Evening NEWS 13 July 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 SILENT KEY - Bill Cross, VK2WJC It is with deep regret we advise the passing of Bill Cross, VK2WJC. Bill was a long time, well known, active and popular member of the Summerland Amateur radio club. Bill was very active until recently when diagnosed with cancer. He fought a valiant but losing struggle until about 1630 last Sunday. Please listen on air for funeral details. Bill and his contributions to Amateur Radio will be missed by us all. Our condolences and best wishes go to his family and friends. Bill was a good friend to all who knew him. Vale Bill. Advised by John Alcorn VK2JWA IPS Weekly Solar and Geophysical Report for the 4th to the 10th of July. SUMMARY Dates across the columns are 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th of July 10cm flux 65 65 66 66 66 66 65 Fredericksburg Index (Afr) 3 7 5 2 1 3 (3 estimated) Australian Index (Aaus) 1 6 2 2 2 2 (3 estimated) T index -6 -3 -7 -3 -5 -2 -3 Solar flare activity was very low all week. Geomagnetic activity observed for the Australian Region was quiet during the week, except for the 5th, when activity was mostly quiet with some unsettled periods observed. Southern Australian Ionospheric F2 critical frequencies were near predicted to 25 per cent enhanced on the 4th, 5th and 9th; near predicted on the 6th with periods of some enhancement during local night; near predicted to 15 per cent enhanced on the 7th and 10th; and depressed 15 per cent to 20 per cent enhanced on the 8th. Forecast for 11th to 17th July. Solar activity is expected to be very low, with no current active regions or returning regions expected for the forecast period. Geomagnetic activity should see unsettled to active conditions expected for the 11th and 12th due to coronal hole effects. Mostly quiet to unsettled conditions are forecast for the remainder of the week.Frequencies could see possible depressions of about 20 per cent for the 12th to 14th; otherwise near predicted monthly values. Courtesy of the IPS Radio and Space Services Summary by Pat Leeper VK2JPA Awards in VK3 Victorian Local Government Award This operating award has been initiated by Amateur Radio Victoria to encourage on air activity based on communicating with and between the 79 local government areas in the State of Victoria. Briefly, the rules are that VK3 stations need to make contact with, or from, 40 different municipalities in their state, while this number is reduced to 30 for all other VK call areas. Award certificate endorsements are available for those who achieve all 79 municipalities. Requests for mode, QSP or other endorsements will be considered too. Amateur Radio Victoria is finalising its revived Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award that is due to start in September. So expect to hear increased portable activity from south of the Murray River as VK3’s activate the 40 National Parks in their state. Full details can be found in the Awards section of its website www.amateurradio.com.au/awards - Amateur Radio Victoria. VK2 WICEN News, 13th July, 2008 Last week's Nav Shield (held where it all started 20 years ago) saw a good attendance, with few if any incidents. As a bonus there were no overdue competitors, so we all got to get home on time. The Shahzada 400km Horse Enduro is on again over the week of 25-29th August. Operators for the full week or even just one day are required, with food, fuel, and floor-space being provided, along with long hours, missed meals, and lots of fun. Another event confirmed for this year is the Barrington Tops SAREX (Search and Rescue exercise) over the weekend of 18-19th October (unfortunately the same weekend as JOTA). The next major event is the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic, to be held over the weekend of 1st-2nd November. This requires many volunteers to monitor the location of hundreds of competitors paddling 111km down the Hawkesbury under a moonlit night, and their safety is paramount. If you can assist with this important event which raises money for the Arrow Foundation then please contact either Neil Fallshaw VK2XNF or Mark Cheeseman VK2XGK. 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. Homebrew and Experimenters Group. Next Tuesday night will be the ARNSW Radio Homebrew and Experimenters group monthly radio net. This net is a good opportunity for amateurs interested in homebrewing their own equipment or just experimenting to have a friendly chat with others interested in the same thing. The net takes place as usual on the Dural 2 metre repeater, 147.000 MHz with a negative 600KHz offset. It starts at 7:30pm and lasts an hour or so. Come and join the net - all are welcome. The next meeting of the ARNSW Radio Homebrew and Experimenters group will be held on Sunday the 27th of July at the Dural transmitter site, 63 Quarry Road Dural. The major presentation will be about antennas for 2.4GHz wifi. Wifi is a radio method of connecting computers together over a short range. They use frequencies in the 2.4GHZ “I S M” band, that is Industrial, Scientific and Medical, which is also shared with amateur radio. So the antennas used for wifi are also usable for amateur applications. Most computer people using wifi consider ranges of a few tens of metres or a hundred or so metres is doing good. As amateurs, we know better! Several years ago the world record for 2.4GHz wifi was set at about 199 kilometres. While this meeting