NEWS BROADCAST FOR AUGUST 25TH 2013.

At your club yesterday were members painting and doing the final touches to the e-gress doors. Greg VK2CW must of been painting as he had more paint on him than the door. Many thanks must go to everyone involved in getting these doors finished to lock up stage. Well yesterday was the start of many Foundation Licence examinations and in attendance were Graham O'Brien VK2FA and Kim Piper VK2ZW who were putting the clubs new assessors and trainers through their 1st paces so that they know what is required for future examinations. Am not sure of the results but hopefully ALL candidates passed. Thanks Graham and Kim for taking the time to assist the Westlakes Club. Dave VK2RD was seen in a car in the car park trying to chase up some rare DX. Dave was in fact talking to the Foundation candidates on HF. Thanks Dave for your help yesterday. Last week the cry went out for more ice creams to be purchased and yesterday Diane delivered 4 boxes to the club. Remember if you run out of anything please let a Committee person know. In the canteen Michael was cooking up a feast, not sure what was cooked but as a guess I would say hamburgers. Les Smith was also at the club to show everyone one of our next projects - a receiver on 80 meters. Soon this will be made available to everyone as a kit so listen out for in these future broadcasts for the release date of this kits. In the library Ted VK2UI reached into the ticket tumbler and drew a ticket out. How could this person win as this person was not at the club. Leonie VK2FHRK was the lucky winner but Alan VK2JED bought the ticket. As Alan said I always like to get in for my chop. Enjoy the meat tray Leonie. In last weeks broadcast call backs Col, VK2YP reported that Norm VK2ZG was taken to the Royal North Shore hospital. Michael VK2CCW is pleased to advise that he spoke to Norm yesterday and Norm is back at home. We wish you a speedy recovery Norm from everyone at the club. International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) organisers express thanks to the record number registered for the fun-event, and many thousands who contacted them. Held last weekend the annual event saw 526 registrations, more than 50 above the 2012 record, or a 10 per cent jump. At Alice Springs a novelty lighthouse was built for the dry river boat race, the Henley-on-Todd Regatta. It contacted other lighthouses in the Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal, Europe, the Pacific and right around Australia. A total of 54 countries were listed. The Green Cape Lighthouse in the Ben Boyd National Park south of Eden in New South Wales Australia saw a two-day celebration to mark its 130th anniversary. Australia's first cast concrete lighthouse tower has been in the ILLW since it began in 1998. On its birthday it was lit up using a million candela beams that swept the Pacific Ocean. Some 150 people present on Saturday included the Mayor Ken Taylor, the local Member of Parliament Andrew Constance and ILLW Organiser Kevin Mulcahy VK2CE - who was quoted in the local media. Many others gained very positive news media stories throughout the world. They included King Island's Currie Lighthouse by Tony Hambling VK3VTH/7, who worked other lighthouses in Europe and elsewhere in 447 contacts. ABC Radio Hobart looked at Tasmanian lighthouses. Among them were Ray Smith VK7VKV from Low Head Lighthouse VK7LH and Andrew Boon VK7AW at the Iron Pot. On the weekend Malaysia had 16 registrations returning in force. Also back after an absence were the Canary Islands, Estonia, Malta, The Philippines, Sardinia, Slovenia and Taiwan. New countries were Algeria 7T9A at Cape Falcon and Serbia YU/IZ1VUC activating the Tamis River West lighthouses. Those and others registered for their debuts and hopefully most will again. Germany led on 72, followed by Australia 69, USA 66 and England 38. About 20 each were listed for Argentina, Canada, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa and Sweden. On the air there was a greater awareness and participation. Despite poor weather at some locations, most likened them to the lifestyle of yesteryear lighthouse keepers. Reports from participants are being accepted and uploaded to the website. Photos and comments are most welcome to vk2ce@illw.net Already 35 have registered for 2014 - will we achieve another 500 - only time will tell. Westlakes Club have already rebooked Norah Head Lighthouse for next year and already all the beds have been taken with club members. NEWS FROM THE ACMA: ACMA guards the spectrum. All radio amateurs have knowledge of the spectrum, that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issues licences and is responsible for its orderly