Evening NEWS 1st of June 2008 Good evening listeners, thank you for tuning in. For emergencies the phone number here at the Dural transmitting site is 02 9651 1489. Our office number is 02 9651 1490 which goes to message bank. Silent Key. It is with deep regret that the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society advises of the passing of Howard Booth VK2AMD. Howard Booth, passed away last Sunday afternoon 25th May 2008, at the age of 100.  Howard was the Inaugural President of the first radio club in Wollongong, in those days known as “The Wollongong Amateur Radio Club”. Howard received his Australian licence, under the callsign VK2AMD, in September 1948, being born in Leeds, England he also had U.K. callsign G2AS. Howard held both licences until his passing.   Howard and his family lived in Ocean St Windang.  Howard turned 100 years old on the 6th March this year making him one of the oldest amateur operator’s on the bands in Australia. During the formation of the amateur radio club, Howard told of building the clubs transmitter and receiver at his place of work, which was HG Palmer’s Electrical and Radio Store. There, Howard was able to obtain the parts required for the transmitter.  It consisted of two 807 valves, in push-pull configuration in the final. The transmitter was built over a period of about 24 hours.  It was of course, crystal controlled with the crystals being ground from watch glasses.   Howard said “the parts of the original transmitter cost us about ten bob”! ($1.00).  When asked about the crystal being ground from watch glasses, he replied, “That’s just how it was done in those days”. The original transceiver operated on 40 metres, and later, when a doubler stage was added it could operate on 20 metres.  Latter further modifications were made to allow access to the 80 metre band. It’s a sad time for the present Illawarra Amateur Radio Club, with their sixtieth birthday celebrations only a month away.   Without the strong guidance of Howard in the early days the present prosperous club would no doubt be a very different organisation than it is today. The Executive Committee, and the membership of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society express their deepest sympathy to the members of Howards’ surviving family. Howard's funeral was held Thursday 29th May attended by around 30 Amateurs. The clubs represented were the WIA, The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society and the Mid South Coast Amateur Radio Club, as well as many individual amateurs. There were many messages sent from other Amateur operators both local and from overseas, too numerous to mention. Farewell friend. Valê Howard Booth, VK2AMD, Silent Key. VK2 WICEN News, 1st June, 2008. The St Albans Ride held last weekend was a success, and WICEN (NSW) thanks all those who took part. In the meantime, there will definitely be changes to the forthcoming Shahzada Enduro due to St Albans Road being sealed, making it unsuitable for horses. Central Coast WICEN appears to be a victim of its own success with these Horse Enduros; if any group is able to run a Horse Enduro on the South Coast later on in the year then please contact Operations. Northern Rivers is canvassing the possibility of running the "New Italy" horse event on the weekend of 14-15th June, so could interested parties please contact John Alcorn VK2JWA. The Nav Shield will be held over the weekend of 5-6th July. The actual location will be publicised a week before the event, but we can say that it will be 3-4 hours south of Sydney. Volunteers are still required, as so far we have the bare minimum. Please contact either Mal Alexander VK2YVA or Julian Dryden VK2TED for further information. The Shahzada 400km Horse Enduro is on again (barring another outbreak of equine flu), and it will be held over 25-29th August. There will be more details in later broadcasts. Other events confirmed for this year include the Barrington Tops SAREX (Search and Rescue exercise) over the weekend of 18-19th October (unfortunately the same weekend as JOTA), and the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic over the weekend of 1st-2nd November. WICEN is always looking for volunteers to help the community with communications assistance. Write to WICEN NSW at PO Box 126, Gosford 2250; send email to "operations@nsw.wicen.org.au"; telephone 0408-397-217; or visit "www.nsw.wicen.org.au". -- Dave Horsfall VK2KFU, Publicity Officer, WICEN (NSW) Inc. IPS Weekly Solar and Geophysical Report for 23rd to 29th May, issued on 30th May by the IPS Radio and Space Services. SUMMARY Dates across the columns are 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th of May10cm flux 68 69 68 68 68 68 68Fredericksburg Index (Afr) 7 4 7 3 2 10 (8 estimated)Australian Index (Aaus) 8 9 6 4 4 10 (8 estimated)T index 4 8 4 3 2 6 5 Solar flare activity was very low all week. Geomagnetic activity observed for the Australian Region was quiet to unsettled on 23rd and 24th; and quiet thereafter. Southern Australian Ionospheric F2 critical frequencies were near predicted to 25 per cent enhanced on 23rd and 29th; near predicted to 35 per cent enhanced on 