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Weekly news from the WIA:
MP3 edition of news available at:
http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2025-05-25.mp3 Text edition:
THIS WEEK:-
Joining u this week the usual bunch of suspects, VK2LAW, VK4FUQ VK3GTV and Editor of the WIA Journal AR Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.
BUT WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.
I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB
Now before we get into this weeks news, a look at the past, with VK3ABP
This is Peter Rice, VK3ABP.
Often significant DX amateur radio transmissions occur due to ephemeral atmospheric conditions, but it's not often significance is due to them
being broadcast from an ephemeral salt lake!
Yet, on the 14th May, 2025, there was a 50th anniversary of just that, when
my dad Bill Rice, VK3ABP, now silent key, broadcast maritime mobile from a
Red Baron catamaran, under sail on Kati Thanda 'Lake Eyre North' in 1975,
on Arabana Country in Northern South Australia.
It's sacred Country. And, with permission granted by Arabana elders in
2008, where my silent key dad's ashes remain.
Lake Eyre is currently receiving water from recent major flooding in
northern Australia, but still may not fill to match the volume of water
which was there in 1975. We can hope, despite restrictions on sailing, and even going near the lake, now.
Let Bill tell you more, from a QSO with Snow Campbell, VK3MR (also now
silent key) in Melbourne, recorded on 14th May 1975 while sailing on Lake
Eyre. You can hear water splashing against the hulls!
VK3ABP: "Yeah roger, Snow - VK3 Mike Roger, in Melbourne; VK3 Alpha Bravo
Papa, VK3 Able Baker Peter, maritime mobile /5 on Lake Eyre returning. All
ok, Snow; your signals readability 5 strength 9 - we are under way, under
sail, in Madigan Gulf, in the south east corner of Lake Eyre at the present time; we have at least 10 feet of water underneath us, probably more than
10 feet of water underneath us, and making about five knots very very
nicely. Ah - running about 50 watts peak, possibly not even that, using
the mast off the boat as the antenna through a trans-match, and ah, it's
about a twenty foot mast, and ah, using the ah, lake water as a ground
through a small ah, ground electrode, ah under one of the hulls. So that's
the story Snow. Name here is Bill, Bravo India Lima Lima, Bill is the
name, and ah, wonder how you copy there in Melbourne. VK3MR, VK3ABP
maritime mobile /5 Lake Eyre."
Video of that excerpt can be seen in a short film called, 'On Eyre', E Y R
E, made at the time by Bill and Tim Robinson, VK3YBP, which just over a fortnight ago was accepted into the Australian National Film and
SoundArchive.
Tim Robinson has recently indicated to me that the film may also be
possibly uploaded to the Digital Library of Amateur Radio Communications.
It's sure not often that telephony of amateur radio communications is heard
50 years since first broadcast, let alone any from a boat once sailing on
what is still mostly even now, normally a dry salt-lake claypan.
For WIA National News, I am Peter Rice, VK3ABP.
WIA
JOIN THE WIA
tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y
Hello all, including those MAD members out on lookouts and ridges enjoying a microwave activity day.
This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH
coming to you from Southport in Queensland, down in the hollow beside Loders Creek.
Make yourself comfortable, I have some news. Not mad news, or sad news, or
even bad news. Here it is:
Issue Number 3 of Amateur Radio magazine rolled off the press at Bairnsdale last Wednesday, on time and as budgeted.
Next week, the magazine will leap into letterboxes, Post Office Boxes, and numerous newsagents across the country, plus a few landing overseas.
The theme for this issue is one that we have not published previously called Simplicities and Complexities.
So, its a collection of articles on simple subjects along with some on
complex matters generally unrelated.
But, wait! Isnt that something you do every issue, I can hear you asking?
Well, yes. But, this time, only more so. Our issue themes mean that we
collect or curate a series of articles themed around a related topic
Antennas and Propagation, D I Y, Hacks and Hints, Portable Pursuits, etc.
Which is what makes this issue different. Its the opposite of a curated
theme.
So, what have we got?
I recall a new member asking me at a club meeting, just what are auroras? So, we have a feature article on the subject, titled Auroras a tour for tyros. Naturally, the cover features a dramatic auroral photo.