use. The ACMA monitors spectrum use according to the planning guidelines of the International Telecommunications Union, and it aims to avoid harmful interference between the myriad of users. Each January it publishes the Australian Radio Frequency Spectrum Plan for general information showing the uses and further direction of its management. Because of the potential for interference, spectrum is described in economic terms as being a finite, instantly renewable, natural resource. It has significant value and must be managed to maximise its overall benefit, including the sale of the so-called ‘digital dividend’. The other reason for managing the spectrum is the harmonisation between countries. Generally speaking, Australia's various industry sectors, and ultimately consumers, benefit from international agreements for spectrum arrangements and standards. Now the ACMA has a plain language video to explain this complex area which it calls Spectrum 101, giving a good overview and highly recommended viewing by all. www.acma.gov.au/Citizen/Consumer-info/All-about-spectrum/What-is-it-and REMEMBER EVERYONE IF YOU DON'T USE IT WE WILL LOOSE IT New Comms for Victorian fire fighters: New GPS radios for Victorian fire fighters. The installation has begun of 6,000 new radios in fire fighting vehicles, aircraft, incident control centres, fire towers and work centres.The project, led by the Department of Primary Industries and Environment, is to be compatible with CFA systems, the SES and other neighbouring states to simplify communications between the fire fighting agencies. It manages the Network Emergency Organisations radio terminal fleet which includes Parks Victoria, VicForests and Melbourne Water. The $24.6 million project sees the current 19 year-old radio fleet replaced with a digital-capable system in vehicles and handheld radios for operational staff. Each radio fitted with GPS will enable their tracking in real time to improve operations, logistics and safety. The program calls for 2,000 radios to be fitted in the next six months, with the rest in 2014/15. Richard VK2FRKO would like to report that a installer of this equipment has told him that if smoke gets between the tower and the FIRE TANKER ALL comms ARE LOST. Also when the trucks are driving around the scrub, unless they have line of sight of the radio tower, comms are also lost. They call this modern technology. REMINDERS: Not forgetting our club Field Day which will be held on the 15th September ( this is a Sunday ) and the club is looking for donations of equipment for the auction table. Remember no TVs, computer monitors, VCRs. Why not come and have your stall. If you are interested please contact Barrie VK2ABD to book your spot and remember to bring your own table for your goods. The famous Westlakes BBQ will be cooking steak and sausages and serving fresh salad for sandwiches. The guessing competition for the number of jelly beans in the jar will once again be there as a fund raising venture. Andrews Communications WILL NOT BE HERE THIS YEAR AND THIS IS DUE TO OTHER COMMITMENTS. PRODUCT REVIEW: Designed, manufactured and assembled entirely the UK, the GEMINI linear amplifier is an all new solid state linear amplifier with 300 Watt output available in 6, 4 and 2 mtr versions. Designed to fill a market gap between the low power outputs of transverters and smaller rigs and the 1kW plus amplifiers that not all users want or can afford, the Gemini range combines low drive requirements with instant on solid state performance. Furthermore GEMINI is a complete turnkey solution incorporating a complete integral 50V linear power supply so no external PSU is required. First production will be a 4m (70MHz) version to be followed with 6m (50MHz) and 2m (144MHz) versions. Key features: Solid state instant-on design Integral 50V linear power supply Advanced cooling design ensures high duty cycle operation for MGM modes with low fan noise In-built sequencer Full protection against overdrive, high SWR and over-temperature Ultra compact all aluminium chassis measuring just 270w x 300d x 120h mm Input drive levels from 3W – 25W can be specified Pricing has yet to be confirmed. Full details are available at www.linearamp.co.uk Want something to read? Go to this site and download this article- CQ-DATV issue 5 now available. CQ-DATV issue 5 is now available as a free eBook download from www.cq-datv.mobi This time it's bigger than ever 20Mb + please download your copy now. 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 from around 11:00 am. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6:00 pm. 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, a good Canteen and an interesting selection of biscuits.

