Good Morning and wecome to another local news broadcast for 2011. This is VK2ATZ, The official callsign of
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club located at Teralba, Lake Macquarie. Your reader this morning is Leonie VK2FHRK. There is a fair chance
that an HF simulcast being transmitted today on 3.565 MHz and if you can hear it,the relay by courtesy of Warren VK2UWP. Callbacks
follow at the conclusion of this news and it's all repeated again at 7 pm this evening when the reader will be Brian VK2FG.
Westlakes local news can be heard each Sunday on this repeater, VK2RTZ, at 9am local. Following at 9.30am is a relay of the
Australia-wide amateur radio news from VK1WIA.
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And speaking of the WIA, it has just been announced that the Secretary, Geoff Atkinson VK3TL, has resigned.Geoff Atkinson has been
WIA secretary since February 2008 and only accepted the position on a temporay basis following the death of the previous incumbent.
The new Secretary is Sarah Thompson VK3AUD, recently retired from Telstra. In 1977 sarah spent a year with the Antarctic Division
as a Radio Officer at Macquarie Island. She is currently Secretary of the Moorabbin and District Radio Club, and among her many
interests she is a certified Marriage Celebrant, a member of the RSL, holds a current St Johns Senior First Aid certificate and,
wait for it, holds a Black Belt in Taekwondo. Obviously Sarah VK3AUD is obviously a person not to argue with.
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Westlakes March Magazines are in the mail after the assembly and post out working bee in the club library yesterday. The electric version
in colour, should also be on its way via the mysteries of the Internet.
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Any member chasing a Westlakes club badge, Please listen carefully. There are now new arrangements - quicker and slicker, staight from
the manufacturer to you. If you want a club badge, write to RT Signs, PO Box 119, Stockton 2295. Ask for a blue and white Westlakes ARC
badge. Give you callsign and your first name that you wish to be on the badge plus your postal address.Include $10.30 and your new badge
will appear in your letter box in a few days. It is that easy. The $10.30 charge covers the badge, GST and postage back to you. A message
detailing this information has been placed on the noticeboard in the club's common room.
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It's getter close - Jeff's Walk Number Two. Jeff Johnson VK4XJJ, with the Gympie Radio Club supporting, is getting set to walk across
Australia from Cape Byron to Steep Point operating his FT817. He steps off 24th April and is expected to last 162 days. The crossing
is approximately 5,000 kms. Geoff will transmit on 7045Khz each evening at 1730 AEST. 20m and 80m will also be used on some sections.
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Every year at the Wyong and at Westlakes Field Days there is a lucky draw for those members who front at the club's desk wearing a
blue and white Westlakes club badge. This bit of fun has been running for over 10 years and there were 24 badges registered last Sunday
at Wyong. The winner was David VK2UDW who will receive his prize when he next attends the club.
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The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) has announced that amateurs assisting in communications in the aftermath
of the 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch are using 2 metres only. No HF frequencies are being used. Amateurs and shortwave listeners
around the world have been contacting the NZART enquiring what HF frequencies are being used.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From the ARRL comes the unfortunate news that four Americans including three amateur radio operators who were being held hostage on
their yacht by pirates off the coast of Oman have been killed. Scott Adam, K9ESO and his wife Jean, KF6RVB, along Bob Riggle, KE7IIV
and Phylis Macay were on board the vessel "Quest" when Somali pirates boarded their vessel last week.
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Statistics from Wyong. It eas a busy day the combined VK2QSL/Westlakes stand at the Field Day last Sunday. 147 amateurs picked up
approximately 4,000 QSL cards while 18 Westlakes members paid their 2011/12 fees.
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The Australian Communications and Media Authority has been involved in trials of 3D TV and will continue to authorise further 3D tests
using unassigned digital television channels in a limited number of locations until the end of 2011. ACMA considers it important that
when purchasing 3D TV receivers, consumers understand the current generation of 3D receivers might be not be compatible with future
transmission methods.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weekly meat tray raffle. As there was no club broadcast last Sunday, there are two results to announce. A week ago, the winner was
Ted VK2UI and it was Ted who drew yesterday's winner who was Barry VK2BZ.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solar panels. There are only four 20 watt solar panels left in the Westlakes store. The cost is $85 each and there will be no more -
these are the last.
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And finally, next Saturday 12th March is the date set aside for the March Monthly meeting. It gets underway in the club library at
1.30 pm. A committee meeting will be held at 11.30 pm. From April, the monthly meetings will return to the usual 1st Saturday of
the month.
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Saturday, March 5, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
WESTLAKES NEWS SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2011
The first item today is news of a most interesting web site. It's The Australian Geographical RadioFrequency Map and is a site that
overlays all registered RF transmitters on top of Google Maps. Generic antenna sites are shown with the red RF icon, all
amateur stations are shown by a yellow icon. A mouse-over will give you the site's description, and a click will tell you who
broadcasts from there, and at what frequencies. People interested in the position of every antenna or interested in checking
how close they are to their nearest amateur station or to see where possible interference is coming from, should have a look.
So here it is, every transmitter site in the ACMA database, which is fully searchable on Google Earth by location, site name, client
details, frequency range, emission designator and callsign. This site is definitely one to include in your favourites.
Type in : australian geographical radiofrequency map
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westlakes members are reminded that nomination forms for club executive and committee positions for 2011/2012 are now available from
the secretary. Fresh blood, in the form of a new member, nominated for a position yesterday. The deadline for nominations is Saturday
9 April.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our maintenance man Barry VK2BZ was literally up a ladder yesterday at the club replacing dud security lights. Seen assisting were
ladder holders, and electical advisors. Well done men. No comments please on callbacks about the number of Irishmen needed to change
a light bulb.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now listen carefully. Wyong Field Day is next Sunday. There are no trains running from Newcastle according to information delivered
to Westlakes yesterday. Yes, there will a substitute bus service but that will add some time to the trip. You have been warned.
The gates at Wyong Racecourse will open at 6.30 am to allow entry and setup for Traders / Exhibitors and Flea Marketeers.
The Trader/ Exhibitor areas will open to the public at 9am. Admission is $12 for Adults with free admission for those under 17.
Amateur radio examinations will be conducted on the day by Brian Kelly who can be contacted on 0418659043 for further information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's in sTock in the Westlakes Store. There are No caps, but three Foundation Licence Books, and four Solar panels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a surprise move, Gloria announced that she will attend the club canteen next Saturday (her usual day off). But she will not be there
a week later, that's 4th March. So it's pies and mushey peas only on 4th March! Luckily, the March monthly meeting has been postponed
until the second Saturday of that month which is 12th March so there will be the usual post-meeting afternoon tea, Confusing isn't it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the past few days, there has been a lot of activity on the Sun. On Sunday, February 13 at 1738 UTC, sunspot 1158 unleashed an
M6-level blast and on Tuesday, February 15, the same sunspot unleashed an X-class flare, the strongest solar flare in more than
four years. The source of this activity -- sunspot 1158 -- is growing rapidly. There have been warnings that Earth's communications
What does this mean to radio amateurs? The absorption rate will be most severe on 160 meters, less on 80 and somewhat better on 40 meters.
