Software Vault: The Diamond Collection/The Diamond Collection (Software Vault)(Digital Impact).ISO/cdr16/pfq0122.zip/PFQ0122.TXT

Text File | 1995-01-29 | 36KB | 769 lines

==SILENT KEYS==

    Ronald Pain VK1WP

    Ronald  T.W.  Pain  (VK1WP) died at his home in Canberra on  12.1.95
    aged 78 years.  A notice to this effect was included under  "Deaths"
    in the Sydney Morning Herald last Saturday 15.1.95.

    Ronald served as a commissioned officer in 6 Div. Signals and 9 Div.
    Signals  (NX180) in the AIF during WW2 rising to the rank of  Major.
    He  then  resigned  from  the Australian Army and  served  with  the
    British Army in India and Malaya rising to the rank of Lt.  Colonel.
    On  returning  to  civiian life  he  very  successfully  established
    Mellolite  Venetian  Blinds until taken over by Hunter  Douglas.  He
    then went into business making aluminium windows (Day View).

    Upon  retirement he undertook Mission work in PNG during which  time
    he  gained  his Amateur Licence,  firstly P29NRP (1976)  then  P29rp
    (1978).  He  returned  to NSW in 1979 and built himself a  house  at
    Coomba Park (near Forster) and was issued with the callsign  VK2DBH.
    About  4 years ago he moved to Canberra and was allotted  VK1WP.  He
    was  a  member of the WIA.  He is survived by his wife  Margaret,  4
    children and 12 grandchildren.

    --A. Franklyn Pain VK2DYP


    Norman Rex Martin VK2AID

    Norman  passes away peacefully on the 22nd of December 1994 after  a
    short  illness.  Norman was born at Cooma in 1915 and always enjoyed
    the magic of the radio waves. Leaving school early, he studied radio
    and was employed all his life in the industry.

    First licenced in 1936 as VK2JE, Norman's gear and licence were con-
    fiscated  at  the  outbreak of World War II.  He did  not  return  to
    Amateur Radio until his retirement in 1981,  this time as VK2AID. It
    was  in  his  late  life that he was  able  to  make  many  overseas
    contacts.

    He is survived by his wife Nell,  a daughter in America, and his son
    Lloyd VK2BYU.


    Vale Ronald VK1WP and Norman VK2AID.



==VK2 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE==

        This is Michael Corbin, VK2PFQ.

        Attention everyone who has not as yet written to their  Federal
        Member, and unfortunately, that seems to be quite a few, at least
        that's how it appears from the feedback we are getting from some
        city electorates.  How do I convince people to write a letter to
        save themselves.

        I would like to think that everyone who listens to the broadcast
        would have written by now, but of course apathy is something only
        the individual can control.  I exhort everyone who is capable of
        writing to do so and do so today.  To this end my report this week
        will be brief.  That will allow you to get stuck into it right after
        the broadcast.

        Short of ideas or what to say, well then stick to the view that
        amateurs provide a community service in time of disaster.  In my
        time of involvement with the hobby, amateurs have assisted in times
        of flood, fire, earthquake and cyclone.  My father, the late Jim
        Corbin, the original VK2YC, was awarded the M.B.E. for his work in
        the floods in and around the Maitland area in the fifties.  He always
        said it was the Institute that won it. Not him! It happened, to cut a
        long story short, that the Army, who was at the time in control of
        all rescue work. There was no WICEN or SES in those days. It was not
        even thought of!!! Anyhow the Army it appears, lost, I think it was
        three Army ducks.  My father, always reckoned that Hams had the
        ability to set up a network at the drop of a hat..you know...for the
        same sorts of reasons that apply today. We have the gear, we have
        the network we etc. etc.... It came to pass that the WIA NSW Division
        was challenged by a Major Cox I recall, who couldn't find his missing
        army ducks. The challenge to "put your radio where your mouth is".
        Amateur Radio Operators found them within hours!!!!  The whole rescue
        operation was then run from my father's Chemist shop at 78 Maloney
        St., Eastlakes. There were, I recall Hams everywhere all over the
        place and at all hours of the day and night. The pay was then exactly
        what it is today....3/5th's of 5/8th's of....You know the rest.

