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VK7AX  > BCAST    28.11.20 07:43z 1164 Lines 33712 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 21744_VK7AX
Read: GUEST
Subj: VK National News 29Nov20
Path: HB9ON<IW2OHX<IQ2LB<F1OYP<VK4TUB<VK7AX<VK7AX
Sent: 201128/0637z @:VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.AUNZ [N/W Tasmania] #:21746 $:21744_VK7

VK National News 29Nov20

Text edition: Weekly news from the WIA:

MP3 edition of news available at: 
http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2020-11-29.mp3 


(Note.. please remove spaces in email addresses before using)


2020 NOVEMBER 29 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
 

------------------------------------------------------------*

 THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK

 THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
 tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos

------------------------------------------------------------*

 NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING NOVEMBER 29 2020
 IN OUR 25th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

 ( 1937 in a mention we've come across relating to weekly
  broadcasts of information prepared by VK4 was a plea to
  restart the weekly news service which was on air in the 
  late 1920's )


 WIA Director Scott Williams on makeup of the Board.

 WIA QNEWS contibutor VK4ZPP Geoff on "THAT" ACMA Email.

 
 THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
 WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA 


------------------------------------------------------------*


 Sunspot Cycle 25 Strongest Ever

 A research paper, "Overlapping Magnetic Activity Cycles and
 the Sunspot Number: Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Amplitude,"
 by Scott W. McIntosh, Deputy Director of the National Centre
 for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, et al., has concluded
 that Solar Cycle 25 could be among the strongest sunspot
 cycles ever observed, and will almost certainly be stronger
 than the just-ended Solar Cycle 24 (sunspot number of 116). 

 The scientists say it will also most likely be stronger than
 Solar Cycle 23 (sunspot number of 180).

 (arrl)





 WIA

 Not a WIA Member? details email nationaloffice @ wia.org.au
 OR the link on bottom right of wia.org.au
 


 WIA board minutes can be found on wia.org.au click 
 WIA Information.




 DRAFT WIA Policy on Amateur Satellites
 Don't forget this submission closes December 31
 tinyurl.com/y3r3ehvp 





 Hi there this is WIA Director Scott Williams, VK3KJ and
 it is great to be appearing on the broadcast this week on
 behalf of the WIA Board.

 With the calendar year fast approaching a close, which also
 signals the conclusion of the Board year, the WIA is about to
 announce in the coming days that Board nominations for
 Director positions for 2021 will open shortly.

 This year sees four Board positions available with Greg Kelly
 (current President), Peter Clee (Secretary) and myself
 concluding our term on the Board in accordance with the
 constitution. Also, one Board position continues to be vacant
 that was not filled in 2020.

 All current retiring Directors are eligible to re-nomination
 and of course the WIA welcomes and encourages nominations from
 all members who would like to actively participate as a
 Director on the Board.

 Please keep your eye out on the next addition of AR magazine,
 on the website and also direct email to you on the process to
 nominate for the 2021 Board. Should more than four nominations
 be received for the vacant four positions, this will trigger
 a Board election in which will be conducted in accordance with
 the Constitution. To view the constitution of the WIA, please
 visit the WIA website and on the top tab in the right-hand
 corner, select WIA information and then select information
 about the WIA and then scroll down to the first download
 which is the WIA constitution. 

 Serving on the WIA Board is a wonderful way to participate and
 help support and develop this wonderful hobby. I have
 personally found it very fulfilling and not without its odd
 challenge but I can certainly say as a serving Director that
 all Directors on the Board work diligently and tirelessly
 volunteering their time in kind to advance this great hobby.

 Thats it from me this week, always great to get to
 communicate with the broader membership and Ham Radio
 community and stay safe and well. 73s Scott VK3KJ





 DISCUSSION POINT 

 Hello, Im Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and Ive been thinking.

 How sad is it that the ACMA had to post a request to the
 Amateur Community to use courteous behaviour when they are in
 contact with the Australian Maritime College. The naughty
 child aspect is reinforced with the threat of recurrence of
 poor behaviour being reported to the ACMA, itself.

 I and the majority of amateurs will heartily agree with the
 request as normal behaviour is that of using manners. It is
 a matter of respect to another person that we are polite in
 our speech and manner. The punk era was a part of the youth
 rebellion of 40 odd years ago and whereas there may have been
 humour in TV programs such as The Young Ones (some of which
 is available on Youtube) the style of behaviour today has left
 that type of crudity behind. 