The maximum usable frequency (MUF) -- the highest frequency by which a radio wave can propagate between given terminals by ionospheric
propagation alone, independent of power -- will be lower and auroral propagation on the VHF bands is quite possible. The latest news on
this solar radiation is that it will mainly miss the Earth so there will be little effect on communications after all. Business will be
as usual. Much ado about nothing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The store strkes back. Yesterday's meat tray raffle was drawn by Bill VK2XT who plucked from the barrel, the ticket belonging to
Ken VK2KJ. Ken wins again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the current edition of Amateur Radio Magazine is a clever article about making a HF antenna from a pair of those "slinky" wire toys.
A slinky is a spring thing that walks down steps by itself. The article was co-written by Westlakes member, Allan VK2VEC. The antenna
is simple to make and apparently works well. It's not often that you come across a radio construction article where the component supplier
is a toy shop. Well done allan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And finally, the best news is last. By a stroke of luck, a local prawn fisherman, has promised a delivery of 20 kg of freshly cooked prawns
which may arrive the club at 9 am tomorrow. Yes, free prawns to all members who turn up. By coincidence, the lawns are going to be mown,
clipped, and snipped at a working bee at the same time. We cannot guarantee the arrival of the prawns. But the lawn mowers, trimmers, and
petrol will definitely be there. So how about it? A couple of new faces to help would be nice to see. That's 9 am tomorrow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
overlays all registered RF transmitters on top of Google Maps. Generic antenna sites are shown with the red RF icon, all
amateur stations are shown by a yellow icon. A mouse-over will give you the site's description, and a click will tell you who
broadcasts from there, and at what frequencies. People interested in the position of every antenna or interested in checking
how close they are to their nearest amateur station or to see where possible interference is coming from, should have a look.
So here it is, every transmitter site in the ACMA database, which is fully searchable on Google Earth by location, site name, client
details, frequency range, emission designator and callsign. This site is definitely one to include in your favourites.
Type in : australian geographical radiofrequency map
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westlakes members are reminded that nomination forms for club executive and committee positions for 2011/2012 are now available from
the secretary. Fresh blood, in the form of a new member, nominated for a position yesterday. The deadline for nominations is Saturday
9 April.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our maintenance man Barry VK2BZ was literally up a ladder yesterday at the club replacing dud security lights. Seen assisting were
ladder holders, and electical advisors. Well done men. No comments please on callbacks about the number of Irishmen needed to change
a light bulb.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now listen carefully. Wyong Field Day is next Sunday. There are no trains running from Newcastle according to information delivered
to Westlakes yesterday. Yes, there will a substitute bus service but that will add some time to the trip. You have been warned.
The gates at Wyong Racecourse will open at 6.30 am to allow entry and setup for Traders / Exhibitors and Flea Marketeers.
The Trader/ Exhibitor areas will open to the public at 9am. Admission is $12 for Adults with free admission for those under 17.
Amateur radio examinations will be conducted on the day by Brian Kelly who can be contacted on 0418659043 for further information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's in sTock in the Westlakes Store. There are No caps, but three Foundation Licence Books, and four Solar panels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a surprise move, Gloria announced that she will attend the club canteen next Saturday (her usual day off). But she will not be there
a week later, that's 4th March. So it's pies and mushey peas only on 4th March! Luckily, the March monthly meeting has been postponed
until the second Saturday of that month which is 12th March so there will be the usual post-meeting afternoon tea, Confusing isn't it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the past few days, there has been a lot of activity on the Sun. On Sunday, February 13 at 1738 UTC, sunspot 1158 unleashed an
M6-level blast and on Tuesday, February 15, the same sunspot unleashed an X-class flare, the strongest solar flare in more than
four years. The source of this activity -- sunspot 1158 -- is growing rapidly. There have been warnings that Earth's communications
What does this mean to radio amateurs? The absorption rate will be most severe on 160 meters, less on 80 and somewhat better on 40 meters.
The maximum usable frequency (MUF) -- the highest frequency by which a radio wave can propagate between given terminals by ionospheric
propagation alone, independent of power -- will be lower and auroral propagation on the VHF bands is quite possible. The latest news on
this solar radiation is that it will mainly miss the Earth so there will be little effect on communications after all. Business will be
as usual. Much ado about nothing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The store strkes back. Yesterday's meat tray raffle was drawn by Bill VK2XT who plucked from the barrel, the ticket belonging to
Ken VK2KJ. Ken wins again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the current edition of Amateur Radio Magazine is a clever article about making a HF antenna from a pair of those "slinky" wire toys.
A slinky is a spring thing that walks down steps by itself. The article was co-written by Westlakes member, Allan VK2VEC. The antenna
is simple to make and apparently works well. It's not often that you come across a radio construction article where the component supplier
is a toy shop. Well done allan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And finally, the best news is last. By a stroke of luck, a local prawn fisherman, has promised a delivery of 20 kg of freshly cooked prawns
which may arrive the club at 9 am tomorrow. Yes, free prawns to all members who turn up. By coincidence, the lawns are going to be mown,
clipped, and snipped at a working bee at the same time. We cannot guarantee the arrival of the prawns. But the lawn mowers, trimmers, and
petrol will definitely be there. So how about it? A couple of new faces to help would be nice to see. That's 9 am tomorrow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, February 12, 2011
WESTLAKES NEWS SUNDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2011
Unfortunately today, the first item is news of a Silent Key. Bob Hockey VK2FI of Gillieston Heights passed away last
October after a short illness. Bob had been a member of Westlakes for many years and regularly attended the club on
Saturdays. Please pause with me in memory of Bob Hockey VK2FI............................................ thank you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's official. Catholics cannot confess via iPhone. The Vatican on said on Friday that the iPhone is no substitute for being
present when admitting sins to a priest as technology is not a substitute for attending in person when admitting sins. This follows
the launch of an iPhone application aimed at helping Catholics through confession and sanctioned by the Catholic Church in the
United States. The Vatican added that confession required the presence of the penitent and the priest. Apple said its application
was not designed to replace going to confession but to help Catholics through the act, which generally involves admitting sins
to a priest in a confessional booth. So it seems that confession by amateur radio operators on a 2 metre net is a long way off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westlakes members are reminded that nomination forms for club executive and committee positions for 2011/2012 are now available from
the secretary. The deadline for nominations is Saturday 9 April. Also, the March monthly meeting will be held on the second Saturday
of that month which will be Saturday 12 March. There is still one club cap left - cost is $20. Contact the secretary.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's one for the SWL's. Medium wave tests from the USA. If you are an SWL or an amateur with a good medium wave receiver, on
Saturday 12 February at 0700 and 0800UTC, radio station KHMO on 1070kHz in Missouri will conduct a DX test for SWLs worldwide.