        The same thing happened last year with the Bushfires, when I
        understand the SES lost communications around Gosford....Amateurs
        to the rescue once more.  Our only problem is, WE DON'T SELL
        OURSELVES ENOUGH....Yes we are a modest lot, and...Yes we do hide
        our light under a bushel----Well, it's about time we had something
        more to say.

        If our Dural Repeater was on the air last time, perhaps it would have
        been another story. If our Institute propaganda machine had been
        doing it's job, then everyone would have known about what amateur
        radio did for the community.  Well it wasn't and they didn't. Another
        wonderful opportunity gone begging... So, pen to paper without
        further delay.  Need an address, give us a call, we will give you
        one....or better still ring your Local Council and ask them for the
        name of your local Federal Member.  It would be a shame if we lost
        this because of apathy.

        The Divisional Council, which by the way has several new members....
        Yeah! More have resigned, last night created a committee which will
        prepare  an urgent submission for the SMA.  This committee which will
        be chaired by PETER JENSEN  VK2AQJ. It comprises DAVE HORSFALL VK2KFU,
        CESAR MIRANDA VK2TCM and RICHARD MURNANE VK2SKY.  This committee,
        except for the chairman, was not, as will be alleged by the
        "knockers"  hand picked; it was made up of volunteers.  A submission
        will be prepared and once ratified by the Council, will be presented
        to the Government and the S.M.A.

        So in the meantime write those letters PLEASE...As I have said
        before, YOUR FUTURE is in YOUR HANDS.  If you have written, then get
        your mates to write a letter....stand over them if necessary, but
        write....

        Since the last Council meeting there have been three resignations
        from Council.  John Robinson VK2XY, Jim Walker VK2XJW and Terry
        Ryeland VK2UX.  As is provided in the M. and A's the Council can
        operate as it is, or invite the next elected candidate to fill the
        vacancy created.  The order in which these vacancies were filled was,
        Peter Jensen VK2AQJ, Eric Fossey VK2EFY and Steve Pullan VK2QZ.
        Peter Jeremy VK2PJ declined owing to business/family commitments.

        I am at a loss to know why Messrs. Walker and Ryeland having
        resigned, had any business being last Thursday evening inside the
        Divisional Office....Not only were they in the office they were....
        in the back room??????  How do I know....they set off the alarm. The
        Security Company called to report a break in?!@#$??...They did't
        realise,  hear or suspect a thing.....Bang! Got Yah!  I will be
        writing to them requesting an explanation.  To date of those who
        have resigned, Terry Ryeland is the ONLY one who has returned his
        keys!!!! Terry also returned his Fax machine....We can't even find
        the others. Indeed we still don't know how many we really have....
        Reason??? Someone stole(?) lost(?)....whatever(?)...The asset
        register. Ah! But, that won't happen again.

        I wonder why one of them was going through cabinets; I can understand
        them wanting to check "the top of the safe", in case someone had
        left something there? But they had resigned....they had no business
        being there under ANY circumstances. I'm not one for calling the
        Police but, it sure leaves a bad taste in the mouth. I'm really
        growing very, very tired of this sort of nonsense.

        I had promised this week information on our disagreement with the
        Federal body and our threathened withdrawal. There have been some
        more developments. I really don't like to telegraph my punches. So,
        I won't.

See you next week.


==DIVISIONAL NEWS==

                         Proposed Band Plan changes

    For  those who have had the time to follow the technical aspects  of
    the  hobby will be aware that some changes are to occur this year to
    the  suggested  mode  usages in Australia of Amateur  radio  Service
    bands from 10 metres through to 13 centimetres.

    he present band plans appear in the information pages of the  annual
    callbook,  the  magazine "Amateur Radio",  and other sources at  the
    hobby's disposal and provide the reference to all on how best to use
    the bands.

