New licence structure begins(Tue, 18 Oct 2005 )
Foundation webpage http://www.amateurradio.com.au/foundation/
ACMA website announcement: http://www.acma.gov.au/acmainter

The new license system cometh!!!! (Oct 2005)
From NERG News (hope they don’t mind!)

The amateur Licensing Conditions Determination (LCD), the regulations and assessment procedures that govern amateur radio in Australia, are about to undergo big changes. The new LCD is expected to be signed into law around 15th October.

NERG News will bring you details once the legal ink has dried, but in the mean time you can find a lot of information under the ‘Education’ section of the WIA web (www.wia.org.au). All amateurs are advised to obtain a copy of the LCD when it becomes available as there are many minor changes that may
affect the way you operate. The syllabus for the “foundation”, “Standard” or “Advanced” licenses are already available from the WIA web site. Anyone
thinking of a new license or wanting to upgrade from a novice/novice-limited to the Advanced level should check out
this information. Assessments for all levels include a single exam paper of 50
technical and regulations questions, and a practical assessment. Novices upgrading to Advanced will not need to be assessed on regulations - just the technical.
Unrestricted, Intermediate, and Limited licenses automatically become “Advanced” operators. Little has changed change in their conditions other than 400 Watts for all modes and you can all apply for the few 2 letter calls that are still out there.

All other Novice levels become Standard” and gain full access to their existing bands plus 20m, 40m, and 6m. They can also use modes up to 8 kHz on HF, in keeping with Advanced level. However power level remains at 100W.
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Radio Operators wanted by Coast Guard(Oct 2005)

The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard is seeking additional radio operators for its Search & Rescue/Communications Centre at Sandringham.

Experienced radio amateurs may be well suited for this role.

The Coast Guard is a 24-hour Marine Search & Rescue organisation that operates flotillas from Portland, Warrnambool, Lake Hume, Marlo, Mallacoota, Queenscliff and Geelong, several inland lakes and around Port Philip and Westernport bays.

Comprehensive training will be offered to those interested in gaining a Marine Radio Operators Rating and making a significant contribution to marine safety within and around Victorian coastal waters.

Trainee operators will train on a wide range of marine radio equipment and learn standard operating procedures & protocols.

A great deal of personal satisfaction and sense of pride within our community can also be expected from this important role

For further information, or to organise an information night at your radio club please contact:
Paul O’Connor Ph: 041 200 1280
Email: radioroster@hotmail.com
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GRAND OPENING(Oct 2005)
1.00pm - 4.30pm Sunday October 16th
The North East Radio Group (the NERG) invite all people interested in Amateur Radio to come and visit the new NERG home at 126 Mountain View Road Briar Hill and see what the hobby has to interest them, along with a sausage sizzle.

An official opening of the NERG meeting place by Banyule Councillor Jenny Mulholland will be made at 2.00pm.

The aim behind this event is to publicise the hobby of Amateur Radio and the presence of the NERG within the local community, focusing from school age to those well into retirement. We are intending to have a "SHOW AND TELL" with displays from our group as well as others including WICEN, WANSARC, WIA, ARVic, W4W, and VKS737 to show the many facets of the amateur radio and related hobbies.

For more information please visit www.nerg.asn.au or phone NERG Secretary, John Weir, on 9431 0667
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RIVERINA FIELD DAY(Oct 2005)
22/23 OCTOBER 2005
The Wagga Amateur Radio Club will again be hosting the Riverina Field Day on 22 & 23 of October 2005. This event will be held at the WARC Clubrooms in Small Street, Wagga Wagga.

Program
Free Entry and Registration
Saturday
2pm – Doors open for Coffee
7pm for 7:30pm – Field Day Dinner at the Clubrooms
Sunday
Clubrooms available for setup from 8am
Doors Open at 9am
Lee Andrews Communications
Flea Market
Food and Drinks available
Free Tea and Coffee
Closes about 3pm

More Information
www.warc.org.au
jeyles@wia.org.au
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Fancy a bit of a paddle up a large creek??
Hi all,
Yep, it's me again .. Your WICEN problem child.