The test will be with Morse code, sweep tones and voice announcements. Transmissions will be made for five minutes at 0700 at 5kW
into the station's three-tower, day antenna pattern. At 0800 they will transit the same material at 1kW using the six-tower,
night time pattern. Then from 0900 to 1000UTC, WLIQ on 1530kHz in Illinois will conduct a DX test of its own. WLIQ will test for
twenty minutes using Morse code, sweep tones, voice announcement, special music, sound bites and the like at its 1.4kW, non-directional,
day power. Then WLIQ will test for twenty minutes at 290W non-directional, critical hours power. Finally, for the last twenty minutes
of the hour, they will test at 3W, non-directional, night power. If you would like to receive a QSL you can send a written report,
or a cassette or CD to the Chief Engineer of these stations. For more information, type KHMO February DX tests into your search engine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would you like to test your arm? At an amateur exam that is. Exams are available at Wyong HamFest Sunday February 27. Amateur Radio
New South Wales in conjunction with the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club will hold assessments with the first session at 7am,
second session 10.30 am. This is the fourth year that ARNSW has conducted exams at the Field Day. A prior booking is desirable,
but not essential but you should make contact with the co-ordinator Brian Kelly to find out how the find the rooms, the costs
and what is needed with the paperwork. Brian's contact details are by mobile 0418 659 043 or email to 3323wbk@tpg.com.au
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sixty tickets were sold in Westlakes weekly meat tray raffle yesterday. Richard VK2FRKO drew the winner from the ticket tumble and
the first-time winner was another Richard, VK2CRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A piece of radio history arrived at the club yesterday thanks to a donation by Jim Dangerfield of Boolaroo. It includes audio CDs
spoken by Sir Allen Fairhall VK2KB and Ken Greenhalgh VK2KG (both now Silent Keys). The subject matter is the early days of of radio
in Australia and in particular, commercial radio station, 2KO. The audio on the dics runs for about 117 minutes in MP3 format.
Several copies will be made and placed in the club library for loan to members.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And finally, a new call sign that slipped through un-noticed. Leigh VK2KAL from Tanilba Bay has picked up a two-letter call (and that's
not easy). He now has VK2KY. Wonder how he bagged that one?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that's all the news I have this week. This is VK2ATZ. Is there anyone with late news items?
October after a short illness. Bob had been a member of Westlakes for many years and regularly attended the club on
Saturdays. Please pause with me in memory of Bob Hockey VK2FI............................................ thank you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's official. Catholics cannot confess via iPhone. The Vatican on said on Friday that the iPhone is no substitute for being
present when admitting sins to a priest as technology is not a substitute for attending in person when admitting sins. This follows
the launch of an iPhone application aimed at helping Catholics through confession and sanctioned by the Catholic Church in the
United States. The Vatican added that confession required the presence of the penitent and the priest. Apple said its application
was not designed to replace going to confession but to help Catholics through the act, which generally involves admitting sins
to a priest in a confessional booth. So it seems that confession by amateur radio operators on a 2 metre net is a long way off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westlakes members are reminded that nomination forms for club executive and committee positions for 2011/2012 are now available from
the secretary. The deadline for nominations is Saturday 9 April. Also, the March monthly meeting will be held on the second Saturday
of that month which will be Saturday 12 March. There is still one club cap left - cost is $20. Contact the secretary.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's one for the SWL's. Medium wave tests from the USA. If you are an SWL or an amateur with a good medium wave receiver, on
Saturday 12 February at 0700 and 0800UTC, radio station KHMO on 1070kHz in Missouri will conduct a DX test for SWLs worldwide.
The test will be with Morse code, sweep tones and voice announcements. Transmissions will be made for five minutes at 0700 at 5kW
into the station's three-tower, day antenna pattern. At 0800 they will transit the same material at 1kW using the six-tower,
night time pattern. Then from 0900 to 1000UTC, WLIQ on 1530kHz in Illinois will conduct a DX test of its own. WLIQ will test for
twenty minutes using Morse code, sweep tones, voice announcement, special music, sound bites and the like at its 1.4kW, non-directional,
day power. Then WLIQ will test for twenty minutes at 290W non-directional, critical hours power. Finally, for the last twenty minutes
of the hour, they will test at 3W, non-directional, night power. If you would like to receive a QSL you can send a written report,
or a cassette or CD to the Chief Engineer of these stations. For more information, type KHMO February DX tests into your search engine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would you like to test your arm? At an amateur exam that is. Exams are available at Wyong HamFest Sunday February 27. Amateur Radio
New South Wales in conjunction with the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club will hold assessments with the first session at 7am,
second session 10.30 am. This is the fourth year that ARNSW has conducted exams at the Field Day. A prior booking is desirable,
but not essential but you should make contact with the co-ordinator Brian Kelly to find out how the find the rooms, the costs
and what is needed with the paperwork. Brian's contact details are by mobile 0418 659 043 or email to 3323wbk@tpg.com.au
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sixty tickets were sold in Westlakes weekly meat tray raffle yesterday. Richard VK2FRKO drew the winner from the ticket tumble and
the first-time winner was another Richard, VK2CRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A piece of radio history arrived at the club yesterday thanks to a donation by Jim Dangerfield of Boolaroo. It includes audio CDs
spoken by Sir Allen Fairhall VK2KB and Ken Greenhalgh VK2KG (both now Silent Keys). The subject matter is the early days of of radio
in Australia and in particular, commercial radio station, 2KO. The audio on the dics runs for about 117 minutes in MP3 format.
Several copies will be made and placed in the club library for loan to members.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And finally, a new call sign that slipped through un-noticed. Leigh VK2KAL from Tanilba Bay has picked up a two-letter call (and that's
not easy). He now has VK2KY. Wonder how he bagged that one?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that's all the news I have this week. This is VK2ATZ. Is there anyone with late news items?
Saturday, February 5, 2011
WESTLAKES NEWS SUNDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2011
Good Morning and wecome to another local news broadcast for 2011. This is VK2ATZ, The official callsign of
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club founded at Booragul in 1964 and now located at Teralba, Lake Macquarie.
There is a chace that an HF simulcast being transmitted today on 3.565 MHz and if there is, it is by courtesy of Warren VK2UWP.
Callbacks follow at the conclusion of this news and it's all repeated again at 7 pm this evening. Westlakes local
news can be heard each Sunday on this repeater, VK2RTZ, at 9am local. Following at 9.30am is a relay of the
Australia-wide amateur radio news from the VK1WIA.
