Evening news 22nd of November 2009 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. This goes to a message bank when the office is unattended. Silent Key It is with regret that we advise the passing of Clem Maloof VK2AMA. Clem passed away on the 9th November 2009 at 77 years of age. From 1950 to the present Clem was very active in Amateur Radio. Most of his equipment was home brew. He won many Field days with his mobile equipment. He had articles published in Amateur Radio magazine. His 33 metre windmill tower at Bexley has been a landmark for many years with its still functional tri element beam & rotator. He was great friends with Mr. Corbin & Pierce Healy. He visited amateurs around the world, New Guinea, USA, Middle East & British Isles. He was a devoted medical Doctor & anesthetic specialist, he had 8 children and many grandchildren. Amateur Radio was always on his mind. He followed the establishment of Dural with Dr. Morvan Dan with great enthusiasm as well as Atchison Street. He had his 2 meter repeater gear always on and monitoring. He passed his licence exam first time and at an early age. He was a true academic, hands’ on home brewer. He bought war surplus gear from Prices Radio Angel Place Sydney when in his teens and modified it in the beginning. He was always interested in Electronics, always supported the WIA with an eager passion and always litened to the Sunday morning Broadcasts. Clem is survived by his wife Rabina, children and grandchildren. A moments silence for Clem VK2AMA (10 seconds silence) Vale Clem Maloof VK2AMA Advised by his brother Peter Maloof VK2KPM. Peter can be contacted by phone anytime on 02 97465483 or mobile 0404 039 558 Silent Key. We regret to advise that Jack Adams, VK2AAS of Mollymook has joined the ranks of silent keys. Jack was first licenced in 1974 as VK2YAY. He was employed by the the old Balmain Light and Power Company from 1951 to 1992, when he retired as foreman technical officer. His other hobbies were vintage MG and Alpha Romeo cars and he also built and raced power boats. Jack was a member of the WIA, the Mid South Coast Club and the Australian Power Boat Association. Jack was active on the air until shortly before his death and will be sadly missed by his many friends. A moments silence for Jack VK2AAS (10 seconds silence) Vale Jack Adams VK2AAS Advised by Stan VK2EL, Secretary of the Mid South Coast Club. Silent key. It is with sad regret that we have to announce the passing away of Wing Commander Angus Campbell retired, VK2YCV. Angus passed away on Saturday the 7th of November 2009. Only two months ago, Margaret his wife of over 60 years had preceded him. Angus served his country during World War 2, Building radar stations all around our coastline, he spent a considerable time on Melville Island and was attacked repeatedly by the Japanese. In typical “Can Do” spirit he sent the locals out to collect fencing wire and reckoned that after the repairs, the aerial worked better than ever. He joined the Forestry Commission as Communication Officer and much later became a Tafe teacher. His other main pastime apart from Amateur Radio was the 15 years of service as Club Captain of the Greenwich Flying Squadron. As he frequently told people, he was responsible for “Running the Canteen, making sure the place was clean, emptying the garbage bins and seeing that there was paper in the toilets”. He was awarded the Queens Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 “For Meritorious Service to the Club”. Another one of his interests, was the RAAF Reserve, in which he served for 23 years, firstly as Senior Radio Officer at Sydney Air Defence Headquarters and latter as an Engineering Officer with No 22, City of Sydney Auxiliary Squadron. He was appointed Senior Engineering Officer with the rank of Squadron Leader, that being the highest rank available to CAF members and was granted the Air Efficiency Award A.E. and Long Service Clasp. Angus suffered a stroke on Thursday the 5th of November and passed away peacefully in his sleep. We will all miss you Angus. At least you and Margaret are together again. A moments silence for Angus VK2YCV. (10 seconds Pause) Vale Angus Campbell VK2YCV This message was from Hank VK2BHL VK2 WICEN News, 22nd November 2009 Summer typically sees few scheduled events on the WICEN calendar. However, this has traditionally been the group's busiest time for activations, and as such, members need to remain prepared to respond to an activation. WICEN is planning to provide a display and presentation at the "Centenary" Central Coast Field Day at Wyong on Sunday, February 28. You can contact WICEN by sending an email to operations@nsw.wicen.org.au or by calling the Duty Officer on 0408 397 217. The WICEN NSW