With the solar cycle peak now at hand, people across the southern regions in the southern states, and particularly in Tasmania, have often been treated to aurora light shows.
They affect radio propagation on HF, while some amateurs exploit them for auroral scatter VHF contacts.
Written for a general audience, our article answers the questions: What are they, and why do they come in different shapes and colours?
That ones for you, Colin.
Elsewhere, we have a charming little build it yourself project a simple shortwave receiver, by Dale Hughs VK1DSH.
Its based on a design originally published in 1967, but not actually a copy. And, yes, it uses a couple of valves! Hamfest sale-and-swap sections are
always great sources for components to suit this project, not to mention the back shed or the attic.
Moving-on to complexities, we have another article from George Galanis
VK3EIP. Readers will remember him from his articles last year titled, On
Lobes and Dishes.
This issue, his article is on What happens when you hit push-to-talk. This
is Part 1 of a two-part series on just how moving electrons in a piece of
wire create an electromagnetic wave.
Indubitably, it has equations! But, as George points out, its high school
level mathematics.
James Clerk Maxwell gets a mention, but theres no sign of his curly
equations.
George says that, even if you dont have the high school maths, you may find
it useful to skip over the bits you dont understand and hopefully still gain some insights.
For those keen on the complexities of chasing DX and hunting a contact with
the latest DXCC country entity, this issue we have published the 2024 DX Leaderboard all grades.
Well, the top 30 stations out of 107 entries. See whos who on the ladder and what rig they used. Who is the high-scoring homebrewer in there?
Rounding out the theme, for the do-it-yourself readers handy with hardware tools, we have a simple 2-band antenna for 10 and 12 metres, put together
from re-purposed TV antenna parts and some hardware store aluminium tubing.
It also involves winding a toroid choke for the feedpoint.
Under the banner of Your WIA Working For You, this issue we give readers some insights on the Institutes formal response to the recent omnibus consultation paper from the Australian Communications and Media Authority concerning its Five-year Spectrum Outlook and its 2025-26 work program also known as the FYSO.
The WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee developed a response, which it titled Strengthening the Future of Amateur Radio in Australia.
The submission sets out six key areas that the WIA seeks to be addressed over the coming year, including a number of outstanding Class Licence issues, call signs, planning for high power, exams, repeaters and beacons, and critical spectrum issues concerning the 5 MHz allocation and preserving the bands at 51-to-52 MHz and 2300-2302 MHz.
Thats it for now, listeners. Hopefully, Ill have more for you next week.
Dont forget, theres always much-much, much more in every edition of Amateur Radio magazine.
More guts. Less gab. Serving Australian amateur radio operators since 1933. Proudly produced and printed in Australia.
Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for WIA NATIONAL NEWS..
------------------------------------------------------------*
INTERNATIONAL NEWS is with thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, ARRL, DX-WORLD,
eHam, Hackaday, IARU, ICQPodcast, IRTS, NEWSLINE, NZART, RAC,
Radioworld.com, RSGB, SARL and the World Wide sources of the WIA.
Dayton Hamvention 2025 returned last weekend to the Greene County Fair and
Expo
Centre where tens of thousands of amateur radio enthusiasts gathered.
This year's theme was radio independence, celebrating the freedom and resilience
that have always defined amateur radio. Hamvention goes back to the early
50s.
From the earliest spark transmissions to today's global digital modes ham radio has
pushed boundaries in innovation, service, and community. "If you don't know anything about amateur radio, there's more to amateur radio than what most people
realize," said Michael Kalter, Hamvention spokesperson. "We respect our frequencies
that were allotted. We want to keep those frequencies. We want to continue to use
them, as do other amateur radio operators throughout the world, and there's a whole
lot of new activities that are going on with amateur radio."
Some travelled from around the world.
16 different countries were represented there, with more than 600 volunteers helping to make the event run smoothly. They call it a labour of love in enjoying
the show, learning something new, and making new friends.
Website :
https://s21arsb.com
Amateur Radio Exam in Bangladesh sees an unprecedented turnout, with more
than
900 participants taking part in the examination organized by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). This historic event took
place in
Dhaka and witnessed amateur radio enthusiasts from diverse regions across Bangladesh coming together with a shared passion for radio communication.