The first monthly meeting for 2011 was held in the air conditioned club's library yesterday where the air conditioner
struggled to hold its own. A test thermometer placed under the the rear awning, recorded 43 degrees mid-afternoon.
There were two new membership applications approved being: Edward Herivel VK2ZVF of Edgeworth,and Fred Mirande VK2FEDC
ex Wollongng but now living locally. Welcome to Westlakes.
During the meeting, it was decided to hold a lawn mowing and trimming working bee for the club grounds next Tuesday.
That has been cancelled after an inspection of the browned-off grass and the 43 degree thermometer. Just repeating that,
the lawn mowing planned for next Tuesday has been cancelled.
Two new toys were at the meeting yesterday. Steve displayed his Icom Quad-bander hand-held radio (wonder if was one of
those fake ones?) and Geoff VK2EO demonstrated the latest of iPhones. He caught a fish with the iPhone and never left
chair. It's getting hard to tell what's real or not these days.
Old technology (that's us) has found a role in the current protests in Egypt. On 27 January, Egypt fell off the internet
as virtually all international connections were cut following an order from the government. But Protesters circulated
information about how to avoid communication controls inside Egypt. The suggestions included Dial-up modems,Twitter messages
tagged with hashes related to the protests such as #egypt and #jan25, and good old ham radio by voice or Morse code. Who knows,
a whole new Q-code could develop ........ QMR send more rocks.
A total of 73 tickets were sold in yesterday's meat tray. Last weeks winner, Diane VK2FDNE drew the winner. And selected her
own ticket. That's two in a row.
Last week, amateur radio operators kept in touch via HF radio and keeping a vital link alive during the passage of one of the
more fierce and expansive severe tropical cyclones to hit the North East coast of Australia. Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi,
named by the Regional Specialist Meteorological Centre at Nadi, Fiji, tracked from its breeding ground east of Vanuatu to make
landfall on the Far North Queensland Coast, last Wednesday. The system was so vast that it affected communities along a
900km stretch of coast from Cooktown to Mackay and 500km inland to Croydon, Richmond, Charters Towers and Clermont. Whilst making
sure that their families and houses were safe, radio amateurs within the warning area and across the country kept in touch via
HF Radio with a listening watch on Queensland WICEN frequency 7075kHz and regular contact via the morning Gnarly Net on 3600kHz
and the afternoon Friendly Net on 7115kHz. This regular contact has kept the communication lines open just in case the cyclone
rated commercial telecommunication networks failed. Operators also maintained operations on VHF and UHF during the phenomenal
weather conditions. A number of Radio Amateurs who are members of the Australian Defence Force have been involved with flood relief
operations during the previous weeks and are now assisting with the relief effort following the passage of the cyclone.
Yet another warning from Microsoft has been released. In a security advisory, the company warned of a loophole that could be used
by malicious hackers to steal private information or hijack computers. The bug potentially affects every user of the Internet Explorer
web browser - around 900 million people worldwide. But help is at hand. Microsoft has issued a software patch to defend against attacks,
and said it was working to develop a long-term fix.The security advisory, which was published last Friday, details how the vulnerability
can be used to manipulate users and take over their machines. Although the flaw is actually inside Windows itself, it only appears to
affect the way that Internet Explorer handles some web pages and documents. Microsoft admitted that the problem meant users could easily
be fooled into downloading malicious files by doing something as simple as clicking on a web link. When the user clicked that link,
the malicious script would run on the user's computer for the rest of the current Internet Explorer session. All Windows users -
particularly those who use Internet Explorer - are being urged to download the fix while the company's security team develop a way to
plug the hole permanently.
Westlakes members are reminded that nomination forms for club executive and committee positions for 2011/2012 are now available from
the secretary. The deadline for nominations is Saturday 9 April. Also, the March monthly meeting will be held on the second Saturday
of that month which will be Saturday 12 March. A final also, there is one club cap left - cost is $20. Contact the secretary.
Well that's all the news I have this week And remember, Wyong Field Day is on three weeks today.
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club founded at Booragul in 1964 and now located at Teralba, Lake Macquarie.
There is a chace that an HF simulcast being transmitted today on 3.565 MHz and if there is, it is by courtesy of Warren VK2UWP.
Callbacks follow at the conclusion of this news and it's all repeated again at 7 pm this evening. Westlakes local
news can be heard each Sunday on this repeater, VK2RTZ, at 9am local. Following at 9.30am is a relay of the
Australia-wide amateur radio news from the VK1WIA.
The first monthly meeting for 2011 was held in the air conditioned club's library yesterday where the air conditioner
struggled to hold its own. A test thermometer placed under the the rear awning, recorded 43 degrees mid-afternoon.
There were two new membership applications approved being: Edward Herivel VK2ZVF of Edgeworth,and Fred Mirande VK2FEDC
ex Wollongng but now living locally. Welcome to Westlakes.
During the meeting, it was decided to hold a lawn mowing and trimming working bee for the club grounds next Tuesday.
That has been cancelled after an inspection of the browned-off grass and the 43 degree thermometer. Just repeating that,
the lawn mowing planned for next Tuesday has been cancelled.
Two new toys were at the meeting yesterday. Steve displayed his Icom Quad-bander hand-held radio (wonder if was one of
those fake ones?) and Geoff VK2EO demonstrated the latest of iPhones. He caught a fish with the iPhone and never left
chair. It's getting hard to tell what's real or not these days.
Old technology (that's us) has found a role in the current protests in Egypt. On 27 January, Egypt fell off the internet
as virtually all international connections were cut following an order from the government. But Protesters circulated
information about how to avoid communication controls inside Egypt. The suggestions included Dial-up modems,Twitter messages
tagged with hashes related to the protests such as #egypt and #jan25, and good old ham radio by voice or Morse code. Who knows,
a whole new Q-code could develop ........ QMR send more rocks.
A total of 73 tickets were sold in yesterday's meat tray. Last weeks winner, Diane VK2FDNE drew the winner. And selected her
own ticket. That's two in a row.
Last week, amateur radio operators kept in touch via HF radio and keeping a vital link alive during the passage of one of the
more fierce and expansive severe tropical cyclones to hit the North East coast of Australia. Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi,
named by the Regional Specialist Meteorological Centre at Nadi, Fiji, tracked from its breeding ground east of Vanuatu to make
landfall on the Far North Queensland Coast, last Wednesday. The system was so vast that it affected communities along a
900km stretch of coast from Cooktown to Mackay and 500km inland to Croydon, Richmond, Charters Towers and Clermont. Whilst making
sure that their families and houses were safe, radio amateurs within the warning area and across the country kept in touch via
HF Radio with a listening watch on Queensland WICEN frequency 7075kHz and regular contact via the morning Gnarly Net on 3600kHz
and the afternoon Friendly Net on 7115kHz. This regular contact has kept the communication lines open just in case the cyclone
rated commercial telecommunication networks failed. Operators also maintained operations on VHF and UHF during the phenomenal
weather conditions. A number of Radio Amateurs who are members of the Australian Defence Force have been involved with flood relief
operations during the previous weeks and are now assisting with the relief effort following the passage of the cyclone.
