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Text File | 1994-11-13 | 31KB | 645 lines

VK2 DIV. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE This is Michael Corbin VK2PFQ... You will recall last week that I told you that I would not be in a position to prepare a Report for you this week as I would not have sufficient time as I was spending the entire week in Western Australia....Well, nothing has changed save for the fact that there a several very important matters that Members must be made aware of prior to the next meeting of Council which will be held this coming Friday evening at 7.30PM...Members only of course. As some of you may be aware Margaret Morris our office Secretary has resigned as from last Thursday. There is a message circulating..... you guessed it!....on Packet Radio by someone who claims to have all the facts as to the "Whys and Wherefores" of this matter.....It is a great shame that some people will stoop to any depths to score what they see to be..... "points"!!!! Sysops should be careful when allowing such messages to appear on their systems. The one in question is obviously slanderous....Action may be taken. As President (in inverted commas) for the purists, may I say that I found Mrs. Morris to be most supportive of the Council in the short time in which I worked with her. She will be missed by many of us not he least of which are the "old timers" group which meets every month a Amateur Radio House. Peter Kloppenberg has offered to look after this side of things but....It just won't be the same.... Margaret will be missed. I am sure everyone would join with me in wishing her all the best in her new position. Margaret has asked me to say goodbye to all the members on her behalf and wishes to thank the many friends she has made over the past five years. She wishes to particularly thank them for their "help and friendship.". Understandably, leaving the Institute's employ after some five years she feels like she is losing "part of her family." Margaret wishes all her friends... "all the happiness in the future." She feels very sad but says and I quote: "It's time to move on to a new phase in life."...unquote. Another matter which will be discussed at Friday's meeting will be the refusal of Roger Harrison to tender his resignation from the Federal Executive????? I am at a loss to know how he can justify remaining in this position when he does not represent either this Division, the Council, or the members....But, more of this on Friday Now on to more pleasant things. Part 3 of an account of that IARU Region 3 Conference from David 9VIRH/VK3QV...and I quote. Working Group B covered, besides Packet Radio, a host of other technical subjects. For instance, beacons....it recommended that a Region 3 Beacon Coordinator was urgently needed and that Region 3 establishes time share beacons on the 14, 18, 21, 24 and 28 MHz bands. Six beacons are ready to be installed in Japan, New Zealand, Dural in New South Wales, Perth in West Australia, Taiwan and Sri Lanka. It further encourages member societies to establish beacons on 10, 6 and 2 metres. Beacons below 14 MHz are desirable but will need careful planning and international cooperation. It recommended that IARU considers the setting up of a beacon monitoring service for propagation analysis. Band plans came under scrutiny, specially on VHF and it is recommended that the EME segment be extended from 144.025 to 144.035 MHz to align with Region 1. As the satellite service, in common with other amateur services, is experimental and self educating, the conference noted the need to preserve common allocations worldwide, specially those above 1 GHz. Member societies are requested to regularly bring to the notice of their administration footnotes 664 and 808 to the ITU International Frequency Table concerning the amateur satellite service. With respect to IARUMS or, commonly known as the Intruder Watch, all member societies are encouraged to be active in IARUMS and, where possible, enlist the services as well from SWL's. Member Societies are also encouraged to provide specialised equipment, such as is done in New Zealand, to their national coordinator for monitoring check-ups. The conference authorises the IARU Monitoring Service Region 3 to publicise both those Countries which breach the Radio regulations as well as those countries which take positive steps to cease