WESTLAKES NEWS SUNDAY 29 AUGUST 2010

Good Morning this is VK2ATZ, the official station of Westlakes Amateur Radio Club located at Teralaba, Lake Macquarie. Your reader for this morning's local news is 
Brian VK2FG. There should be a HF simulcast on 3.565 MHz this morning courtesy of Warren VK2UWP which is repeated at 7 pm this evening. Westlakes local news is read 
each Sunday on this repeater, VK2RTZ, at 9am local. Following at 10am is a relay of the 
Australia-wide news from the WIA.
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This year's International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend was from all accounts, a fantastic 
two days. There was a world record 447 registrations, four more than last year. On the country 
tally, Germany came out on top with 60 registrations, five up on 2009. Australia was the big 
improver with 57, eight more than its record set last year. Often heard during QSOs with 
lighthouse stations were comments from others seriously thinking about being involved in 
the future. Such is the enthusiasm demonstrated for the fun event that 30 registrations have 
been received for next year. They will soon run out of lighthouses.
Westlakes has already booked the accommodation and the Norah Head site for 2011.
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Decorating the library since yesterday are framed photographs of members operating VK2ATZ in the
Lighthouse event last weekend. They look very smart indeed. The photos were taken (on his new 
camera) and erected by Barrie VK2CXA.
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Please note from now on, the club's meetings will be held on the first Saturday of each month 
meaning that the the next meeting will be held next Saturday 4th September. The starting time 
remains the same - 1.30 pm.
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Also on next weekend, Port Stephens Radio Club will be operating with the WIA Special Event 
callsign VK1000WIA on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th September. Diane VK2FDNE advises that in conjunction,
a 3-day barbecue will be held to promote the occasion. The barbecue is not all day of course but 
at lunch time each day (around 1 pm).The location is the Coast Guard Base, Whitbread Drive Lemon 
Tree Passage. Visitors are welcome. There is a small charge of $2 a head fot the barbecue - that's
cheaper than Maccas!
It's Westlakes' turn with VK100WIA for the last three days that the special call will be used and
those days are 29,30, and 31 October.
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Overseas news. Sony is working on 3D televisions that don't need special glasses, joining a race 
with rival Toshiba, but sees cost and technological hurdles to overcome before they can go on sale.
Toshiba said earlier this week it is working on glasses-free 3D TVs, although no decision had been 
made on when they will be released. Mainstream 3D TVs now on sale, such as those from Panasonic and 
Sony, require glasses. But there are already screens that don't require glasses, mainly intended for 
store displays. They require the viewer to stand in specific spots for the 3D effect to emerge, and 
the image quality is much lower than that of screens using glasses."Seeing 3D without glasses is 
more convenient," Sony Senior Vice President Yoshihisa Ishida said at Tokyo headquarters. "We must 
take account of pricing before we can think about when to start offering them."
Sony showed its latest 3D products for the Japanese market, including flat-panel TVs and Blu-ray 
recorders. Sony said it plans to be number 1 in market share in Japan in 3D TVs and 3D players and 
recorders, taking advantage of its position as an electronics maker with a movie studio. Sony said 
it will start selling in Japan next month two films and two music videos in 3D, and planned home 
software of 3D theatre releases, including a 3D "Spider-Man" opening in 2012.
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Now,closer to home, but still on 3D TV, CHANNEL Nine still hopes to screen this year's National Rugby 
League grand final in 3D despite failing to fulfil necessary legal requirements.The network on Friday 
announced its plans to screen the October 3 match in 3D, following its broadcast of state-of-origin 
rugby league games in 3D this year. But less than two hours later the Australian Communications and 
Media Authority (ACMA) issued a statement saying that Nine had failed to report on consumer, reception, 
interference and technical issues after its trial and no such licence had been issued.
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Anyone who is chasing one of those elusive 2-letter callsigns is reminded to keep an eye on the 
WIA website. As of this morning, the are three available for VK2. They are: GN, UL, and YZ. The
first approach is, of course, to the WIA providing you already hold an advanced class amateur 
licence.
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The September magazine was assembled and dispatched in the club library yesterday. For the hard-
copy version, check your letter box tomorrow, for the all electric recipients, the magazine should 
have arrived via your email in-box.
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A visitor arrived at the club yesterday, it wasthat man of long distance walking fame, Jeff VK4XJJ. 
He received plenty of advice on how to get around a flooded Lake Eyre in central Australia on his 
east-to-west walk across the country planned to start next April. But that's not all. Jeff delivered 
the promised solar panels. Yes, they are in the hands of our storeman, Aly VK2AFZ. Twelve panels 
have been pre-ordered leaving eight still available. They have a capacity of 20 watts, are brand 
new, and guaranteed. The cost is $85 picked up from the club. If you want one or two, don't delay.
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And finally, the meat tray raffle. Once again the winner came from inner sanctum of the club store.
In fact it was an all-store event. The ticket was drawn by Aly VK2AFL and belonged to his assistant,
Geoff VK2GL.
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Well that's all the local news we have this week. This is VK2ATZ. Is there anyone with late news items?


OK, now for callbacks. First portable and/or mobiles please

                      
Second any base stations to acknowlege they were listening

                       
Third are there any comments on today's broadcast

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Now to wind up. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street an is open on
Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon until everyone goes home. Also on a Tuesday evening
from around 6pm again until everyone goes home. Although a Radio Club, we are on the telephone.
Try dialling (02) 49 581588. An answering service operates after hours. Visitors are alway welcome
at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, and long-life milk. Plus, there are biscuits too.