 I can only ask that we all follow the Amateurs Code in our
 behaviour and we are courteous and respectful in our dealings
 with other people.

 Im Geoff Emery and thats what I think.how about you?

 ( Geoff's complete "thought piece" is available in the VK4
   local news today which follows this transmission in
   Queensland and can be heard world wide right now on
   www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3   Ed. VK4BB )   

------------------------------------------------------------*


 INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate
 AR Club, ARRL, RAC, NZART AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the
 World Wide sources of the WIA.  
 
 BLACK FRIDAY - ANOTHER GREAT DEAL BUSTER FOR HAMS

 Internationally the world wide web was alive last week with
 lists galore of what was being touted as "Your Best Black
 Friday Deals for 2020 for HAM RADIO."

 From Bombay to Broome and points NSE and West deals were
 done and the grinners were the ham radio winners.
 
 Black Friday is an informal name for the Friday following
 Thanksgiving Day in the United States, which is celebrated
 on the fourth Thursday of November. The day after
 Thanksgiving has been regarded as the beginning of the
 Christmas shopping season since 1952.

 The term "Black Friday" did not become widely used until more
 recent decades, during which time global retailers have
 adopted the term and date to market their own holiday sales.

 SO - if you missed the sales this year. mark your 2012 calendars
 now!





 EIRE

 John, EI7G writing on his blog this week noted in the editorial
 comment in the VHF/UHF column of the November 2020 issue of
 RadCom  "In recent years, the RSGB has informally asked Ofcom
 about amateur access to 40 MHz. Ofcom responded that this was
 not amateur radio spectrum, whilst they would agree to the
 continuation of the GB3RAL propagation beacon on 40 MHz, 
 they would not agree to further beacons or general access to
 40 MHz by UK amateurs."

 As of November 2020, just Ireland, Slovenia, Lithuania and
 South Africa have some sort of access to the 40MHz band.

 In April of 2018, Comreg...the Irish regulatory authority
 allowed Irish radio amateurs access to the 30 MHz to 49 MHz
 part of the VHF spectrum on a secondary basis.

 Other users at 40 MHz...

 ) Radio controlled models... One of the main users of the
   spectrum around 40 MHz are the radio model community.
   While model aircraft operate around 35 MHz, surface models,
   trains, cars, boats and things, operate 40.6 to 41.0 MHz.

 ) Cordless telephones... Before the advent of mobile phones,
   some people used cordless telephones in their houses. The
   base units operated around 31 MHz while the handsets were
   around 40 MHz using FM and 10 mW erp.

 ) Italian CB... There is a band at 43.3 to 43.6 MHz.


 For more information on the new 40MHz band, visit excellent
 blog.. 

 ei7gl.blogspot.com

 (John EI7G sourced via SouthGate)




 USA

 The Gathering will be the theme for 2021 Dayton Hamvention.

 Hamvention General Chair Rick Allnutt, WS8G, said the theme
 reflects what has been missing from our lives most of the year.

 We are very optimistic that when May arrives, we will be
 allowed to get together in Ohio.

 WS8G, a medical doctor with a masters degree in public health
 said Hamvention management is closely following the
 coronavirus situation and believes it will improve enough by
 May that government restrictions on travel and large groups
 will be relaxed. 

 Hamvention 2021 will be held May 21  23 at the Greene County
 Fairgrounds and Expo Centre in Xenia, Ohio, we hope..




 
 NO WIN NO FEE

 We've all heard that claim by many law firms chasing business.
 
 BUT, in the USA it's a case of "A fee means a NO win". The
 ARRL has urged the FCC to waive its proposed $50 amateur radio
 application fee and is keeping up the momentum for US hams to
 make comments.

 The proposal has already drawn more than 3,200 individual
 comments overwhelmingly opposed to the plan.





 Retail Ecommerce Ventures has acquired the brand and related
 assets for nostalgic electronic retailer RadioShack.


 eHam.net says it's aimed to revive the brand as an e-commerce
 portal that will support existing stores carrying RadioShack
 products. The new brand owner plans to launch a modern
 RadioShack website at RadioShack.com 

 The deal comes ahead of RadioShacks 100th anniversary next
 year. RadioShack launched in 1921 as a retailer for amateur
 ham radio equipment. The retailer grew over time to sell
 various electronics items and components. In 2015, the company
 filed bankruptcy after experiencing struggling sales and shop
 closures.