such breaches. Standards attracted a number of papers. First and foremost, the Conference supported IARU recommendations that type approval of amateur equipment and mandatory inspections of amateur stations should not be enforced because of the nature of the service as per ITU definition. On the EMC Standard's front, member societies are requested to advice the Region 3 secretariat of the name of the relevant national standards body along with a brief description of the relationship between the national amateur society and their national standards body. The satellite service took up quite some time and it was noted that many amateurs are not aware of the specific amateur satellite band allocations. The most common frequencies being 29.3 to 29.510, 145.8 to 146 and 435 to 438 MHz, plus a range in the SHF spectrum and higher, up to 24.050 GHz. From discussions, it appears that interference from amateurs in those specified frequencies is, at times pretty high. So now we could have an intruder watch to shoo away fellow amateurs who couldn't care a thing about specialised band plans but are the first to complain if their QSO is being interfered with. Wind profilers were discussed and from Region 1 came word that the French authorities have been very successful in developing acoustic profilers operating at 200 Hz around their major airports. These units appear to be more accurate than their electronic counterparts. So, there is still hope for us. Working Group A discussed policy matters and this week I will start with an important policy, namely that Region 3 seeks admission to, and is represented at, meetings of external organisations, when it is considered necessary by the Directors. These external organisations are the ABU, the Asian Broadcasting Union, APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Council and a new organisation, APT, the Asia Pacific Telecommunity which appears to be similar in concept as the Region 1 CEPT and Region 2 CITEL, an organisation of regional communication administrations. APT has had a meeting in July last and a quick look through the document did not show any Australian representation. Maybe they were there somewhere, but definitely not noticeable on first sight. The good thing is that APT is very sympathetic to the Amateur Radio Service, as is Region 2 CITEL, also a fairly new organisation. From conversations I had during off-peak sessions with a few of the delegates I learned that they frown upon any sort of privatisation of the issue of licences and call signs. They like to their own examinations and so forth but there the buck stops. Their administration should still be charged with the issue of licences and call signs as per ITU treaties. They fear that, if they also privatised the issue of licences, their amateurs may loose reciprocity with other countries. Something to think about, specially since in the most privatised country in the western world, the FCC is still the sole body to issue licences and call signs..... That ends part3 of David's informative letters. Today, as indicated in the preamble to the broadcast sees the return of the technical tapes which used to be a prominent part of these Broadcasts. The series entitled "Australian Radio History" compiled by Winston Muscio was never finished. You will recall that these segments were supplied by Tim Mills VK2ZTM. Tim has been good enough to supply us with those tapes which were never played before. There were 22 Tapes in all. Today sees the series taking up where it left off at tape number 17. There is a short leader from Tim... I have listened to this and consider that he is perhaps entitled to a least one "shot" at his detractors. To use Tim's words... " This will no doubt cause those with Packet time on their hands to fly into print." Welcome back Tim. See you all next week. Federal news Progress in Radio sport Amateur radio a sport? Well, if you combine radio direction finding and cross-country jogging, amateur radio becomes a sport! Rather like a foxhunt and footrace, if you like. It's a rapidly growing aspect of amateur radio in Asia and Europe, and it's taking off in North America (see WIA News, in October Amateur Radio). The object is to locate a series of transmitters spread around a course which meanders through the countryside. The transmitters are turned on and off at sequenced intervals, just to make things a bit more