    For  some  time  John VK3KWA,  Chairman  of  the  Federal  Technical
    Advisory  Committee has been seeking input for band paln changes and
    the  review has now been completed.  Your State Technical  committee
    and your Federal Councillor have the latest updates.

    Before the changes can be introduced they have to be placed before a
    Federal meeting and voted upon by all States.

    In a broadcast such as this,  it is impractical to cover evry change
    in  detail so we will use,  in part,  the summary prepared  by  John
    VK3KWA.

    The  changes are of a technical aspect and are a separate subject to
    the proposed licence fee adjustment.

    This  year  it is exected that new regulations  will  be  introduced
    which  includes  the new grade of "Limited Novice" and access to  10
    metres by "Limited Licensees".

    at  10 metres there is a chance the Limiteds (Z calls) will  have  a
    sub  band from 28.7 upwards.  Plan changes have included a suggested
    Domestic FM segment 29.000 to 29.200,  a separate simplex portion to
    the existing international FM portion  at 29.5 to 29.7. It is b
    not clear in the proposed 10 metre changes if the 'limited' sub band
    overlaps with the existing Novice part.

    At 6 metres minor changes to footnote wording is proposed and  WICEN
    has requested a simplex frequency of 53.150 MHz. Yet to be finalised
    is  a  national  fox hunting frequency and perhaps  a  second  WICEN
    channel.

    At  2  metres  where it is expected that Novices  will  gain  packet
    access,  it is proposed to expand,  for the final time, a packet sub
    band 144.700 to 145.200 MHz. This is required as this sub band would
    form part of Novice lecence conditions.

    CW practice beacons would have to move from below 145 to jus5t below
    the  satellite portion,  channels for linear transponders,  national
    fox  hunting,  WICEN,  information beacons,  RTTY and  SSTV/FAX  are
    proposed  in  the 145-146 region as well as two clear  channels  for
    earth/shuttle communications.

    At  70 cm it is proposed to expand packet channel capacity to reduce
    2  metre  crowding.   Proposed  also  are  special  purpose  simplex
    frequencies for RRTY, SSTV/FAX and fox hunting.

    There  is  to be an expansion from the present 1  MHz  wide  linking
    channels at 420 and 440 to 3 MHz portions,  i.e.  420 to 423 and 440
    to  443 MHz.  This is achieved by recommending that ATV operation at
    425 to 432 be VSB in place of DSB.

    At 23 cm the phasing out of the CAA radars centred on 1275 MHz  will
    allow  adoption of a wider ATV portion at 1280,  able to support one
    FM  or two VSB channels,  introduction of  narrow  modes,  including
    beacons,  at  1270 to 1272 and expanding repeater offsets from 12 to
    the international 20 MHz.

    At  13  cm,  a  band where we are lo tose 100 MHz  of  the  150  MHz
    secondary  service to MDS,  the band plan reassigns various modes to
    above  2.4 GHz and aligns as required to international concepts  and
    usage.

    That in brief is the proposed band planning which will be voted upon
    at a future Federal meeting.

    A  copy  of the proposal is available to inspect at  the  Parramatta
    office.  Future broadcasts may,  where practicable, contain expanded
    details.

    Before closing this report - an allied matter concerning the  VK2RWI
    23  cm repeater.  The band plan changes include the conversion  this
    year of 12 MHz offset systems to the international 20 MHz offset.

    At  present  VK2RWI operates on the 12 MHz offset with an input  at
    1293.750 and an output at 1281.750 MHz. Our change would be to shift
    to an output at 1273.750 MHz.

    The  repeater equipment is frequency adjustable so if there  is  any
    preference  to  change to alternative channels you can forward  your
    proposals and reasons by writing to the Dural Engineer (Dave VK2ZTB)
    at the Parramatta office at P.O.  Box 1066 Parramatta 2124 or on the
    FAX to [phone] by the end of January 1995.


