Evening news 13th of December 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. IPS Weekly Solar and Geophysical Report for the 4th to the 10th of December. SUMMARY Dates across the columns are 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 10cm flux 72 72 72 71 72 73 74Fredericksburg Index (Afr) 0 3 1 2 0 0 1 estimatedAustralian Index (Aaus) 1 6 4 4 2 2 3 estimatedT index -28 -25 -18 -32 -30 -39 -37Solar flare activity was low on the 10th; otherwise very low all week. Geomagnetic activity observed for the Australian region was mostly quiet with isolated active periods on the 5th; otherwise quiet. Southern Australian ionospheric F2 critical frequencies were mostly near predicted on the 4th; near predicted from the 5th to the 7th; depressed 15 per cent to near predicted on the 8th; near predicted to 20 per cent depressed on the 9th; and depressed 20 per cent on the 10th. Forecast for the 11th to the 17th of December Solar activity is expected to 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 VK2JPA Live operator morse broadcast. The VK2BWI morse practice broadcast will shortly be taking a break, until the 4th of February 2010. The last session for the year will be on Thursday the 17th of December. Ross, VK2ER, would like to thank listeners for their support and interest throughout the year. Callbacks were always much appreciated. Seasons Greetings to all from Ross VK2ER. Help needed. Tom VK2OE requires some assistance from an owner of an Icom IC-92AD radio located in Sydney. Tom requires help in setting it up for D-Star operation. If anyone can help, Tom’s email address can be found on QRZ.com or they can contact ARNSW and details can be forwarded. Advised by Tom, VK2OE ARRL DX news for the 10th of December. TUNISIA, 3V. In celebration of its 10th anniversary members of the Tunisian scouts club station are QRV as 3V10A until December 31. QSL via bureau. CHINA, BY. Special event station BT3WX is QRV from Taiyuan until December 20 to celebrate the launch of amateur radio satellite XW-1. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, FM and PACSAT. QSL via BA1DU. THE GAMBIA, C5. Eric, SM1TDE is QRV as C56SMT until January 3, 2010. Activity is in his spare time on 160 to 10 meters using only CW. QSL to home call. JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLAND, CE0. Lars, SM6CUK is QRV as CE0Z/homecall until December 14. Activity is on all bands, except 160 meters, using only CW. QSL to home call. ANGOLA, D2. Paulo, CT1ITZ is QRV as D2CQ from Porto Amboim until December 27. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using only SSB. QSL direct via CT1IUA. GERMANY, DA. Special event station DR09ANT will be QRV on December 14 to 30 to commemorate the ''Worldwide Antarctic Program.'' Activity will be on all bands and modes. QSL via bureau. SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, E5. A group of operators are QRV as E51PMR, E51LEO, E51BWL, E51SNL, E51XIW and E51NAA from Rarotonga until December 13. Activity is on the HF bands using mostly CW and RTTY, with some SSB, with three stations active simultaneously. QSL via operators' instructions. HONDURAS, HR. Victor, N8OO and Andrei, NP3D are QRV as HR2/homecalls until December 20. Activity is on all bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. This includes an entry in the ARRL 10-Meter contest. This also includes a possible entry as HQ2S in the upcoming OK DX RTTY contest. QSL HR2/N8OO to home call and HR2/NP3D and HQ2S direct via W3HNK. DJIBOUTI, J2. Olivier, J28KO has been QRV on 20 meters using RTTY around 1500z. QSL via F6DKI. SAN MARINO, T7. Aurelio, IZ0EGM will be QRV as T70A during the ARRL 10-Meter contest. QSL to home call. TURKEY, TA. Members of the Turkish Special Wireless Activity team will be QRV as TC2IYK on December 12 and 13 during the International Naval Contest 2009. QSL via bureau. CANADA, VE. John, KL7JR will be QRV as VY1RST from Destruction Bay from December 17 to 22. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using SSB. He may also try to activate Jacquot Island on Kluane Lake. QSL to home call. WILLIS ISLAND, VK9W. Dave, VK4ABD will be QRV as VK9WBM while on work assignment at the Bureau of Meteorology in the Australian Coral Sea territories until July 2010. Activity will be on 40 meters and above during his spare time. QSL to home call. HONG KONG, VR. Some members of the Hong Kong Amateur Radio Communications Association are QRV as VR2EAG until December 13 during the 5th East Asian Games 2009. QSL via operators' instructions. ANTARCTICA. Bhagwati, VU3BPZ is QRV as AT10BP from the Indian Maitri Base and can be found active on 20 meters SSB around 0000 to 0130z. QSL via operator's instructions. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL 10-Meter Contest, NCCC Sprint, Feld Hell Sprint, MDXA PSK DeathMatch, International Naval Contest, SKCC Weekend CW Sprint and the CQC Great Colorado CW Snowshoe Run are all scheduled for this weekend. The North America High Speed Meteor Scatter Winter Rally runs from December 12 to 16. Club news. The Hellenic Amateur Radio Association. The Hellenic amateur radio association of Australia will be having a Christmas BBQ on Friday night the 18th of December. They welcome all hams to join them for a good night . It will be held at their club The St.George sailing club riverside Dr ,Sans Souci on the outside balcony over looking the water. It will start at 6.30pm so bring your families, xyl's, girlfriends .There will be a small $5 fee to help towards the food and drinks and they hope to see as many hams as possible to have a good night .   They will be running a portable station to test some gear like pure signwave generators for the up coming VI2BI DX'pedition to Broughton Island in February 2010. All the information about the dx'pedition can be found on www.vi2bi.blogspot.com. So come along enjoy a beer and a souvlaki with the Hellenic Amateur Radio Association.   If you will be attending the bbq please contact Tommy on 0413 005 511 or via email vk2ir@vk2ir.com so he can confirm numbers for food.   The club would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. Kind Regards Tommy VK2IR / SV0XBF www.vk2ir.com   The Summerland Amateur Radio Club.   Last Sunday was the Summerland Christmas party. A very pleasant day was had by those attending. It would have been better if more could have attended. However those who did had a good day, plenty to eat etc. Pictures of the day can be seen on www.tiny.cc/jwa .   Advice has been received from the Commonwealth Government that SARC has received a grant under the Volunteer Grants 2009 scheme. They have received $4889 for equipment and tools to assist their members. They thank the Commonwealth Government for the recognition of the value of Amateur Radio to the community and emergency communications.   More work has been done on the Evans repeater VK2REH. A satisfactory site could not be found near Evans Head. A possibly better site has been found at Mt. Moonimba about 30Kms WNW of Evans head. More work was done last week on a power pole and mounting box. Thanks to those who assisted with this project.   Brisbane area WICEN are seeking operators to assist with the International Rally of Queensland at Gympie, Sunshine Coast area, from the 30th of July to the 1st of August 2010. If interested send an email to Gary Bonnor, VK4ZGB, at jamieb@optusnet.com.au.   A total of 19 members expressed an opinion to the proposed fee increase for 2011. 17 voted for a $10 increase and 2 for $5. The other 85 members were not concerned. The Summerland club still has lots of used stuff at their clubrooms. Lots of stuff left from the car boot sale. Come along, rat through it before it goes to the big landfill in the sky. Be there for a little longer until they need to have another excavation. Also the Summerland 50 Yrs Anniversary Badges are still available. They are still $4 picked up or $4.60 posted within Australia. They are attractive 2½" badges from the Summerland Amateur Radio Club. They won't be 50 again. Get yours while they last. The proposed dates for the next Standard License Course are as follows, 27th & 28th of February, Theory weekend. 6th & 7th of March, theory & exams. 13th & 14th of March, Regulations & Exams. Contact Duncan VK2DLR on Ph: 02 66281337 or email draymont@nrg.com.au if you would like to attend. Happy Christmas to all and enjoy 2010. From  John Alcorn VK2JWA for the Summerland Amateur Radio Club. www.sarc.org.au Waverley Amateur Radio Society. A final reminder that this month there is no regular meeting on December 16th but instead the club Christmas dinner will be held at Cellini’s Restaurant in Randwick on that day. Anyone attending who has not already advised Eric VK2VE of numbers should do so as soon as possible. As the club's 90th anniversary draws to a close, listeners are reminded that the "WARS 90" award for on air contacts with the club or its members will finish at the end of the month. Details of the award can be found via the "90th Anniversary" page of the club's website. Club members are again planning to operate portable from Centennial Park on Australia Day, January 26th, in the same location as this year. Full details will be supplied next month. Information about the club, including details of it's location and a calendar of events, can be found on its regularly updated website at vk2bv.org or call Simon, VK2UA, on 02 9328 7141. Advised by Simon Buxton, VK2UA Publicity Officer The Jindabyne Amateur Radio Group Members of Jindabyne Amateur Radio group have installed the first repeater in the NSW ski fields. Thanks to the efforts of new amateur, Angelo VK2FJCM, a deal was struck between the Perisher organization, Ski patrol and the Jindabyne group. They have installed Australia’s highest Amateur repeater at over 2000 meters above sea level. It is located on a ski patrol hut nearing the top of Mount Perisher. Geoff VK2QM fitted a FM828 supplied by Paul VK4XPB. Paul has been a strong backer in what has been a drawn out project. Paul travelled over 3000km to be involved at one stage.   