 PUERTO RICO

 After withstanding hurricanes and earthquakes, playing central
 roles in movies like GoldenEye and Contact, Puerto Ricos
 famed Arecibo Observatory, once the largest radio telescope in
 the world, will be demolished because of cable failures that
 left its huge detector platform too unstable to attempt repairs.

 Engineers recommended a controlled demolition, bringing down
 the suspended instrument platform in a way that will prevent
 damage to other structures at the periphery of the dish by
 making sure the towers themselves dont collapse and by
 ensuring no cables whip into those structures.

 Plans for bringing down the instrument platform have not yet
 been finalised and its not yet known whether explosives will
 be used in a controlled demolition or whether it might be
 possible to somehow lower the platform to the dish below.

 However it plays out, the 1,000-foot-wide telescope will
 essentially be destroyed.

 While the laser facility and visitors centre will hopefully
 be preserved, the radio telescope itself will be no more.



------------------------------------------------------------*



 HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT    


  ----2020 ----------



 CQ WW DX CW THIS Weekend NOVEMBER 28-29


  --------------
 
 SPRING VHF - UHF FIELD DAYS November 27-28

  --------------
 December 6 - 8 160 Meter WW

  --------------

 DECEMBER 14 - 15 10 Mtr World Wide




  ----2021-------


  --------------

 Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest takes place ALL of 
 January 2021
 
 --------------
 
 VHF-UHF SUMMER FIELD DAY - Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January.

  --------------
 
 CQWW 160M  CW CONTEST January  29 - 31.

 CQWW 160M SSB CONTEST February 26 - 28.
 --------------

 the CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest February 13-14

 A new "Multi-Transmitter Distributed" category has been added
 to ALL CQ World Wide WPX Contests to better accommodate
 operators who wish to compete as a team without all team members
 being in the same physical location.

 This new category permits up to six separate stations in
 different locations, but all within the same DX entity and
 CQ zone, to operate as a single contest entry.

 This was inspired by innovations being made in response to
 the Coronavirus pandemic, but I'd suggest this new category
 will be permanent.

 ( cqwpxrtty.com )
 

  --------------

 International DX CW Contest February 20-21


  --------------

 International DX Phone Contest March 6 - 7 


  --------------

 WIA John Moyle Field Day 2021
 Mt I'd suggest this new category
 will be permanent.

 ( cqwpx.com )

  --------------

 April 25 AM / CW  ANZAC Day, Mon 25th from 9am on 7125kHz AM.

  --------------

 Harry Angel Sprint will be May First 2021. 10:00 - 11:46 UTC. 

  --------------


 --------------


 DX WINDOW

 
 --------------

 AUSTRALIA
  
 
 Members of the WIA are QRV with VI 110 WIA until the end of
 the year as we celebrate our 110th anniversary.


 --------------

 OMAN

 Members of the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society may use the
 A450 prefix to mark Oman's 50th National Day.

 Again thats Alpha Four hundred and fifty.

 (eHam)


--------------


 AUSTRIA

 Members of the V.I.C. Amateur Radio Contest DX Club are QRV
 with special call sign 4 U 2 STAYHOME until December 31.
 QSL via UA 3 DX.

 (arrl)

 --------------

 GREECE.

 SX 40 ARES is QRV to celebrate the 40 years of the Hellenic
 Amateur Radio Emergency Service. QSL via operators'
 instructions.

 (ARRL)

 --------------

 INDIA

 AU2JCB until December 15 celebrates the birthday of scientist
 and radio pioneer Aacharya Jagadish Chandra Bose.

 QSL direct to VU 2 DSI.

 In addition, look for special calls AT 2 JCB, AU 3 JCB,
 VU 5 JCB and AU 8 JCB to be active as well.

 (eHam)


 --------------

 SOMALIA.

 Ali, EP3CQ is QRV as 6 O 1 OO until January 15, 2021 while
 working for the UN Department of Safety and Security in
 Mogadishu. Activity 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and FT8.

 the 6O1OO station, currently is the only active and licensed
 Amateur Radio Station in Somalia.