Yet another warning from Microsoft has been released. In a security advisory, the company warned of a loophole that could be used
by malicious hackers to steal private information or hijack computers. The bug potentially affects every user of the Internet Explorer
web browser - around 900 million people worldwide. But help is at hand. Microsoft has issued a software patch to defend against attacks,
and said it was working to develop a long-term fix.The security advisory, which was published last Friday, details how the vulnerability
can be used to manipulate users and take over their machines. Although the flaw is actually inside Windows itself, it only appears to
affect the way that Internet Explorer handles some web pages and documents. Microsoft admitted that the problem meant users could easily
be fooled into downloading malicious files by doing something as simple as clicking on a web link. When the user clicked that link,
the malicious script would run on the user's computer for the rest of the current Internet Explorer session. All Windows users -
particularly those who use Internet Explorer - are being urged to download the fix while the company's security team develop a way to
plug the hole permanently.
Westlakes members are reminded that nomination forms for club executive and committee positions for 2011/2012 are now available from
the secretary. The deadline for nominations is Saturday 9 April. Also, the March monthly meeting will be held on the second Saturday
of that month which will be Saturday 12 March. A final also, there is one club cap left - cost is $20. Contact the secretary.
Well that's all the news I have this week And remember, Wyong Field Day is on three weeks today.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
WESTLAKES NEWS SUNDAY 30 January 2011
Good Morning and wecome to another local news broadcast for 2011. This is VK2ATZ, The official callsign of
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club founded at Booragul in 1964 and now located at Teralba, Lake Macquarie.
There is no HF simulcast being transmitted today because of the absence of Warren VK2UWP.
Callbacks follow at the conclusion of this news and it's all repeated again at 7 pm this evening. Westlakes local
news can be heard each Sunday on this repeater, VK2RTZ, at 9am local. Following at 9.30am is a relay of the
Australia-wide amateur radio news from the VK1WIA.
The February edition of Westlakes monthly magazine is in the mail after a working bee in the club library yesterday.
The electonic version will appear, as if by magic, in email inboxes tomorrow for those members who choose to receive
the magazine in that format. The front page features a dramatic photo of "Dare-Devil Ted", VK2UI, plummeting to earth
after leaping from a plane at 14,000 feet last Saturday. Ted was at the club yesterday, looking none the worse for wear
and displaying a collection of amazing colour photos of his leap.
Beware of fake Icom IC-V8 hand held radios. Icom is out to stop whoever is supplying counterfeit copies of its popular
IC-V8 2 meter hand-held radios. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reports that fake transceivers, battery packs
and chargers began being reported in 2010. Icom says that the difference between a real model IC-V8 handheld and the
knock-off phoney radios are so small that a blind user might not know they are using a fake radio. For example, the number
2 key on the real IC-V8 is for the " Beep" function. On the fake radio number 2 is "VOX". Also, on the back of the real Icom
product the serial number tag is black while it is white on the fake radio. Even accessories are being cloned. The F21 Battery
Pack looks like an Icom but there are two differences. The fake does not have the ICOM logo, and carries the Part Number
BP-208 instead of BP209N as found on the real Icom battery. Lastly, the optional factory remote microphone is designated by
Icom as the HM-133 while the counterfeit is HM-133V. Icom says that a real HM-133V is for other radios in their product line.
Icom asks that if you find a product that you may suspect is counterfeit, report it to the company's support centre.
Why would anyone buy a fake Icom .... probably because they are half price.
The first monthly meeting for 2011 will be held in the Westlakes Club Library next Saturday afternoon. Afternoon tea a-la-
Gloria follows. Among the matters to be decided are two applications for membership. As the club's financial year ends
tomorrow, the treasurer will detail the financial results of the years activities. Although the books have yet to be audited,
The annual turnover for the year was approximately $25,000 - another record.
Rember the "woodpecker", that horrible interference from "OVER THE HORIZON RADAR" both ours and theirs that could be heard on
HF 20 years agO? It looks like it's back. The latest issue of the free IARU Monitoring System newsletter reports on Russian
radar noise on 7 MHz. The newsletter says that the Over the Horizon Radar from Russia was active between 7000 and 7200 kHz
with burst transmissions on 5 different frequencies on December 30th of 2010. The pulse rate was, as always 66.66 pulses per
second. Meantime, another Over the Horizon Radar that is based in Cyprus has been destroying communications on the 10 MHz band
every afternoon. It seems like the price of eternal vigilence must be amateur radio interference.
Did you know that one third of "snow spotters" (not snow droppers) in the USA are radio amateurs? There are 6,000 snow spotters
across north America whose job it is to predict approaching snowfalls. Spotters must be at least 16 years old and undergo a free
training course. They then log onto the National Weather Service site and report their observations. Of the 6,000 spotters, 2,000
are ham radio operators. The number of "snow droppers" who are amateurs remains unknown.
A total of 81 tickets were sold in Yesterday's meat tray raffle - a near record. The winner was drawn by Dave VK2RD who plucked
the ticket of Diane VK2FDNE from the ticket tumble barrel. Congratulations Diane.
Nanosail-D is a NASA nanosatellite that ejected unexpectedly on January 17 from a larger NASA satellite. Nasa has asked Amateur
Radio operators world-wide to try to hear the baby signal. The NanoSail-D beacon sends an AX.25 packet every 10 seconds. So far,
NASA received almost 470 reports from amateurs in 11 countries. This tiny satellite is 650km above earth and the beacon should
transmit up to 120 days before the battery dies. The frequency to monitor - if you have nothing better to do is 437.20 MHz.
Well that's all the news I have this week.
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club founded at Booragul in 1964 and now located at Teralba, Lake Macquarie.
There is no HF simulcast being transmitted today because of the absence of Warren VK2UWP.
Callbacks follow at the conclusion of this news and it's all repeated again at 7 pm this evening. Westlakes local
news can be heard each Sunday on this repeater, VK2RTZ, at 9am local. Following at 9.30am is a relay of the
Australia-wide amateur radio news from the VK1WIA.
The February edition of Westlakes monthly magazine is in the mail after a working bee in the club library yesterday.
The electonic version will appear, as if by magic, in email inboxes tomorrow for those members who choose to receive
the magazine in that format. The front page features a dramatic photo of "Dare-Devil Ted", VK2UI, plummeting to earth
after leaping from a plane at 14,000 feet last Saturday. Ted was at the club yesterday, looking none the worse for wear
and displaying a collection of amazing colour photos of his leap.