At this time 438.450 is running 20 watts into a 5/8 wave. The 2 meter repeater, 146.875, should be up in late January, all going well. Anyone planning a trip to the 2010 ski season will be happy to know amateur radio is now represented in the high country of the NSW ski fields. The Jindabyne group is hoping that anyone located in southern NSW will look for the repeater to test how far it will travel. While installing the repeater at the hut, Geoff and Angelo, could see well into the ACT and south into Victoria. When this project is completed, travellers in southern NSW will have greater coverage than ever before.   The Jindabyne group would like to thank the Perisher group for their support. The members of Jindabyne look forward to supporting WICEN and the scouting organization. Jindabyne has a small group but is expanding quickly with strong community support. Advised by Geoff VK2QM. The Central Coast Amateur Radio Club To all the Amateur Radio fraternity in NSW, please have a safe Christmas holiday period, best wishes from the members of The Central Coast Amateur Radio Club. If you know of anyone who wishes to present themselves for The Foundation course, or to upgrade to a higher level at the Wyong Field Day on Sunday, the 28th of February, please contact Greg on 0418 614 813, he will point you in the right direction, please inform him ASAP so exam papers can be obtained. Do not forget the Centenary Evening Dinner on Saturday the 27th of February at the Wyong Bowling Club, this is a combined effort between A.R.N.S.W and the Central Coast Club, it should be "a good do". Traders and exhibitors are still registering and they have space on the grass or bitumen for the Flea Market traders. This year, the Flea Market Traders who require Trestles on the day will have to order the trestles at least 3 days prior to Sunday. There will be ample parking space in the Race Club grounds. Again, there will be an active Amateur Radio Station working on site, also a trading table for C.C.A.R.C members only. Best wishes to all, check out their Web Site for all information. Regards Ray VK2HAY. The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. The next meeting of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club. will be the January monthly general meeting at 2pm on Saturday, the 2nd of January 2010, in the SES Building in Central Road, Port Macquarie. This is an excellent opportunity for those who are holidaying in Port Macquarie and surrounds at this time to meet the local amateurs. Almost all the 2010 Call Books ordered have now been distributed. The club’s 2010 calendar sold like hotcakes at the December meeting last Saturday. Additional calendars will be available at the January monthly general meeting. The VK2RPM UHF repeater is providing excellent service on its original frequency of 438.525 MHz. Access to this repeater requires a 123 Hertz CTCSS sub audible tone. The UHF repeater is co-sited with the VK2RPM 146.7 MHz 2 metre repeater at Middle Brother Mountain. Visitors are reminded that the club also provides a second two metre repeater, VK2RCN at Telegraph Point on 147.0 MHz . This repeater has excellent coverage in the Port Macquarie and Wauchope areas and can usually be worked reliably using hand held transceivers in the two towns. 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 gathering at the SES Building in December this year as the 4th Friday 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 2009 issue of the bimonthly newsletter, “Oxtales”. Submitted by Henry Lundell, VK2ZHE on behalf of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. The Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club, Inc. The Hornsby Club nets will continue throughout the holiday season, with the exception of the 40 metre nets on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Members should mark Tuesday the 19th of January in their calendars or PDAs for the 40 metre Netters Lunch. All are welcome to attend. More information on the club can be found at: www.hadarc.org.au, or on facebook and twitter, by searching for "VK2MA". Advised by Julian Sortland, VK2YJS, Publicity Officer, Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club, Inc. Summary of coming events. December Waverley Christmas Dinner on the 16th. Hellenic Christmas BBQ on the 18th. January Oxley Region meeting on the 2nd. Summer VHF-UHF Field Day on the 16th and 17th. Hornsby 40 meter Netters lunch on the 19th. Coffs Harbour Radio Expo on the 24th. February Orange & District meeting on the 5th. 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. March Summerland Car boot sale 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 20th of December, the announcer in the morning will be Julian VK2YJS with Richard VK2SKY as engineer. For the evening broadcast we will have Mathew VK2YAP as announcer and 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.