website can be found at: www.nsw.wicen.org.au There is also a Facebook group for anyone interested in WICEN across Australia. Edited and submitted by Julian Sortland VK2YJS for WICEN NSW Inc. November Trash & Treasure. The final T & T for the year will held on Sunday the 29th of November here at Dural. Major items being offered can be viewed on the Amateur Radio News South Wales web site at www.arnsw.org.au Advised by Tim VK2ZTM. ARNSW Radio Homebrew and Experimenters Group. The next meeting of the Amateur Radio New South Wales Radio Homebrew and Experimenters Group will be held next Sunday the 29th of November after the Trash & Treasure here at Dural. This month the meeting will have a talk given by Steve Olney - VK2XV about 137kHz. Several months ago full call amateurs in Australia gained access to an LF allocation at 137kHz on application. Steve has been active on the band for some time. The talk will cover; Potted history of LF Contemporary Amateur use of LF Why LF? The challenges of LF LF propagation LF Modes Gear for receiving and transmitting Antennas for receiving and transmitting As usual, the meeting will start with a show and tell segment, where members of the group can get up and tell others about one of their latest projects or repairs. The meeting will start at about 1pm. All are invited, so if you are interested in homebrewing your own equipment or doing your own repairs, then come along and meet others with a similar interest. So see you there, at 1pm on Sunday the 29th of November, at 63 Quarry Road Dural - after the Trash & Treasure. Peter O'Connell VK2EMU. Coordinator ARNSW Radio Homebrew and Experimenters Group. IPS Weekly Solar and Geophysical Report for the 13th to the 19th of November 2009. SUMMARY Dates across the columns are 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 10cm flux 74 75 75 76 77 76 77Fredericksburg Index (Afr) 2 3 3 0 0 2 (2 estimated)Australian Index (Aaus) 4 9 7 3 2 4 (4 estimated)T index -17 -6 -17 -10 -12 -1 -2Solar flare activity was very low all week. Geomagnetic activity observed for the Australian region was quiet on the 13th, and from the 16th to the 19th; mostly quiet with isolated unsettled periods on the 14th; and quiet to unsettled on the 15th. Southern Australian ionospheric F2 critical frequencies were near predicted on the 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th; near predicted to 15 per cent enhanced on the 14th and 18th; and depressed 15 per cent to near predicted on the 16th. Forecast for the 20th to the 26th of November, Solar activity should be low. Geomagnetic activity should see quiet to unsettled conditions. Maximum usable frequencies should be near predicted monthly values. Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services Summary by Pat Leeper VK2JPA ARRL DX news for the 19th of November TUNISIA, 3V. A group of operators will be QRV as 3V3S from November 23 to December 2. Activity will be on all bands and modes. QSL via DL9USA. GHANA, 9G. Alan, G3XAQ is QRV as 9G5XA from Accra until December 4. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW. QSL via G3SWH. BOTSWANA, A2. Mike, K9NW will be QRV as A25NW from November 23 to December 1. This includes being an entry in the upcoming CQ WW DX CW contest. QSL to home call. OMAN, A4. In celebration of the Oman National Holiday, members of the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society are QRV as A43ND until November 25. Activity is on all bands. QSL via A47RS. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. A group of operators will be QRV as A65DLH from Dubai from November 23 to 30. This includes being an entry in the upcoming CQ WW DX CW contest. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via DO7ZZ. PORTUGAL, CT. Members of the Algarve STAR DX Team will be QRV as CR6A from the Fuzeta-Barra Lighthouse, ARLHS POR-116, on Armona Island on November 22. Activity will be from 0700 to 1300 on 40 to 15 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via CT1GFK. CANARY ISLANDS, EA8. Jean, ON5JV and Georgette, ON6AK are QRV as EA8/home calls from Tijoco Bajo on Tenerife, IOTA AF-004, until February 10. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters mainly during their evening hours. QSL to home calls. NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Akira, JA1NLX is QRV as FK/home call from the Ouvea Islands, IOTA OC-033, until November 23. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and RTTY. QSL to home call. BONAIRE, CURACAO, PJ2. John, K4BAI and Don, W4OC will be QRV as PJ4/home calls from Bonaire, IOTA SA-006, from November 24 to December 1. This includes being an entry as PJ4A in the upcoming CQ WW DX CW contest. QSL all calls via K4BAI. PALAU, T8. Pista, HA5AO will be QRV as T88CI from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, from November 25 to December 10. Activity will be holiday style on 80 to 10 meters, and possibly 160 meters, using mainly CW. He may also try SSB and RTTY. This includes being an entry in the upcoming CQ WW CW contest. QSL to home call. CHAD, TT. Jovica, E78A is QRV as TT8JT from Abeche for about three weeks. Activity is on the HF bands using mainly CW. QSL via E73Y. BELIZE, V3. Pete, K8PT will be QRV as V31PT from Ambergris Cay, IOTA NA-073, from November 24 to December 5. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call. NAMIBIA, V5. Klaus, DJ4SO will be QRV as V5/home call from November 23 to December 15. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, RTTY or PSK31. QSL to home call. CHRISTMAS ISLAND, VK9X. Harry, DM5TI, Rene, DL2JRM, Thomas, DL2RMC and Sid, DM2AYO will be QRV as VK9XX from November 21 to December 5. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. They will be QRV as VK9XW in the upcoming CQ WW DX CW contest. QSL both calls via DL1RTL. INDIA, VU. Amateur Radio operators in India have recently been authorized to transmit between 7100 and 7200 kHz, now giving them use from 7000 to 7200 kHz. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL Sweepstakes SSB Contest, NCCC Sprint, YO International PSK31 Contest, Mongolian DX Contest, SARL Field Day Contest, Feld Hell Sprint, LZ DX Contest, All Austrian 160-Meter Contest, RSGB 2nd 1.8 MHz CW Contest, North American Collegiate ARC SSB Championship and the EU PSK63 QSO Party will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend. The RSGB 80-Meter Club CW Sprint and SKCC CW Sprint are scheduled for November 25. Club news. The Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club. The next HADARC meeting, the last for the year, is this Tuesday, the 24th of November. It will feature a very interesting talk on a Radio Frequency Interference monitoring system by Kevin Jardine, VK2KVJ. The club meets at the Mt Colah Community Centre, near the northern end of Pierre Close, Mt Colah, at 8:00pm. More information on the club can be found at: www.hadarc.org.au The Club has a group on facebook, and an account on the twitter micro-blogging site. Users of either site can search for "VK2MA". From Julian Sortland, VK2YJS, Publicity Officer, Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club, Inc. St. George Amateur Radio Society The next meeting of the St. George Amateur Radio Society will be on Wednesday the 2nd of December. This will be the special Christmas meeting. The meeting will start at the normal time of 7:30, but come early at about 6:30pm for a free BBQ in the park and have a sausage sandwich and a can of drink. After that, there will be the postponed talk by Roger Harrison VK2ZRH about 6 metre propagation and operating techniques. 6 metres is a magic band, particularly during the summer months. From not being able to get across Sydney during the winter, to contacts into VK6, VK7and even ZL there for the asking. Parts of the 6 metre band are available for standard licence holders and the full band is available for advanced licence holders. As well as the presentation on 6 metres, there will also be a bring and swap table. Swap your unwanted bits and pieces for other people's unwanted stuff. There will be the usual tea, coffee and biscuits as well as the special Christmas cake. Join or renew your membership and you can enter our guessing competition, with a chance to win prizes including a digital set top box to be drawn at the meeting. The meeting is at the usual venue - the first Kyle Bay Scout Hall, Donnelly Park, Kyle Parade Connells Point, right next door to the sailing club. The doors open at about 7:30, so see you there. Members, non members and in fact anyone interested in radio and electronics is invited to attend. All amateurs in the Sydney area are reminded of the weekly 2 metre net that takes place on the Heathcote repeater on Thursday evenings at 8pm. The net starts as a voice net for about 30 minutes then becomes a slow scan TV net. All amateurs interested in slow scan TV who can access the Heathcote repeater are invited to join in. Foundation Licence holders can also receive the transmissions. The Heathcote repeater VK2RLE is on 146.800 MHz with a negative 600 kHz offset. Advised by Peter O'Connell VK2EMU Publicity Officer, St. George Amateur Radio Society. The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. The next meeting of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club. will be the December monthly general meeting at 2pm on Saturday, the 5th of December 2009, in the SES Building in Central Road, Port Macquarie. There will be a short business meeting followed by a presentation