    23 cm repeater VK2RWI

    During  this week the 23 cm repeater has ben ut of service for minor
    maintenance. It will return to service in the near future.

    The  checks have indicated that there is antenna problems  which  at
    the moment are presenting some difficulties.

    It  is  proposed  as part of band plan changes to adopt the  20  MHz
    international offset later this year.  This will have the  advantage
    of  diplexing into a single antenna rather than the pair of antennas
    which present different coverage patterns.

    To  provide for the single antenna operation,  the  VK2WI  technical
    team  seeks cavity equipment able to operate at 23 cm or able to  be
    modified  to the band.  If you have anything suitable or know  where
    something can be obtained, please let the team know.


    Trash & Treasure

    The  next Trash and Treasure at Amateur Radio House Parramatta  will
    be on Sunday 29th January.

    Items  for sale include leftovers from the test equipment from  last
    time,  a  large  quantity  of Low  Noise  Converters,  for  personal
    shoppers  only.  However  country members will be able to  place  an
    order,  so contact the Divisional Office for LNCs. These are Plessey
    model 12A LNCs.

    There  will  be the usual private stalls selling all kinds of  gear.
    Sellers will be admitted at 12 noon,  buyers come in at 1 pm.  There
    will be hot dogs and cold drinks on sale.


==FEDERAL NEWS==

    Electromagnetic compatibility networks

    The Federal government has moved to establish a nationwide education
    and   training   program  on  electromagnetic  compatibility   (EMC)
    standards  to  help the Australian manufacturers  and  suppliers  of
    electronics  equipment meet the government's new EMC standards which
    will come into force on 1 January 1996.

    All electronic equipment manufactured or assembled in Australia,  as
    well  as  imported equipment,  will be required to meet the new  EMC
    standards.  It will not be retrospective,  however.  Goods  produced
    before that date will not need to comply.  The Australian Electrical
    and   Electronics  Manufacturers  Association  earlier   last   year
    expressed  the  concern that there may be some dumping of  overseas-
    made non-complying equipment leading up to that date.

    Central  to  the goverment's education and training program  on  EMC
    will  be the establishment of EMC Regional Networks,  managed around
    the country by local co-ordinators. The scheme is to be co-ordinated
    on a national basis by the Australian Electronics Development Centre
    (AEDC), based in Melbourne.

    The  AEDC is a company dedicated to providing  specialised  training
    for  the Australian electronics and telecommunications industry.  It
    is   sponsored  by  a  variety  of  communications,   computer   and
    electronics companies, along with several government departments.

    In November,  the AEDC called for proposals from interested  parties
    wishing  to  become  co-ordinators in the scheme  and  is  presently
    working  on  establishing the EMC Regional Networks,  the  objective
    being  to  provide access to the knowledge of EMC  experts  and  EMC
    programs,  a  forum  for government and industry dealings  over  EMC
    issues  and a structure for network members to work on specific  EMC
    issues.

    According to the AEDC, over 18 months the EMC Regional Networks will
    help  both industry in general and individual companies develop  and
    implement  strategies for compliance with national and international
    technical standards for EMC.

    The  WIA  has made contact with the AEDC to see where the  Institute
    and the hobby might benefit from some involvement.

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

    Special event stations

    Amateur radio will play a role in publicising the  British-sponsored
    1995  "Expedition  Island Earth,  Jason project" which,  each  year,
    takes a team of scientists and students on a scientific expedition.

    In  March 1995,  the Jason Project will explore the volcanic islands
    of  Hawaii.  promotion for the expedition will be carried out  at  a
    number of UK sites, through the National Galleries and Museums.

    The  activities will be accompanied by several special event amateur
    radio  stations.  In  the UK,  GB6JAS will focus  on  VHF,  UHF  and
    satellite  working.  Further afield,  GB0JAS will be heard on the HF
    bands.  They  plan  schedules with British research vessels  in  the
    North  and South Atlantic,  according to the event  organiser,  Alan
    Clayton G7HZZ (QTHR).