Beware of fake Icom IC-V8 hand held radios. Icom is out to stop whoever is supplying counterfeit copies of its popular
IC-V8 2 meter hand-held radios. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reports that fake transceivers, battery packs
and chargers began being reported in 2010. Icom says that the difference between a real model IC-V8 handheld and the
knock-off phoney radios are so small that a blind user might not know they are using a fake radio. For example, the number
2 key on the real IC-V8 is for the " Beep" function. On the fake radio number 2 is "VOX". Also, on the back of the real Icom
product the serial number tag is black while it is white on the fake radio. Even accessories are being cloned. The F21 Battery
Pack looks like an Icom but there are two differences. The fake does not have the ICOM logo, and carries the Part Number
BP-208 instead of BP209N as found on the real Icom battery. Lastly, the optional factory remote microphone is designated by
Icom as the HM-133 while the counterfeit is HM-133V. Icom says that a real HM-133V is for other radios in their product line.
Icom asks that if you find a product that you may suspect is counterfeit, report it to the company's support centre.
Why would anyone buy a fake Icom .... probably because they are half price.
The first monthly meeting for 2011 will be held in the Westlakes Club Library next Saturday afternoon. Afternoon tea a-la-
Gloria follows. Among the matters to be decided are two applications for membership. As the club's financial year ends
tomorrow, the treasurer will detail the financial results of the years activities. Although the books have yet to be audited,
The annual turnover for the year was approximately $25,000 - another record.
Rember the "woodpecker", that horrible interference from "OVER THE HORIZON RADAR" both ours and theirs that could be heard on
HF 20 years agO? It looks like it's back. The latest issue of the free IARU Monitoring System newsletter reports on Russian
radar noise on 7 MHz. The newsletter says that the Over the Horizon Radar from Russia was active between 7000 and 7200 kHz
with burst transmissions on 5 different frequencies on December 30th of 2010. The pulse rate was, as always 66.66 pulses per
second. Meantime, another Over the Horizon Radar that is based in Cyprus has been destroying communications on the 10 MHz band
every afternoon. It seems like the price of eternal vigilence must be amateur radio interference.
Did you know that one third of "snow spotters" (not snow droppers) in the USA are radio amateurs? There are 6,000 snow spotters
across north America whose job it is to predict approaching snowfalls. Spotters must be at least 16 years old and undergo a free
training course. They then log onto the National Weather Service site and report their observations. Of the 6,000 spotters, 2,000
are ham radio operators. The number of "snow droppers" who are amateurs remains unknown.
A total of 81 tickets were sold in Yesterday's meat tray raffle - a near record. The winner was drawn by Dave VK2RD who plucked
the ticket of Diane VK2FDNE from the ticket tumble barrel. Congratulations Diane.
Nanosail-D is a NASA nanosatellite that ejected unexpectedly on January 17 from a larger NASA satellite. Nasa has asked Amateur
Radio operators world-wide to try to hear the baby signal. The NanoSail-D beacon sends an AX.25 packet every 10 seconds. So far,
NASA received almost 470 reports from amateurs in 11 countries. This tiny satellite is 650km above earth and the beacon should
transmit up to 120 days before the battery dies. The frequency to monitor - if you have nothing better to do is 437.20 MHz.
Well that's all the news I have this week.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
WESTLAKES NEWS SUNDAY 23 January 2011
Good Morning and wecome to another local news broadcast for 2011. This is VK2ATZ, The official callsign of
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club,located at Teralba, Lake Macquarie. .There is also a simulcast being transmitted
on 3.565 MHz courtesy of Warren VK2UWP. Callbacks will be taken on both VHF and HF.
It's all repeated again at 7 pm this evening. Westlakes local news can be heard each Sunday on this repeater,
VK2RTZ, at 9am local. Following at 9.30am is a relay of the Australia-wide amateur radio news from the VK1WIA.
The first item today is about "Dare-Devil Ted." While most of us were sitting down to breakfast yesterday, Ted VK2UI
celebrated his 86th birthday by leaping leaping from an aeroplane at a height of 14,000 feet, somewhere over Rutherford.
It's Ted's second experience at this activity but not from this height. His flight (or is it fall) lasted five seconds longer than his
previous attempt.
Now two items from overseas. D-Star repeaters in Italy have been accused of causing interference to Amateur Radio satellites.
Both FM and D-Star repeaters in Italy are showing up in the Amateur Satellite segment 145.8 from 146.0 MHz. Although the
repeaters are said to be government approved by Italy's Communications Regulatory Authority, they are causing considerable
interference to amateur radio satellites and the International Space Station contacts. Italy's telecommunications regulator
permits repeaters anywhere within the 2 meter band on a provisional basis for 60 days. Authorization may become permanent if
no complaints are received. Amateur satellite users worldwide are asked to make sure that the Italian telecommunications
regulatory body is made aware of any interference problems they experience.
And on the subject of of satellites, Turkey plans to send its first ham radio communications satellite into orbit in September.
It is to be called 3USAT. A flying turkey - whatever next?
The first Westlakes Magazine for 2011 will be assembled and enveloped in the club library next Saturday from around midday.
Helpers would be appreciated. Included with this edition will be receipts for membership renewals for all who have paid by mail.
All memberships fall due on 1st February which is only about a week away. And remember, next saturday it will be pies and mushy
peas for lunch as Gloria takes her one day off a month.
In December 1941, the USS California was sunk after being struck by a torpedo and a 500lb bomb during the Japanese surprise
attack on Pearl Harbour.The man who alerted the world that Pearl Harbour was being bombed by the Japanese, has died at 88.
Former Navy radio man Ed Chlapowski died last Sunday at his home a few weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. In 2009,
Chlapowski recounted the December 7, 1941 attack that propelled the United States into World War II. He said he had worked
an early watch at the submarine base, had breakfast and had just sat down on his bunk when he looked out the window and saw
a hangar roof blown away. Then he saw the Japanese planes. Chlapowski says he ran to the radio room. A supervisor handed him
a message, and in Morse code, tapped out news that Pearl Harbour was under attack - perhaps that was the most significant
Morse message ever sent.
Yesterday's meat tray raffle was drawn by David VK2UDW in his inimitable style. The winner was Greg VK2CW.
It has just been announced that Commercial radio stations in VK2 will be recognised for emergency services information.
The Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, has welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding
with the NSW Government, making commercial radio stations official providers of emergency services information. The industry has
argued for some time for commercial radio to be included and promoted as an official provider of information in emergencies,
along with the ABC. Some of the advantages could be ads for boats in time of floods or extinguishers in the bushfire season - but
that's being cynical.