The Amateur Radio Society of Bangladesh said on its website that "this remarkable
figure represents the highest number of participants ever recorded for an amateur
radio exam in Bangladesh's history."
Weeks of preparation had gone into preparing candidates for the exam by offering
online seminars as well as in-person training and workshops. There was also a field
day as well as classes in basic electronics and antenna-building. The
amateur
radio society said there was great support from the Bangladesh Vespa
Community,
a community-service group of motorised-scooter enthusiasts - many of whom
also took
the exam, which was organised by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
The Amateur Radio Society Bangladesh (ARSB) has played an instrumental role
in
promoting amateur radio activities, contributing significantly to this surge
in
interest. ARSB has been instrumental in fostering the amateur radio community by
hosting a variety of events since 2018 & ARSB is a govt. registered organization
in Bangladesh.
IARU Monitoring System Region 1 Newsletter
The April edition of the IARU Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter is available
for download. It starts with information regarding a proposal submitted to
the
IARU Administrative Council to revise the Terms of Reference of the IARU Monitoring
System. Contained within the text is a proposal to rename the working group
to the
IARU Intruder Watch Service and expand the group's scope to include
frequencies
allocated to amateur satellites.
You can learn more about the proposal and see what intruder signals were reported
for April in the free newsletter.
iaru-r1.org
A long-time pirate radio operator in South Florida has agreed to stop broadcasting
and pay an $11,000 penalty to the U.S. Treasury through a 20-year consent decree.
Wilfrid Salomon was found to be operating Radio Ideal, an unlicensed FM
station
targeting the Haitian community. Miami field office agents visited locations from
which Salomon broadcast in 2017, 2018 and 2023.
Salomon agreed to a penalty of $11,000 paid in $500 monthly instalments.
He will face an additional penalty of approximately $347,000 if he violates
the
decree during the 20-year consent period by committing another pirate radio offense
or missing a payment.
GOIG - GOING - SOLD!
The Society of Broadcast Engineers auction of the remaining elements that
were
part of the Alford Antenna atop the Empire State Building raised $7,549 for
its
engineer scholarship fund.
Bud Williamson, the chair of the New York City-based SBE Chapter 15, said
that the
auction of the antenna bays was a success. The auction was conducted in the second
half of April. All proceeds will go to the SBE Ennes Educational Foundation Trust.
The winning bidders are in the process of either picking up or arranging shipment
of their prizes now and all bays have been paid for, Williamson said.
Each element weighs approximately 100 lbs. -------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATIONAL NEWS - A FELIX VK4FUQ PRESENTATION
--------------
--------------
NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2025
--------------
CQ WPX Contest
CW: May 24 - 25.
Starts 0000 UTC Saturday ending 2359 UTC Sunday.
(cq)
--------------------
Then in June, VK Shires Contest, 7th - 8th June.
wia.org.au/members/contests/wavks/
-----------------------
NZ Straight Key Night
Next New Zealand Straight Key Night will be held Sunday 8 June
from 9pm to 10pm NZDT (0800 to 0900 UTC) on 80 metres.
Polish and lubricate that old morse key and enjoy an evening of
old-time radio fun.
Straight Key Night is an informal event which honours the roots of
amateur radio: Morse Code sent with a straight key (no bugs,
sideswipers, keyers or keyboards).
When.
Winter SKN is the second Sunday in June, 8-9pm NZ time.
Summer SKN is always the first Sunday in December, 9-10pm NZ time.
SKN honours the original amateur radio mode in an easy-going style.
Operators send signal report, name, location, type of key, type of
transmitter and power output. Stations are limited to 100W output
power.
SKN is not a contest - but the operator who gets the most votes for the
quality of their sending will win the Bruce Scahill Best Fist Award.
This certificate honours Bruce ZL1BWG (SK), who was a dedicated
supporter of SKN. Please email your nomination to ZL1NZ within one week following the event.
(Neil ZL1NZ, SKN Manager)
-----------------
VHF UHF Field Days
Contest Manager Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.
Winter 2025
Saturday 21 June through Sunday 22 June
The Field Days provide VHF-UHF operators with the opportunity to "head for
the hills" and see how far distant and how many stations they can work.