24th; near predicted to 20 per cent enhanced on 25th and 28th; near predicted on 26th; and near predicted to 30 per cent enhanced on 27th. Forecast for 30th of May to the 5th of June Solar activity should be very low. Geomagnetic activity should see mostly quiet to unsettled conditions with isolated active and storm levels possible at high latitudes at times. Frequencies should be mostly near predicted monthly values with depressions of 5 to 15 per cent possible at times. Courtesy of the IPS Radio and Space Services Summary by Pat Leeper VK2JPA Radio Homebrew and Experimenters Group The next meeting of the group will be held on this coming Tuesday the 3rd of June at the usual venue. That is upstairs in the children's party room at McDonalds at North Parramatta corner of Victoria Road and Church Street, behind where the Jaycar store used to be. These meetings are informal affairs starting about 7 PM and finish about 9 PM, so they don't go too late. Members of the group arrive when they can and leave when they want to. There is no formal agenda, just come along and have a chat with others with similar interests to yourself. Bring along a little project to show, ask questions about or discuss, or just turn up and see what others have to say. Members of the group range from those who are just starting out in home brewing their own equipment to those who design and build electronic and radio equipment as their job. No matter what the question you have, there is often someone there who can answer it. Everyone is welcome, those new to the hobby, or old timers. Foundation license holders are especially welcome. Advised by Peter O'Connell VK2EMU Coordinator ARNSW Radio Homebrew and Experimenters Group ARRL DX news for 29th May 2008 MONTENEGRO, 4O. Joska, HA9RT is QRV as 4O/HA9RT from Budva until June 6. Activity is on the HF bands using mainly CW. QSL to home call. UGANDA, 5X. Franz, DJ5MR is QRV as 5X7FN until the end of June while teaching at the technical school near Masaka. Activity is mainly on 40 and 20 meters using SSB in his spare time. QSL via DC7NF. CROATIA, 9A. A group of operators will be QRV as 9A0CI from June 2 to 9 from the Kanula Lighthouse, ARLHS CRO-064, on Susac Island, IOTA EU-016. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters, using CW and SSB, near the IOTA frequencies. They will also have a 6-meter beacon on 50115 kHz. QSL via DE0MST. PORTUGAL, CT. Several members of the Algarve DX Group will be QRV as CT7LHA, CT7LHF, CT7LHM, CT7LHP, CT7LHR, CT7LHV and CT7LHZ from various lighthouses from May 30 to June 1. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL all calls via CT1GFK. CANARY ISLANDS, EA8. Members of the Grupo DX Teide are QRV as EG8FOR from El Hierro Island, IOTA AF-004, and the Orchilla Lighthouse, ARLHS CAI-066, until June 1. Activity is on 40 to 2 meters using CW, SSB and PSK31. QSL via EA8NQ. FRANCE, F. Members of the Caen ARC are QRV as TM5BBC from Creully Castle until June 6 in remembrance of the 64th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during World War II. Activity is on the HF and VHF bands using CW and SSB. QSL via F2UW. In addition, special event station F/ON6JUN/p will be QRV from June 5 to 9 from the Pegasus Bridge Memorial Museum in Ranville to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the D-Day landing. Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via ON5SD. JAN MAYEN, JX. Svein, LA9JKA is QRV as JX9JKA and is here until October 8. He has been active on 17 meters around 1240 to 1400z and 15 meters from 1215 to 1230z. QSL to home call. AUSTRIA, OE. Special event station 4U1WED will be QRV from the Vienna International ARC from June 1 to 30 in celebration of World Environment Day. QSL via 4U1VIC. FINLAND, OH. Operators Mario, DL5ME and Guenter, DG3HWO will be QRV as OH2/DL5ME from Emsalo Island, IOTA EU-097, from June 5 to 8. Activity will be on the 40, 30, 20 and 17 meters using CW and SSB. QSL direct via DH5MM. BANGLADESH, S2. Tutul, S21RC has been active on 20 meters using SSB between 1500 and 1700z. QSL direct. SWEDEN, SM. A group of operators are QRV as 8S6KOS from Nordkoster Island, IOTA EU-043, until June 1. QSL this operation via SM6WET. GREECE, SV. Operators DL7BMG, DL7VDC, DL8RO, DL7WS and DL7BW will be QRV as SY8B from Zakynthos Island, IOTA EU-052, until June 6. Activity is on all bands using CW, SSB and PSK. QSL via operators' instructions. TURKEY, TA. Special event station TC17GS will be QRV from June 1 to 15 to mark the 17th Turkish Soccer Championship of the Galatasaray. QSL direct via TA0U. In addition, special event station TC40TRT will be QRV May 31 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Turkish Radio TRT. Activity will be on 40, 20 and 17 meters. QSL via TA1HZ. CORSICA, TK. Dan, IK2UWA will be QRV as TK/homecall from Cavallo Island, IOTA EU-164, from May 31 to June 6. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home call. INDONESIA, YB. Special event station YE100K will be QRV from May 31 to June 1 in celebration of National Awakening Day. Activity will be on all bands and modes. QSL via YB0KYM. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The NCCC Sprint and Kids Roundup are on tap for this weekend. Club News. Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group The Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group wish to advise all amateurs that the new UHF 70 cm repeater at Dorrigo is now on air and working well. The call sign is VK2RMG. Output frequency is 438.125MHz. Coverage reports range from Coffs Harbour in the north to Port Macquarie in the south. Call in when next in the area and say G'Day. Remember to have 123Hz Encode only tone programmed into your radio to access the repeater. The next project is the new 2 meter service linked to the 70cm repeater for the Coffs Harbour area then followed by the new 6 meter FM service. The Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group will also have a display at the Port Macquarie Field Day to be held over the June long weekend, 7-8 June. Located at the Sea Scouts Hall, Buller Street Port Macquarie. Call in and say hello to the crew from the group, chat to members about the groups many social activities and also have a look at the many amateur radio kits for sale and also the new ones under development. Learn what other repeater systems the group has under way for the region. Plan Ahead – The 2009 Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Expo is on again, Sunday 18th January. Mark you calendar now for this great event. Over 120 attendees in 2008, more expected in 2009. 20 exhibitors, WIA bookshop, WICEN, Coastal Patrol Display, Radio and Component suppliers,  ACREM, Andrews Communications, Radio Club displays, lucky door prizes every hour,  disposals, home brew display, antenna systems display, technical and trivia quiz, guessing comps, hot and cold food, free tea and coffee and a whole lot more. ONLY $5.00 entry, all proceeds go to providing repeater, link facilities and IRLP connections for the Mid North Coast Region for the use of all amateurs. More information on the groups activities, Radio Expo,  repeater information and kits for amateurs, go to the groups comprehensive web site at www.mncarg.org. Submitted by Gary Ryan VK2ZKT Group President,  Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group Taree and District Amateur Radio Club Inc. Taree and District Amateur Radio Club Inc, has a club net each Monday night at 1930hrs on its two metre repeaters, which are permanently linked. The net controller uses the Club call sign VK2FRE. All Licensed Amateurs are most welcome to join in. The Club also maintains a 70cm repeater which is in the process of an upgrade. The next meeting of the Taree & District Radio Club Inc., Will be This Tuesday the 3rd of June 2008, starting at 1930 hours. This meeting will be held in the library rooms, of the Taree TAFE College, Montgomery Crescent, Taree. (Western end of Victoria St). All Amateurs and interested visitors are most welcome. Taree and District Amateur Radio Club Inc, is also able to provide Amateur Exams on request. Contact Mark VK2AMS via E-mail: vk2fre@wia.org.au or on 02 6551 0126. Advised by Terry VK2KDK for the Taree and District Amateur Radio Club. HUNTER RADIO GROUP   The next meeting of the Hunter Radio Group will be the June Monthly meeting to be held on Friday the 14th of June. The location is the NBN T.V. studios, Mosbri Crescent, Newcastle. Starting time is 8PM local time. After general business there will be a lecture on antennas presented by Trevor Easlea, VK2MHZ. There will be tea, coffee and a ragchew after the meeting. Advised by Rodney C. Prout, VK2CN. Secretary/Treasurer, Hunter Radio Group. Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club annual Field Day weekend for 2008 is less than a week away. The field day takes place next weekend on the Saturday and Sunday the 7th and 8th of June 2008. The venue is the same as previous years. It is the Sea Scout Hall in Buller Street, Port Macquarie. The Sea Scout Hall is located between the West Port Bowling Club and the Country Comfort Motor Inn. The Telegraph Point 2 meter repeater VK2RCN on 147.0 MHz provides excellent local coverage around Port Macquarie and Wauchope. The Middle Brother Mountain VK2RPM 2 meter 146.7 MHz and 70 cm 438.425 MHz repeaters provide excellent longer range coverage along the Pacific Highway leading to Port Macquarie. The next meeting of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. will be a special Friday night gathering at 7pm on the 6th of June 2008 in the SES Building, Gordon Street, Port Macquarie. This gathering will take the form of a working bee to prepare for the club’s Annual Field Day weekend which commences the next day on Saturday the 7th of June. Please note that for June only there will not be a Friday night gathering on the second Friday of the month. This will give everyone a break after the intensive activities of the Field Day weekend. The Friday night gathering on the fourth Friday of the month will be held as usual at 7pm on the 27th of June 2008 in the Port City Bowling Club which is located in Owen Street, Port Macquarie. Please note that the club will not be holding a formal June monthly general meeting this year due to the meeting date falling on the Saturday of the Field day, next weekend. All business will