Evening news 7th of February 2010 Good evening listeners, thank you for tuning in. Silent Key. We were saddened to learn of the passing of Harry Pickett VK2 Alpha Hotel Papa early on Monday last. Harry was 98 and in the message from his Son - Graham, he still had a SSB transceiver in his study. Harry had been involved with the purchase and establishment of the VK2WI Dural site in the mid 1950's, working with Jim Corbin, Eddie Hume and Vince Cahill. He was on the NSW Division Council in 1957 when the building was opened - his name being on the plaque. He was disappointed when the Atchison Street Crows Nest property was sold in the 1980's. Please pause with us in the memory of Harry Pickett VK2AHP. Vale Harry VK2AHP. Advised by his son Graham Pickett in an email via the National office. Annual General Meeting. Members of ARNSW are reminded that the AGM is a couple of months away. Is your email address or postal address up to date on our records? Also there have been many new and changed callsigns, have you advised? You can check or advise by an email to membership@arnsw.org.au or a telephone call to the office on 02 9651 1490 and leave a message. Bookings for Field Day Dinner. Are you intending to go to the Dinner on the Saturday evening of the Field Day at Wyong? Have you registered and made a booking. The numbers are required A.S.A.P and the cut off will be soon. Call Brian Kelly VK2WBK on mobile 0400 445 829. That number again 0400 445 829. Field Day Broadcasts. Listeners are advised that there will be no morning broadcast on Sunday the 28th of February, the day of the Field day at Wyong. In its place there will be a Saturday evening transmission at 7.30 pm on Saturday the 27th. It will be in a morning format with VK1WIA and VK2WI news. The Sunday evening broadcast will take place as normal. Advised by Tim VK2ZTM. Divisional Elections As already announced, the Annual General Meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia New South Wales Division (trading as Amateur Radio New South Wales), will be held on Saturday the 17th of April 2010. At the AGM a new council is to be appointed. Nominations are now open for those members who wish to be on the council for the year 2010, 2011. Nomination forms are now available from the divisional office. The divisional office can be contacted by means given elsewhere in the news bulletin. Nomination forms are also available for download from the website www.arnsw.org.au. Nominations close at midday on Saturday the 6th of March 2010. Advised by Peter O'Connell VK2EMU Divisional Returning Officer. A.R.N.S.W Email Addresses. There are now several email addresses available for direct contact with the various sections of Amateur Radio New South Wales. All have a prefix for the department concerned followed by @arnsw.org.au. Recently added has been one for membership inquiries which is membership@arnsw.org.au   For general contact use office@arnsw.org.au. News submissions for these broadcasts should be sent to news@arnsw.org.au. If you have something for the VK2 column in Amateur radio magazine use vk2notes@arnsw.org.au. For Trash and Treasure matters use disposals@arnsw.org.au. For those who have not looked recently, the A.R.N.S.W web site has a new front page. Check that one out at www.arnsw.org.au Advised by Tim VK2ZTM. Wyong Field Day Dinner. Amateur Radio New South Wales in conjunction with the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club will be holding the 2010 Dinner at the Wyong Bowling Club on Saturday the 27th of February from 6 pm. The cost is 25 dollars per head. There will also be lucky door prizes up for grabs. For more information or to book please contact the Secretary of Amateur Radio NSW on 0400 445 829. If you are attending please send your money to A.R.N.S.W, PO Box 6044, Dural Delivery Centre NSW 2158. Application forms are available on our website www.arnsw.org.au under the header "Wyong Diner". It is most important that those wishing to attend make a booking, as we need the numbers to advise the club for catering purposes. Help Amateur Radio New South Wales start the 100 years off to good beginning. Advised by Brian Kelly VK2WBK Secretary A.R.N.S.W. Exams at the Wyong Field Day.   A reminder that various grades of exams for Amateur Radio licenses will be available during the Central Coast Club’s Wyong Field Day on Sunday the 28th of February. Those wishing to undertake an exam are requested to register with the Amateur Radio New South Wales exam personnel by calling the office and leaving a message on 02 9651 1490. Or call the Secretary Brian Kelly, direct on mobile 0400 445 829 or write to A.R.N.S.W P. O. Box 6044 Dural Delivery Centre N.S.W 2158. Pre-registration is essential so that the right number of the various exam papers are available on the day.   Advised by Brian Kelly VK2WBK. VK2 WICEN News for the 7th of February 2010 As a result of an upgrade to the 70 centimetre side of the VK2RWS repeater at Berowra, FM users must now send a 91.5 Hertz tone to access it. It is also recommended that they turn on tone squelch. The repeater transmits on 438.275 MHz. The -5.4MHz offset mean users transmit on 432.875 MHz. WICEN is planning to provide a display and presentation at the "Centenary" Central Coast Field Day at Wyong on Sunday, February 28. If you are coming along why not volunteer for a short shift on the display, so others on the stand get more time to visit the other exhibits? For your diary, NavShield 2010 will be held on the weekend of July 3rd & 4th. 