 IRCs are not accepted. No LoTW. Only Dollars please, in fact
 five of them! This includes a small donation to the station
 as his post on QRZ.COM says "- Sorry guys I need to replace
 the equipment and maintain the station in order to keep it on
 air. No luxury situation here. Due to the super harsh weather
 conditions, hot humid, windy, and salty there is a necessity
 to change the equipment antennas, wires, UPS and defect RF
 units on regular basis. So I need and rely on your donations
 to keep the station running.

 On and off air since February 2019, his callsign (6O1OO) is
 accepted for DXCC credit.

 --------------

 INDONESIA.

 8 A 1 0N until December 10 celebrates Indonesia's
 "National Heroes Day 2020".

 Activity is on various HF bands and modes. QSL via LoTW.

 (eHam)

 --------------

 NEW ZEALAND

 Active is ZM4T this weekend during the CQWW DX CW Contest
 (Nov28-29) and QSL is via LoTW.

 (SouthGate)

 --------------


 
 SANTA ALERT

 Hope QSO parties over Christmas

 Following the RSGB's successful Hope QSO parties earlier in
 the year, the HF Contest Committee is launching two further
 short Christmas Hope Party series to run as part of the
 Societys "Get on the air for Christmas" campaign with the NHS.

 The first starts Monday, 21 December.
 Second Monday, 4 January 2021.

 Each series has two phone, two CW, two RTTY and two FT4 events

 For more informationincluding a link to the rulesvisit the
 Get on the air for Christmas page at rsgb.org/gota4c.

 As part of this RSGB and NHS campaign Get On the Air for
 Christmas the NHS amateur radio station GB 1 NHS will be on
 air on Sunday, 20 December and Wednesday, 30 December 2020.

 The Society is also delighted that Ofcom is supporting the
 use of /NHS as a suffix to call signs during the campaign,
 which runs from Saturday, 19 December 2020 through to
 Saturday, 9 January 2021.




 David, N3NTV, has announced the Santa Watch Net on
 Christmas Eve, December 24, hosted by the
 DoDropIn EchoLink node 355800, getting under way at 1800 UTC.

 (ARRL)




 Members of the Finish Market Reef Christmas DX Association
 (OH9A gang) will be operating special event station OG1XMAS
 on all bands and modes from November 29 to December 26.

 (SouthGate)




 3 special calls celebrate Christmas BUT no QSL cards.

 PA 20 XMAS, PD 20 SANTA and  PD20ELF during the Christmas
 holiday season NO cards BUT an award for working 2 or more.

 ( qrz.com/db/PA20XMAS )




 Coronavirus has altered the way that communities are
 celebrating this Christmas, meaning Santa Claus may not
 be able to make in-person visits. One Longmont club, based in
 the USA though, is giving Kris Kringle some air time so that
 he can still hear from Boulder Countys children in a
 safe-distanced way. 

 The Longmont Amateur Radio Club will host "On Air With Santa"
 from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1 to Dec. 5, encouraging licensed
 ham radio operators to give their children and grandchildren
 a chance to connect with Santa in a safe, distanced way.

 Firestones Chuck Poch, president of the radio club, said
 this is the first time that the Longmont Amateur Radio Club
 has hosted the event. While the Longmont Amateur Radio Club 
 wants to give children a chance to connect with Santa,
 members also hope to transmit an interest in the next
 generation of ham radio operators.

 (eHam)




 For the 15th consecutive year, The 3916 Nets will present
 "The Santa Net on 3.916 MHz."

 Good girls and boys can talk to Santa Claus, or outside
 the USA listen in, via amateur radio nightly at 7:15 PM
 (Central).

 The Santa Net will run through Christmas Eve, December 24.

 (eHam)




 There's even more Christmas fun happening in Oz, with the
 Mackay Amateur Radio Association holding the End of Year
 Breakup on Saturday 5th December from 12pm in the sumptuous
 bistro at Magpies Sporting Club Glenella. Come along and help
 send off  2020 in air conditioned comfort. Contact Secretary
 Gary VK4CUZ with your attendance numbers NOW !


 South East Queensland Amateur Television Group is holding its
 Christmas meeting Tuesday December 1 at 7:30 PM Redcliffe
 Radio Clubrooms in Klingner Rd. Feel free to bring a plate.




 theTARCinc 2020 Christmas Party and Monster Auction happens
 on Sunday December 13th from 10-30am at the Big Shed,
 Girl Guides Camping and Training Centre Bluewater.