NEWS BROADCAST FOR AUGUST 11TH 2013

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE WIA. Phil Waite announced that the ACMA have told the WIA that the High Power Trial will *NOT*_ be extended past the end of August. The reason given, was that the ACMA believe that some of the respondents in the test did not understand EMR and the regulations related thereto. It was added that this lack of knowledge was not just related to Amateur Radio but other areas as well. The WIA will be allowed to re-apply for the KW permit next year - presumably by proving education around EMR has taken place.Naturally this will be a disappointment to many Advanced licensees, not the least for those who participated in the trial over the past year. The WIA is also disappointed. The ACMA revealed that its decision was reached after reviewing data it obtained during an assessment process that began back in March this year. According to the ACMA, the trial demonstrated a lack of awareness by some Advanced Licensees of their licence conditions. Of particular concern to the ACMA were issues related to compliance with electromagnetic energy requirements and that this lack of awareness is not confined to the use of higher power than the 400 watts already permitted. The ACMA said that the results of the trial demonstrate there is a need to raise awareness among licensees of their licence conditions, and that this should not be confined to Advanced Licensees, adding that the ACMA looks forward to working with the WIA to achieve that objective. It is important to realize that radio amateurs are not being singled out here. Compliance with electromagnetic energy requirements applies to all apparatus licensees, including broadcasting, maritime services and others. The ACMA also remarked on the lack of awareness of electromagnetic energy compliance generally among other licensees. To address this issue, and to prepare for another approach to the ACMA next year, the Institute has begun implementing plans to promote widespread awareness of the necessary compliance with electromagnetic energy requirements for amateur stations. Electromagnetic radiation is not just a technical issue, it also a political issue among sectors of the community, as you may be aware, and we as licensed amateurs need to be mindful of that. Maybe a ACMA rep can attend the club to tell and show us exactly what they want. Now back to Club news. Yesterday at your club the lighthouse crew were getting items ready for the track down to Norah Head next weekend. Also the working bee team were discussing cutting of the new doors that will hopefully be done this Tuesday all going well. Lasts weeks meat tray winner Ted VK2UI was at the club to draw a lucky number out of the ticket tumbler. This weeks meat tray winner was Aly VK2AFZ. Enjoy the meat tray Aly and remember who your friends are next week if there is a raffle. From the canteen manageress. Diane has asked that if supplies have run out in the kitchen i.e. ICE CREAMS would you please let her know. If Diane doesn't know what’s needed she cannot get the goods. Diane's email address is worley51@tpg.com.au Geoff VK2EO has got a better deal from our current internet provider Exetel so watch out for the faster speeds when surfing the web. Thanks Geoff job well done. Remembrance Day Contest is on next weekend as is the Lighthouse and Lightships weekend. Westlakes A.R.C. will be taking part in both the RD Contest and Lightships weekend next weekend from Norah Head Lighthouse. A small number of members from the club will be at the Lighthouse from Friday arvo through to mid Sunday morning and working as many lighthouses as they possibly can as well as other stations that may call in. So listen out for VK2ATZ portable from Norah Head Lighthouse. There will be a broadcast from Norah Head next Sunday at 09:00 hrs. RD - Final Reminder from VK4SN. This is the last reminder for the Remembrance Day Contest next weekend, the 17th and 18th of August. Six points to note are. 1. Read the rules and info on the website. 