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 those interested in WICEN across Australia. Submitted by Julian Sortland VK2YJS and Nick Fisher VK2ZNF for WICEN NSW Inc. VK2BWI Slow Morse broadcast. The VK2BWI slow morse practice broadcasts will resume from this Thursday the 4th of February. Are you interested in rising to the challenge of becoming a proficient morse code operator? Or perhaps just refreshing those rusty skills? If so then listen in on Thursday evenings on 3550 KHz, at 2000 hours local time. It starts off at 4 words per minute, increasing in easy increments to about 18 words per minute. Practice is given in plain text, figure groups, call signs and often a simulated QSO is included. Call backs follow the broadcast, so give it a go. Thursday evenings at 2000 hours local, on 3550 KHz, depending on QRN.   Submitted by Ross VK2ER IPS weekly solar and geophysical report for the 29th of January to the 4th of February. SUMMARY Dates across the columns are 29th 30th 31st 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 10cm flux 73 75 75 75 75 74 74 Fredericksburg Index (Afr) 0 3 3 7 7 7 2 estimated Australian Index (Aaus) 4 6 6 9 8 9 4 estimated T index 2 3 3 7 9 12 2 Solar flare activity was very low all week. Geomagnetic activity observed for the Australian region was quiet and quiet to unsettled at high latitudes on the 29th; quiet to unsettled with isolated active levels at high latitudes on the 30th and 31st; quiet to unsettled from the 1st to the 3rd; and quiet on 4th. Southern Australian ionospheric F2 critical frequencies were near predicted to 20 per cent depressed on the 29th and 31st; near predicted to 15 per cent depressed on the 30th; near predicted on the 1st, 3rd and 4th; and mostly near predicted on the 2nd. Spread F and Sporadic E were reported from the 29th to the 31st. Forecast for the 5th to the 11th of February. 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 Urunga Radio Convention. The “Urunga Radio Convention” is on again this Easter week end, Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th of April 2010 at the Senior Citizens Hall Bowra St. Urunga. Its the longest running Fox Hunt Field day in Australia. 2 days of Fox Hunting, Quizzes, raffles, and pre loved gear, displays, Inquiries welcome. C.H.A.D.A.R.C. will cater for lunches again this year. Free tea and Coffee” available for those registering. Numbers are required for the optional meal on Saturday night at the Bowling Club. Please notify the Committee if you wish to attend the dinner. The old trophies from the early days are on display at the convention, and other times at The “Ocean View Hotel” where some of the early conventions were held. There is an adjoining lounge for those that want to get away from the activities. Urunga is a quiet village ideally suited to Fox hunting. It’s a very relaxing environment on the Kalang River, and has old style charm, ideal for family’s. Close by is Coffs Harbour and Bellingen, or perhaps a drive on Waterfall Way to Dorrigo and the National Park Skywalk, picnic areas and lookouts, Visit the Golf or Bowling clubs, or walk to the Ocean on the meandering footbridge for a spot of surf fishing. Check “Urunga Radio Convention” web page at www4.tpgi.com.au/goldy2/ Advised by Ken Golden VK2DGT for U.R.C. Who can be contacted by email to krgolden46@hotmail.com. Club news. New Sydney Radio Club. Macquarie University Amateur Radio Club. A new amateur radio club is being formed at Macquarie University in Sydney. Students and staff are invited to form the new club, to promote amateur radio activity at Macquarie University. Enquiries from the local community are also welcome. Macquarie University is a centre of excellence in electronic, telecommunications and wireless engineering. Contact Adam VK2JSI by email. VK2JSI@MUARC.ORG or call 0415 371 990. See also the Facebook page of the Macquarie University Amateur Radio Club at www.muarc.org. Advised by Edwin VK2VEL The Mid South Coast Amateur Radio Club Inc. The next meeting of the Mid South Coast club will be held at the CWA hall, Wason Street Milton, on Saturday the 13th of February. Members, past members, guests and visitors are very welcome to attend. There will be a guest speaker who will present a talk on his wartime radar experiences. There will also be a different raffle prize up for grabs. Arrivals are from 10:30 onwards, please bring your picnic lunch, as usual the club provided tea and coffee etc. Hope to see you there from Stan VK2EL, Club Secretary The Hunter Radio Group. The first monthly meeting of the Hunter Radio Group will be held on Friday the 12th of February, 2010.   The location is NBN TV STUDIOS, Mosbri Crescent, Newcastle. The starting time is the usual 8 p.m. local.   After General Business, there will be a lecture on an interesting subject. Tea, Coffee and a Ragchew after the meeting.   