challenging. Australia's leading exponent of amateur radio direction finding (ARDF) is the redoubtable Wally Watkins VK4CO. Wally's no "spring chicken", so you can see it's a sport for all ages. Wally refereed at the 7th World ARDF Championships in Sweden, after attending the Region 3 IARU Conference in Singapore. Frank Sleep VK4CAU is competing at the championships in Sweden. If you want to see what ARDF's all about, Wally has prepared a short video tape, copies of which he has circulated to each Division. Radio clubs may get copies direct from VK4DD for $10 (to cover post and packing). The tape covers highlights from the 1993 Region 3 ARDF games held in China. ARDF games are serious stuff, says Wally. In the tape, emphasis is placed on the importance of the games as can be seen by the many high ranking government officials present. Wally says, "We were told that if China had won the Olympic Games in the year 2000, ARDF would have been a demonstration sport as it was in the Asian Games a few years ago." Wally will return from Europe on 6 December. Write to him at PO Box 432, Proserpine Qld 4800. Meanwhile, ARDF is catching on in Queensland. Several groups are reportedly building receivers based on a design by VK3MZ. The Redcliffe Amateur Radio Club is coordinating activities. It is anticipated that Australia's first radio sport competition will be held in Brisbane early in December. In the far North, Ron VK4BRG has developed a kit for a 2m antenna based on the successful HB9CV design. In NSW's West, a group at Bathurst is working on an 80m transmitter. Timers for sequencing the transmitter on and off are a bit of a problem, according to Wally. The ZLs are working on an EPROM version while awaiting information to come from Europe which Wally has promised to follow up while in Sweden. The South East Radio Group (SERG) in Mount Gambier, SA, will host Wally to give a lecture and demonstration at their annual convention in June next year. Wally is prepared to give a lecture and demonstration to other interested groups while travelling from Proserpine to Mount Gambier, on the basis of being billeted in each area. The next Region 3 ARDF Championships will be held in Townsville, probably in 1996, a decision made at the September IARU Region 3 Conference in Singapore. WICEN News Around twenty people turned up at the Annual Co-ordinators Conference at Bathurst last weekend, and a good time was had by all. A report will appear in a later Broadcast. This is supposed to be a quiet time for WICEN, but in the past we have had fire, flood, tempest, and earthquake around this time of the year; about all that is left is famine (unfortunately, we may already have this in the form of the drought) and plague (hopefully WICEN will not be involved in that one!), so do not be complacent; keep your equipment ready at all times for a sudden activation. Events this month include the Central Coast meeting this Friday, the Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, the Hunter meeting on the 21st November, and the closing date for the Newsletter on 30th November. For next month, WICEN has been requested to assist with the NSW Water Ski Association Ski Racing Division "Lion Island Classic", on Sunday 11th December 1994. Long distance communications are required from Croppy Point to Laughtondale, and this will probably involve 80m. Three stations are needed, from 0900 to 1430, and those interested are invited to contact David Ramsay VK2KLX. 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: Blue Mountains on the first Monday of each month at 8.30pm on channel 7175 simplex, Hunter each Wednesday at 7.30pm on channel 6900, Northern Rivers each Wednesday at 8pm around 3610 kHz, Central Coast each Thursday at 8.30pm on channel 7125, and Sydney each Thursday at 9.30pm on channels 7150/8275. If there are any other regular nets then we'd like to hear about them. -- Dave VK2KFU, WICEN (NSW) Inc. Publicity Officer News briefs The Australian National University has unveiled a new thin-film silicon solar cell with a 17 per cent efficiency using a liquid phased epitaxial process to deposit this layer of high quality silicon on a cheaper silicon substrate. According to the ANU this process will lead to solar cells costing as little as 3-4 dollars per watt in a few years' time, compared with between 10-20 dollars per watt today. Listeners with an interest in