carry over to the July monthly general meeting. For more information about the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc, please visit the club’s website at www.orarc.org. The website contains the club information and a photo gallery. The club postal address is PO Box 712 Port Macquarie NSW 2444. Submitted by Henry Lundell, VK2ZHE on behalf of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. St. George Amateur Radio Society. The next meeting of the St. George Amateur Radio Society will be held this coming Wednesday 4th June. As well as all the usual friendly chat that goes on at these meeting there will be a special talk by Roger Harrison VK2ZRH on propagation. Propagation is considered a black art by many newer and not so new amateurs, but it doesn't have to be. The data produced by the Ionospheric Prediction Service (IPS) is getting better and the internet is enabling users to access the data quicker. With a little bit of knowledge, the modern amateur can more accurately determine what frequencies are useful for a particular path at a certain time of day. So if you are into HF DX or just playing around and seeing what is coming up, then this is the talk for you. Foundation licence holders are most welcome. As well as the talk on propagation, there will also be details of the club's up coming activation for the VHF/UHF winter field day in late June. Also, the club has obtained a number of brand new commercial ground independent 70cm mobile antennas. These will be available at a "friend of the family" price and the profits will go towards the Mt. Bindo Repeater Fund. Members are also reminded that the orders for the July pie drive are to be taken at this meeting, so bring your money with you. The meeting is held at the normal location - 1st Kyle Bay Scout Hall, in Donnelly Park, Kyle Parade Connells Point, starting at 7:30pm. Come along all are welcome. Peter O'Connell VK2EMU Publicity Officer St. George Amateur Radio Society Some regular activities Gladesville Television Broadcast Sunday 7 PM and Wednesday 7.30 PM VK2BWI live operator Morse Practice Broadcasts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Alan VK2ADB and Ross VK2ER, at 8PM local time, on 3550 kHz.. Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio club has nets on Mondays at 8pm on the clubs linked repeaters. Wednesdays at 8 pm on 3608.5 kHz 80m LSB. Beginners CW net on Thursdays at 8 PM around 3525 kHz. And Fridays at 9am on 7104 Khz 40m LSB Westlakes RTTY/ SSTV net on Thursday nights at 7:30 PM on the Clubs local repeater (146.775). Blue Mountains 6m/VHF net on 50.200 usb & 144.200 usb 8:30 Pm on Mondays. Illawarra Amateur Radio Society weekly news bulletin on the coast link 2m repeaters and the Maddens Plains 6m and 70cm repeaters. 7:30 pm each Tuesday except for club meeting nights. Illawarra F-call net on Friday’s at 8:00pm Mid South Coast Lyrebird net Wednesday’s at 8:30pm. Taree & District club net Mondays at 7:30 pm on their linked 2m Repeaters. Manly-Warringah Radio Society meeting each Wednesday, doors open 7:30 Pm. Snowy Mountains Amateur Club weekly net on Saturdays at 8:30 Pm on 3695 kHz. Summary of Coming Events June Special call sign, VI2AMW60 will be used by members of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society to celebrate the club’s 60th birthday. Taree & District monthly meeting on the 3rd. Manly-Warringah meeting and StGeorge meeting on the 4th. Blue Mountains meeting and Oxley Region gathering on the 6th. Waverley project day on the 7th. Oxley Region annual field day on the 7th & 8th. Illawarra anniversary dinner and Hornsby mid monthly meeting on the 10th. Hunter Radio group meeting on the 14th. “New Italy” Horse enduro on the 14th & 15th. Summerland Committee meeting on the 22nd. Hornsby monthly meting on the 24th. Oxley Region gathering on the 27th. Illawarra BBQ and fox hunt day on the 29th. July Nav Shield exercise on the 5th & 6th. Waverly annual auction on the 12th. Q60 Enduro on the 19th & 20th. Summerland HF antenna day on the 27th. August SARCFEST, at Richmond Hill on the 10th. International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend and the VK Remembrance Day Contest on the 16th & 17th. Shahzada Horse Enduro from the 25th to 29th. October Barrington Tops SAREX (Search and Rescue exercise) and Jota on the 18th & 19th November Hawkesbury Canoe Classic on the 1st & 2nd. Spring VHF/UHF Field Day (Weekend) on the 15th & 16th. Submitting News items Please get your news submissions in by the Friday night before the broadcast. Preferably no more than one page in the Arial size 14 font. Please specify if you want the item to run for more than one week. It may not be necessary for items to run continuously as all events will be included in the summary of upcoming events. Submission of news items should be sent to arnews@tpg.com.au. Broadcast Roster Next week the announcer in the morning will be Beth VK2AO with Richard VK2SKY as engineer. For the evening broadcast we have Andrew VK2XAG as announcer with Kevin VK2CKD as engineering support. That concludes our evening news. All the best from the broadcast team at VK2WI. Have a great week. Thank you for listening.