WESTLAKES NEWS FOR THE 7TH OCTOBER 2012

The lucky winner of the clubs meat tray yesterday was Leonie VK2FHRK The winning ticket was drawn out of the ticket tumbler by new member Peter. Enjoy the meat tray Leonie. In this months edition of A.R. Magazine, the WIA are seeking input from Amateur radio operators around Australia on the current Foundation licence concept/ time for a review. Some of the ideas that have been put forward are use of Digital modes but with this brings more questions in an exam which is meant to be an entry point into Amateur radio - the hobby. Extra power etc are some of the other issues that have been put forward. If you would like to put in a submission please send it to WIA P.O. BOX 2042 BAYSWATER VICTORIA 3153 or by email to nationaloffiLeoniece@wia.org.au Next weekend Diane will be back to man the canteen. I have no idea what she will cook - just have to wait and see. The clubs next general meeting will be held on the 13th October commencing at 1330 hrs in the library. Please come along and help make some decisions as this is your club. As I write this broadcast I am not sure if the club is doing the Oceania contest or not but below are the new rules and guidelines in brief for those who are taking part in it or just given numbers away. 2012 Oceania DX Contest A reminder that the 2012 Oceania DX Contest will be bringing plenty of action to the HF bands over the next two weekends. The PHONE section is on this coming weekend (6/7 October) and the CW section is on the following weekend (13/14 October). This contest provides a unique opportunity to contact a large number of Oceania stations using SSB and CW modes on all of the non-WARC bands between 160M and 10M. As well as VK, ZL and YB stations we are expecting a good turnout from some of the rarer Oceania entities. Note: Oceania 40M PHONE operators are reminded to listen above 7125 kHz for North America stations (and above 7175 kHz for USA General Class licensees). NEW PLAQUES FOR 2012 CONTEST The contest committee is pleased to announce that a number of new plaques are being sponsored for winners in the 2012 contest, as per the following list: - Top entrant from Oceania in the PHONE M1 category (sponsored by Northern Corridor Radio Group in memory of VK6NE) - Top entrant from Oceania in the PHONE Single Operator Single Band 40M category (sponsored by Mike Mather ZL2CC) - Top entrant from Oceania in the CW Single Operator Single Band 40M category (sponsored by Mike Mather ZL2CC) - Top entrant from Oceania in the PHONE M2 category (sponsored by the South Pacific Contest Club) - Top entrant from Oceania in the CW M2 category (sponsored by the South Pacific Contest Club) - Top entrant from Asia in the PHONE M2 category (sponsored by QRO Communications and OM Power) - Top entrant from Asia in the CW M2 category (sponsored by QRO Communications and OM Power) - Top entrant from VK in the PHONE Single Operator All Band Low Power category (sponsored by the Australia Central Coast Amateur Radio Club) - Top entrant from VK in PHONE Single Operator All Band HIGH Power category (sponsored by Tony Hambling VK3VTH) Additionally, Lee Moyle VK3GK is the new sponsor of the the plaque awarded to the top entrant from Asia in the PHONE Single Operator ALL Band category, and the rules for the Australia Club plaque have been updated so that an Australian club now only requires 3 participant stations in order to compete for this award. 2012 RULES Oceania stations can work other Oceania and non-Oceania stations. Non-Oceania stations can only work Oceania stations. PHONE: 08:00 UTC Saturday 6 October to 08:00 UTC Sunday 7 October CW: 08:00 UTC Saturday 13 October to 08:00 UTC Sunday 14 October Bands: 160M to 10M (excluding WARC bands). Exchange: RS(T) + serial number. QSO points: 20 points per QSO on 160M; 10 points on 80M; 5 points on 40M; 1 point on 20M; 2 points on 15M; and 3 points on 10M. Final Score: The sum of the QSO points multiplied by the number of prefixes worked (the same prefix can be counted once on each band). Entry Categories: Single Operator All Band Low Power (max 100W) Single Operator All Band High Power Single Operator Single Band Low Power (max 100W) Single Operator Single Band High Power M1 Multiple Operators and Single Transmitter (only one transmitted signal at any time) M2 Multiple Operators and Two Transmitters (no more than two transmitted signals at any time and on different bands) MM Multiple Operators and Multiple Transmitters (no more than one transmitted signal at any time on each band) Shortwave Listener (receive only) All Band Log Submission: All logs must be emailed or postmarked NO LATER than 12 November 2012. Electronic logs are to be in Cabrillo format. Email PHONE logs to ph@oceaniadxcontest.com and CW logs to cw@oceaniadxcontest.com 73 and we look forward to seeing you in the pile ups! Oceania DX Contest Committee ZL1AZE/VK3MI, ZL3GA, VK2HN, VK3TZ, VK4TS, VK6DXI, VK7GN IARU News: Peter Lake, ZL2AZ, Appointed Chairman of IARU Region 3 The Directors in IARU Region 3 have voted to appoint Peter Lake, ZL2AZ, of Wellington, New Zealand, as the Chairman of IARU Region 3. He replaces Michael Owen, VK3KI, who passed away unexpectedly last month. Owen, who was also President of the Wireless Institute of Australia, had served as Region 3 Chairman since 2006. "I am extremely grateful to my fellow Directors for their support in this difficult time, and for the procedural work by [IARU Region 3] Secretary Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP, to formalize an appointment," Lake said in a statement. "I will do my best to carry through all the work that we have in progress, much of it due to items and ideas put in place by Michael. It is my privilege to have the opportunity to serve you, the Member Societies and fellow amateurs in Region 3. Lake -- who has been a licensed amateur for more than 50 years -- has been involved with IARU activities for more than 25 years and a Director of Region 3 since February 2005. He began his professional career as an engineer, first with the New Zealand Post Office and then with Telecom New Zealand. He followed this with 14 years at a small and specialized telecommunications consulting company in Wellington that included a wide variety of assignments in the Pacific, Asia and Southeast Asia. “My ‘style’ will probably be different from Michael’s in some ways,” Lake explained, “but our goals are the same -- to ensure a growing and successful IARU Region 3.” Well that's all the news I have this week. Do you have a news items that you would like read out on a broadcast? Contact Richard VK2FRKO on email address vk2frko@tpg.com.au or give the item to Richard at the club. Now to wind up. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street, TERALBA - and is open on Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm. To make contact at other times, try dialling (02) 49 581588 where an answering service operates. Visitors are alway welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, long-life milk, and an interesting selection of biscuits.