and others from the Manly-Warringah Radio Society will be activating VI150SYD for the last time, between Christmas and 10:59 local on New Year's Day. Frequencies will be on the 10 and 20 metre HF bands, and possibly others - details in next week's bulletin. And JU830C is active from Mongolia until the 31st, celebrating Chinghis Khan's 830th birthday IPS WEEKLY REPORT 11 December - 17 December 1992 Issue no. 51 Date of issue: 18 December 1992 Date 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 10cm 164 175 173 167 156 151 150 A 08 09 09 07 11 05 (16 estimated) T 121 142 126 91 75 93 111 Summary of activity Solar activity was very low to low over the period. No flares were reported. The geomagnetic field at Learmonth (WA) was quiet, or quiet to unsettled, except for brief active levels on the 12th and 14th December. There was a sudden commencement at 0615 UTC on the 17th, followed by active to minor storm levels for the remainder of the day. Ionospheric F2 critical frequencies were mostly enhanced by up to 60 per cent. Frequencies became depressed to 30 per cent after 1900 UTC on the 17th. Spread F was observed on 11th, and sporadic E was observed at times from the 13th to 15th December. Forecast for the next week (18 - 24 December) Solar: Low 18-19th, and low to moderate thereafter. Geomagnetic: Active to minor storm levels on the 18th, active levels on the 20th and 21st, and quiet to unsettled otherwise. Ionospheric: 15 to 30 per cent depressed during local daylight hours on the 18th, and enhanced by up to 30 per cent thereafter. -- Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services COMING EVENTS WIA recruitment promotion (win a rig!) until 28th February Pre-recorded morning-only broadcast from VK2WI (replayed in the evening on Sydney TV channel 35) . . . . 28th December VI150SYD active from the Northern Beaches 27-28th, 30-31st December JU830C/3 Mongolia active . . . . . . . until 31st December 1993 Pre-recorded morning-only broadcast from VK2WI (replayed in the evening on Sydney TV channel 35) . . . . . 3rd January Closing date for Fisher's Ghost ARC exams . . 6th January VK2TTY transmissions resume . . . . . . . . . 10th January VK2 Divisional office reopens . . . . . . . . 11th January Live transmissions from Gladesville ARC resume 13th January Fisher's Ghost ARC examinations . . . . . . . 17th January VI5VIA Special Event Station active . . . . . 29th January - 1st February Divisional Amateur Radio classes commence . . 1st February CLUB NEWS As you will have heard earlier in this bulletin, the new SYDNEY PROGRESSIVE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB has been established to preserve, restore and reactivate the old Radio Station at Middle Head. If you would like to join in this ambitious project, please contact Peter VK2AQJ on (02) 960-1486 or club secretary Alan Avery on (02) 969 6721. The AUSTRALIAN LADIES' AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION would like to wish all members of the Wireless Institute of Australia a Very Happy Christmas and a Cheerful New Year. -- Dorothy VK2DDB, NSW State Representative for ALARA GLADESVILLE ARC conducted its last live ATV transmission for 1992 last Wednesday, but tests will continue over the Christmas holiday period. Live transmissions resume next year on 13th January. Brian VK2KML of the SYDNEY ATV GROUP says that the repeater VK2RTS on 147.300 MHz is off air due to pager interference; until the matter is resolved, please call on simplex 147.3 with your ATV tone up. The HORNSBY AND DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB would like to offer the complements of the season to all fellow amateurs and shortwave listeners alike. Club members are advised that there is no scheduled meeting for January 1993. Have a safe and happy Christmas. -- Cheers Colin VK2JCC, Publicity Officer for HADARC BROADCAST ROSTER The broadcast roster for January to March 1993 will be drawn up shortly; would all broadcast personnel advise Steve VK2QZ of unavailable dates. The divisional office will be closed until 11th January, but you can still send in items for the weekly broadcast by fax, post, or packet radio; if submitting items by post, please mark the envelope for the attention of the broadcast officer. You can also leave mesages on the office answering machine: the number is (02) 689-2417. Items for inclusion in this bulletin may be sent by mail to Post Office Box 1066, Parramatta 2124; by fax on (02) 633-1525, or by packet radio to "VK2WI at VK2RWI". Highlights of this bulletin are also available by phoning the divisional voice mailbox on (02) 552-5188, and you can leave a message afterwards if you wish. VK2WI Broadcast, 20th December, 1992. Copyright 1992 WIA (NSW) & contributors. Material may be used elsewhere if the source is acknowledged. -- Richard P. Murnane "Making it up? Making it up? Why should Internet: richardm@runx.oz.au I want to make anything up? Life's bad UUCP: uunet!runx.oz.au!richardm enough without inventing more of it." Packet: VK2SKY @ VK2RWI.NSW.AUS.OC - Marvin the Paranoid Android