The purpose of this email is to remind and inform all WICEN operators of the annual Red Cross Murray River Canoe Marathon, being held as usual from 27th December 2005 through to New Year's eve 2005, and to solicit your ready assistance.

Although this is only July, the Red Cross Marathon committee has been very active since February.
I am a member of that committee being the official WICEN Victoria representative.
I have been specifically asked to give the organisers the numbers of operators we will have available, and although that is really still a crystal ball job at this stage, never-the-less we have been formally asked to provide as much detail as possible.

This year's event will be conducted along the similar lines as last year.

Please ask for a report of our requirements if you are unsure.

I will be sending around the normal sheets in a couple of months which will inform you all of the overall requirements, and expected conditions.

However, in light of the above, I now request your initial response along the following lines.
1. Yes, I am available, count me in, thank you. . please specify the days available .... full period, or part only.
2. I am unsure at this stage, I may be able to help, please contact me later in the year.
3. NO, I am not available this year, but keep me on the list.
4. NO, I am not available, ever, don't even think of asking me again, take me off your list.

WE require a minimum of 28 operators to ensure all points are covered, last year we were light on, some confusion was evident, but I trust we will be on
top of any perceived problem well before this year's event.

Thanks everyone.
Bruce Bathols VK3UV
2005 Murray River OIC on behalf of WICEN Victoria

We received this via email, if anybody is interested I have all the contact details. The request was actually by the 22nd July but I guess the more they have interested the better! Andrew
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A Letter From ACA
they’re changing things again. (approx July 2005)
The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is in the process of relocating radiocommunications apparatus licensing, frequency assigning and customer enquiries services from Regional Offices to its Central Office in Canberra. This is in response to ongoing changes in licensing arrangements over many years (for example, increased use of class and system licensing) and it will enable the ACA to continue to improve service delivery and to respond to new challenges. A new team called the National Licensing and Enquiries Centre (NLEC) has been established to take up this work. All licensing, frequency assigning and customer enquiries services performed in the Regional Offices will transfer to NLEC by the end of July 2005. In addition, the ACA will merge with the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) on 1 July 2005 to create the new Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The creation of NLEC and ACMA will not affect the status of your licence. Licence fee payments to the ACA may continue to be made by mail, credit card or BPAY as per the instructions on licence renewal notices. If you have questions about the centralisation of services, please contact NLEC@aca.gov.au or 1300 850 115.
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Gippsland Technical Conference Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 July
Program :
Formal sessions to be held on Saturday, followed by the Conference Dinner. Sunday will have some time available for some short talks, practical demonstrations of microwave equipment and techniques. Lunch will be provided on both Saturday and Sunday. The cost of lunch is NOT included in the registration fee. An informal dinner will be held at the Morwell Hotel / Motel - 311 - 327 Princes Drive, Morwell on Friday evening at 19:30 hours. Please book when you register so that we can ensure enough seats! Costs - To Be Advised

Travel Directions:
The Conference venue is the Churchill campus of Monash University, located approximately 170km east of Melbourne. The area is well serviced by road and rail. Travel along the Princes Highway towards Morwell, staying on the freeway. Once at Morwell, look for the Churchill / Monash University Exit (east side of Morwell). Take this Exit, traveling south for 8 km to Churchill. In Churchill, turn left at the first roundabout (just past the first set of pedestrian lights) at Switchback/Northways Roads (signpost). Travel to the next roundabout and turn Left into McDonald Way (signpost). Turn Right at the first sealed entry into the University grounds (North car parks) (signpost), then right into the N5 car park. Enter the building in front of you (via the Boardwalk) and look for the signs.

Talk In:
The WIA (Vic. Div.) Eastern Zone Amateur Radio Club (Inc) will be listening on the Latrobe Valley Repeater VK3RLV on 146.800MHz (output) from about 0900 Saturday.

