home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Tech Arsenal 1
/
Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO
/
tek-20
/
vk2wi04c.zip
/
VK2WI.TXT
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-04-18
|
14KB
|
400 lines
VK2WI Weekly News, 18th April 1993. Copyright 1993 WIA (NSW)
and contributors. Extracts from this bulletin may be used
elsewhere provided the source is acknowledged.
VK2WI Weekly News Bulletin
for
18th April 1993
THE MAJOR NEWS ITEMS THIS WEEK
Did You Get Your Annual Report?
Meet the Candidates
Ballot Papers for Council Elections
Uganda on the Air
Fox Hunting on TV
ARSENE Undergoing Pre-Launch Checks
Power Games
DIVISIONAL NEWS
The Division's Annual Report for 1992 was inserted into the
April issue of "Amateur Radio" magazine, mailed to members
before Easter. However,it seems that the Annual Report
missed being inserted in some members' copies of "AR".
If you did not receive an Annual Report with your "AR",
please WRITE to or FAX the Divisional Office, and a copy
will be sent out to you.
Write to PO Box 1066, Parramatta, NSW 2124, or send your fax
to (02) 633-1525.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
At the Divisional Council meeting of 15th April, it was
resolved that a "hustings", would be held at which members
could meet candidates for the next Divisional Council.
The meeting will be held at Amateur Radio House this
Wednesday evening, 21st April, during the normal opening
hours of 7 to 9pm. This is your chance to better understand
and discuss the policies of the candidates; we urge all
members to take advantage of this opportunity.
BALLOT PAPERS FOR COUNCIL ELECTIONS
The ballot papers for the election of Divisional Councillors
for 1993-94 have been prepared by the Returning Officer,
Peter O'Connell VK2EMU, and will be posted to members over
this coming week.
The posting of ballot papers was advised on page one of your
Annual Report, which was inserted in the April issue of "AR"
magazine, posted to members the week before Easter.
Please read the instructions carefully, and make sure you
understand them, before filling out the ballot paper and
returning it.
You must register a vote for NINE candidates -- no more, no
less -- else your ballot paper will be declared invalid.
The full agenda for the Annual General Meeting of the
Division is included with the mailing.
Just a reminder -- the AGM will be held on Sunday, the 9th
of May, at Amateur Radio House, 109 Wigram Street,
Parramatta, commencing at 2.00 pm.
(The Divisional News items this week were from Bob
Lloyd-Jones VK2YEL, Divisional Secretary)
The next Divisional Council meeting will be after the AGM,
on Friday 14th May.
DX NEWS
Paul VK6PY tells us (via Daron Cook VK2MMR) that Ugandan
station Bruno 5X1A will be looking for VK and ZL contacts on
10 metres, this evening (18th April), and possibly next
Sunday the 25th.
Bruno will be active on a frequency of 28.380 MHz, starting
from 0930 UTC. His QSL information is Box 3316, Kampala,
Uganda.
African stations tend to be a bit rare on the bands, and
thos specifically looking out for VKs even more so. Once
again, look out for Bruno 5X1A, this evening, and possibly
next Sunday evening, starting at 0930 UTC (7:30pm local
time) on a frequency of 28.380 MHz.
-- Thanks to Daron VK2MMR for that DX tip
GROWTH IN JAPANESE AMATEURS
The number of Amateur Radio operators in Japan had reached
almost one and a quarter million by September last year.
With 1,242,550 stations licensed, Amateurs represented
nearly one-sixth of all radio and communications stations
licensed in Japan at the time.
In the three months between June and September. the number
of Amateur licensees grew by 20,336 - that's more than the
total Amateur population of Australia!
-- Roger Harrison VK2ZTB
FOX-HUNTING ON TV
The publicised fox hunting feature on Channel 9's Wide World
of Sports (Sports Sunday) program has been deferred nearly
as often as the STS-55 mission... Andrew VK3KIR tells us
the segment will probably go to air next weekend.
The seven and a half minute segment sounds rather tongue in
cheek, as it features a stuffed fox named Basil who
comically appears in quite a few shots, checking out what
the VK3s get up to.
For up-to-date information, call contact Andrew VK3KIR on
(018) 354-644.