by Bruce Walker VK2HOT on QSL-ing. The club’s Annual Christmas Party this year will be at the Port City Bowling Club commencing at 6pm on this Friday evening, the 27th of November 2009. If you haven’t already done so, please advise John Bailey VK2KHB if you are attending. This will ensure that you and your family will have seats in the function room which the club has booked for the night. On the day after the Christmas Party, members of the club will provide the safety communications for a car rally to be held on the evening of Saturday the 28th of November in the forest near Port Macquarie. Please contact John McLean VK2KC if you are able to assist but have not yet volunteered. Visitors are always made very welcome at the club’s monthly general meetings at 2pm on the first Saturday of each month, and at the Friday night gathering at 7pm on the evening of the fourth Friday of each month. The venue for all these meetings is the SES Building in Central Road, Port Macquarie. Please note that there will not be the usual Friday night gatherings at the SES Building in November and December this year, as the 4th Friday in November is the 27th which is the club’s Christmas Party, and the 4th Friday in December is the 25th which is Christmas Day. Please contact the club via PO Box 712 Port Macquarie NSW 2444 if you are interested in attending Foundation Licence or Standard Licence training courses in Port Macquarie and Wauchope. For more information about the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club, please visit the club’s website at www.orarc.org The website contains a photo gallery and the club information including the November issue of the bimonthly newsletter, “Oxtales”. Submitted by Henry Lundell, VK2ZHE on behalf of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. The Fishers Ghost Amateur Radio Club. Fishers Ghost Amateur Radio Club wishes to advise all members of the following upcoming events. The November monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday the 25th of November at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, Building “M” Beverley Rd Campbelltown commencing at 7.00PM. Visitors wishing to learn more about the hobby of amateur radio are most welcome to attend. The club’s annual Christmas picnic will be held at the radio base at Cataract Scout Park, Cataract on Sunday the 29th November commencing at 10AM. This will be a good opportunity for all club members to visit the shack and see firsthand all the renovations to the shack that have been completed in preparation for the Scout Jamboree AJ2010 as well as the new antenna systems that are now operational. The club also wishes to advise that a special event callsign VI2AJ2010 will be activated from the 4th – 14th January 2010 for the duration of the jamboree. QSL details on QRZ.COM. Fishers Ghost Amateur Radio Club now has a Facebook page. Anyone who dabbles in Facebook can search for FGARC and will be able to obtain details of club activities and also view photo albums of the renovations and antenna systems at the shack at Cataract Scout Park. Advised by Ian Hawkins VK2FIAN for the Fishers Ghost Amateur Radio Club. The Summerland Amateur Radio Club.   There has been talk at the Summerland club of an increase in their membership fees for 2011. The proposal is an increase of $5 to$10 per annum. To be fair and let all SARC members have a say in their club, members can have one vote via email, this is simply done by sending a YES to $5.00 or Yes to $10.00 email to president@sarc.org.au. In this email you must include your callsign and a YES to which of the increases you think is appropriate. All emails sent by the end of November will be tallied up and a result posted in the SARC newsletter. The club members will then vote on which of any increase is accepted at the AGM in February, 2010 and this will take effect in 2011 or sooner if possible. Once the score is tallied up the emails will be destroyed to protect the privacy of members. Thank you from Ross Dowse VK2ARD, SARC President. Please note only SARC Members are requested to respond. The present fees were set in 1994 and there has been a lot of increased costs since then The Summerland Xmas Party will consist of a lunch BBQ and be held on Sunday the 6th of December. It will be at the Club Rooms and start at 11AM. Attendees are requested to bring a Plate of goodies to share. The Summerland 50th ANNIVERSARY BADGES are still available for $4.60 Posted within Australia. These are attractive 2˝" 64mm Badges from SARC. The Summerland club won't be 50 again. If picked up they are just $4.00. Get yours while they last. Advised by John Alcorn VK2JWA for Summerland ARC. The Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group. The Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group