WESTLAKES BROADCAST FOR SUNDAY 30TH DECEMBER 2012

CONDITION OF ENTRY TO WESTLAKES CLUB HOUSE: Westlakes club members and visitors: It is very important that everyone signs the members/visitors book which is in the hallway adjacent the main doorway. This has come about due to requirements made by our Insurance provider. It also helps the club in any insurance claim that a person has made against the club. Lets start off with the meat tray winner. Les VK2RJ was summoned to dig deep into the ticket tumbler and select a winning ticket. Another regular winner this time - Alex VK2ZM. It was smiles all around from Alex. Congratulations Alex no more meat trays for you this year and enjoy the meat tray. The activity room busy again with Norm assisting Richard finish off his 40 QRP before the end of the year. On went the soldering iron and a few components changed and finally a sound came from the speaker. It was Dave VK2RD calling from the radio room calling CQ. Yes, the radio was spot on frequency. With limited test gear, a frequency meter and a multimeter Norm VK2KNC pressed on and tuned the set up with some help from Herb VK2ZVF. Then it was off to the radio room to do some further testing and repairs. Finally the microphone produced a sound. This is VK2CW testing. Yep the microphone went dead. What did you do Greg? After some modifying to the microphone we had voices on the other end. A big thank you to Norm, who can say that he built 2 kits. Richard has tested the radio at home and made 2 contacts- one to John VK2PBC in Tea Gardens and another to Peter VK2GFE at Stuartsville. A 5/9 signal was received by Peter and John. The set just needs a few more adjustments and then watch out guys the QRP contest will commence. Just to top it off Richard made a contact with UT3XX Roman who gave me a 5/1 - 5/2. Roman also had a homebrew set but was running 2 KW into a 2 element quad. Michael was busy in the canteen cooking up hamburgers- what else would Ham operators eat. They were absolutely delicious Michael. Job well done. Higher power trial. The WIA lobbied the ACMA earlier this year for a high power trial up to one-kilowatt with 230 holders of the Advance Licences having paid the fee to take part. The 18-month trial began in March 2012 and is due to end next August, allows the ACMA and the WIA to evaluate any impacts before considering a long term arrangement. It confines the use of higher power to approved notice of licence variation applicants on the 80m band including the DX window, 7000 to 7100 kHz, and the entire 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m bands. Some radio amateurs located in defined areas were excluded at the time as they were being used on a trial basis by other sensitive radio communication technologies. The ACMA has previously balked at suggestions that higher power be permitted on the grounds of the interference potential. However a lifting from 500w to 1,000w for radio amateurs in New Zealand saw the matter being revisited by the ACMA. Successful applicants may be required by the ACMA to demonstrate compliance with the relevant exposure to radiation standard, and this is expected to happen in February. Just a reminder that club membership fees are now due. Please send your payments either to the club P O Box c/- of the secretary or bring them to the club in person on Saturdays. Not a member of Westlakes A.R.C. now is the time to join. Our next club meeting will be in February on the 2nd 2013 commencing at 1:30 pm. Everyone welcome. The clubs next public activity will be Australia Day at Spears Point Park on the 26th January 2013. Everyone is welcome - just bring your chairs with you and anything that you want to eat. Be there around 0845am. Activation of Mawson in Antarctica. Leaving soon on board the ice breaker Aurora Australis for the Australian Antarctic Territory station at Mawson is Craig Hayhow VK6JJJ, who will become VK0JJJ. He lands on February the 10th, planning to soon after install the 6m beacon VK0RTM and test the propagation on that band. The main HF rig is a FlexRadio Flex-5000A coupled to an amplifier and feeding a terminated sloping triangle antenna. On 6m it will be at 400 watts from Mawson thanks to a power amplifier from Steve Gregory VK3ZAZ, who is also the QSL manager, and radiated by a 5-element yagi. The amateur satellites on 2m and 70cm are to be accessed using a crossed duo-bander. During the next 12 months Craig VK0JJJ is in Antarctica to work and amateur radio is his leisure time activity. New MF band. Following the World Radio Conference in 2012, the frequency band 472 kHz to 479 kHz (630 Metres) will formally be available to radio amateurs in many countries from January 1, 2013. The latest announcement comes from the Australian Communications and Media Authority that Advanced Licence holders generally get access to the band on a secondary basis. As a result of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) at WRC12, the radiated power by amateur service stations is 1w pX EIRP, however due to their distance from some countries administrations including Australian, can use up to 5w pX EIRP with a maximum bandwidth of 2.1 kHz. Although available on a secondary basis to radio amateurs in all ITU regions, as a compromise many countries are not going to allow any amateur service access to the band. Within Australia there are exclusion zones at the Exmouth and Timor regions, where amateur radio use is not permitted due to the existence of aeronautical non-directional beacons used for local navigation at airports. The ITU case included that ground wave propagation in the under-used spectrum results in reliable communication over medium and large ranges, and is not dependent upon the ionosphere. It makes an ideal spot for radio amateurs to study anomalous propagation. The new medium frequency allocation takes formal effect in Australia on January 1, 2013, although several countries have already allocated it domestically. As a prelude to a secondary allocation at WRC12, Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand, United Kingdom plus parts of Europe, the USA and some others allowed temporary use or experimental operations on nearby frequencies. WRC12 also re-allocated the original 500 kHz frequency, at the bottom edge of the AM broadcasting band which used previously as an international CW distress frequency, back to exclusive maritime mobile use for new navigation systems. Asia-Pacific gets Chinese GPS alternative. China has launched its own satellite called BeiDou (Big Dipper constellation in Chinese) to challenge the predominate Global Position System (GPS) that comes from the USA. The nation has come a long way since its first satellite was launched in 2000 and three years later was trialled for traffic control, weather forecasting and disaster relief work. The new system is to give initially an alternative to the Asia Pacific region which includes Australia, and the multi-million dollar project will service a global audience with its navigation, positioning, timing and other services by 2020. BeiDou does have some teething problems and currently less accurate, with GPS having 30 satellites orbiting earth compared to BeiDou with 15 at a moment and more after 2014. It was a challenger to GPS amid Chinese fears of a withdrawal of the valuable guidance and positioning system, particularly for its military during a conflict. This was China’s latest venture into space, hoping to build its own space station and land on the moon by the end of the decade. The GPS highly used worldwide and time will tell whether the Chinese home-grown product can gain much of the market outside its own country.