practical applications of solar energy will be pleased to know that the Secret of the Sun Solar Energy Conference and exhibition will be held in Sydney at the end of this month. We'll have more details about this in next weekend's bulletin. ***************************************** With our bands coming under increasing pressure, users of spectrum hungry modes of communications such as ATV may be interested in making do with less. A number of Japanese companies are looking to exploit the MPEG 2 video compression standard, for example Toshiba and KDD Corporation have developed a video-on-demand system which allows the user to control the material that appears on their TV screen. Meanwhile KDD Corporation also uses MPEG 2 to cut in half the cost of transmitting news stories over satellite links. ******************************************* The Washington Times revealed this week that in 1991, the United States National Security Agency used pigeons as part of their intelligence gathering operation at the old Soviet Embassy in Washington. It appears that the NSA implanted tiny radio microphones in the chests of the pigeons, and attached wire antennas to their wings. The pigeons would roost on the windowsills of the Soviet Embassy, and they proved very effective, especially on hot summer days when the windows were left open ... The report went on to say that the Chinese ambassador to the United States was also bugged, using radio microphones disguised as fallen branches in the Chinese embassy compound, where the ambassador often had outdoor conversations. ****************************************** Listeners with an interest in practical applications of solar energy will be pleased to know that the "Secrets of the Sun" Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition will be held in Sydney at the end of this month. We'll have more details about this event in next week's bulletin. **************************************** "News Briefs" looks at communications news items that appear in the mainstream media. Thanks this week go to "The Sydney Morning Herald". If your local or regional paper runs an item of interest to Radio Amateurs, why not send a clipping to the Divisional Office. --Richard Murnane VK2SKY Astronomy Open Night The Sutherland Astronomical Society presents an astronomy open night for the public. Come along to the Green Point Observatory Saturday November 12th, 1994. See : * craters and mountains on the Moon * double stars and variable stars * Saturn with its spectacular rings * The planets Venus and Jupiter * Spectacular nebulae, open and globular star clusters * sunspots on the Sun See different types of telescopes and how they work. Learn to recognise constellations, planets stars. Star maps, photographs, slides, videos, magazines, T-shirts, books, refreshments, etc. ... on sale. Where to go... Location : corner Green Point Road & Caravan Head Road, Oyster Bay (map ref. 461 A6 - Gregory's, or 313 A6 - UBD). Admission : ADULTS ... $5 FAMILY .......... $12 CHILDREN ... $2 CONCESSIONS...... $2 iMPORTANT ... Doors open 1.00pm Saturday (passouts issued) Wear warm clothing. No need to book, just come along. Will not be cancelled or postponed due to weather ------------------------------------------------- Further details ... Tel (02) 832 4082 or (02) 548 3407 IPS WEEKLY REPORT ----------------- 28 OCTOBER - 3 NOVEMBER ISSUE No 44 DATE OF ISSUE: 4 NOVEMBER 1994 INDICES: DATE 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 10CM 97 98 98 97 92 91 87 A 2 34 32 32 14 19 (12 ESTIMATED) T 41 43 -13 11 10 20 22 SOLAR ACTIVITY WAS LOW 29TH OCTOBER, AND VERY LOW FOR THE REMAIND- ER OFTHE PERIOD. THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD AT LEARMONTH (WA) WAS QUIET TO UNSETTLED 28TH OCTOBER, UNSETTLED TO ACTIVE ON 29TH WITH MINOR STORM LEVELS 0900-1200 UT AND MAJOR STORM LEVELS 1200-1800 UT. THE FIELD ON 30TH WAS MOSTLY ACTIVE WITH A SHORT MINOR STORM PERIOD, AND AGAIN ON 31ST THERE WAS A SHORT PERIOD OF MINOR STORM LEVELS WITH THE FIELD MOSTLY UNSETTLED OTHERWISE. ON 1ST-2ND NOVEMBER THE FIELD WAS UNSETTLED TO ACTIVE, REDUCING TO QUIET TO UNSETTLED ON 3RD. IONOSPHERIC F2 CRITICAL FREQUENCIES WERE NEAR PREDICTED MONTHLY VALUES ON 28TH OCTOBER WITH 15-30 PER CENT ENHANCEMENTS FROM 0500- 1700 UT. ON 29TH FREQUENCIES WERE ENHANCED 20-40 PER CENT 0300- 1300 UT, DEPRESSED BY 25 PER CENT 2200-2300 UT, AND NEAR NORMAL