recently took part in JOTA 2009. Group members set up an extensive portable radio station on top of the Dorrigo Plateau and hosted some 20 scouts from Bellingen, Dorrigo and Woolgoolga. The scouts had a fantastic time making contacts all over the world. Extensive use was made of the groups local 70cm repeater VK2RMG along with local Echo Link and IRLP facilities. Scouts were given on air operating experience and guidance over the two day weekend. A demonstration of past radio technology was given and the scouts also experienced the use of old 27Mhz AM transceivers from the mid 1970s. Visit the groups web site at www.mncarg.org and read the full story, check out the extensive photo gallery and see how ham radio was demonstrated. While on the groups web site also click on the Radio Expo link and find out all about the up coming Radio Expo to take place in Coffs Harbour on Sunday the 24th of January 2010. The largest show on the Mid North Coast of NSW. A special feature will be the AMSAT Display. AMSAT will show just how easy it is to work Amateur Satellites with just a simple handheld radio and basic antennas. Also on display will be the new DRM Digital Short-wave radios. DRM is a new emerging standard that is used by international short-wave stations. That web site address again is www.mncarg.org .The Mid North Coast Amateur Radio group also wish to advise that when in Coffs Harbour take advantage of the new simplex Echo Link facility on 145.350Mhz. This link also features regular news broadcasts and interesting ham radio related information. Link number 475538. Also in Coffs make use of the IRLP Node 6625, this is on the groups 2 mtr repeater VK2RCB Coffs City on 146.750 Mhz. CTCSS tone 123Hz. Further details about these and other services and activities of the progressive group can be found on their web site. Information supplied by Gary Ryan VK2ZKT President on behalf of the Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group Inc. Regular activities. Gladesville Television test transmission on 444 MHz, Sunday 7 PM and Wednesday 7.30 PM The VK2BWI live operator morse practice broadcast with Ross VK2ER, on Thursday evening at 8PM local time, on 3550 KHz. VK2WI practice morse on 3699Khz, except broadcast times. Hornsby nets on Mondays at 8pm on the clubs repeaters. Wednesdays at 8 pm on 3608.5 kHz. And Fridays at 9am on 7104 KHz. Westlakes RTTY/ SSTV net on Thursday nights at 7:30 PM on the Clubs local repeater (146.775). Mid South Coast weekly nets on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm on 3617 KHz, and at 8:30 pm on the clubs 2m repeater 146.700 MHz. Taree & District club net Mondays at 7:30 pm on their linked 2m Repeaters. Manly-Warringah Radio Society meeting every Wednesday, doors open 7:30 Pm. Snowy Mountains Amateur Club weekly net on Saturdays at 8:30 Pm on 3695 kHz. Waverley net on Mondays at 8pm on the Paddington repeater. Hunter Radio Group news broadcast on Mondays at 7:30 pm on repeaters 146.900MHz, 438.025MHz, and 146.725MHz. Oxley region club nets on Wednesdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 8:30am on their 146.7 MHz repeater. St George 2m net on Thursdays on 146.800 MHz. Starts at 8pm with a voice net then slow scan TV at about 8:30 pm. Summary of coming events. November Summerland Car Boot Sale at their Clubrooms today. Manly Wahringah foundation course concludes today. Hornsby monthly meeting on the 24th. Fishers Ghost meting on the 25th. Oxley Christmas party on the 27th. Manly Wahringah 75th birthday on the 28th. Fishers Ghost Christmas Picnic on the 29th. Spring VHF-UHF Field Day on the 28th and 29th. Trash & Treasure and Homebrew meeting at Dural on the 29th. December St George meeting on the 2nd. Oxley Region meeting on the 5th. George Taylor flight centenary on the 5th. Summerland Christmas party on the 6th. Waverley Christmas Dinner on the 16th. January Summer VHF-UHF Field Day on the 16th and 17th. Coffs Harbour Radio Expo on the 24th. February Hornsby Mid-Monthly meeting on the 9th. Waverley training and exams on the 13th & 14th. Hornsby meeting on the 23rd. Central Coast Centenary dinner at Wyong on the 27th. Central Coast Centenary Field Day at Wyong on the 28th. Submitting news items Please get your news submissions in by the Friday night preceding the broadcast. 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 coming events. Submission of news items should be sent to news@arnsw.org.au Broadcast roster Next week the 29th of November, the announcer in the morning will be Eric VK2VE with Peter VK2HC as engineer. For the evening broadcast we will have Tim VK2ZTM as announcer and Andrew VK2XAG 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.