Broadcast News for December 16th 2012.

Yesterday was Westlakes A.R.C.'s Christmas Frolic at the club and around 40 members including their wives were in attendance. The BBQ was fired up around 1100 by Michael vk2ccw who did an excellent job feeding everyone. Thanks Michael, will you be free again next year to cook. Various members were there taking pictures with their cameras and tablets so we should be getting some great pics for the club magazine. Life Member Peter Sturt ( VK2ZTV ) and his wife were also there. After lunch the darts competition commenced with everyone having 2 goes to obtain the highest score in total. There were some pretty shocking shooters I tell you. The winning Female was Sonya and the winning male was Alley VK2AFZ. Congratulations to the both of you. Now Greg VK2CW was going around trying to flog off tickets for someone to win a ham. After Greg has sold as many tickets as he could a draw took place. The winning ticket was none other than Steve VK2LW. Looks like everyone missed out again. Now the regen receiver was judged by Peter VK2ZTV after checking the receivers out carefully, testing to see if they all worked etc etc a decision was made. The 1st place went to David Lawerence VK2PIRATE, 2nd place went to Ken VK2KJ, and 3rd place went to Greg VK2CW. A 4th prize went to Geoff VK2GL in the category of Honary winner ??? Congratulations everyone for taking the time to build this great receiver. Garry VK2DBI was out there also selling Rickety Kate tickets for a chance for someone to win some money. When all tickets were sold the draw for 3 winners took place. 3rd place went to Karen VK2NYL, ( this prize was a bit dodgy ) but Garry won 2nd prize and 1st prize went to Herb. Congratulations winners. A great day was had by all and thanks to the organisers as this was a great day. Wonder what we will do next year. Just a reminder that club membership fees are now due. Please send your payments either to the club P O Box c/- of the secretary or bring them to the club in person on Saturdays. Not a member of Westlakes A.R.C. now is the time to join. Our next club meeting will be in February on the 2nd 2013. Everyone welcome. The clubs next project is the 40 metre QRP set made by OZQRP. Norm VK2KNC has already completed his kit and it works fantastic. 3 kits have been ordered by other members of the club. Now wait for the 40 meter QRP westlakes contest. VK NEWS: A slim key for pedestrian mobile CW. Operating CW when pedestrian mobile can be tricky so Peter Parker VK3YE devised this portable Morse key. A super slim key for pedestrian mobile CW. Also great for portable use as it's so cheap to make. Parts needed are as follows: * thin strip of PC board material * momentary pushbutton normally open switch * lead to plug * plug to suit transceiver I'll mention something you should definitely avoid doing and demonstrate the key in use making HF pedestrian mobile contacts. Watch the Youtube video by Peter Paker VK2YE. WORLD NEWS: Barcode inventor dies. The co-creator of the ubiquitous barcode, Norman Joseph Woodland, has died aged 91. He and a classmate Bernard Silver created a thin and thick line system in the 1940s. The only code Woodland knew was the Morse code learnt from the Boy Scouts. One day he drew Morse code dots and dashes as he sat on a sandy beach and traced a series of parallel lines. Woodland and Silver submitted their patent in 1949 for a code patterned on concentric circles. The idea was patented. When the patent expired in the 1960s, IBM where Woodland was working, tweaked the design into the one we recognise today. He joined IBM in 1951 wanting to develop the barcode, but it was not for two decades when lasers made it possible to read the code readily. Then IBM developed a bar-code-reading laser scanner system in response to a demand from grocers wanting to automate and cut costs. IBM promoted a rectangular barcode that led to a standard for universal product code technology. The first item scanned was a packet of chewing gum in an Ohio supermarket in 1974. It is now on millions of everyday devices worldwide. Woodland and Silver were both last year inducted into the US National Inventors Hall of Fame. Bernard Silver died in 1963. End of the portable cassette player. The consumer electronics giant Sony has announced that after 33-years it will next month stop making the iconic tape cassette player. However it will continue to sell blank cassettes, tape decks, and boom boxes with cassette support for the foreseeable future. Sony sold its first cassette tapes in 1966 along with its first cassette tape recorder. Consumers caught on to the new medium, particularly those bent on live recording with a device that has a high audio quality. The popularity of the cassette began to fall off in the 1980s with the arrival of the CDs, MiniDisc, and MP3 players giving bigger storage, faster and improved recordings. Sony is also discontinuing its Walkman DVD players due to low sales, with consumers turning to smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players for of digital music. The play-only Sony Walkman had its day but it was now time for it to retire as newer technology has taken over. ZL9HR delights DX chasing radio amateurs. The Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia scored 42,922 contacts during its recent two week DXpedition to Campbell Island. After a delay at sea reaching their destination, ZL9HR with its ten operators activated the remote, uninhabited, subantarctic island of New Zealand on all bands from 160m through to 10m. In the period from 0425z on December 1 through to the last on December 12 at 1604z the team contacted 15,487 unique callsigns. On the popular 20m band were 13,899 QSOs. Breaking that down we find in CW it had 7,530 contacts working 118 DX entities, while for SSB it had fever contacts at 5,821 but more countries on 123. A ClubLog may be found at: http://www.campbell2012.com/index.php/log 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. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street, TERALBA - and is open on Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm. To make contact at other times, try dialling (02) 49 581588 where an answering service operates. Visitors are always welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, long-life milk, and an interesting selection of biscuits.