The Field Days have separate sections for single and multiple operator stations. The duration of the Field Day is 24 hours, but there are also
8-hour sections for operators who may not be able to camp overnight.
Notably, most club stations prefer to operate for the full 24 hours.
The Field Days also generate plenty of activity from home stations,
so there is also a separate Home Station section.
All contacts must be simplex: contacts through repeaters or satellites are
not allowed. There is plenty of FM activity, but one feature of the Field
Days is a high level of SSB activity.
It is possible to do very well with only modest antennas IF you pick a good hilltop. Another option, if your station is easily transportable, is to
operate from more than one location during the contest period.
The overriding aim is to get away for the weekend and have fun!
But next after that, the aims are:
to encourage more activity on VHF, UHF, and microwave bands;
to encourage people to work greater distances than usual by operating
portable, and to provide opportunities for people to activate or work
into new grid squares.
wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/
---------
IARU HF World Championship.
The 24-hour IARU HF World Championship starts at 12 HUNDRED UTC on
Saturday 12 July and ends at 11:59 UTC on Sunday 13 July.
This annual contest supports amateur self-training in radio
communications, improving operating skills, conducting technical
investigations and inter-communicating with other amateurs around
the world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 metre bands
Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP Secretary, IARU Region 3 in an email passed to us by
WIA Secretary Peter Clee reminds us here at the WIA that in this contest multipliers are the total number of ITU zones plus IARU member society HQ stations worked on each band (not mode). Thus, Society's HQ stations
(WIA) participation is very important for the multipliers.
(SARL/VK8ZZ)
-----------------
Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest - 19 JUL 2025
The Trans-Tasman contest, held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL
Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and Digital (RTTY
OR PSK)
wia.org.au/members/contests/transtasman/
----------
YOTA Contest 2025
Organized by the IARU R1 Youth Working Group in cooperation with the
Hungarian Amateur Radio Society, the aim of the YOTA Contest is to
increase youngsters activity on the air, strengthen the reputation
of the YOTA programme and demonstrate support for youngsters across the
world.
The next 2 sessions of this year's YOTA Contest will be held
19 July
29 December
yotacontest.mrasz.org
---------------
RSGB IOTA CONTEST
July 26 to July 27, 2025.
Mode: CW, SSB
Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
Work once per band per mode.
(wa7bnm contest calendar)
----------
Remembrance Day Contest
This contest is held every year on the anniversary of the end of World War
II, in honour of the Australian amateurs who lost their lives in wartime.
This contest is unusual because the trophy goes to the Australian state or territory that scores the highest level of activity.
Next contest 16th & 17th August 2025
Contest Manager is Alan Shannon VK4SN
vk4sn@wia.org.au
wia.org.au/members/contests/rdcontest/
----------
Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest
The Oceania DX Contest is managed by the Oceania DX Contest Committee,
info@oceaniadxcontest.com
The OCDX contest is Oceania's only international style contest where
contacts with stations all over the globe are able to participate.
Oceania stations may contact any station for QSO points whilst non-Oceania stations are required to contact any station in Oceania for QSO points.
The contest runs over the first two full weekends in October and has
SSB, CW and SWL categories
wia.org.au/members/contests/oceania/
---------------------
YOTA Contest 2025
Organized by the IARU R1 Youth Working Group in cooperation with the
Hungarian Amateur Radio Society, the aim of the YOTA Contest is to
increase youngsters activity on the air, strengthen the reputation
of the YOTA programme and demonstrate support for youngsters across the
world.
The final session of this year's YOTA Contests will be held
29 December
yotacontest.mrasz.org
---------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
NOW THE DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.-----------------
----------------- -----------------
Listen for OT 25 E.P.I.C, (epic) a special callsign of the Antwerp Port
Contest
Club which is on the air to promote this year's edition of the Antwerp Port Epic
cycling race. The callsign will be on the air now until the 9th of June,
which is
the day of the race.
QSL via ON8JJ.
(newsline2481)
------------
ZL100IARU is the special callsign for New Zealand's IARU member society, NZART,
to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union from
May 1 to 31 July.