2. Remember the start and finish times are 03:00Z. (1:00 pm local) 3. Please try and use the supplied computer loggers and not Excel spread sheets. 4. Nominate your team members to me prior to the start of the contest. 5. Remember that the exchange is the number of years as a ham - not a serial number. and above all, 6. Please remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Because the ILLW is on the same weekend, May I suggest calling cq Remembrance Day, or CQ lighthouse depending on your choice of activity. I wish you a great time in the RD and PLEASE, send me your log after the contest. 73's and hope to exchange numbers with you soon. This from Alan, VK4SN Remembrance Day Contest Manager. Your Wireless Gear Soon to be Obsolete and AudioTechnology Magazine has a plan! The Governments spectrum selloff will see an estimated 150,000 wireless devices around the country being made obsolete, clearly this isn't just an 'industry' problem. Around 150,000 wireless audio devices currently in use (4 in every 5) will need to be scrapped. Cost to replace? Up to $220m. To continue to use radio mics beyond December 31st 2014 users will need to: Ensure your devices operate between 520 and 694MHz, or Buy new equipment that will operate within the new approved spectrum. If you operate illegally, then under the 1992 Radiocommunications Act it could mean a hefty fine. If you replace your equipment, you'll be doing so without any compensation whatsoever. But how to express your outrage? Google AWAG. AWAG has an online petition which will allow us to collectively get the government's attention. www.wirelessaudioaustralia.org/ New (and fun) Contest Recently, the Manly-Warringah Radio Society made a bulk purchase of portable flagpoles for use as antenna masts. This inspired the club to create a new radio contest, specifically aimed at encouraging fun, portable operations, preferably using a flagpole as part of your antenna system. Full details of the contest are on the club web site at www.mwrs.org.au, but a few key points are: - that this is a FUN contest, and not to be taken too seriously - any mode and frequency is permitted - extra points will be awarded for contacts with flagpole stations - more extra points for contacts with F-calls (Flagpole-calls? HI) - even more extra points will be awarded for submitting (by email, SSTV, or any other means) a photo of your station showing your station's flagpole. There will be calling frequencies on 40 and 80 metres, as well as the club 2m repeater for those of you in Sydney with only VHF access. The first MWRS Flagpole Contest will take place on 21 September. Because this date is close to International Talk-like-a-Pirate Day (on the 19th), extra points may also be awarded if your station photo includes a Jolly Roger or other humorous flag of your choice. Details again are at www.mwrs.org.au. Just enter 'flagpole' in the search box. (Richard Murnane VK2SKY) (Direct link: http://www.mwrs.org.au/2013/08/04/mwrs-flagpole-contest/) REMINDERS: Not forgetting our club Field Day which will be held on the 15th September ( this is a Sunday ) and the club is looking for donations of equipment for the auction table. Remember no TVs, computer monitors, VCRs. Why not come and have your stall. If you are interested please contact Barrie VK2ABD to book your spot and remember to bring your own table for your goods. The famous Westlakes BBQ will be cooking steak and sausages and serving fresh salad for sandwiches. The guessing competition for the number of jelly beans in the jar will once again be there as a fund raising venture. Andrews Communications WILL NOT BE HERE THIS YEAR AND THIS IS DUE TO OTHER COMMITMENTS. Well that's all the news we 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 from around 11:00 am. 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, a good Canteen and an interesting selection of biscuits. We hope that you can all join us again next Sunday. Remember- Keep your radios signals above the clouds.

WESTLAKES NEWS BROADCAST FOR 4TH AUGUST 2013.