    The  special event stations plan to commence operations on 5  March.
    Further information will be available in amateur radio press and  on
    packet radio, closer to the date.


==WICEN NEWS==

    We  trust that all WICEN members are writing letters to the  various
    politicians, objecting to the proposed massive fee increase. It is a
    good  idea to write to the politicians' opposite numbers as well;  a
    full list is circulating on packet radio and on Usenet. Don't bother
    signing  any petitions,  as they are generally regarded as  a  joke;
    a  personal  letter is far more effective,  amd in the eyes  of  the
    politician  it  can represent a hundred votes.  By the  same  token,
    don't send in any "form letters", as they are quickly recognised for
    what they are.  In your letter,  you might like to point out how  CB
    operators,  who are allowed to conduct business on their bands, have
    had  their fees eliminated,  yet the specially-trained Amateurs  who
    make  up  WICEN  and cannot transact business are facing  an  almost
    doubling of their fees.

    There  are  no  events  this month,  but two new  events  for  the
    calendar  are  the Bathurst Car Rally on the  weekend  of  25-26th
    February, and the Eugowra Car Rally on 8th April; the organiser is
    Alan VK2YYJ, and please note that both events are merely tentative
    at  this stage.  Alan advises that a major event is the Oberon Car
    Rally  on  29th April,  and many people are required;  he  can  be
    contacted  on packet radio as VK2YYJ at VK2CZR.  In the  meantime,
    regular  events for March include the RTA Car Rally over the  week
    of 4-11th,  and the annual Bungonia Cave Rescue on the weekend  of
    18-19th.

    Those  regions wishing to have their activities publicised  on  this
    broadcast are requested to get the details to the Publicity Officer,
    Dave  VK2KFU,  by Thursday night at the latest;  packet radio is the
    preferred medium, to VK2AAB, VK2OP, or VK2GJB.

    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==

    Old spy satellites turn green

    One   of  the  problems  facing  scientists  studying  environmental
    degradation  has been the lack of detailed knowledge of  how  things
    were before the environment came under close scrutiny.  Now,  thanks
    to some old spy satellites, all that is about to change.

    U.S. President, Bill Clinton, is about to declassify millions of old
    spy  satellite  photographs  taken  between  1960  and  1972.  These
    photographs provide a long-term base line from which to examine  how
    the environment has changed over the last 35 years.

    Also  of interest is how spy technology has changed over the  years.
    One of the early spy satellites,  Keyhole 1, took its photographs on
    good oldfashioned film which was returned to earth by parachute  for
    further  analysis.  Nowadays,  of course,  images are transferred by
    electronic means.

                              ***************

    Still  on  matters orbital,  a joint Japanese-German  space  capsule
    ended  up  somewhere in the Pacific Ocean this week  instead  of  at
    Woomera,  South  Australia.  The capsule failed to reach its correct
    orbit following a failure in the second-stage booster.  The  capsule
    re-entered  the Earth's atmosphere somewhere between Japan and South
    America at 9 am on Monday.

    Australian  officials  said that the failure would  not  affect  our
    plans  to  make Woomera an international centre for space  research.
    The  Japanese government,  meanwhile,  plans to continue  its  space
    shuttle  development  programme.   The  Japanese  intend  to  launch
    the  shuttles  from  Kygoshima  Space Centre and land  them  at  the
    Woomera base.

                              ***************

    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
    amateur  radio operators,  why not send a clipping to the Divisional
    office?

    Once  again  on  the subject of writing to the papers  re  the  fees
    increase,  those of you with Internet accesss might be interested to
    know that at least two major newspapers are on the net as  well.  If
    you  wish to send letters to the Editor of either the Sydney Morning
    Herald or The Australian,  you can now do so without putting pen  to
    paper. The email address for the Herald is [e-mail], while
    The  Australian's  address is [e-mail].  In  addition,
    several journalists at each paper have their own email addresses.