SPACE NEWS
Bernard F6BVP reports that the ARSENE satellite is
undergoing pre-flight tests at the Eurpoean Space Agency
Space Centre in Kouru, French Guiana. The Radio Amateur
Club de l'Espace team members Gerard F6FAO and Didier F6GXY
are assisting ESA engineers during integration phase.
The satellite is scheduled for launch on 30 April, between
00:52 UTC and at 01:50 UTC.
Bill Magnusson VK3JT will have details on ARSENE, in his
AMSAT column of "Amateur Radio" magazine.
-- Bernard F6BVP
POWER GAMES
Colin VK2DYM tells us that a recent FCC survey of the homes
of a number of American Amateurs revealed local field
strengths of up to 9 volts/meter. Colin say these levels
should be enough to keep the neighbours warm all winter!!
Manufacturers and importers of electronic consumer goods are
using the survey findings to lobby for reduced Amateur power
levels, so they don't have to do so much on EMI suppression
for their products. They're pushing for maximum field
strengths of no more than 0.9 v/meter, which corresponds to
an Amateur power level of only 10 Watts.
Meanwhile, ARRL Bulletin number 40 reports that the American
Federal Communications Commission turned down an Amateur's
request to run more than the legal power limit. Dale Gagnon
KW1I had applied to operate on AM at a PEP power more than
1,500 Watts output.
In denying the request, the FCC said that Gagnon had "not
shown that his circumstances are unique nor [had he]
presented any facts that would warrant a waiver."
WICEN NEWS
Don't forget that WICEN renewals are now due, and you must
renew by 30th September, otherwise your membership will
expire.
WICEN Sydney South meets on Tuesday, and WICEN Sydney
North's AGM is on Wednesday at Ku-Ring-Gai SES. Please note
that there is a "typo" in the Sydney North posting; the AGM
is on the 21st, not the 20th as indicated.
On Anzac Day 25th April, Hunter WICEN will be providing
communications assistance for the Newcastle Anzac Day
Parade. Alan Hargreaves VK2KVF is coordinating this event,
to provide the safety and communications net. Please
contact Alan on (049) 52-5322 if you can assist.
Looking ahead, the annual Goulburn Conference is on the
weekend of 15-16th May, and all WICEN personnel are invited
to attend. Also on the same weekend is a Car Rally in the
Central Coast area, and Dave VK2UDT is looking for
volunteers.
A Disaster Management Course is on the weekend of 22nd-23rd
May, for which Barry VK2AAB is taking applications.
WICEN is always looking for members to provide the community
with communications assistance when required. Write to
WICEN (NSW) Inc, PO Box 123, St Leonards 2065; or come up on
the regular Sydney WICEN net, on Thursday nights at 9.30pm
on repeater 7150.
-- Dave VK2KFU, WICEN Publicity Officer
IPS WEEKLY REPORT
8 April - 15 April 1993
Issue no.: 16
Date of issue: 16 April 1993
Date 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
10cm 143 136 126 119 103 97 92 88
A 19 21 17 09 14 19 17 (23 est.)
T 97 80 103 85 97 84 53 46
Summary of activity
Solar activity was very low to low over the entire period.
The geomagnetic field at Learmonth (WA) was quiet to active
on 8th April, quiet to minor storm levels on the 9th,
unsettled to active on the 10th. Conditions were quiet to
unsettled on the 11th, quiet on the 12th, at active to minor
storm levels on the 13th, unsettled on the 14th, and quiet
to active on the 15th.
Ionospheric F2 critical frequencies at Sydney were near
predicted levels on the 8th and 9th, enhanced by up to 30
per cent early on the 10th, then near normal again on the
11th and 12th. They were near normal on the 13th until
dawn, when depressions of up to 30 per cent were observed
through to the end of the period.
Strong spread F was observed at night on the 9th, and again
during night on the 10th.
Forecast for the next week (16 - 22 April)
Solar: Low until the 19th, then low to moderate.
Geomagnetic: Unsettled to active on the 16th. Active
to minor storm levels on the 17th and
18th. Quiet to unsettled thereafter.
Ionospheric: Frequencies depressed by 5-20 per cent on
the 16th, depressed 10-30 per cent on the
18th and 19th. Near predicted monthly
values otherwise.
-- Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services
COMING EVENTS
Royal Naval ARC meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MONDAY
Gladesville ARC Annual General Meeting . . . . . . . MONDAY
WICEN Sydney South meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . TUESDAY
WICEN Sydney North AGM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WEDNESDAY
"Meet the Candidates" at Parramatta . . . . . . . WEDNESDAY
WIA (NSW) Divisional Council meeting . . . . . . . THURSDAY
International Marconi Day . . . . . . . . . . . . SATURDAY
ANZAC Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUNDAY
Newcastle ANZAC Day Parade (WICEN) . . . . . . . . . SUNDAY
Sydney Hills District classes begin . . . . . . . 27 April
STS-57 "Endeavour" (SAREX) active . . . . 28 April - 5 May
ARSENE Amateur Satellite scheduled launch . . . . 30 April
St George ARC exam applications close . . . . . . 30 April
Mid South Coast ARC meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 May
WIA (NSW) Annual General Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . 2 May
St George ARS Annual General Meeting . . . . . . . . . 5 May
Fisher's Ghost ARC exam applications close . . . . . . 5 May
WIA (VK2 Division) exam applications close . . . . . . 6 May
Parramatta ARC first meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 May
WICEN (NSW) Executive Committee meeting . . . . . . . 8 May
St George ARC exams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 May
WIA (NSW) Divisional Council meeting . . . . . . . . 14 May
WICEN Coordinators Conference at Goulburn . . . . 15-16 May
CLUB NEWS
The New South Wales chapter of the ROYAL NAVAL AMATEUR RADIO
SOCIETY will hold its monthly meeting at the home of Les
VK2ALH, on Monday 19th April, starting at 10:30am. All
members and interested parties are invited to attend. For
details, please ring Casey on (02) 520-4424.
-- Casey VK2CWS
Members of the GLADESVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB are reminded that
their deferred Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday
night, 19th April, at the usual venue.
The MID SOUTH COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB will hold its
quarterly family gathering, barbeque, and meeting on
Saturday, 1st May. The venue is the Hancock Ranch, Little
Forest Road, Milton. Turn inland off the Prince's Highway 3
kms north of Milton and follow the "H" Ranch signs.
The lub provides barbeque facilities, tea, coffee, and
afternoon tea. Why not bring the whole family?
-- Ben VK2AJE, Honorary Secretary
NEW RADIO CLUB
A new club for Amateur Radio and Electronics enthusiasts is
being established in Parramatta, and will hold its first
meeting on Friday, 7th May, at Amateur Radio House, 109
Wigram Street Parramatta. The meeting starts at 7pm, and a
ver ywarm welcome is extended to everyone who cares to come
along, whether they be current enthusiasts, or just
interested in what the club has to offer.
The brain-child of the Wigram Street Amateur Radio Class of
1992, the new club will fill a real need in Parramatta and
surrounding districts. It will provide an opportunity for
Electronics and Amateur Radio enthusiasts to meet and share
some of the more practical aspects of the hobby.
Come to the PARRAMATTA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB meeting on 7th May
at 7pm, at 109 Wigram Street, Parramatta, and share your
hobby with other enthusiasts.
-- Danny Brem VK2TAU
The CAIRNS AND TABLELANDS AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS advise us that
their Far North Queensland Biennial Convention will take
place this year, between the 24th and 26th September, at
Trinity Beach, about 15 minutesdrive from Cairns. If you
plan to be up that neck of the woods in late September, and
you'd like to attend the convention, you can write to the
clubs at PO Box 1215, Cairns 4870.
BROADCAST ROSTER
Next Sunday morning: Ian VK2WR and Dave VK2KFU
Next Sunday evening: Bob VK2JHR and Peter VK2CZX
Don't forget you can meet the candidates for the next
Divisional Council this Wednesday evening. The Divisional
Office is open from 11am to 2pm, Monday to Friday, and 7 to
9pm Wednesday nights. The phone is answered from 12 noon to
1pm during the day, and you can leave a message on the
answering machine outside these hours.
News highlights are also available on the divisional voice
mailbox on (02) 552-5188, and you can leave a message
afterwards if you wish.
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", to reach
us by 7pm on the Friday prior to the broadcast.
VK2WI Weekly News, 18th April 1993. Copyright 1993 WIA (NSW)
and contributors. Extracts from this bulletin may be used
elsewhere provided the source is acknowledged.