QSOs will be uploaded to both QRZ Logbook and LoTW
(425dxnews)
-----------------
REMINDERS
Celebrating the Deutsche Amateur-Radio-Club's 75th anniversary, four special
callsigns have been activated by DARC till 31 October:
DC7, D5D, DD7, DK7 and DR75DARC.
See darc.de/der-club/referate/dx/sonderdiplome/
for the "75 Jahre DARC" certificate.
QSLs via the bureau, or direct to DL2VFR.
(425 DX NEWS)
------------
Special event station GB 0 SAR (GB ZERO SEARCH AND RECUE) is active until the 30th of May to support S.O.S. Radio Week. The station is mostly working using FT4
on the 20m band, but you might also catch it on the other HF bands using
phone.
For more information visit QRZ.com
(rsgb)
---------------
France.
TM 160 ITU now until the 31st May.
The special callsign marks the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union.
QSL via LoTW and eQSL.
(sarl)
------------
Switzerland.
4 U 0 ITU is the call sign for the International Amateur Radio Club at ITU HQ in Geneva to use from 16 May to the end of the year in celebration of the
160th
anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union.
QSL via LoTW, Club Logs OQRS, or direct to IARC, PO Box 6, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.
(sarl)
-------------
The RSGB Contest Club has recently exceeded one million QSOs.
These have been made by RSGB members activating historic RSGB callsigns and special event callsigns, either in contests or in radio marathon activations.
The QSOs have all been uploaded to Logbook of the World.
The most prolific callsign has been G6XX with over 154,000 QSOs, and the most recent has been GB0IARU which was active in April to celebrate 100 years of
the
International Amateur Radio Union.
(GB2RS NEWS)
------------------
North West Group ARC, MN NWG, is using the special-event callsign GB 0 AEL until the 31st of May to commemorate the anniversary of Amelia Earhart's transatlantic flight which she accomplished nonstop and solo in 1932.
Her trip took her from Newfoundland to Londonderry in Northern Ireland.
QSL via MIHOZ.
(arnewsline2479)
-------------
DM LIMES is on the air until the 1st of July to mark UNESCO World Heritage
Day
on June 1st. The callsign DM 3 LIMES will join this DL0LIMES on the air and operate
from the 31st of May through to the 1st of June. The callsigns was chosen in recognition of the limes, which bordered the Roman Empire at its greatest point.
See QRZ.com for QSL details.
(arnewsline2479)
------------
GB 1 BK
The East Midlands Electronics and Radio Group is on air until today, the
11th of May UTC to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
VE DAY or Victory In Europe Day callsign GB1BK is operated from former
RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire and Midland members are on 40m, 20m and 2m,
using SSB and some FT8 and SSTV.
Guernsey Amateur Radio Society has been operating special event radio station GU80LIB between the 9th and today, the 11th of May in celebration of the
80th anniversary of the liberation of Guernsey at the end of World War Two.
See QRZ.com for more information.
(rsgb)
-----------------
Well you may not WORK them BUT you MAY hear them.
Once again Italian radio amateurs have been authorized to use the 40 MHz
band until the end of the year.
They are allowed to operate from 40.660 MHz to 40.700 MHz with a maximum
power of 10 watts.
The Italian regulator has given permission until 31 December also for
70.1, 70.2, and 70.3 MHz.
(425dx news)
------------
Recently Jason, VK2LAW, brought us news of the special event station
in Japan, 8 K 3 E.X.P.O. Now word of another station celebrating this
EXPO in the Kansai / Kinki region - JA3 X.P.O.
This station, JA3XPO, is a mobile commemorative station that will travel to each of the Kansai prefectures. This callsign, originally used for the 1970 Japan World Exposition in Osaka, has been revived after 55 years.
BOTH 8K3EXPO and JA3XPO are on air now and conclude at World Expo's end
October 13, the FULL duration of the Expo.
(ARD)
-----------------
A very large number of Russian stations using special prefix RP80
are QRV now until May 9 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of
World War II.
More information on
logradio.ru/
--------
The Guernsey Amateur Radio Society will operate special event
station GU 80 LIB on 9-11 May to celebrate the 80th anniversary of
the liberation of the Channel Islands at the end of World War II.