Yesterday at the club was the monthly meeting and some of the topics up for discussion were. The egress doors were discussed and hopefully by our September meeting we will have them completed thanks to Dave VK2RD and Maurie VK2CD who will put their wood working skills to task. The coming weekend at the Norah Head was discussed, rates for Lake Macquarie Council were discussed, the 160 meter tower in the swamp was discussed as the club pays rent on the ground in the swamp,the ride on mower is now usable buts needs a little more work done on it and thanks to Herb VK2ZVF, there was some talk THE IRLP computer which is now completed and operating. The move to the club will give access so maintenance can be done more easly. Geoff VK2EO made a request that he chase up a better deal for internet and that the club moves towards a internet phone and this was granted.Also discussed was Westlakes A.R.C. 50th Anniversary so if anyone has any ideas please contact a committee member with your ideas. Some ideas put forward so far are that the club applies for the a special callsign to be used for 1 year or for a period and let the members use the callsign at their own QTH using the clubs special callsign. At the end of the meeting the draw for the meat tray went ahead. Diane VK2FDNE spun the ticket tumbler and the winner of the clubs last 2 meat trays reached in and selected a ticket. It just happened to be the oldest person at the meeting yesterday... Ted VK2UI... congratulations and enjoy the meat. Just to add a foot note to this, Ted left the club without the meat tray and Diane VK2FDNE kindly dropped off the tray to Ted's QTH. After the drawing of the meat tray a grand feast was then presented to everyone to eat. Thanks Penny for a job well done. During the afternoon Geoff VK2EO connected back up the clubs internet with a brand new modem. Geoff with the help of VK2JJW and VK2RD were seen carrying in a pc - most probably the IRLP pc and soon afterwards Geoff was seen walking around with a yagi's folded dipole section to be used as the antenna as temporary measure. In the activity room Marcel VK2FMDB was demonstrating to Richard VK2FRKO and Geoff VK2YFA his voice recorder that he had constructed to be used in contesting. With a press of a button Marcel's CQ message came to life. The recorder has a delay in which his message could be repeated at certain intervals. If someone answers him, just by pressing the PTT button stops the recorder and then you can pass on each details. If anyone is interested in Marcel's voice recorder please contact Marcel or see someone on the committee. Marcel also had a signal generator which can be used to work a relay on another transmitter. Good to see some great ideas been developed by club members. MORSE CODE CLASSES TO COMMENCE: Anyone wishing to learn morse code or pick up their pace a bit John Trinnie will be holding classes shortly so if you are intersted please pass on your details to our club secretary. Who invented the mobile phone? Nathan Stubblefield was granted a patent May 12, 1908 for a wireless telephone able to transmit calls using radio giving him the recognition he deserves. The large transmitter used is the first proper long-distance phone network. It made possible to broadcast and receive voice and music without wires from home, a car, ships and trains. Stubblefield, a Kentucky melon farmer also invented devices that worked through audio frequency induction. Lighthouse in the middle of Australia. Known as a very big island nation, at the geographic centre of Australia and 1,500 kilometres from the coast is Alice Springs, which hosts the famous Henley-On-Todd Regatta each August - albeit on a usually dry river bed. The Northern Territorians and many visitors take the annual iconic event very seriously with up to 3,000 witnessing the regatta, which began in 1962. There is an interesting story of how this location, in one of the driest parts of Australia, deserves a registration this year in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. Greg Mair VK8GM explains that with the help of the Henley-On-Todd team, a lighthouse has been built to promote the spirit of amateur radio and lighthouses. The Alice Springs lighthouse joining nearly 500 others around the world this year and is certain to attract the attention of local, national and international news media. Australia on 62 and Germany 61 remain the leaders, followed by the USA (46), England (34), Argentina (24), Malaysia, Sweden and Netherlands (15), Scotland and South Africa (14), Canada (13) and Ireland (10). Organisers expect many more registrations in the annual fun event that publicises both the old sea-going navigation methods and portable amateur radio. If you want to register a lighthouse, lightship or marine beacon in this year's event on August the 17th and 18th then visit the website www.illw.net New AOWA yagis for 2m band. Following on from G4CQM's R&D work during 2013, five new AOWA designs for the 2M Band are revealed on Derek's website. These latest designs offer extraordinary performance by any standard. With straight elements, construction is uncomplicated and repeatable. If you are a keen 144MHz Dxer looking for an