Accommodation:
Hotel / Motel accommodation is available in Morwell or Traralgon. There are also some good B&B establishments in the area. The Morwell Hotel Motel has a number of rooms reserved for the Conference - first in, first served. The Morwell Hotel Motel can be contacted on 03 5134 1355.
Contact details:
If you have any inquiries regarding the Conference, contact the Organizing Committee through one of the following means:
Mail: PO Box 459, MOE, 3825. E-mail: vk3kai@qsl.net or
wredgar@net-tech.com.au or vk3bez@qsl.net or Phone: Peter Freeman 0427 388 044 or Ralph Edgar 0428 870481 also http://www.qsl.net/vk3bez/ Proceedings from the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Conferences will be available for sale at this year's event (while stocks last).
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(From WIA web site - Mar 2005)
Medical radiation on the 70cm band
A radio-wave cancer therapy may be the latest in a string of devices to share the 70cm band and join door openers, remote weather stations, wireless headphones, alarms and a gaggle of other LIPDs. In Melbourne a leading foxhunter Mark Harrison VK3BYY has tracked down a signal that was triggering his club's UHF repeater.
He was warmly welcomed after entering a Collins Street Melbourne premises and shown radio-wave equipment operating on 433-434MHZ. It was explained to him that a cancer patient receives an injection of a substance that acts on cancer cells. The theory is that the UHF radiation blocks sugars reaching the cells to enable the therapy to be effective.
The patient has a folded dipole antenna placed near their body for several hours a day for three weeks. The radiation seems to be a narrow band frequency modulated signal with a tone.
A doctor told Mark VK3BYY that everything was approved for use, and then adds that the radiation is 40 watts.
A member of the WIA/ACA Liaison Team has several discussions with the ACA in Melbourne. The ACA understood that it was Low Interference Potential Device, LIPD running milliwatts.
A solution is being sought, with talk of the device needing a shielded enclosure to prevent it radiating on the 70cm band, that is a primary allocation to Australian Defence and secondary for the Amateur Service.
There are reports that a dozen more similar radio-wave cancer treatments units are planned for use throughout Australia
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Optical distance record claim
The clean air of Tasmania was chosen for a successful attempt to set an Australian distance record for optical or voice-over-light communications.
On Saturday 19 February between 1100 and 1200 UTC, two-way full duplex voice communication was established at 475 THz over a distance of 167.77 km, between Mt Wellington near Hobart and Mt Barrow near Launceston in the state's north.
Both transmitters used current modulated one watt red Luxeon Lumileds (high powered LEDs) into 200mm diameter fresnel lens. The signals were detected using silicon photodiodes.
At Mt Wellington were Mike VK7MJ and Justin VK7TW, while at the northern location were Chris Long who has long experiment with optical communications in Melbourne, Joe VK7JG and Jason VK3ZJA.

- Amateur Radio Victoria
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IOTA DXers plan a special event station
A team of DXers - "The VK3 IOTA Group" - is preparing to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the death of a Dutch explorer with a special event station VI5PN from St Peter Island IOTA OC-220.
The Island off the far west South Australian coast near Ceduna is within the Nuyts Archipelago (Conservation Park), both named after Pieter Nuyts, the Dutch explorer and East India Company when it was discovered in February 1627.
VI5PN will be operated by Peter Forbes VK3QI, Keith Proctor VK3FT, Jack Bramham VK3WWW and Max Chadwick VK3WT, 7-11 April, 40/30m with an emphasis on CW and 20/17/15m both CW and SSB.
It will be the latest in a string of successful IOTA activations by the group that includes (2002) VI3JPI Lady Julia Percy Island OC-251, (2003) VI5WCP Waldegrave Island OC-261 and (2003) VI5BR Baudin Rocks OC-228.
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BPL Hobart trial update
The main energy company in Tasmania, Aurora Energy is expected to run a commercial trial of BPL in May this year as a follow up to its limited trial that occurred in July 2004. Aurora's first very limited area trial that lasted two months with seven online users involved four homes and two floors of its office building in Hobart, did not use overhead power lines.
The expected commercial trial could involve 1,000 properties and is expected to rely on fibre optic cabling that is piggy-backed or strung under power lines.
This "last mile" method uses fibre optic cabling to deliver broadband into homes rather than using overhead power wiring to directly feed properties. It can still remain a BPL system using powerlines to carry broadband into an area with final distribution into properties being via fibre.
The WIA is closely watching developments with the new proposed Hobart the trial site and monitoring will occur to see if it results in radio frequency pollution on the HF spectrum.
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South Australian school on ISS waiting list
St Martins Lutheran School in Mt Gambier is one of 60 schools pencilled in for a contact during 2005 with the International Space Station.
AMSAT has indicated that current plans are for an average of one school contact per week. St Martins students will be talking via the VK5ZAI telebridge - not date has been set.