    Does  anyone  know of any other media outlets on  the  net?  If  so,
    please contact the Divisional office.

    Perhaps  a  letter on the issue of this massive fee increase or  the
    so-called  spectrum  access tax might be appropriate.  For the  best
    chance of publication keep your letters to less than 200 words,  and
    confine yourself to one or two major points.

    --Richard Murnane VK2SKY


==ROYAL AUST. SIG2 REUNION==

    Royal Australian Signals Extraordinary Reunion

    This  is  being  organised by the Sigs 2 Australian  Division  Wagga
    Wagga on 11-12 March 1995.

    It marks the 50th annniversary of our victory in the Pacific and the
    80th anniversary of the Sigs 2 Divisional Prism Signals Second Divi-
    sion - an extraordinary occasion.

    Signals veterans,  next of kin and friends are cordially invited  to
    attend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet up with those you
    have served,  and are serving with, or our friends. On Saturday 11th
    March,  a  morning  reception,  a memorial service at 4.30  pm  with
    medals,   and  evening dinner at 6.30 pm at the Wagga Wagga  Leagues
    Club (dress - lounge suits).

    This  will give you the opportunity to reminisce from  Gallipoli  to
    the  present  day.  Then  to Sunday at Lemy Barracks with an  11  am
    chapel service,  barbecue,  a flight of pigeons,  and a  memorabilia
    display. For those staying on, an informal evening meal at the Wagga
    Wagga RSL Club. Partners and wives are welcome.

    The  meal on the night of 11th March will be a hot selection - three
    meats  at  $19.00 a head.  We have to have a firm count a  few  days
    before, and we have the room to ourselves on the night.

    Kelvin O'Connell will be in Wagga Wagga on Friday afternoon and will
    meet trains and coaches, planes etc. We are asking wives of departed
    members if they are interested in attending,  or even any interested
    family or next of kin.

    There  will  be  a wreath-laying on the afternoon of 11th  March  at
    about  4.30 pm in remembrance of comrades who have passed  on.  This
    will  be  held  at  the Memorial Garden and Lagoon  end  of  Bayliss
    Street.

    For more information,  Sydney listeners can contact Wilbur Wright on
    phone/fax [phone], or Kelvin O'Connell on phone [phone].


==IPS REPORT==

                          IPS WEEKLY REPORT
                          -----------------
                       13 JANUARY - 19 JANUARY

    DATE OF ISSUE: 20 JANUARY 1995

    INDICES:

    DATE     13    14    15    16    17    18    19
    10CM     75    77    81    83    84    87    90
    A         9     2     2    15    22    19   ( 4 ESTIMATED)
    T        28    17    42    36    21   -14    33


    SOLAR ACTIVITY WAS VERY LOW 13TH-17TH JANUARY AND LOW 18TH-19TH.

    THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD AT LEARMONTH WAS QUIET TO UNSETTLED 13TH-16TH,
    UNSETTLED TO ACTIVE 17TH-18TH, AND QUIET ON 19TH.

    IONOSPHERIC F2 CRITICAL FREQUENCIES AT SYDNEY WERE NEAR NORMAL TO 15
    PER  CENT  ENHANCED  13TH-16TH.   ON  17TH-18TH,   FREQUENCIES  WERE
    DEPRESSED  BY  UP  TO 25 PER CENT DURING DAYLIGHT  HOURS,  AND  NEAR
    NORMAL  TO  15  PER  CENT ENHANCED  DURING  LOCAL  NIGHT.  ON  19TH,
    FREQUENCIES  WERE ENHANCED BY 15-20 PER CENT DURING DAYLIGHT  HOURS,
    OTHERWISE NEAR PREDICTED MONTHLY VALUES.

                  FORECAST (20 JANUARY - 26 JANUARY)

    SOLAR:        LOW

    GEOMAGNETIC: ACTIVE 20 JANUARY, THEN UNSETTLED.