 Day admission to the centre is $10 per head

 A COVID-19 sanitation point and sign-in point will be active
 as the limit as of 17th November 2020 is 50 persons.



 That's the SANTA ALERT for now, if you know of any
 Ham Happenings where Santa is likely to show up then drop
 Graham, the jolly WIANews Editor, a line 
 nationalnews@wia.org.au

 Still NOWHERE near the North Pole, I'm Lyndall VK4ZM in
 Paradise, counting the sleeps 'till Christmas.


------------------------------------------------------------*


 WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

 5 MHz
	
 Is 60m Within Our Grasp?

 Back at the beginning of May 2020 WIA Vice President VK3GK
 Lee Moyle told us how  the ACMA website had called for
 public comment, seeking feedback on amateur access to the
 5 MHz band in Australia and how the WIA were asking we VKers
 to respond along with the WIA.

 The WIA representing over 3000 licensed radio amateurs in
 Australia and well over 50% of the cohort of amateur licensees
 through their network of affiliated amateur radio clubs was
 well placed to conduct the survey which, along with individual
 submissions was published by ACMA October 28.

 So will we get a brand new band under our Christmas Tree this
 year, it is anticipated ACMA will advise on their decision
 maybe in time for the Yule Tide.  





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS  ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
 
 tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
 THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD
 BEVAN

 Moscow Aviation Institute Plans SSTV Event from ISS

 IW 2 BSF, reports that a Slow-Scan Television transmission
 event from the International Space Station is currently
 scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Dec 1 at 12:30 UTC, ending at
 18:25 UTC, and again on Wednesday, Dec 2 starting at 11:50 UTC
 and ending at 18:25 UTC.

 Listen for SSTV signals to be downlinked at
 145.800 MHz ± Doppler shift expected to be PD 120.

 [ANS]





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
 FISTS Club - East Asia             feacw.net
 FISTS Club - Australasia           fdu.org.au
 FISTS Club - UK & Europe           fists.co.uk
 FISTS Club - Americas              fists.org 
    
 Recommended FISTS calling frequencies (MHz):
  1.808   3.528   7.028   10.118   14.058   18.085   21.058   24.908 
 28.058 
 

 EVERY THING OLD IS NEW AGAIN

 Transmitting Morse Code via Raspberry Pi Ethernet RF Leakage.

 SQ 5 BPF has been documenting a TEMPEST experiment where he's
 been able to transmit data via RF being leaked from a
 Raspberry Pi's Ethernet connection. 

 The idea was born when he found that his Raspberry Pi 4 was
 leaking a strong RF signal at 125 MHz from the Ethernet cable.
 He went on to find that it was easy to turn a tone on and off
 simply changing the Ethernet link speed with the "ethtool"
 command-line tool. Once this was known it is a simple matter
 of creating a bash script to generate some morse code.

 Quite amazingly the Ethernet RF leakage is very strong.

 With the Raspberry Pi 10 meters away and a steel-reinforced
 concrete wall in between, SQ 5 BPF was able to receive the
 generated morse code via an RTL-SDR connected to a PC.
 Further experiments show that with a Yagi antenna he was able
 to receive the signal from 100 meters away.

 His post explains some further experiments with data bursting
 and provides links to the bash scripts he created, so you can
 try this at home.

 https://tinyurl.com/y4pfojv2

 ( icqpodast )





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
 AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

 The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying four radio amateurs
 docked with the International Space Station.

 The precious payload went into space 2 weeks ago, November 15,
 from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre and consisted of  ISS
 Expedition 64/65 crew.

 "Well, the ISS is loaded with hams now," Amateur Radio on the
 International Space Station US Delegate for ARRL Rosalie White,
 K 1 STO, said. These four arrived in good spirits.

 Shannon, KD5DXB;
 Victor,  KI5BKC;
 Mike,    KF5LJG, and
 Soichi,  KD5TVP.

 Speaking of the International Space Station, members of the
 Ostrow Radio Amateur Radio Club in Poland are QRV as S N 3 ISS
 until December 21 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of active
 amateur radio communication service on the ISS.
 QSL via SP 3 POW.

 (arrl)




  Happy 7th birthday to AO-73, FUNcube-1, which was launched
  November 2013. Congratulations to AMSAT-UK on the ongoing
  success of this project.

 (ANS)




 New Launch Date for EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites

 The first satellites built by AMSAT-EA are EASAT-2 and HADES.