WESTLAKES BROADCAST NEWS FOR 9TH DECEMBER 2012

CONDITION OF ENTRY TO WESTLAKES CLUB HOUSE: Westlakes club members and visitors: It is very important that everyone signs the members/visitors book which is in the hallway adjacent the main doorway. This has come about due to requirements made by our Insurance provider. It also helps the club in any insurance claim that a person has made against the club. Christmas Frolic at Westlakes: CHRISTMAS PARTY 2012. This years Xmas party will be held on the 15th Dec ( this is next Saturday)and meeting at the club at about 1000am. All members are welcome. This weeks meat tray was someone who quite regularly wins it. The winning ticket was none other than Greg VK2CW. Congratulations Greg, make sure you bring it along for our Christmas BBQ next week. It was busy at the club yesterday with Dave VK2RD mowing the lawns. The yard looks very tidy when mowed. Dave is always looking for assistance to help him mow the lawns so if you can help please see Dave or get in touch the club secretary Barrie VK2ABD. Michael was busy in the canteen again making lunches for the hungry members. Not sure what was made but thanks Michael for taking the reigns in the kitchen. 171 days to go...With the 2013 WIA AGM and Conference just 171 days away, less than six months to go, as organising committee, we have much to share and planning ahead. This is your opportunity to engage with the Amateur Community. With learning and appreciation as central themes, it’s your opportunity to interact and socialise with Amateurs. You can take the opportunity to discover what Western Australia has to offer. We’ve opened up our expression of interest for the Symposium and would like to invite you to discuss this in your club and make a submission to present to the community. We intend to run several streams. http://conference.vk6.net/expressions-of-interest/ If you would like to avail yourself of this opportunity, please let us know what you've been up to, or what you'd like to present to the world. You don't have to spend hours in front of an audience, you might be able to show and tell in 3 minutes. Just make sure you let us know what it is that is close to your heart and how it affects the community. More conference information is available online at http://conference.vk6.net/ Bob, VK6POP Onno, VK6FLAB Australian Radio Ham's spacecraft missions. The Inner West Courier reports that Robert Brand VK2URB is hoping to break new ground with two space missions that he is part of. Australian Radio Ham's spacecraft missions The Inner West Courier reports that Robert Brand VK2URB is hoping to break new ground with two space missions he is part of.The Sydney newspaper says Robert Brand VK2URB is involved in the communications system for the Team Stellar lunar mission scheduled for 2014, as part of an entry in the Google Lunar X Prize. In addition he is working on a UK-based Mars mission, scheduled for 2020, that aims to sniff out biological methane. The Sydney newspaper says Robert Brand VK2URB is involved in the communications system for the Team Stellar lunar mission scheduled for 2014, as part of an entry in the Google Lunar X Prize. In addition he is working on a UK-based Mars mission, scheduled for 2020, that aims to sniff out biological methane. Burglars may jam alarms. Jamming devices that can render house and car alarms useless are thought to be the latest tool available to those who want to steal from homes or make off with cars. Customs officers are now looking for the devices which are available from China, although they are illegal to possess in many countries. The devices can stop an alarm from sounding before its wires are cut and the house entered. While the owner of a keyless vehicle walks away pressing the right fob button, they don't realise it has been jammed, only to find later their car has been rifled or stolen. ACMA finds big internet use. A report from the Australian and Communications Media Authority tells us that nearly half of us go online at least once a day and typically spending 82 hours a month on the internet. Tabled in Federal Parliament, the ACMA reported the huge increase in data download was due to online streaming of digital media, including user-generated video, and programs. About 60 per cent use the internet daily for banking and paying bills. For many, these activities are part of our daily life due to their flexibility, convenience, and cost and time savings. The ACMA found that there were 22.05 million mobile internet subscribers, including mobile phones, dongles, USB and modems. Almost half of Australian adults had a smartphone in May this year, up from 25 per cent in June last year. Well that's all the news I have this week. Do you have a news items that you would like read out on a broadcast? Contact Richard VK2FRKO on email address vk2frko@tpg.com.au or give the item to Richard at the club. Now to wind up. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street, TERALBA - and is open on Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm. To make contact at other times, try dialing (02) 49 581588 where an answering service operates. Visitors are always welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, long-life milk, and an interesting selection of biscuits.