QSL via LoTW, Club Log's OQRS, direct, or via the bureau.
(425dxnews)
-----------------
Peter, PD1RP, is celebrating the 80th anniversary since the end of the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. He is on the air as
PD80FREE
until the 30th of June. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the bureau.
(NewsLine)
--------------
-----------
It was 25 years ago but We Do Remember You as if it was yesterday and always will.
Special Event to Honour the Victims of 9-11:
New York City Shanksville PA. and Washington D.C.
September 06 00:01 UTC ending Thursday September 12, 23:59 UTC.
Many members of the Alabama Contest Group will activate K4A for the fifth
year. This year's event will be called "9-11 We Do Remember."
SSB, FT8, CW, and RTTY on all bands 160 through 10 meters, including WARC bands.
(ard)
---------
8K3EXPO is on the air until October 13, 1.8 MHz 10 GHz.
This event marks the first time a callsign has been established with the
8K prefix and draws attention to the Osaka World Expo.
(ard)
-------------
DX WINDOW - JUNE
----------------------------
Celebrating the Deutsche Amateur-Radio-Club's 75th anniversary, four special
callsigns have been activated by DARC till 31 October:
DC7, D5D, DD7, DK7 and DR75DARC.
See darc.de/der-club/referate/dx/sonderdiplome/
for the "75 Jahre DARC" certificate.
QSLs via the bureau, or direct to DL2VFR.
(425 DX NEWS)
------------
It was 25 years ago but We Do Remember You as if it was yesterday and always will.
Special Event to Honour the Victims of 9-11:
New York City Shanksville PA. and Washington D.C.
September 06 00:01 UTC ending Thursday September 12, 23:59 UTC.
Many members of the Alabama Contest Group will activate K4A for the fifth
year. This year's event will be called "9-11 We Do Remember."
SSB, FT8, CW, and RTTY on all bands 160 through 10 meters, including WARC bands.
(ard)
-------------
---------
8K3EXPO is on the air until October 13, 1.8 MHz 10 GHz.
This event marks the first time a callsign has been established with the
8K prefix and draws attention to the Osaka World Expo.
(ard)
-------------
Well you may not WORK them BUT you MAY hear them.
Once again Italian radio amateurs have been authorized to use the 40 MHz
band until the end of the year.
They are allowed to operate from 40.660 MHz to 40.700 MHz with a maximum
power of 10 watts.
The Italian regulator has given permission until 31 December also for
70.1, 70.2, and 70.3 MHz.
(425dx news)
------------
------------
Switzerland.
4 U 0 ITU is the call sign for the International Amateur Radio Club at ITU HQ in Geneva to use from 16 May to the end of the year in celebration of the
160th
anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union.
QSL via LoTW, Club Logs OQRS, or direct to IARC, PO Box 6, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.
(sarl)
-------------
-------------
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)
Think of them as the dynamic duo of the universe:
No, they're not caped crusaders but a red dwarf star and a white dwarf, a
dead
star. Together, they have been sending a steady radio pulse every two hours
for at least 10 years.
Scientists have heard their transmission but until recently no one knew the source
of the sounds, which appeared to emanate from the direction of the Big
Dipper.
Recently, the signals were found to come from a binary system - two stars - that
send the pulse by repeated contact between their magnetic fields. Researchers cracked the mystery with the help of a low-frequency array radio telescope.
The
discovery debunks the long-held belief that only highly magnetized neutron stars
known as magnetars, can emit such pulses.
This challenge to the old way of thinking opens up the chance to explore
other
mysteries and binary systems.
(newsline2481)
WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,
PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.
hema.org.uk/index.jsp
minesontheair.com/about-mota
parksontheair.com/
sota.org.uk
sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/
facebook.com/SotaAustralia/
wwffaustralia.com/
Bob, K0NR and Joyce, K0JJW will be active as KH8/K0NR and KH8/K0JJW from American Samoa from 27 May to 9 June. Primary objective is activating SOTA summits,
using 20m thru 10m on SSB, FT8 & FT4, 10 watts to wire antennas.
Plans to do some POTA activations as well.
QSL via LoTW only
(425dxnews)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - BALLOONS
It was a clear day, members of the St. Pius X High School Amateur Radio Club watched their hard work float away.