advantage, you can check out the new beams here...http://g4cqm.www.idnet.com/144NX14X/index.html FOR THE AVID SPACE WATCHER: Curiosity first anniversary event NASA officials and crew members aboard the International Space Station will observe the first anniversary of the Curiosity rover's landing on Mars at a public event in Washington from noon-1:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, August 6. The event will be broadcast on NASA Television and streamed live on the agency's website. Media and the public are welcome to attend to hear highlights from the Mars Science Laboratory's first year of investigations, learn about upcoming NASA robotic missions to the red planet, and speak with astronauts conducting experiments in space that will enable human exploration of Mars in the 2030s. Those interested in attending should plan to arrive at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St. SW, by 11:30 a.m. Seating is limited. Participating will be: • Charles Bolden, NASA administrator • Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR and Karen Nyberg, NASA astronauts, live from the space station • Jim Green, director, Planetary Division, NASA's Science Mission Directorate • Sam Scimemi, director, NASA's International Space Station Program • Prasun Desai, acting director, Strategic Integration, NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate The Mars Science Laboratory mission successfully placed the one-ton Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars on Aug. 6, 2012, UTC and EDT (evening of Aug. 5, 2012, PDT), about 1 mile from the center of its 12-mile-long target area. Within the first eight months of a planned 23-months primary mission, Curiosity met its major science objective of finding evidence of a past environment well-suited to support microbial life. With much more science to come, Curiosity's wheels continue to blaze a trail for human footprints on Mars. To follow the conversation online about Curiosity's first year on Mars, use hashtag #1YearOnMars or follow @NASA and @MarsCuriosity on Twitter. For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv HERES AN IDEA FOR YOU. The G8VHI tower cam. Reg, G8VHI has installed a video camera on the top of his tower.This video shows the 360 degree view and take off seen from the top of Reg's 23cms beam. The beam is on top of his 40ft tower and 20ft pole out the top at 145 meters asl from his QTH in IO92FM Blue Mountains rescue efforts continue As many readers in Australia's VK2 area are aware, there has been an ongoing and prolonged search in the Blue Mountains, West of Sydney, for a missing person from the Fairmont resort near Leura. The search has been reported as one of the largest searches undertaken by NSW Police rescue. WICEN has been providing communications support for the BWRS who are being tasked into the difficult to access areas within the search area. These include canyons and cliffs which are being searched by repetitive abseiling. WICEN has contributed well over 250 hours so far of operational time. Steven Heimann, VK2BOS is the WICEN commander. 5-6 WICEN operators are involved each day and set up radio points that can look into the areas the BWRS are operating in so that comms with BWRS and the command post at the Fairmont resort are maintained. WICEN has a radio point at Sublime Point which is logging the radio traffic between the search teams and the command post utilising relays as needed from the 3-4 WICEN radio points in use. There are many news items on this search in the media. The following is a typical one. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-22/still-hope-for-man-missing-in-blue-mountains/4834468?section=nsw WHO STARTED YOUTUBE: YouTube was invented by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim out of a garage in Menlo Park. The inventors became millionaires when they sold their invention for 1.65 billion dollars to the search engine Google. According to their fact sheet, YouTube was founded in February 2005, as a destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through the Web. Users can upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and YouTube enables video embedding that allows YouTube videos to be placed on non-YouTube pages. REMINDERS: Not forgetting our club Field Day which will be held on the 15th September ( this is a Sunday ) and the club is looking for donations of equipment for the auction table. Remember no TVs, computer monitors, VCRs. Why not come and have your stall. If you are interested please contact Barrie VK2ABD to book your spot and remember to bring your own table for your goods. The famous Westlakes BBQ will be cooking steak and sausages and serving fresh salad for sandwiches. The guessing competition for the number of jelly beans in the jar will once again be there as a fund raising venture. Andrews Communications WILL NOT BE HERE THIS YEAR AND THIS IS DUE TO OTHER COMMITTMENTS. 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 from around 11:00 am. 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, a good Canteen and an interesting selection of biscuits. Have a safe week and we hope that you can all join us again next Sunday......