WESTLAKES NEWS FOR THE 4th NOVEMBER 2012

CONDITION OF ENTRY TO WESTLAKES CLUB HOUSE: Westlakes club members and visitors: It is very important that everyone signs the members/visitors book which is in the hallway adjacent the main doorway. This has come about due to requirements made by our Insurance provider. It also helps the club in any insurance claim that a person has made against the club. Yesterday was the monthly meeting of the club in the library. There were a small number of members in attendance. Did you forget the meeting was on. Items coming out of the meeting were the up and coming Boot Sale next weekend.This will be FREE so please tell all your friends and spread the word around. Anything that you wish to get rid of bring it along. Your unused items may be someone elses treasure. The starting time will be 1200 so people who work in the morning will have time to get to the club. There will be a BBQ for anyone who maybe hungry. Remember any items that you bring and don't sell MUST be taken home with you. This includes your rubbish. Westlakes Cup results with ONLY 4 logs being submitted. Results so far are 1st Place in the Advanced and Standard Licence division goes to VK4UH Kevin and in the Foundation licence class 1st place goes to Richard VK2FRKO. Next year the club will start advertising 6 months earlier to try to attract more participants in this contest. If after next years contest the numbers haven't increased the club will consider NOT running the contest. A working bee will be held this Wednesday so if you have a few hours that you can spare please be at the club at 9 am. Many hands make light work. At the end of the meeting Dave VK2RD rumbled the ticket tumbler, reached into it and selected a ticket. The ticket was then given to Greg VK2CW who read out the name on the ticket. Oh no he said its VK2CCW. Greg thought it may of been his. You see everyone, you have more chances of winning a meat tray if you have a W at the end of your callsign. Congratulations Michael - enjoy the meat tray. A feast was prepared in the kitchen by Diane and Penny. Once again - thank you Penny for your help yesterday. Yesterday, at the club the projects officer was assisting Richard VK2FRKO put his 40 meter QRP kit. It's coming along nicely and with a few modifications to case should be finished soon. Thanks Norm for your help - Richard. VI6ARG30 - Peel Amateur Radio Group celebrates 30 year history in VK6 with special call sign. Peel Amateur Radio Group have a special Anniversary coming up that we would like to share; we're celebrating our 30th Anniversary! To help celebrate we will be using our specially assigned call sign VI6ARG30. We will be operating between 5th November until 18th November. QSL cards will be issued for stations worked. Further details can be found on QRZ.com We will also be having celebrations on Sunday the 11th & 18th November which will include the club setting up in a local park in Mandurah. Everyone is welcome to swing past and say hello. BYO Picnic; please contact us for further details or head to our club page on the WIA website. http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk6/PeelAmateurRadioGroup/ We're a growing club with approx 20 members and embrace all areas from Kwinana though to Waroona, incorporating Rockingham and Mandurah in VK6. PARG has been working on a Mobile Communications Trailer for the past couple of years which was obtained through generous donations from sponsors such as SES Mandurah, Mayday and Alcoa. Our trailer is primarily used for emergency radio communications back-up to the SES in Mandurah and Club field days. We are currently in early stages of sourcing a suitable club house in the Peel region. Please do not hesitate to contact any one of our committee members for more information on us and our activities. 73 Michelle VK6MLW President Antenna masts and NSW planning law reform: New South Wales amateurs will recall that, since October last year, the New South Wales Government has been conducting comprehensive reform to the planning laws. As this is the first review of the State’s planning laws for more than 30 years, a golden opportunity was presented to get some consideration for Amateur Radio antenna masts. You will remember that we called for NSW amateurs to make submissions to the planning review last year. The NSW amateur fraternity responded magnificently with a barrage of submissions, wanting Amateur Radio antenna masts to be included in the laws as exempt or complying development. In fact, so many amateurs made submissions that the NSW planning department commented about it on their website in November last year. Draft legislation has recently been posted on the NSW Planning website and the department has invited all interested parties to comment. Disappointingly, Amateur antenna masts have not been included in the draft. I spoke to a policy officer in the department and asked – what do radio amateurs have to do to get some consideration on this issue? The answer – make (more) submissions ! It’s time to express your disappointment and send submissions again. You have until close of business on Friday 9th November. You can email your submissions to codes@planning.nsw.gov.auYou can find the draft legislation on the NSW planning website, at www.planning.nsw.gov.au click on the “Development” tab and select “On exhibition”, and then select “Draft Policies and Plans”. Information on putting together a submission is on the WIA website. The advice we gave last year can be found by typing “antenna masts” into the search field on the WIA website. The battle isn’t over. Amateurs of NSW – get cracking ! Roger Harrison VK2ZRH Wireless Institute of Australia The hidden costs of amateur repeaters. From time to time we hear about the funding difficulties experienced by clubs who run a repeater often not for the benefit of their own members, but for the wider amateur radio community. In New South Wales the Lands Department is continuing on its campaign of introducing high site lease charges all in the name of cost recovery and getting a commercial return for access to sites. Similar things are happening in other parts of Australia which are making repeater operators very anxious. Amateur Radio Victoria funds and licences most of the repeaters in its state, the annual ACMA licence fees are nearly $4000. In addition to this are site fees, take for instance the Mt William repeater VK3RWZ in Western Victoria, the site fees for this repeater are around $1,000 a year. Recently VK3RWZ was restored to service after a major antenna failure; rigging costs alone were in excess of $5,000 