 Flying with SpaceX, these two nanosats are scheduled for
 launch January 14.

 They have been configured to act as FM voice and FSK data
 repeaters and not as linear transponders as was the initial
 plan and are believed to be the smallest satellites ever given
 such a function, as their size is only 7.5 x 5 x 5 cm.

 Hades also flies a SSTV camera that will take and send
 pictures each 15 minutes. 

 Hades    FM voice repeater, callsign AM6SAT
           uplink 145.925 MHz (no tone), downlink 436.888 MHz

 EASAT-2  FM voice repeater, callsign AM5SAT
           uplink 145.875 MHz (no tone), downlink 436.666 MHz

 Both satellites have also digitized FM voice beacons and
 FSK data repeaters.

 (AMSAT-NA)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN.

 Plans to beam 5G signals to the public via drones that stay
 airborne for nine days at a time have been announced by two
 UK firms. 

 They want to use antenna-equipped aircraft powered by
 hydrogen to deliver high-speed internet connectivity
 to wide areas.

 Stratospheric Platforms and Cambridge Consultants say they
 could cover the whole of the UK with about 60 drones. But
 telecoms analysts question whether the economic case for this
 scheme is quite as simple as it sounds.

 The Cambridge-based companies say they would run the service
 in partnership with existing mobile operators. They are
 already backed by Deutsche Telekom, which hopes to trial the
 technology in rural southern Germany in 2024.

 (icqpodast)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- OPTICS

 Do you have what it takes to be TOP BULB?

 Not sure what category of Special Interest Groups this story
 fits into, but seeing it kinda does use light what better place?

 This is a story many may have missed yet its a story of a
 Ham Contest running several years.

 As I said at the outset. "Do you have what it takes to be
 TOP BULB?"

 The contest is known as "LightBulb QSO Party"

 The Objective of the Lightbulb QSO Party is to build and use
 an antenna constructed in a manner so that the lightbulb is a
 key component of the antenna and to promote understanding and
 practical application of antenna matching concepts that allow
 a lightbulb to be used as a radiator in two way radio
 communications.

 TWO categories of competition

 In the Household category, the antenna is constructed with a
 SINGLE lightbulb serving as the radiator.  Any lightbulb
 available for home use, including decorative lightbulbs
 may be employed.


 In the Freestyle category, as many lightbulbs as desired
 may be employed in the antenna design.  If you make your own
 lightbulb, it must be capable of radiating visible light when
 energy is applied. A dull glow is OK, as long as the light
 emitted is visible. This is the ANYTHING GOES category,
 so get creative and advance lightbulb antenna technology!

 hamsignal.com/blog/lightbulb-qso-party-2020





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
 
 IARU REGION 3
 Emergency Centre of Activity (CoA) frequencies  
 3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz        
      

 Region 1 3760  7110  14300  18160  21360 kHz

 Region 2 3750  3985  7060  7240  7275  14300  18160  21360 kHz
 
 The Townsville City Autosports Club ( TCAC ) King Of The Hill
 Hill climb on the Mount Stuart Road is where we see many
 Townsville Amateur Radio Club members and support crew out in
 the field mixing radio with high speed organized auto sports. 

 Operators man the Start and Flying Finish positions on the
 Mount Stuart Road. 

 It's also a chance to get a CAMS Officials Licence. 
 
 2021 sees 4 Sunday events, 28 March / 30 May / 25 July / 26
 September





 When is a 'safety' net not safe?

 Could it be during a pandemic?

 Well whatever, as they have since 1969, ham radio operators
 helped race officials keep tabs on participants in last 
 weekends JFK 50 Mile race in the USA.

 The race director, said members of the Antietam Radio
 Association play a key role in the nation's oldest
 ultramarathon. The radio operators' work at the race started
 in an era before cell phones, he said, and it's still needed.

 There are so many dead spots on that course where cell phones
 don't work," he said. "Ham Radios don't have any dead spots.
 They're our safety nets." 

 The President of the Antietam Radio Association, said at
 least 30 volunteers were assigned to the 58th annual event.

 (story sourced to eHam.cm)





 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE (The Plumbers Delight) 

 ARRL has petitioned the FCC to reconsider its order removing
 the secondary amateur allocation at 3.3  3.5 GHz and
 requiring that amateur operations in the 3.450  3.500 GHz
 band cease on a date consistent with the first possible
 grant of flexible use authorizations to new users.