will not show you how to get that range, it will give you ideas and examples of how to get a lot further than you would expect. If you are interested in microwaves, or know a computer person interested in wifi, then come along yourself and bring them as well. As well as the talk on wifi antennas there will also be the usual show and tell segment where members of the group and other interested amateurs can get up and show the latest piece of equipment that they have been working on. All are welcome to come along to the meeting. Foundation licence holders are especially encouraged to come along. So see you at Dural in two weeks time. Peter O'Connell VK2EMU Coordinator radio Homebrew and Experimenters Group Trash and Treasure Event 27th July Available at the Trash and treasure on Sunday the 27th, is the pair of gates which were on the VK2WI Dural entry. These are no longer required, now there is a new wider entrance. The two gates are of pipe and chain wire construction 1700mm wide by 1230mm high. Also available on the day are edition 2 of the foundation manuals and the 2008 call book. Both these books are also available on any Sunday morning, however on non trash and treasure days you would need to have pre paid as they are collection only. Anyone requiring them by post should contact the WIA bookshop. Advised by Tim VK2ZTM ARRL DX news for 10th July 2008 CYPRUS, 5B. Jack, RW3QC, will be active as 5B4AII during the IARU HF World Championship as a Single Op, All Band, High Power, Mixed entry. QSL via RW3RN. MALDIVES, 8Q. Tim, VE6SH, IARU Vice President, will be active as 8Q7TM between July 11 and 20, including an entry in the IARU HF World Championship. QSL via VE6SH. AFRICAN TOUR. John, 9M6XRO, will be active from the following African locations, July 11 to 13 from Johannesburg, South Africa, as ZS6/GM3OOK; July 14 to 19 from Mozambique as C91XO; July 19 to 25 from Swaziland as 3DA0OK. He will be QRV on 160 through 10 meters using CW, RTTY and SSB. QSL via M3SDE, direct/bureau for all three call signs. See QRZ.com. CAPE VERDE, D4. Massimo, IZ4DPV, will be active as D4C during the IARU HF World Championship as a Single Op, All Band, High Power, SSB entry from Mindelo, Ilha do Sao Vicente (AF-086, WLOTA LH-1976). MARKET REEF, OJ0. Five operators will activate Market Reef between July 11 and 14, which will include a Multi-Op entry as OJ0A in the IARU HF World Championship. They will have three stations on the air on 160 through 6 meters. Operators are G0CKV/SM0CKV, OH1VR, OH3RM, W6RGG and G3SXW. All operators will sign OJ0/home call before and after the IARU Contest, except for OH1VR who will use OJ0VR. QSL all OJ0/homecalls via the operators' home call signs and OJ0VR via OH1VR. QSL to OJ0A via OH3RM. GREENLAND, OX. Operator Bo/OZ1DJJ (OX3LX) is expected to combine a work and vacation DXpedition until July 23. Activity will be on 6 meters and possibly 2 meters. Operations will be limited to his spare time. QSL via OZ1PIF. FAROE ISLANDS, OY. A German group will be active from Suduroy Island (EU-018), until July 16. Operators are DL2MLU, DD1LD, DD5FZ, DK7MCX and DL6RAI. Look for the operators to sign home call/OY. Activity will be on the HF bands and 6 meters using CW, SSB and Digital. The team is expected to be in the IARU HF World Championship. MICRONESIA, V6. Dick, AD7AF, will be active as V63WWA from Kosrae Island (OC-059) until July 24. Activity will be mostly CW with some SSB, PSK31, and RTTY on 80 through 10 meters. QSL via AD7AF. IRAQ, YI. Buzz, NI5DX, reports that Kitch, WD6V, who has been active as YI9WV, has put some 4000 contacts in the log since mid-April. Most of his contacts have been on 40 and 30 meters CW, but he has also been on 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters. Kitch has also been active on PSK31 on 20 meters and is expected to try 40 meters. QSL YI9WV via NI5DX, by the Bureau or direct with SASE and 1 USD or 1 IRC. UNITED KINGDOM, G. GB50OT will be QRV until July 13 to mark 50 years of RAOTA, the Radio Amateurs Old Timers' Association. Look for them on 80 through 6 meters using SSB, CW and digital. QSL via G3VBE. USA, N. The Carolina DX Association will activate N4BX from grid square FM13 for the CQWW VHF Contest July 19 and 20. They say FM13 is probably the U.S. grid locator with the smallest amount of land in it. It is mostly a water grid. ALAND ISLANDS, OH0. OH2PM and OH2BH will be taking a ferry to Aland Islands today and will be QRV in the IARU Contest signing OG0A. QSL via OH2BH. They will also be active outside the contest as OH0R and OH0B, respectively. QSL to their callbook addresses. MONTENEGRO, 4O. Bill, ON5JE, will be active as 4O1/ON5JE from Budva until July 17. Activity will be on the HF bands, propagation permitting. QSL via his home call sign. ASCENSION ISLAND, ZD8. Jim, N6TJ, is once again active as ZD8Z and will be staying on the island until July 15. Activity will be on all bands CW and SSB. Look for him to be in the IARU HF World Championship. QSL via his new manager AI4U, direct or by the Bureau. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The IARU HF World Championship, FISTS Summer Sprint, West Coast Regional Challenge and QRP ARCI Summer homebrew are on tap for your contesting pleasure. Now for Club news Orange and District Amateur Radio Club The next club meeting is on Friday the 1st of August at 19:30 hours in the clubhouse, RAAF 29 FLIGHT building at 64 Warrendine St, Orange. This will be the AGM which will be followed by the usual monthly meeting. If you are a club member please ensure that you are there to vote for who you want to lead the club for the next 12 months. If you are not a member of the club why not?? Come along anyway as you are more than welcome, the more the merrier as they say. Tea, coffee and biscuits to follow the meeting along with the usual chinwag. For any further information please email secretary@odarc.org Cheers, Bob VK2MRP - ODARC Secretary The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society Illawarra Amateur Radio Society advises it’s club members that club membership fees are now due. Stay financial and support your club. Not a member ?, why not consider joining. Membership has many advantages, including access to the clubs free technical book and video library, which now totals over a hundred publications. Support for twelve amateur repeaters, 3 digipeaters, and several packet gateways. Access to our ongoing technical workshop program, interesting informative club meetings, Contest, DX and foxhunting outings, the list goes on and on. The special event station QSL cards have been printed for VI2AMW60. We thank the 1200 odd amateurs who participated in this very special occasion to mark the clubs 60th birthday last month. The rollout of the QSL cards will commence shortly. If you communicated with the special event station and need details of the QSL arrangements, log onto www.qrz.com and enter the special event call VI2AMW60 into the search engine. The Annual General Meeting of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society will be conducted at the Industry World Visitors Centre, Springhill Road Coniston, on Tuesday 12th August commencing at 7.30pm. For information on all these items, log onto www.iars.org.au/ The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society, the Progressive Amateur Radio Club. Central Coast Amateur Radio Club Welcome to all Amateur Radio people in NSW from the members of the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club. Now that the Racing Industry is back to normal we have been allocated the hire of the Wyong Race Course on Sunday the 8th of February 2009, We have these special announcements to make. Firstly: To help our hobby attract the younger people in the community we are admitting all those people 17 years and younger free to the Field Day . Secondly: The Traders will commence selling at 0900 hours. Thirdly: The "Flea Market" stall holders will commence operating at 0800 hours. And Fouthly: The entrance fee will remain at $ 10/p/p. For more info "check-out" our new Web Page shortly. Regards from the members. Advised by Ray  VK2 HAY. The Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club. The club runs three nets each week. Monday evening at 8:00 pm is on the club's linked repeaters. Wednesday night, also at 8:00 is on 3608.5 kHz lower side band in the 80 metre band. With winter there is generally less lightning crashes and other noise and interference, so this is a good time to listen in, and hopefuully join the net. Friday at 9:00 am is on 7104 kHz. From Julian Sortland, VK2YJS, publicity Officer, Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club, incorporated. Summerland Amateur Radio Club * * REBUILD AT CLUBROOMS. Work is still continuing on this reconstruction. Much kitchen / toilet work is done but more ants found. This is causing more work and spraying etc. Thanks to those working almost daily on this. * * JOIN SARC - Earn your right to have your say, be in it. * * FOUNDATION TRAINING / EXAM WEEKEND 2nd & 3rd of August, brought forward due to clash of other events. Anyone interested contact Ian Gray VK2IGS, ph 0266298583. For info email iangray25@bigpond.com * * SUNDAY AFTERNOON BBQ PROPOSED To be held probably 14 September at Eric TRD's QTH. Details yet to be decided but meat, snags etc provided. Cost likely $8 per head, less if you bring a plate etc. Soft drinks available BYO harder stuff your choice. Noon lunch into the PM. Ideas and suggestions requested. Interested? If so, please advise the Committee of numbers. Advised by John Alcorn VK2JWA. 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 July Waverley meeting on the 16th. Manly-Warringah Radio Society visit to Macquarie Uni Observatory on the18th. Q60 Enduro on the 19th & 20th. Summerland committee meeting on the 20th. Hornsby monthly meeting on the 22nd. Oxley region meeting on the 25th. Summerland HF antenna day on the 27th. Trash and Treasure and Homebrew at Dural on the 27th. August Orange and district meeting and AGM on the 1st. Oxley region meeting on the 2nd. Summerland foundation course on the 2nd & 3rd. Taree and district meeting on the 5th. Oxley region meeting on the 8th. SARCFEST, at Richmond Hill on the 10th. Illawarra AGM on the 12th. International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend and the VK Remembrance Day Contest on the 16th & 17th. Oxley region meeting on the 22nd. Blue Mountains winterfest on the 24th . Hornsby foundation course on the 24th & 25th. Shahzada Horse Enduro from the 25th to 29th. ALARA contest on the 30th and 31st. Twin Cities field day at Albury on the 31st. 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. January Mid North Coast Radio Expo on the 18th 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 Richard VK2SKY with Tim VK2ZTM as engineer. For the evening broadcast we have Nick VK2ZNF 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. ?? ?? ?? ?? 13