- Amateur Radio Victoria
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QSL-free 5BDXCC
Achieving Five Band DXCC (100 stations each band) without QSL cards is now a reality with two such certificates being issued by the ARRL. The qualifying contacts have been verified by the ARRL's online Logbook of the World that now stores the details of 255,000 contacts.
Major contest station KC1XX New Hampshire and DX station VE3EJ Ontario now both have their 5BDXCC and several others a nearing qualification through LoTW verification. K3KO North Carolina also confirmed 221 DXCC entities.
Meantime the ARRL DXCC Desk has approved the VU4RBI and VU4NRO Andaman and Nicobar Islands operation from November 30 through December 31, 2004, for DXCC credit. Those stations also played a pivotal role in the Boxing Day Tsunami emergency communications.
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Draconian proposals seek to restrict antennas
The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) is strongly opposing a proposal by the Waikato District on New Zealand's north island to set new limits on radio antennas and satellite dishes.
The plan includes limiting antenna heights in residential areas to 7.5 metres, imposing height controls based on the property size and limiting the number of antennas and/or antenna supports.
NZART President Peter Norden ZL2SJ in a submission to the Waikato District describes proposals are failing to accommodate the reasonable requirements of radio amateurs. The submission points out that if adopted the proposals will impact on the benefits Amateur Radio provides to the wider community.
The NZART wants antenna support structures to be permitted up to 15 metres high and addresses a series of other concerns with the proposal. A decision on the proposal could take until 2006.
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Australian Radio Amateur Callbook 2006
Work has begun on the mammoth job of producing next year's callbook that will be released well before the end of this calendar year. The WIA says that any changes or corrections to the reference material published in this year's edition are most welcome, can be emailed to callbook@wia.org or by post to Callbook, PO Box 2175, Caulfield Junction 3161.
If any corrections are required for the callsign information that must be submitted to the ACA before 30 June 2005.

- Amateur Radio Victoria
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(From WIA web site - Feb 2005)

WYP to help promote physics
In a coincidental celebration of Albert Einstein's "miraculous year" 1905, the United Nations has declared 2005 the World Year of Physics. Einstein 100 years ago published several scientific articles that profoundly influenced understanding of the universe.

They included the nature of light, existence of atoms, and the concepts of space, energy and matter. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is to organise activities celebrating the Year throughout the world


New Hamsat ready for launch
AMSAT India is hoping to orbit a new low earth orbiting satellite in February or March this year. Weighing 40Kg the micro-satellite will hitch a ride to orbit altitude with another satellite from the Sriharikota launch site in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

It will have two transponders, the main unit being Indian and a back-up system that is Dutch made. Operation will be Mode-B configuration with UHF uplink and VHF downlink. This mode is also known as U-V operation.

The linear transponders are designated to operate in CW/USB/FM modes. Uplink centre frequency will be 435.25MHz while downlink is 145.90MHz. The beacon frequencies are (Indian) 145.940MHz and (Dutch) 145.860MHz.
Info: amsatindia.org

More countries gain 40m band extension
Steady progress is being made in Europe particularly for their radio amateurs to gain early access to the 7100 - 7200 kHz band for the Amateur Service. The World Radio Conference 2003 decided that the segment 7000 - 7200 kHz will be globally harmonized for the Amateur Service from 2009.

However, on the condition that harmful interference is not caused to the broadcasting service, radio administrations may from 1 January 2005 allow their radio amateurs to have access on a secondary basis.

Britain, Croatia, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Poland, Norway, San Marino, Serbia-Montenegro, Switzerland and other nations are giving their radio amateurs the advantage of this early access provision.

From WIA web site
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Australia sending radio receivers to Tsunami-hit areas
Commercial Radio Australia (CRA), the radio industry body, has taken the initiative to aid and coordinate the restoration of radio broadcasting to people in several Asian Tsunami disaster areas.