OTHERWISE. THERE WERE SHORT DEPRESSED PERIODS OF UP TO 40 PER CENT OVER 30TH OCTOBER-1ST NOVEMBER, OTHERWISE NEAR PREDICTED VALUES. FREQUENCIES WERE NEAR PRE-DICTED MONTHLY VALUES ON 2ND-3RD. FORECAST (4TH-10 NOVEMBER) SOLAR: VERY LOW TO LOW. GEOMAGNETIC: QUIET TO UNSETTLED. IONOSPHERIC: NEAR PREDICTED NOVEMBER VALUES. COURTESY OF IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES SUMMARY BY PAT VK2JPA ANARTS BROADCAST OFFICER Club News Waverley Amateur Radio Society The next monthly meeting of the Waverley Amateur Radio Society will be held on Wednesday, 16th November beginning at 7.00 pm at the club's new premises at Rose Bay Scout Hall Vickery Avenue Rose Bay The main purpose of the meeting will be to help construct and test the Society's packet modem kits, so bring along your kit together with all components and a soldering iron. Experienced advice and testing gear will be available which should enable your modem to be up and running by the end of the evening. There are still a few kits available at a very reasonable price. Don't forget that the meeting will be at our new premises at : Rose Bay Scout Hall, Vickery Avenue. Simon Buxton - VK2EII - Publicity Officer Blue Mountains Amateur Radio Club Inc. Computer and Communications Show 10 am-4 pm Saturday 26 November 1994, Springwood High School Grose Road Faulconbridge. * Trade/Retailer stalls & exhibits * Flea Market * Colour TV raffle * Refreshments (Sausage sizzle) and cool drinks * contact Alex on (047) 573256 to reserve space in Flea Market (under cover). See you at Springwood! Alex VK2KAS Publicity Officer A.A.T.C. The next meeting of the Australian Amateur Television Club Inc. is on the 2nd Sunday of the month (13th November) at 1.00 pm at Black Muscat Park - Chipping Norton - more details to follow - regarding dress standards of the day. The technical lecture on the day will be a representative from the SCC a Mr. S. Parks on how to get 11 Kv connected in a domestic situation so as you can run a decent 50 to 80 kW linear - also a short talk from a local council planning committee alderman on getting approval for a 200 foot tower in your back yard. TVI & shadow rules to be discussed. Thanks go to the members of the AATC for attending the Printed Circuit Board Workshop free Make a Board Day - numerous PCB's were made and a better understanding as to commercial production was appreciated. The AATC will hold the annual All Amateurs Day, early next year - contact the AATC for more info - or see us at 1995 Wyong for starters. A CAD - PCB drawing assistance information day will be conducted prior to the next PCB open day next year to assist beginners in design. For more information about the A.A.T.C. listen to the net on Tuesday nights from the Liverpool area on 146.625 MHz - approx 19.30 hrs - or watch us on 1250 MHz from our Oakdale repeater anytime. Also you can ring the Publicity Officer on (02) 587-3491 bus. hours. AATC Inc. Publicity Officer Bob Barnes VJ2R Parramatta The next meeting of PARC (the Parramatta Amateur Radio Club) will be held on the 17th November starting at 19.30 hours at 109 Wigram Street Parramatta. A report from Singapore will be given by Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, entitled "What's happening on the international scene". So if you want to hear the latest, do come along as guests are always welcome and, as usual, supper will be provided. from Jim Walker VK2XJW Club President Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club ------------------------------ Members and friends of the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club are reminded that the next series of broadcasts and call backs will take place on Monday November 7th. Times and frequencies will be as follows: 10 AM. MELBOURNE TIME (2300 ZULU) 145.700 MegaHertz FM AND 7.060 Megahertz LSB 3650 MegaHertz LSB 11 AM. MELBOURNE TIME (0001 HOURS ZULU) 14.150 MegaHertz USB beaming NORTH from Melbourne 12 NOON MELBOURNE TIME (0100 HOURS ZULU) 14.150 MegaHertz USB beaming WEST from Melbourne 8.30 PM MELBOURNE TIME (0930 HOURS ZULU) 3650 MegaHertz For the benefit of members of friends who, for whatever reason are unable to hear any of the morning transmissions. Callbacks will follow all six transmissions. News for inclusion in the club broadcasts will be welcomed by Club Secretary Arthur Evans VK3VQ or Allan Doble VK3AMD both of whom are OK in any call book. Great