On 22nd December last year the WIA advised that the ACMA had made amendments to the Amateur Licence Conditions Determination
and the Visiting Overseas Amateur Class Licence. The WIA has now placed the consolidated versions of these amendments, for easier
reading. Follow wia.org.au to Members/Legislation The WIA advises that All amateurs must make themselves aware of their licence
conditions to avoid that "knock" on the door from ACMA Inspectors. Are there any ACMA Inspectors left? There must be.
Here is a special Event Station for collectors of unusal QSL cards - the call sign is N6R and it will be on air from Saturday
5th February to Sunday 7th Febuary. The bizzare reason for activating N6R is to celebrate former President Reagan's 100th
birthday. And just in case anyone is remotely interested, N6R is a multi-club Field Day operation from the grounds of the
Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum which is located in Simi Valley, California.
And finally, another piece of useless information. A Japanese businessman using a home-built computer has taken calculations
of the mathematical concept of pi to the trillions of digits and won a world record for his labours. Shigeru Kondo, a systems
engineer, calculated pi - the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter - to five trillion digits, almost doubling the
accuracy of the previous world record. Last week the calculation was recognised by Guinness World Records. Using 20 external
hard drives and after 90 days of non-stop processing, he obtained a string of five trillion numbers that defined pi. The previous
record, set by a French software consultant only a month ago, was around 2.7 trillion digits. You think that would be enough,
but no - Mr Kondo is now trying to calculate pi to 10 trillion digits.
Well that's all the news I have this week.
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club,located at Teralba, Lake Macquarie. .There is also a simulcast being transmitted
on 3.565 MHz courtesy of Warren VK2UWP. Callbacks will be taken on both VHF and HF.
It's all repeated again at 7 pm this evening. Westlakes local news can be heard each Sunday on this repeater,
VK2RTZ, at 9am local. Following at 9.30am is a relay of the Australia-wide amateur radio news from the VK1WIA.
The first item today is about "Dare-Devil Ted." While most of us were sitting down to breakfast yesterday, Ted VK2UI
celebrated his 86th birthday by leaping leaping from an aeroplane at a height of 14,000 feet, somewhere over Rutherford.
It's Ted's second experience at this activity but not from this height. His flight (or is it fall) lasted five seconds longer than his
previous attempt.
Now two items from overseas. D-Star repeaters in Italy have been accused of causing interference to Amateur Radio satellites.
Both FM and D-Star repeaters in Italy are showing up in the Amateur Satellite segment 145.8 from 146.0 MHz. Although the
repeaters are said to be government approved by Italy's Communications Regulatory Authority, they are causing considerable
interference to amateur radio satellites and the International Space Station contacts. Italy's telecommunications regulator
permits repeaters anywhere within the 2 meter band on a provisional basis for 60 days. Authorization may become permanent if
no complaints are received. Amateur satellite users worldwide are asked to make sure that the Italian telecommunications
regulatory body is made aware of any interference problems they experience.
And on the subject of of satellites, Turkey plans to send its first ham radio communications satellite into orbit in September.
It is to be called 3USAT. A flying turkey - whatever next?
The first Westlakes Magazine for 2011 will be assembled and enveloped in the club library next Saturday from around midday.
Helpers would be appreciated. Included with this edition will be receipts for membership renewals for all who have paid by mail.
All memberships fall due on 1st February which is only about a week away. And remember, next saturday it will be pies and mushy
peas for lunch as Gloria takes her one day off a month.
In December 1941, the USS California was sunk after being struck by a torpedo and a 500lb bomb during the Japanese surprise
attack on Pearl Harbour.The man who alerted the world that Pearl Harbour was being bombed by the Japanese, has died at 88.
Former Navy radio man Ed Chlapowski died last Sunday at his home a few weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. In 2009,
Chlapowski recounted the December 7, 1941 attack that propelled the United States into World War II. He said he had worked
an early watch at the submarine base, had breakfast and had just sat down on his bunk when he looked out the window and saw
a hangar roof blown away. Then he saw the Japanese planes. Chlapowski says he ran to the radio room. A supervisor handed him
a message, and in Morse code, tapped out news that Pearl Harbour was under attack - perhaps that was the most significant
Morse message ever sent.
Yesterday's meat tray raffle was drawn by David VK2UDW in his inimitable style. The winner was Greg VK2CW.
It has just been announced that Commercial radio stations in VK2 will be recognised for emergency services information.
The Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, has welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding
with the NSW Government, making commercial radio stations official providers of emergency services information. The industry has
argued for some time for commercial radio to be included and promoted as an official provider of information in emergencies,
along with the ABC. Some of the advantages could be ads for boats in time of floods or extinguishers in the bushfire season - but
that's being cynical.
On 22nd December last year the WIA advised that the ACMA had made amendments to the Amateur Licence Conditions Determination
and the Visiting Overseas Amateur Class Licence. The WIA has now placed the consolidated versions of these amendments, for easier
reading. Follow wia.org.au to Members/Legislation The WIA advises that All amateurs must make themselves aware of their licence
conditions to avoid that "knock" on the door from ACMA Inspectors. Are there any ACMA Inspectors left? There must be.
Here is a special Event Station for collectors of unusal QSL cards - the call sign is N6R and it will be on air from Saturday
5th February to Sunday 7th Febuary. The bizzare reason for activating N6R is to celebrate former President Reagan's 100th
birthday. And just in case anyone is remotely interested, N6R is a multi-club Field Day operation from the grounds of the
Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum which is located in Simi Valley, California.
And finally, another piece of useless information. A Japanese businessman using a home-built computer has taken calculations
of the mathematical concept of pi to the trillions of digits and won a world record for his labours. Shigeru Kondo, a systems
engineer, calculated pi - the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter - to five trillion digits, almost doubling the
accuracy of the previous world record. Last week the calculation was recognised by Guinness World Records. Using 20 external
hard drives and after 90 days of non-stop processing, he obtained a string of five trillion numbers that defined pi. The previous
record, set by a French software consultant only a month ago, was around 2.7 trillion digits. You think that would be enough,
but no - Mr Kondo is now trying to calculate pi to 10 trillion digits.
Well that's all the news I have this week.
Monday, January 17, 2011
WESTLAKES NEWS SUNDAY 16 January 2011
There are only five left - those 20 watt Solar Panels. The price is $85 picked up from the club. As well, there is a
small number of charge controllers - 5 amp at $39, 10 amp at $55, and 20 amp at $85.Contact Aly VK2AFZ in the store for
more details.The question has been asked if Westlakes can get larger ones. The answer is, we don't know - it's still a
mystery where this lot came from.
Visitors to the club yesterday were able to inspect the new concrete work. The job was completed last Friday and barrier
erected to prevent vehicle access on the drive. A bit of barrow and spade work was needed to spead fill to smooth the exit
approach and that's the end of a good job. A close inspecion could not detect any "tags" of the locals, or call signs of
members, scratched in the work before it hardened. Wonders never cease.