for that job plus the new feeders, aerials and radios. A considerable number of complaints were received when the repeater was not on air, most came from non members of Amateur Radio Victoria and since it has been returned to service only a couple of loyal and understanding members have expressed their thanks. Another major new cost for repeater operators is the D-STAR network. Amateur Radio Victoria has spent several thousand dollars to get VK3RMM D-STAR Mt Macedon on air. We now find it has few users, most are not even members of Amateur Radio Victoria. Also with D-STAR comes the monthly expense of internet access for the D-STAR internet gateway. Most amateurs don’t understand the amount of effort made by a small number of dedicated people to continually upgrade installations to meet new commercial technical requirements and the continual replacement program for obsolete equipment initiated by Amateur Radio Victoria. WORLD NEWS: COULD THIS HAPPEN HERE IN AUSTRALIA? Impact of 4G phones on TV. The BBC Radio 4 Today show reports on the possible impact of 4G mobile phones on poorly designed TV systems. The use by some households of poor quality broadband TV boosters that lack adequate filtering means that hundreds of thousands of households risk losing their TV picture when 4G phones start using the 800 MHz frequencies in Spring 2013. A Parliamentary debate on 800 MHz 4G and the problems that badly designed TV systems could face was initiated by Essex MP John Whittingdale (Maldon) and a transcript can be read at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2012-10-30a.61.0&m=40134. Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, originally called MitCo, will be responsible for ensuring that consumers continue to receive clear Freeview TV signals following the launch of 4G mobile services in the 800 MHz spectrum band next Spring. DMSL will be supplying filters to reduce interference problems although it is still unclear whether these will be high-quality Bandpass filters which will also attenuate signals below 475 MHz or cheaper Low-pass filters that just filter out signals above 790 MHz. Up and coming Events and demonstrations: Maurie VK2CD - a demonstration of his magnetic loop on a date to be organized. Also a demonstration outside using the new 40 QRP rigs. On a date to be organized as well. Well that's all the news I have this week. Do you have a news items that you would like read out on a broadcast? Contact Richard VK2FRKO on email address vk2frko@tpg.com.au or give the item to Richard at the club. Now to wind up. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street, TERALBA - and is open on Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm. To make contact at other times, try dialling (02) 49 581588 where an answering service operates. Visitors are always welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, long-life milk, and an interesting selection of biscuits.

WESTLAKES NEWS FOR THE 28TH OCTOBER 2012

CONDITION OF ENTRY TO WESTLAKES CLUB HOUSE: Westlakes club members and visitors: It is very important that everyone signs the members/visitors book which is in the hallway adjacent the main doorway. This has come about due to requirements made by our Insurance provider. It also helps the club in any insurance claim that a person has made against the club. Lets start the broadcast with good news. Old timer Ted VK2UI was asked to do the honours and draw out of the ticket tumbler this weeks lucky meat tray winner. This weeks lucky meat winner Was Stella again. Well done Greg enjoy the meat tray. Looks like Greg will have to be at the club next week to draw another lucky winner. It was all hands on the new QRP set yesterday. Norm bought in his completed QRP set in and was quickly put on the test equipment supplied by Barry VK2BZ. After a short time the job was done and it was then put to the test in the radio room. Not sure if any on air tests were carried out but reports that I have heard says that they are all good. Richard VK2FRKO also bought in his soon to be finished kit so I guess that in a few weeks the two kits will be on display for members to have a look at. Might have to start up a QRP group and have some fun. Also at the club was Maurie VK2CD with his newly manufactured loop antenna. The loop was constructed out of 20mm copper pipe and formed using a car tyre. The loop was mounted on his ( looked like a beach umbrella handle - does the boss know you have it? ), mounting box for his capacitor and other various HOMEBREW items to make it work. Listen out on future broadcasts as Maurie will be back to give a demonstration of his loop. Congratulations Maurie on keeping home brewing alive. Back from holidays Ally VK2AFD. Hope you had a great holiday. What did he say when he got to the club? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY STORE. Please make a note on your calendar that on the 10th NOVEMBER is a CAR BOOT SALE at the club. This will be FREE so please tell all your friends and spread the word around. Anything that you wish to get rid of bring it along. Your unused items may be someone else’s treasure. The starting time will be 1200 so people who work in the morning will have time to get to the club. There will be a BBQ for anyone who maybe hungry. Remember any items that you bring and don't sell MUST be taken home with you. The club magazine was put together and stapled and will be posted so watch out in your letter box for your copy. The electronic version will appear shortly. The club magazine is always a good read. Got a story that you want published in a future edition? Contact the magazine editor. Westlake's cup entries. Please send in your logs as closing date is fast approaching and either email them to contestmanger@westlakesarc.org.au or post your log to the club post office box which is Box 3001 TERALBA NSW 2284. Closing date is the end of the month. Also at the club today were a number of members giving their brain cells a workout doing the Foundation licence. Chief lecturer Geoff VK2GL was instructing. WORLD NEWS: The Campbell Island DXpedition activation is just a month away and all is on schedule. All the equipment has arrived at the storage facility in Invercargill, New Zealand. Some of the team are already in New Zealand, others will arrive over the next few weeks. There will be a quarantine inspection of all of the gear and then it will be loaded onto the boat that will take the equipment and team down to Campbell Island. It's not to late to vote for which bands and modes you will like to work ZL9HR on – go to www.zl9hr.com to vote and to find out all the details