Lakes Radio Club Mrembers are reminded that our last meeting for 1994 will be on 25th November, and that at this meeting we will be farewelling Stephen Linden, VK2IBD, who will shortly be returning to the U.K. after twelve months exchange teaching, during which time he has made many friends amongst club-members. This item from Stan Ellis VK2DDL Illawarra The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society will be having their annual auction on the 8th November (Tuesday) at the SES Head Quarters Montague St. North Wollongong. All items to be booked in by 7.15 pm for a 7.30 pm start. We hope to see you there. Submitted by Ken VK2KWG Club President Liverpool The next meeting of the Liverpool and Districts Amateur Radio Club Inc. is to be held on Tuesday night 8th November at 7.30 pm at the Scout Camp Cambridge Road Glenfield. The guest lecturer will be Richard VK2ARS who will be giving a talk on essential equipment for the ham shack. This will be a valuable talk for all beginners and doyens alike and even might get you home brewing some test gear. Don't forget the 2 metre mobile foxhunt and Christmas barbecue will be held on Sunday morning 27th November. Dust off your old direction finding antennas and sniffers and be at the starting point in the carpark of the Liverpool Swimming Centre at 10am. Mark it in your calendar now -- Sunday 27th. See you at this Tuesday night's meeting for another great talk from Richard VK2ARS. from Brad VK2QQ Publicity Officer From the VHF to SHF DX Interest Group Special Note. The Group's net has a new starting time of 11:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (AEDST) i.e. after the end of the morning broadcast. The net is held on 146.5 MHz FM. The SSB activity night on 2 metres is still being held every Tuesday evening 20:00 to 21:00 AEDST. It is well patronised but certainly we would like to see some new stations so let's see you there and join in the fun. The SSB activity night on 70cms is still being held every Thursday evening 20:00 to 21:00 AEDST. It is well patronised but we would certainly like to see some new stations so let's see you there and join in the fun. The group's talk night on 22nd November 1994 will be to discuss and begin to put together what is required to build a two metre low noise preamplifier. (What device to use, techniques, selection of ccts, etc.) Richard Soulie VK2ARS Publicity Co-ordinator Coming events Now, a summary of upcoming events of interest to members and other Radio Amateurs ... Summerland ARC Special General Meeting. . . . . . . . . . Today Northern Corridor Radio Group Hamfest (Perth) . . . . . . Today SPARC meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Today Radio Old Timers net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tomorrow Illawarra Amateur Radio Club Auction. . . . . . . . . . Tuesday Liverpool Amateur Radio Club meeting. . . . . . . . . . Tuesday Divisional Open Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Friday Central Coast WICEN meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Friday Cave Rescue "Vertical techniques" exercise. . . Saturday-Sunday Sutherland Open Astronomy Night . . . . . . . . . . . .Saturday Australian Amateur TV club meeting. . . . . . . . . next Sunday Manly-Warringah lecture night . . . . . . . . . . . 16 November Waverley Amateur Radio Society meeting. . . . . . . 16 November Chifley Amateur Radio Club picnic . . . . . . . . . 20 November Hunter WICEN meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 November VHF to SHF DX Group talk night. . . . . . . . . . . 22 November Great Lakes Amateur Radio Club meeting. . . . . . . 25 November Blue Mountains ARC Computer & Communications Show. .26 November Summerland Computer Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 November Divisional Trash & Treasure. . . . . . . . . . . . .27 November Secrets of the Sun Solar Energy Conference . . . . end November Do you have an event you'd like publicised on the weekly broad- cast? If so, then please send details to the Divisional Broadcast Officer, Michael Corbin VK2PFQ, by phone on (02) 626- 9288, or by fax on (02) 626-6066. Items can also be forwarded to the Divisional Office. ----------------------------------------------------------------- VK2WI Broadcast, 6th November 1994. Copyright 1994 WIA (NSW) & contributors. Material may be used elsewhere if the source is acknowledged.