 The amateur services in this band long have been operated on
  a secondary allocation status, functionally similar to the
  de facto secondary status of Part 5 experimental licenses,
  whose continued operation was (correctly) approved in the
  same proceeding, ARRL told the FCC. Continued operation of
  amateur stations similarly should be permitted in the vacant
  portions of this spectrum that otherwise will go unused.

 ( arrl.org )


------------------------------------------------------------*


 2020 Social Scene


 KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles
 #2MetersMatters


 Due to the COVID-19 situation, please check these events'
 direct for up-to-date status information.

 2020 

 VK4:-

 South East Queensland Amateur Television Group is holding its
 Christmas meeting Tuesday December 1 at 7:30 PM Redcliffe
 Radio Clubrooms in Klingner Rd. Feel free to bring a plate.
                                                      (vk4yac)

 VK4 - Mackay Amateur Radio Association End of Year Breakup
       Saturday 5th December from 12pm  Magpies Sporting Club
                                                       (vk4zm) 

 VK4 - TARC Xmas Party - Sun 13th December from 2pm     (tarc)

 VK4 - TARC Xmas Lights Tour - Fri 18th December        (tarc)



 2021

 VK4 - TARC Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp
       Thursday afternoon 21st to Tuesday afternoon 26th
       January at Girl Guides Association of Queensland 
       Campsite  and Training Centre Bluewater.        (vk4zz)

 VK2 - WYONG FIELD DAY February 28                    ( vk4zz)

 VK4 - REDFEST 2021 April Ten                         (vk4tfn)

 VK  - ALARAMEET 2021 Bendigo VK3 October 1 - 4        (vk5yl)

 VK7 - VK7 biennial HamFest Miena Community Hall       (vk7tw)
 


 SOCIAL DISTANCING
 
 KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles





 Reception Reports

 WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a
 welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs
 straight after the Local News. Local news follows National
 news in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would
 email their reception reports and location to
 callbacks @ wia.org.au


------------------------------------------------------------*




Submitting news items

If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion in the
VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to

	nationalnews @ wia.org.au 

and don't JUST send url's links or posters,
but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.

To submit audio email nationalnews @ wia.org.au and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/

We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 minutes in
length as we only have a half hour.

Remember the sooner you submit material the more the likelihood of it
being broadcast in the very next edition of WIA National News.
Each item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of
mentions, please submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh'
and always if the news room is to read your item ---
write it in the 3rd person. (First if YOU are reading your own item)


A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug
DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put
your supporters 'goods' in this text edition "no worries."

We cannot give blatant 'plugs' to raffles.

	vk1wia-broadcasters @ lists.wia.org.au


---------------------------------------------------------------------*

Oh... and to contact us with your news because
Iters To You It Matters To Us!

	Email nationalnews @ wia.org.au 

and for audio wia.org.au click news in member area

Please... If you are only submitting text and not audio, NEVER send
just links & url's but write your story as you would expect to hear
it being read back.


Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!

WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on
wiaq.org.au

BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!! thanks to Tony VK7AX
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/

wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
to the original text version and original audio on wia site)


=====================================================================

WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.

TWITTER twitter.com/VK1WIA

Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to
the actual broadcast date, 
		e-mail nationalnews @ wia.org.au

Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who knows, you might
even get a "cheerio call".

Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast.
Who and where are they?
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/

The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
WIA affiliated clubs and active amateurs residing in Australia and
the globe.

We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
Australia and participation in the activities of local clubs.
Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit
material and do not necessarily reflect those of the rebroadcasters,
nor the National WIA, but IF broadcast, are done so in the spirit in
which they were submitted."

Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form,
a credit to WIANews wouldn't go astray...

If you would like to see the call-backs reported each broadcast,
OR have call-backs to contribute to the National News call back
tally then please send through your call-backs to
	
	callbacks @ wia.org.au


How do I join this National News List?
(subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.)

	Email to vk1wia-news-join @ lists.wia.org.au

from the email account that you wish the emails to go to.


How do I leave this National News List? (unsubscribe your weekly feed)
Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want to
unsubscribe from. Send unsubscribe to the list

	unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave @ lists.wia.org.au

You will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the instructions
given in that mail to complete the unsubscription.

Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably
receive another message confirming your unsubscription from the list,
and at that point you should stop receiving messages.

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 		(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)



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