In a media release CRA said it is contributing up to 50,000 AM/FM portable radio sets to stricken areas with the five batch being shipped to Indonesia and the remainder over the following four to five weeks.

The radio industry has also offered a number of engineers to help set up temporary broadcasting facilities in disaster zones, and up to seven transmitters will be provided.

CRA Chief Executive Officer, Joan Warner said the initiative involved the donation of radio sets, fresh batteries and broadcasting equipment to survivors and broadcasters affected by the disaster.

Ms Warner said, "Indonesia's public broadcasters have reported more than 30 of their employees are missing or feared dead, and many broadcasting facilities were severely damaged during the disaster.

"Helping to restore radio communications to affected areas is a practical way the Australian industry can contribute to relief efforts and will provide a channel for authorities to communicate vital information about water, food and medical aid."

CRA has also gained the support of the Asia Pacific Broadcast Union (ABU), which represents 130 radio and television broadcasts in 54 countries and is also asking its members to support the project through donating radios and broadcast equipment for Indonesia's Aceh region, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

One of the broadcasters that has been affected is Radio Republik Indonesia. It has managed to set up a temporary studio and AM and FM transmission facilities in Banda Aceh, but requires emergency broadcast equipment and a minimum 5,000 portable radios for the homeless.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation has also requested FM radio receivers for survivors, while the Maldives needs battery-powered radio sets for eight temporary shelters each housing 500 to 3,000 people.

From WIA web site 12/1/2005
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BPL has doubtful future: WIA
By Jim Linton 23/1/2005

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) seriously doubts that broadband over power lines (BPL) technology can deliver on its promises while overcoming its radio frequency pollution issues. WIA Director Phil Wait said, "It sounds like a very good idea in principle, but we believe it will fall short on implementation."

Mr Wait, who coordinates the WIA's working group on BPL, was recently invited to appear on the weekly TekTime program on Melbourne's 3MDR FM community radio. The WIA is the national society representing the interest of radio amateurs.

He explained that BPL had its genesis or beginning in low frequency narrow band control signals sent down power lines to remotely control off-peak hot-water systems and telemetry for power distribution management.

"In the 1980s experiments were conducted in transmitting higher speed data over power lines and with the recent growth in the Internet people have been looking at developing another 'pipe' into the home.

"Someone found, only a few years ago, that if you pump enough broadband power down one end of the powerline out in the street something is going to come out at the powerpoint. And that's BPL as we know it," Mr Wait said.

The main attraction of the technology is its potential to overcome what is termed the 'last mile', the problem of getting cables into somebody's home.

Particularly in home units with the building jointly owned through a body corporate where cabling access permission is hard to get. Because of this cable-based telecommunications providers do not provide broadband to those buildings.

The WIA Director said the bandwidth that has been achieved through BPL tests in Australia so far is comparable with rates from ADSL cable.

He said "The very latest BPL chip claims to deliver much higher bandwidth. But with high bandwidth comes limited range and more susceptibility to interference. It's the same old story that you don't get something for nothing.

"There are two major problems with BPL technology. One is the interference it generates and is also susceptible to, and the other is the bandwidth."

Mr Wait said, "The power lines were never designed to transmit anything like broadband frequencies. They are full of discontinuities, they've got branches, leaky insulators and are not shielded an enormous distributive antenna that runs around a city."

He said that radiation from BPL has the potential to affect all HF radio users in Australia such as aviation, maritime, emergency services, long distance transport, broadcasting and amateur radio. The Australian Radiocommunications Act and the International Telecommunications Union radio regulations prohibit telecommunications services from causing harmful interference to radio services.

During a recent trial of BPL at Queenbeyan in New South Wales measurements were taken and confirmed similar results recorded overseas.

Mr Wait said there's a lot of research on trying to get the interference levels of BPL down, including the use of 'notching' to reduce certain frequencies.
However he said the notching is only achieving about a 20dB difference which is insufficient to protect HF radio users. Mr Wait said interference can also be a problem for the consumer using BPL technology. It is susceptible to disruption by radio signals interfering with it. The operation of BPL relies on it sharing frequencies already used by radio services.