They had launched a pico balloon from the schools football field, the balloon with a transmitter dangling was watched by around 30 students.
The balloon, made of Mylar and filled with hydrogen, was released into the
sky with
the expectation that students would track it on a website as it circled the earth
at an altitude of about 40,000 feet. Pico balloons can circle the earth in about
four to five days, and may remain in the air for more than a month, said
Travis
Few, a Midwest High-Altitude Balloon Team flight lead, who has helped the St. Pius
club with the balloon project since late January.
(eHam)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FAITH. open.spotify.com/playlist/0XDrUVZQMeEt47eAT2oE4P?si=6869c1069e6f45b1
If you were lucky enough to work HV 5 PUL transmitting from Rome recently,
you were
part of this small university-based station's celebration that a new pope had been
chosen.
Two days after the conclave of cardinals had elected Pope Leo XIV, amateur radio
station HV5PUL - the Pontifical Lateran University - was on the air in the Vatican City State in the heart of Rome, celebrating.
The station's administrator, Luca Della Giovampaola, IWDJB, reported that traffic
was lively on 20 metres SSB and 17 metres FT8. He said that the simple
100-watt
station logged an estimated 400 contacts in four hours. Propagation was challenging
and so, with the exception of one Japanese station , all the contacts were within
Europe.
It's not often a new pope is chosen nor that HV5PUL is put on the air, the callsign
is active mainly on Saturdays in connection with special occasions, such as
the
opening day of the university's academic year -- and of course, the selection of a
new Pope.
(newsline2481)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
AMSAT-VK Secretary -
secretary@amsat-vk.org
Amazon's new broadband internet constellation project has moved ahead with
its
first lift-off.
Yes the broadband internet constellation known as Project Kuiper is on its
way at
last, following the launch on Monday, April 28th of its first 27 satellites from
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Amazon envisions its long-anticipated $10-billion project as a direct
challenge to
the massive SpaceX Starlink network, which dominates the market. Ultimately Project Kuiper will send 3,236 satellites into low-Earth orbit, making its global
broadband service accessible to rural and underserved regions.
A mandate by the US Federal Communications Commission requires Amazon to
deploy
1,618 - or half - of its satellites by the middle of 2026. Analysts speculate that
the company may seek an extension on that date as a result of the delays.
(newsline2481)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - INTERNET - THE HAMS DOMAIN.
We occasionally have been taken to task when reminding listeners and viewers
to
visit wia.org.au for the text edition.
YOU SHOULD BE SAYING WWW.WIA.ORG.AU some say.
Wrong we say, and in any case, most browsers have taken a stance against the significance of www. Chrome, Safari, Firefox all hide the prefix even
when you are technically visiting a website that does still use the www. subdomain
(like
http://www.wia.org.au). You can try it yourself in Firefox head over to
a
www. site and watch as the prefix disappears or part fades to grey from the taskbar.
The www prefix stands as a reminder that the internet is a living, evolving thing.
Over time, technical necessities become conventions,
conventions become habits,
habits eventually fade away when they no longer serve a purpose.
Yet we still see those three letters pop up on the Web now and then, a
digital
vestigial organ from the early days of the web. The next time you mindlessly type
a URL without those three Ws, spare a thought for this small piece of
internet
history that shaped how we access information for decades.
Largely gone, but not yet quite forgotten.
(sourced to twiar)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA
iota-world.org/
------------
REMINDERS
V49K and V4/AC6ZM.
Juan, AC6ZM will be active as V4/AC6ZM from St. Kitts (NA-104) 18-27 May, CW, FT8,
RTTY and some SSB on various HF bands and 6 metres, and will participate
in
the CQ WW WPX CW Contest as V49K. That contest period, May 24 - 25.
QSL via LoTW, Club Log's OQRS, or via home call, AC6ZM.
(425dxnews)
------------------
VP 8 DPD Falkland Islands
Gerard VK4BGL/G3WIP is active as VP8DPD from Falkland Islands, IOTA SA-002,
10 May - 12 July on HF.
QSL via G3WIP Buro, LOTW, eQSL.