    IONOSPHERIC:  DEPRESSED BY 15 PER CENT ON 21 JANUARY, OTHERWISE NEAR
                  PREDICTED MONTHLY VALUES.

    COURTESY OF THE IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES

    SUMMARY BY PAT VK2JPA ANARTS BROADCAST OFFICER


==CLUB NEWS: MID STH. COAST==

    Mid South Coast Amateur Radio Club

    The Annual General Meeting of the Mid South Coast Amateur Radio Club
    Inc.  will be held at the "H Ranch".  Little Forest Road,  Milton on
    Saturday 4th february. Annual reports will be presented and election
    of officers for the forthcoming year will be held.

    Arrivals  are  from 10.30 onwards.  Visitors and families  are  most
    welcome. Please bring your picnic or barbecue lunch.

    Our meeting place is a spectacular one with great mountain and ocean
    views  and  the  South Coast is justly proud of its  reputation  for
    hospitality. We look forward to seeing you there.

    from Stan VK2EL, Club Secretary


==CLUB NEWS: VHF TO SHF DX GROUP==

    From the VHF to SHF DX Interest Group

    The  new  year  has started very quickly,  but have  you  given  any
    thoughts of what you are going to do this year?  or are you going to
    add  some  excitements to your VHF/UHF contacts,  the thrill of  the
    chase and getting that new station a bit further away.

    FM is OK,  but SSB is better, contacts over distances of 300Km + are
    regularly been made.  Get the thrill of getting a QSL card from that
    station knowing a repeater didn't help, you did it!

    If you are interested in hearing more,  join our Sunday net or  come
    to  our  next  meeting  to  be held at the  WIA  at  Wigram  Street,
    Parramatta  starting  time 7.30 Tuesday the  24  January  1995.  All
    welcome.

    The  Group's  Sunday  net starts at 11:00 am after the  end  of  the
    morning  broadcast  - I  repeat - the  morning  broadcast,  not  the
    evening  broadcast.  The net uses 146.5MHz FM,  this FM portion runs
    for approximately 30 minutes and then;

    transfers to 144.150 MHz Upper Sideband.

    The  SSB  activity  night which is still being  held  every  Tuesday
    evening  20:00  to 21:00 AEST is well patronised  but  certainly  we
    would  like to see some new stations so let's see you there and join
    in the fun.

    -- Richard Soulie VK2ARS Publicity Coordinator


==CLUB NEWS: AATC==

    Australian Amateur Television Club

    The  next  meeting of the A.A.T.C.  will be a  combined  committee
    meeting  and minor general meeting - January 29th on a Sunday 1.00
    pm at RCS Radio Bexley.

    The  purpose  of  this  unusual  procedure  is  so  the  Technical
    Committee  can  assess from the members attending as to  what  the
    AATC  will have on display at the Wyong Field Day ...  a  practice
    run you might say.

    So  please  be  here with your intended items for  display  to  be
    logged  on Sunday 29th of January 1995 at 1.00 pm - locstat =  RCS
    Bexley.

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

    The AATC welcomes any one interested in Amateur Television to call
    over on the day for information as to what, where and how.

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

    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 any-
    time.

    Also you can ring the Publicity Officer on [phone] bus. hrs.

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

    Remember the Wyong Field Day is only 5 weeks away - see us there!

    AATC Inc. Publicity Officer Bob Barnes


==CLUB NEWS: CHIFLEY==

    Do you want to get your own Amateur Radio licence?

    The  Chifley  Amateur  Radio Club is conducting  classes  for  the
    amateur radio licence.

    They  will  cover Morse Code,  Theory,  and  regulations,  for  an
    amateur radio licence.

    The classes are on every Wednesday night at 7-30 pm.

    The address is:
    Good Shepherd School Hall, Hyatts Road, Plumpton.
    100 metres south of Jersey Road.  Opposite the new shopping centre
    building (Plumpton Markets).