More strange sounds were heard coming from the radio room at Westlakes yesterday. Morse code again. Derek VK2MLA was on his
own paddle - this time a vibroplex iambic model.He was given a small test by Greg VK2CW and passed easily. At 20 words a minute
Derek even read puntuation, full stops, commas, question marks, dollar signs, pound signs - the lot. You don't come across
pound signs in Morse very often these days.
They just keep getting younger - newcomers to amateur radio, that is. Seven year old Noah Reginald in Arkansas,found a website
with a practice test that contained 396 possible questions and he decided to sit the official exam and obtain an amateur radio
licence.He passed and is beleived to be the world's youngest amateur. When asked what she thought of her son's acheivement,
his mother, Hillary Reginald said, "He has always been advanced for his age." Well he is not that smart. Although he was
seven when he passed the test, Noah has had a birthday so he will be eight when he first comes on air.
Did you know the WIA has a new membership brochure? Produced for the WIA by Roger Harrison VK2ZRH and Robert Broomhead VK3DN
with Illustrations by Ivan Smith, the new DL size brochure carefully sets out the many valuable benefits of WIA membership
in an easy to read, easy to understand format. The brochure is intended for those who are yet to become a WIA member, or members
who are considering renewal. The full colour brochure with it's eye catching cover is ideal for display and distribution at
hamfests, field days etc. Easily obtainable clear plastic DL brochure stands are perfect for displaying the new membership
brochure, whilst it's small size format makes it ideal for keeping a copy in the car glovebox or door pocket along side the
Calling CQ brochure. Copies of the brochure can be easily obtained from the WIA National office, simply send an email to
nationaloffice@wia.org.au
Another meat tray raffle has been and gone and yesterday's winner was Frank VK2FJW. It was a good trick because he was not in
attendance. But he had a nice surprise when the tray was personally delivered to his door. What service! (luckily he lives in Teralba.)
As reported by the WIA, it seems the Australian Naval Amateur Radio Society (A.N.A.R.S.) is no more. John Garvey VK5OJ who was
President of the Society said, " How sad it has been to see the demise of the A.N.A.R.S. Perhaps one day it will rise again in
a better shape with more enthusiasm for the hobby." Westlakes member, and long time enthusiast of the society is Kevin VK2CE who
added, " It is very sad indeed to see the society cross the bar. I always believed it had the potential to become quite a significant
group in the ham radio world but unfortunately this was not to be."
The countdown is on for the 2011 Wyong Field Day. From today it is only five weeks to go. Westakes will be taking the VK2 Bureau
cards and club stand to Wyong which will be located in its usual spot.
Gloria Brown notched up five years-and-a-day as manageress of the canteen yesterday and no one remembered to give her a cake.
Shame on us.
The last item this week is a bad luck story. Barry VK2BZ headed for Gladstone, Queensland a few weeks ago. It was just before the
rain and floods arrived. Bad timing indeed. Barry has sent a photo of his experience and text to go with it which will appear in
a coming Westlakes Magazine article. All we can say at the moment is that he will be returning in a different 4-wheel drive vehicle
to the one he left in.
Well that's all the news I have this week.
small number of charge controllers - 5 amp at $39, 10 amp at $55, and 20 amp at $85.Contact Aly VK2AFZ in the store for
more details.The question has been asked if Westlakes can get larger ones. The answer is, we don't know - it's still a
mystery where this lot came from.
Visitors to the club yesterday were able to inspect the new concrete work. The job was completed last Friday and barrier
erected to prevent vehicle access on the drive. A bit of barrow and spade work was needed to spead fill to smooth the exit
approach and that's the end of a good job. A close inspecion could not detect any "tags" of the locals, or call signs of
members, scratched in the work before it hardened. Wonders never cease.
More strange sounds were heard coming from the radio room at Westlakes yesterday. Morse code again. Derek VK2MLA was on his
own paddle - this time a vibroplex iambic model.He was given a small test by Greg VK2CW and passed easily. At 20 words a minute
Derek even read puntuation, full stops, commas, question marks, dollar signs, pound signs - the lot. You don't come across
pound signs in Morse very often these days.
They just keep getting younger - newcomers to amateur radio, that is. Seven year old Noah Reginald in Arkansas,found a website
with a practice test that contained 396 possible questions and he decided to sit the official exam and obtain an amateur radio
licence.He passed and is beleived to be the world's youngest amateur. When asked what she thought of her son's acheivement,
his mother, Hillary Reginald said, "He has always been advanced for his age." Well he is not that smart. Although he was
seven when he passed the test, Noah has had a birthday so he will be eight when he first comes on air.
Did you know the WIA has a new membership brochure? Produced for the WIA by Roger Harrison VK2ZRH and Robert Broomhead VK3DN
with Illustrations by Ivan Smith, the new DL size brochure carefully sets out the many valuable benefits of WIA membership
in an easy to read, easy to understand format. The brochure is intended for those who are yet to become a WIA member, or members
who are considering renewal. The full colour brochure with it's eye catching cover is ideal for display and distribution at
hamfests, field days etc. Easily obtainable clear plastic DL brochure stands are perfect for displaying the new membership
brochure, whilst it's small size format makes it ideal for keeping a copy in the car glovebox or door pocket along side the
Calling CQ brochure. Copies of the brochure can be easily obtained from the WIA National office, simply send an email to
nationaloffice@wia.org.au
Another meat tray raffle has been and gone and yesterday's winner was Frank VK2FJW. It was a good trick because he was not in
attendance. But he had a nice surprise when the tray was personally delivered to his door. What service! (luckily he lives in Teralba.)
As reported by the WIA, it seems the Australian Naval Amateur Radio Society (A.N.A.R.S.) is no more. John Garvey VK5OJ who was
President of the Society said, " How sad it has been to see the demise of the A.N.A.R.S. Perhaps one day it will rise again in
a better shape with more enthusiasm for the hobby." Westlakes member, and long time enthusiast of the society is Kevin VK2CE who
added, " It is very sad indeed to see the society cross the bar. I always believed it had the potential to become quite a significant
group in the ham radio world but unfortunately this was not to be."
The countdown is on for the 2011 Wyong Field Day. From today it is only five weeks to go. Westakes will be taking the VK2 Bureau
cards and club stand to Wyong which will be located in its usual spot.
Gloria Brown notched up five years-and-a-day as manageress of the canteen yesterday and no one remembered to give her a cake.
Shame on us.
The last item this week is a bad luck story. Barry VK2BZ headed for Gladstone, Queensland a few weeks ago. It was just before the
rain and floods arrived. Bad timing indeed. Barry has sent a photo of his experience and text to go with it which will appear in
a coming Westlakes Magazine article. All we can say at the moment is that he will be returning in a different 4-wheel drive vehicle
to the one he left in.
Well that's all the news I have this week.
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