of this major DXpedition. DXpedition data: Location - Campbell Island - IOTA OC-037 - 450 miles south of New Zealand in the Great Southern Ocean. - 15th. most sought after DXCC location in the world (and an amazingly beautiful nature reserve). Dates - 28th. November to 9th. December. Group - Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia with a team of experienced international operators. Call Sign - ZL9HR 100 MHz to 6 GHz Transceiver for $300 ? Forbes reports on Michael Ossmann's latest project, an Open Source transceiver covering 100 MHz to 6 GHz. Although not stated in the article, it is presumed the RF output from the transceiver may only be a few milliwatts. Surprisingly this proposed Open Source transceiver does not use an FPGA and has a low resolution, however, it points to a future of flexible software defined transceivers at a low price point. The National Instruments company Ettus Research, founded by a radio amateur Matt Ettus N2MJI, produces the popular USRP™ family of SDR products which are aimed at the high performance segment of the market. For further information on this transceiver check Google Search engine. COMPUTER NEWS: This week WINDOWS 8 was released in Australia. So if you have a few hundred dollars in which you want to give away, check out the local computer vendors. Also released this month was MAYA . This is a free software and its operating system is Linux. Richard is trying it out on an old pc and so far everything is working well. Just remember to have all your printers and scanners plugged in and turned on before you start upgrading. Linux will find all your parameters and load them for you. Once that is done Linux connects to the web and will download any updates which may have come out. Two of the large car companies are using Linux in their car computers 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 Afternoons from around 12 noon. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm. To make contact at other times, try dialling (02) 49 581588 where an answering service operates. Visitors are alway welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, long-life milk, and an interesting selection of biscuits.

WESTLAKES BROADCAST FOR OCTOBER 21ST 2012

Last weeks lucky meat tray winner Herb VK2ZVF was at the club yesterday to draw this weeks lucky winner. In went the big hand into the ticket tumbler and on the ticket of this weeks winner was Stella, our magazine proof reader. Enjoy the meat tray. Please make a note on your calender that on the 10th NOVEMBER is a CAR BOOT SALE at the club. This will be FREE so please tell all your friends and spread the word around. Anything that you wish to get rid of bring it along. Your unused items may be someone elses treasure. The starting time will be 1200 so people who work in the morning will have time to get to the club. There will be a BBQ for anyone who maybe hungry. Remember any items that you bring and don't sell MUST be taken home with you. While large scale Broadband over Powerlines has all but gone, its cousin which uses internal mains wiring is still being promoted to users in various countries. For example the D-Link adapter promises through advertising a no-hassle network in places WiFi won't reach. It offers a PowerLine AV plus Mini Adapter Starter Kit as the solution for those in need of powerline networking, such as a basement home theatre or similar purposes. The kit enables a direct connection or graft of powerline technology into an existing network, at a really cheap price. Performance is enhanced claimed D-Link by delivering speeds up to 35 per cent faster than standard powerline devices, enabling fast access to email, files, and the Internet in the farthest reaches of the home.D-Link claims that powerline technology delivers a high-performance, stable and secure signal throughout the home and connects a desktop, laptop or wired entertainment device in those hard-to-reach spots inside or in outdoor entertainment areas.Connectivity is important throughout the home according to D-Link, whether it be a basement, in the kitchen, a teenager doing homework in a bedroom, the product is the solution installed in a few minutes. Did you know that The barcode patent turns 60. The now-ubiquitous barcode patch was first patented in 1952, by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, but it resembled a circular bullseye. It is the distinctive black-and-white stripes that provide details on everything for purchase and even identification. There are more than five million individual barcodes in use around the world. Although patented on October 7, 1952, they did not make their first appearance until 1974 because they needed laser technology to be easily read. SKA takes shape. In remote Western Australia the world's fastest radio telescope has been launched which will greatly increase the ability to survey the universe. The Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder already has 36 antennas each 12 metres across, started peering into the universe to map holes and new light on the origins of galaxies. The telescope costing $152 million will pick up radio waves from the cosmos, spans an area of 50,000 square kilometres in a designated radio quiet zone. It was also the first in the world's largest telescope, the Square Kilometre Array, based in both Australia and South Africa. Construction of the SKA will begin in 2016 and Australia will add another 60 antennas Westlakes club members and visitors: It is very important that everyone signs the members/visitors book which is in the hallway adjacent the main doorway. This has come about due to requirements made by our Insurance provider. It also helps the club in any insurance claim that a person has made against the club. Yesterday, at the club- Project officer Norm VK2KNC has his partly built 40 meter QRP set. Some components are yet to be ordered so that the kit can be completed. WORLD NEWS AND DEVELOPEMENTS. New organic solar cell offers high voltage to recharge a lithium-ion battery directly. University of Warwick researchers in collaboration with spin-out company Molecular Solar, have created an organic solar cell that generates a sufficiently high voltage to recharge a lithium-ion battery directly, without the need to connect multiple individual cells in series. The new solar technology development will enable portable electronic devices such as e-book readers to be re-charged on the move in low light levels and partial shading. Modules of the high voltage cells perform well in different light conditions including partial shade making them well matched to consumer electronic devices such as e-book readers, cameras and some mobile phones. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells offer new opportunities thanks to the potential for cheap manufacture, lightweight, low profile photovoltaics compatible with flexible substrates, which means they are ideally matched to portable electronic device applications. The new OPV technology is a breakthrough as scientists have addressed the problem of low out-put voltage when the module is in low light levels or partial shading taking an important step towards rolling out cheap OPV cells in low-power portable electronics. The scientists, from the University’s Department of Chemistry, have demonstrated a cell with an open circuit voltage of more than 7 V which delivers maximum power at more than the 4.2 V needed to power a standard lithium ion battery. The scientists claim it is the first time these features have been demonstrated using ultra high voltage OPV cells. Professor Tim Jones, one of the lead researchers at University of Warwick, along with Dr Ross Hatton and Professor Mike Shipman, said: “We have taken a big step towards cheap-to-make solar chargers which can top up your devices whenever they are being used – both indoors and out”. “A small light-weight solar charger no bigger than a credit card can be fitted to the battery of an e-book reader for example, and constantly top it up with power while you are reading it - even if you are sitting inside on the sofa”. “Alternatively, this kind of solar cell could be ideal for outdoor use as it is light-weight and portable”. “The next step is to extend this technology outside the laboratory to make cheap OPV chargers available on a commercial scale through Molecular Solar.” The research is detailed in the paper Ultra-high voltage multijunction organic solar cells for low-power electronic applications and was published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials. Crucial pieces of equipment used in this research were funded through the Science City Research Alliance (SCRA) Energy Efficiency project. Molecular Solar is soon to launch a new round of fund-raising to support the commercialisation of this technology. The University received funding from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to go towards this research. Mobile phones news. The International Telecommunication Union reports that six billion mobile phones are in use around the world. China and India account for one billion each as it brings us closer to having the equivalent of one subscription for every person on earth with its population being seven billion. From novelty to ubiquity to become near essential devices over the last two decades they have created new industries themselves.With smartphones and mobile internet connectivity, the number of people online has increased considerably with there being twice as many mobile broadband connections than fixed ones. Papua New Guinea 5 island tour. An international team of amateur radio operators will visit 5 islands belonging to Papua New Guinea between 20 October and 4 November, 2012. The team will be: Derek G3KHZ, Hans SM6CVX, Hans-Peter HB9BXE, Eddy K5WQG, Axel DL6KVA and non-ham Stig Nyman. M/V Barbarian will convey the team, starting from Kokopo in New Britain on 18 November sailing via Kavieng to Emirau. Their schedule is as follows - 20-24 October from Emirau island (OC-103) using the callsign P29VCX; 27-31 October from Tatau island (OC-099) using the callsign P29NI; 02-04 November from Lihir island (OC-069), callsign P29VPB. The main team fly home on 6th November. Hans and Stig then continue to Buka island on the M/V Barbarian. The remaining journey will be by air. The plan the following activity as P29VCX - 06-09 November from Buka island (OC-135); 09-12 November from Manu island (OC-025) and 12-13 November from Loloata Island (OC-240). QSL P29NI and P29VPB via G3KHZ. QSL P29VCX via SM6CVX. Well that's all the news I have this week. Do you have a news items that you would like read out on a broadcast? Contact Richard VK2FRKO on email address vk2frko@tpg.com.au or give the item to Richard at the club. Now to wind up. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street, TERALBA - and is open on Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm. To make contact at other times, try dialling (02) 49 581588 where an answering service operates. Visitors are always welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, long-life milk, and an interesting selection of biscuits.

WESTLAKES BROADCAST FOR OCTOBER 14TH 2012

Yesterday, was the clubs general meeting and with a small number of members in attendance some of the items that were discussed were - Possible grant to get installed EMERGENCY exits at two other parts of the club building.( have to install safety ramps ). A very important matter is in regards to the signing of the ATTENDANCE book. This is very important as it covers the event of a fire as record of the number of people that are at the club at the time as well for any insurance matters. I know its pain BUT please do it for the clubs sake. The club is also looking at erecting an EVACUATION ASSEMBLY POINT sign to be put up near the container. The Westlakes Cup contest was talked about as the number of people taking part in the contest is less and less each year. The cups and engraving cost the club $100 and there were only 11 people this year. Only 2 logs have been submitted so far. Something the club is going to trial on the 10th NOVEMBER is a CAR BOOT SALE. This will be FREE so please tell all your friends and spread the word around. Anything that you wish to get rid of bring it along. Your unused items may be someone else’s treasure. The starting time will be 1200 so people who work in the morning will have time to get to the club. There will be a BBQ for anyone who maybe hungry. Remember any items that you bring and don't sell MUST be taken home with you. After the meeting there was a feast put on and prepared by Diane VK2FDNE, Penny and Leigh VK2KAL. It was superb. Thanks from everyone who was there. The next club general meeting will be held on the 3rd November commencing at 1300 hrs in the library. Please come along and support the club. Now a good news story for someone. The ticket tumbler was spun by Norm VK2KNC and a winner selected. There can only be one winner and that was Herb VK2ZVF. Congratulations Herb enjoy your winnings. The project officer Norm VK2KNC has advised the the current project now has 11 members making up the broadcast receiver. Just a reminder that judging day will be at our xmas party and yes there is