The Hunter Radio Group VK2AWX Broadcast on Monday evenings will start on the 8th of February, 2010, at 7.30 p.m. Local on 3593 KHZ, 146.900 MHZ, 438.025 MHZ  and 1294 MHZ.   Call backs will be conducted after the broadcast.   Advised by Rodney, VK2CN, Secretary of the Hunter Radio Group. The Fisher’s Ghost Amateur Radio Club. The Fisher’s Ghost Amateur Radio Club wishes to advise all members that they will be conducting their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday the 24th of February at The Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, Building “M” Beverley Rd Campbelltown commencing at 7.30PM. All members are encouraged to attend. All enquiries/nominations to the club Secretary Chris Newton vk2jcn@wia.org.au Advised by Ian Hawkins VK2MCI On behalf of The Fishers Ghost Amateur Radio Club. Waverley Amateur Radio Society. A reminder that the next meeting of the Waverley club will be on Wednesday, February 17th at 7:30pm. The clubhouse has a harbourside location in the Scout Hall at Vickery Avenue, Rose Bay with easy parking and is always open on the first Saturday afternoon of each month for a variety of activities or just a ragchew with all welcome to drop in. The next occasion will be on March 6th. In addition members often open the clubhouse on Tuesdays for a morning and afternoon working bee. Casual visitors should check beforehand, preferably on the Paddington repeater, whether anyone is there. Training weekends provide the opportunity for those new to amateur radio to obtain a foundation licence over a single weekend and for others to be examined for higher grades. The next course is planned for February 13th and 14th. Anyone interested in attending, whether a member or not, should email the club at "education at vk2bv dot org". Information, including details of the club's location and its 2010 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 Central Coast Amateur Radio Club. Hello to all the Amateur Radio Fraternity from the members of the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club.   The time is fast approaching for the biggest and best Radio Field Day in Australia, which is on Sunday the 28th of February 2010, at the Wyong Race Course.   They have a full complement of Traders and Exhibitors, some being new to the Field Day, so come along and enjoy the day with the members of the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club. This is what Amateur Radio is about, this Field Day assists Amateur Radio in a big way so please support the day and Amateur Radio. If you wish to sit for an exam at the field day, please let us know now so we can obtain the necessary papers for you, the examinations will be held in an air conditioned room away from the "bustle" of the crowd.   Please remember to book and pay for the Centenary Dinner on Saturday evening, please ring Ray on 02 4325 2182 for details. Remember this is a combined effort between A.R.N.S.W. and the C.C.A.R.C. They must have numbers & money so they can alert the Bowling Club. It should be a great night for chatter.   Kind Regards Ray VK2HAY. The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. The next meeting of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club, will be the Friday night get together at 7pm on Friday the 26th of February 2010 in the SES Building in Central Road, Port Macquarie. 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. A warm invitation is extended to all radio amateurs and their families, and to those who are interested in amateur radio to attend the 35th annual field day to be held at the Sea Scout Hall in Buller Street Port Macquarie on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of June 2010. This is the Saturday and Sunday of the Queens Birthday long weekend in June. 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 and assessments in Port Macquarie and Wauchope. The next courses and assessments will take place in Port Macquarie during late February or early March as there are already candidates booked for both grades of licence. 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 January 2010 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. This Tuesday is the first meeting of HADARC for the year. It will be an informal mid-monthly meeting on Tuesday the 9th, at 8:00pm. The club meets at the Mt Colah Community Centre in Pierre Close Mt Colah. This is very close to the eastern entrance to the Mt Colah railway station. The main monthly meeting will be on the 23rd, and this will include a talk and slide-show on the VK2MA Spring and Summer Field Day efforts. The club runs three nets each week. These are Monday night on the Club's linked repeaters, Wednesday night's on 3608.5 kHz, both at 8:00pm, and Friday mornings from 9:00am on 7104kHz. Those wishing to gain or upgrade their licence, can contact the Training Team for more information. More information on the club, and contact forms, can be found at: www.hadarc.org.au Facebook users can find the HADARC group by searching for "VK2MA". The twitter page can be viewed at: twitter.com/VK2MA From Julian Sortland, VK2YJS, Publicity Officer for the Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club, Inc. ARRL DX news for the 4th of February 2010 UGANDA, 5X. Jack, NP2OR is QRV as 5X7JD from Masaka until May 25. He is active on 40 and 20 meters using SSB every day from 0500 to 1550z. QSL to home call. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Special event station A60ISG is QRV until February 13 to commemorate the 4th International Scouting Gathering in Sharjah. QSL via IZ8CLM. NAURU, C2. Dieter, DJ2EH and Anneli, DL8NBH are QRV as C21DL and C21YL, respectively, until February 14. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW and SSB. They will also operate using RTTY with callsign C21YL. QSL to home calls. BAHAMAS, C6. Randy, W6SJ is QRV as C6AWS from Grand Bahama Island until February 10. Activity is holiday style on the HF bands using CW. QSL to home call. TEMOTU PROVINCE, H40. Siegfried, DK9FN, Hans, DG1FK and Bernhard, DL2GAC will be QRV as H40FN, H40FK and H40MS, respectively, from Ngarando Reef, Swallow Island, IOTA OC-065, from February 6 to 19. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, digital modes and SSB, respectively. QSL H40MS and H40FK to home calls and H40FN via HA8FW. ECUADOR, HC. Rick, NE8Z will be QRV as HC1MD from Tumbaco, Pichincha Province, HC1MD/HC1 from Mt. Pichincha and HC1MD/HC4 from Punta Blanca, Manabi Province from February 8 to 24. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL via K8LJG. OGASAWARA ISLAND, JD1. Operators JM1YGG/JD1, JA2ZL/JD1, JD1BMV and JD1BNB will be QRV as Chichijima Island, IOTA AS-031, from February 6 to 14. Activity will be on 80 to 12 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL JM1YGG/JD1 and JA2ZL/JD1 to home calls, JD1BMV via JK1EBA and JD1BNB via JA3MCA. HAWAII, KH6. Claire, WL7MY and John, KL7JR are QRV using special call sign N7I from Honolulu, IOTA OC-019, until February 10 in commemoration of the birth of the US Islands Award Program 16 years ago. Activity is on 20 and 10 meters using SSB. QSL via KL7JR. BONAIRE, CURACAO, PJ2. Goose, W8AV will be QRV as PJ2/home call from Curacao, IOTA SA-006, from February 9 to 22. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW and RTTY. This includes a possible entry in the upcoming CQ WPX RTTY contest. QSL via operator's instructions. PALAU, T8. Mike, JA6EGL and Hiro, JA6KYU will be QRV as T88SM and T88HS, respectively, from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, from February 10 to 16. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home calls. BRUNEI, V8. Kanzi, JA4ENL is QRV as V85NL until February 8. Activity is on several HF bands, including 160 meters. QSL via operator's instructions. CAMBODIA, XU. John, 9M6XRO is QRV as XU7XRO from Sihanoukville until February 9. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via M0URX. ZIMBABWE. Z2. Mirek, VK6DXI is QRV as Z21DXI from Bulawayo until February 13. Activity is in his spare time. QSL via SP5UAF. OPERATIONS APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT. The following operations are approved for DXCC credit: Cape Verde, D44TXP, D44TXO, D44TXS, D44TXI, D44TXF, D44TXQ and D44TXR. If you had one of these operations rejected on a recent application please send a note to dxcc(at)arrl.org to have your record updated. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The 10-10 International Winter SSB Contest, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, Vermont QSO Party, YL-ISSB QSO CW and RTTY Party, Black Sea Cup International, FYBO Winter QRP Sprint, Minnesota QSO Party, British Columbia QSO Party, AGCW 80-Meter Straight Key Party, Delaware QSO Party, Mexico RTTY International Contest, North American CW Sprint, New Mexico QSO Party, ARCI Fireside SSB Sprint will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend. The ARRL School Club Roundup runs from February 8 to 12. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint and The RSGB 80-meter Club Data Championship are both scheduled for February 10. The CW ops Mini-CWT Test is scheduled for February 10 and 11. 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. February Hornsby Mid-Monthly meeting on the 9th. Hunter Radio Group meeting on the 12th. Mid South Coast meeting on the 13th. Waverley training and exams on the 13th & 14th. Summerland AGM on the 14th. Waverley meeting on the 17th. Eden Creek Horse Enduro on the 20th & 21st. Hornsby meeting on the 23rd. Fishers Ghost AGM on the 24th. Oxley Region gathering on the 26th. Central Coast Centenary dinner at Wyong on the 27th. Central Coast Centenary Field Day at Wyong on the 28th. March Nominations for Council close on the 6th. Waverley club house open on the 6th. Horse Enduro at Copmanhurst on the 13th & 14th. Summerland Car boot sale on the 28th. April Urunga Radio Convention on the 3rd & 4th. W.I.A New South Wales division A.G.M on the 17th. Summerland foundation course on the 17th & 18th. International Marconi day on the 24th. 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 14th of February, the announcer in the morning will be Richard VK2SKY with Peter VK2HC as engineer. For the evening broadcast we will have Andrew VK2XAG as announcer and Mathew VK2YAP 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.