He said, "A number of tests done internationally show that very, very low power levels in the order of a few watts can interfere with a BPL system.

"This has the potential to interrupt the BPL signal. It will either slow it down or make it go away."

He said there were limited BPL trials underway in various parts of the world and a driving element for them is often a political determination to spread the availability of broadband access.

"There is a lot of political pressure in the US to improve the access to broadband services in rural America. The US is lagging behind many other countries in broadband penetration.

"President (George W) Bush has come out and said that he supports virtually anything that is going to increase broadband," Mr Wait said.

The situation in America is also interesting because the Federal Communications Commission has established 'exclusion zones' prohibiting BPL near government radio installations, obviously in recognition of the potential for interference.

In Australia the WIA sees BPL as being attractive to utility companies who have been looking at ways to 'bundle' services, giving them the opportunity combine electric supply with a telecommunications service.

BPL also can enable power companies to remotely read electricity meters and achieve micro-level control over their networks in the future.

The WIA believes that there may be BPL in some areas of Australia. Mr Wait said, "We will certainty see things like 'homeplug' which is an in-house distribution system. We will certainty see home-networking within building using this sort of technology.

"But I think the reality of the situation when they start to deploy (BPL) networks they're going to have a lot of problems."

He said there are a number of trials, and a few commercial trials. Some have been shutdown for commercial or technical reasons, including interference. There is still a lot of interest in it.

"BPL will probably be trialed and may find application in some areas in a limited way," Mr Wait said. "One of the arguments being put for BPL is that is it useful in rural areas.

"Well it may be useful in rural towns but it is not much good out on remote properties because the cost I believe in getting BPL signal out there to start with is going to be too prohibitive."

He said the most encouraging (BPL enabling) technology that is coming out is wireless such as WiFi and WiMax, with its price dropping and capabilities rapidly improving.

Another option for power companies to enter the field of telecommunications is to string fibre-optic cable under the neutral power conductor, and then every now and then have a wireless node serving an area.

"BPL itself is quite a good idea. The WIA is not opposed to BPL per se, the Wireless Institute is opposed to the interference that BPL generates," Mr Wait concluded.
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New standard for mains power plugs
Concerns about electricity safety has prompted a change to the Australian mains 3-pin power plug. Under the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3112:2000 the active and neutral pins on both 10amp and 15amp power plugs and plug-packs must be insulated.

This change, to be mandatory in April this year, has been introduced in response to a number of incidents including fatalities with un-insulated pins.

These incidents involved a metal object, such as a metal blind slat or other metallic material coming into contact with a plug pin that was partly removed from its socket.

Insulating of pins are not new and can be found in use on mains power plugs in Europe and some other countries.

The Australian 3-pin plug was introduced around 1930 at the time when electricity generally became available to homes. The Aussie plug is also known as the Australasian plug because it is used in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea too.

Apparently it was copied from the design of an American plug that no longer exists, although it still survives in Argentina where different wiring polarity is used and China which mounts it with the earth pin on top.

Each Australian State and Territory and New Zealand Electrical Regulator requires all electrical equipment to be supplied with insulated pin plugs, at all points of sale, by no later than the 3rd of April.

Amateur radio text messaging
Something new - the Sound Card Amateur Message Protocol (SCAMP) is promising to add an email-like text message capability to amateur radio. SCAMP uses narrow (2kHz) bandwidth HF or VHF voice channels to transmit text error free using ordinary sounds cards and modestly powered computers.

It is being tested in the United States. The first transcontinental exchange of Amateur Radio e-mail messages using SCAMP took place December 4 on 20m between California and Pennsylvania.

Cordless phones continue to intrude
Long-range cordless phones that operate on the amateur two metre band are still around and while there has been no recent reports in Australia, one has interfered with an amateur repeater in the United States. The Holmesburg (Pennsylvania) Amateur Radio Club complained to the Federal Communications Commission about telephone conversations appearing on 146.080 MHz input frequency of its repeater.

The offending cordless phone base units was tracked down and its owner surrendered it to an FCC officer and inquiries about its source are continuing.

From WIA web site

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