    Postal address:
    Chifley Amateur Radio Club
    Post Box 280 Mount Druitt 2770

    Telephone number: 671-6992  or  637-2226

    Once  you have your Amateur radio licence,  we will then show  you
    how  to  connect your home computer to your radio and talk to  the
    world using your computer.

    Using  any  one of the many DIGITAL modes of  communicating  is  a
    fascinating way to use your radio and computer.

    Come  along  to our club rooms any Saturday afternoon and  have  a
    talk  to  any of any of our members for more information  or  come
    along on Wednesday night 8th Feb at 7-30 pm.

    Visitors are always welcome.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    JVFAX demonstration

    The  Chifley  Amateur  Radio  Clyb  will be  putting  on  a  JVFAX
    demonstartion on 28th January at 1-30 pm.

    This  demonstration  will  show you how easy it  is  to  send  and
    receive weather fax,  or any other fax,  SSTV,  in colour using an
    IBM compatible computer and a very simple modem.

    JVFAX70 is avery interesting program, it will open your eyes as it
    has to many other people.

    The circuit board that we use is from RCS Radio.

    This JVFAX demonstration is open to everyone.

    As always VISITORS ARE ALWAYS welcome.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    Bi-Monthly General Meeting

    On  11th  February the Chifley Amateur Radio Club will be  holding
    its bi-monthly general meeting, at the club rooms starting at 1-30
    pm.

    At  this  meeting  the  members are  able  to  ask  the  committee
    questions  on  operation  of  the  club.  At  these  meetings  the
    committee  ask  the  members  for feedback on  various  topics  in
    relation to the club.

    These  meetings  are  held so the members and  the  committee  can
    communicate  better,  so  no one feels like they are left  in  the
    dark.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    The  Chifley  Amateur  Radio Club holds  meetings  EVERY  Saturday
    afternoon from 1-30 pm to 4-00 pm.

    These meetings are held for the members and their friends to  come
    along and tlk about any amateur radio,  computer, related subject,
    or just to have a cuppa and chat with some friends.

    So  come along any Saturday afternoon and meet some of the members
    of the Chifley Amateur Radio Club. You will be welcome.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    JVFAX demonstration on 28th January at 1-30 pm
    Classes start on 8th February at 7-30 pm
    General meeting on 11th February at 1-30 pm

    from the
    Chifley Amateur Radio Club Inc.
    Publicity Officer: Ray Sparks VK2FKO


==COMING EVENTS==

                               Coming events

    Now, a summary of upcoming events of interest to members and
    other Radio Amateurs and Short Wave Listeners ...

    Please  note that the Divisional Office will be closed this month;
    however,  you can still call us,  as the phone has been redirected
    to a duty Councillor.

    VHF to SHF Interest Group meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday
    AATC net 146.625 MHz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday
    Australia Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday
    Chifley ARC JVFAX demonstration. . . . . . . . . . . . .Saturday
    Divisional Trash and Treasure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunday
    AATC combined committee/general meeting. . . . . . . . . .Sunday
    Divisional Office reopens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?? February
    WIA Federal convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 February
    Mid South Coast ARC AGM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 February
    Chifley ARC classes begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 February
    Chifley ARC general meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 February
    Bathurst Car Rally (WICEN--contact Alan VK2YYJ). .25-26 February
    Central Coast ARC Field Day at Wyong . . . . . . . . 26 February
    RTA Big NSW Bike Ride (WICEN). . . . . . . . . . . . .4-11 March
    RAS Extraordinary Reunion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 March

    If  you  have an event you'd like publicised on the weekly  broad-
    cast,  then  please  send  details  to  the  Divisional  Broadcast
    Officer,  Michael Corbin VK2PFQ, by phone on [phone],  or by
    fax on [phone].Items can also be forwarded to the Divisional
    Office  before close of business on the Friday before  the  broad-
    cast.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    VK2WI Broadcast, 15th January  1995. Copyright 1995 WIA (NSW) &
    contributors.   Material  may be used elsewhere if the source  is
    acknowledged.