a 1st prize donated by Geoff VK2GL. Norm also announced that the next club project will be QRP 40/80 meter transceiver. Richard VK2FRKO and Norm VK2KNC have just received their kits and with the purchase of some extra componets we hope to have the kit finished before Christmas. The kit is Australian made. You would be looking at about $140.00 -150.00 for everything. It is a very compact transceiver. Listen and watch out for further reports on this next project. Maurie VK2CD was at the club yesterday to show us his homebrew variable tuning capacitors for his magnetic loop which he is constructing. It just goes to show that yes homebrewing is still around. Congratulations Maurie and well done. Yesterday,Alan ex VK2PNC and now VK2ALL was at the club. Did you manage to congratulate Alan on his upgrade? I am sure he will be at the club again in the near future for you to congratulate him. JOTA around the corner. Scouts throughout the world are getting ready for the 55th Jamboree On The Air which occurs on the weekend of October 20 to 21. This year's JOTA theme is -- How Big Is Your World? -- is an invitation to scouts to reflect on how they can enlarge their own world by interacting with others, while using modern methods of communication. Stations will call 'CQ Jamboree' on preferred calling frequencies but may also pop up anywhere in the band. Most of the contacts will be via voice with scouts talking to others in the movement. Specialised communication can also be used such as video, digital, satellite, IRLP or repeater. Some individual members of scouts already have their own Foundation Licence or a higher grade, while most of those being supervised on air are mostly microphone- shy newbies. The World Scout Bureau had more than 700,000 scouts involved last year from about 6,000 amateur radio stations. New qualification for recreational boaters. A mandatory qualification for recreational boaters using VHF marine radio channels within Australian territorial waters is to be introduced and expected to start in 2013-14. The Australian Communications and Media Authority which reviewed the VHF marine radio operator qualification arrangements has found a new qualification is needed, based on submissions it has received and its own spectrum responsibilities. The ACMA will coordinate the development of the Australian Waters Qualification which will become the new mandatory qualification for recreational boaters using VHF marine radio channels. If you hold the Restricted Radiotelephony Operators Certificate of Proficiency and the Third Class Commercial Operators Certificate of Proficiency, you are still legally qualified to operate a marine radio. You may need to obtain a Satcom if operating certain types of marine satellite equipment. A person operating a VHF marine radio without an appropriate certificate of proficiency or being under the supervision of a qualified person, may be in breach of the Radio Communications Act. Penalties include significant fines and imprisonment. WORLD NEWS: Sprite satellites to be launched. A project called to KickSat plans to send into space 200 satellites in one hit to show off ChipSats called Sprites and developed at the Cornell University in the USA. A CubeSat is being built to carry and deploy the Sprites, spacecraft that include power, sensor, and communication systems. Sprites are the size of a couple of postage stamps but have solar cells, a radio transceiver, and a microcontroller with memory and sensors. After their deployment, telemetry and sensor measurements from the individual Sprites are to be received through Cornell's ground station in New York, as well as several other amateur radio ground stations. The launch date from Cape Canaveral is planned for next July. They are expected to re-enter the atmosphere and burn up within weeks. Intrusions on our bands. The Russian military using the F1B and PSK modes seemed to have increased presence on the 7, 10, 14 and 21 MHz bands with complaints being filed by the German administration BNetzA. The IARU Region 1 reports that between 7000 and 7200 kHz alone, the Russian military occupied 26 frequencies in September. To re-emerge on 40m is the Chinese over-the-horizon radar even stronger than before with 10 Hertz-wide very strong burst signals. They have also been heard with OTH radar signals on 20m and 15m. OTH radar signals have been heard from Australia, Cyprus and Turkey as well. The 10m band is being used by CB operators, taxi service, fish boats and sea pirates in many countries. Raytheon Company has received a $349 million five-year, multi-year contract to provide heavy anti-tank, wireless precision-assault missiles for the U.S. government. Under this contract, Raytheon will deliver 6,676 of the new wireless TOW (tube-launched, optically tracked, wireless-guided) missiles that receive commands from the gunner through a wireless guidance link, eliminating the wire connection in early generations of the missile. With the wireless system built into the missile and the missile case, the next-generation TOW works with existing launch platforms, including the Improved Target Acquisition System, Improved Bradley Acquisition System, TOW2 Subsystem and M220 Ground TOW. The system performs exactly like the wire-guided version, enabling soldiers and Marines to continue using the proven weapon without changing tactics or incurring additional training. The tube-launched, optically-tracked, wireless-guided (TOW) weapon system, with the multimission TOW 2A, TOW 2B, TOW 2B Aero and TOW Bunker Buster missiles, is the premier long-range, precision anti-armor, anti-fortification and anti-amphibious landing weapon system used throughout the world today. TOW is in service in more than 40 international armed forces and integrated on more than 15,000 ground, vehicle and helicopter platforms worldwide. The TOW weapon system is expected to be in service with the U.S. military beyond 2025 Well that's all the news I have this week. This is VK2ATZ. Is there anyone with any late news items? Do you have a news items that you would like read out on a broadcast? Contact Richard VK2FRKO on email address vk2frko@tpg.com.au or give the item to Richard at the club. Now to wind up. Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. is located in York Street, TERALBA - and is open on Saturday Afternoons from around 12 noon. Also on a Tuesday evening from around 6pm. To make contact at other times, try dialling (02) 49 581588 where an answering service operates. Visitors are always welcome at the club. We have plenty of tea, coffee, long-life milk, and an interesting selection of biscuits.