(dxnews)
-----------------
Harald, DF2WO and Warren, KN6ZZI, are using the callsigns D44TWO and D44ZZI, respectively, from Santiago Island, IOTA number AF-5, in Cape Verde, through
to
the 26th of May. Harald will be using primarily CW and FT4 and Warren will be using
primarily SSB and FT8. They will also be looking to make QSOs via the QO-1 satellite. QSL to both via MOXOs OQRS.
(arnewsline 479 and rsgb)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ---- MARITIME.
Michael VK2HFN, recently went maritime mobile on the Carnival Splendour,
along the
East Coast of VK2 and VK4.
With permission, VK2HFN picked a spot near the aft of the ship, well away
from the
ships antennas and navigational equipment. He was able to make many contacts along
the coast through several repeaters. The longest distance was nearly 180km through
VK2RCH, Coffs Harbour.
This was done on his VX6, transmitting with only 1 watt.
Once operating, Michael was never bothered while operating his radio and enjoying
this great hobby. If anyone is thinking on going on a cruise, the Carnival Splendour is Ham Radio Friendly, according to Michael.
(vk2wi news)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY open.spotify.com/playlist/28SXuX8vL2wHbnfCS0uBVF?si=d9ee366a38a4472e
50 years since the end of the Vietnam War and a great video has surfaced on
the
Military HF Radio YouTube channel.
youtube.com/@militaryhfradio244
This talk has a particular focus on the Vietnam conflict, the use of HF at
that
time as well as training required and of course the challenges of military bureaucracy.
Wednesday was lecture night at the Manly-Warringah Radio Society.
The topic, "Spy Radio, the Special Operations Executive, and Deception, presented
by Colin Christie VK2JCC. It delved into the vital role of covert communications
during World War II, focusing on the use of spy radios by the French Resistance.
These radios were essential for transmitting critical information to Allied forces,
often under life-threatening conditions.
SOE, the Special Operations Executive, a secret British organization, played
a
crucial role in coordinating these efforts, training agents in espionage, sabotage,
and the use of encrypted communication.
The presentation also explored the deceptive tactics employed to mislead the enemy,
including misinformation campaigns and fake radio transmissions, all which helped
confuse and disorient German forces.
(vk2wi news)
Most enthusiasts would be well aware of the annual Military Radio Nets that take place on Saturday at Hamvention in the USA.
3885 AM WW2 Low power and backpack net at 1200 hours local
51.0 FM Cold War backpack and handheld net at 1400 hours local.
The 3885 WW2 Net featured everything from BC-611 to SCR-284, GRC-9 etc.
The 51.0 Cold War Net had radios like the PRC-6, PRC-10, RT-70, PRC-25 and 77 with
a good representation of older sets from the BC-1000 to newer SINGARS sets. They
had at Hamvention a good showing of German, Russian and captured Iraqi
radios.
The Czech RF_10 was another popular radio.
(ard)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
(Youngsters On The Air)
WIA committee:- Steve VK6SJ, Alec VK2MV and Pete VK2LP. ham-yota.com/category/yota-region-3/
facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - RADIO SCOUTING
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VIDEO ------------------------------------------------------------*
IT'S A DATE
Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section,
nationalnews@wia.org.au
Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found
on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.
----------------------------
2025
VK2 - Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club's 49th Annual Field Day Weekend
at Wauchope Showground Hall June 7 and 8 (wiacal)
VK5 - SERG Convention and Fox Hunting Championship June 7 and 8
At Scout Hall in Mt. Gambier (vk5dj)
VK - Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association 50th anniversary
Glen Waverly July 26
president@alara.org (vk2ayl)
VK5 - AREG's Amateur Radio & Electronics Sale Sunday 26th October
at David Roche Park, Kilburn (VK5QI)
VK4 - GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY 2025 HAMFEST NOV 9 (vk4dmh)
Country Paradise Parklands 231 Beaudesert Nerang Road.
VK3- Rosebud RadioFest, Eastbourne Primary School, Rosebud (wiacal)
November Sixteen.
VK8 - Darwin Amateur Radio Club DARC Xmas Party 6:30pm Dec 3 (wiacal)
final final
Name : John
Callsign : ZS1I
Email Address :
sawois05@gmail.com
Feedback :
The Wireless Institute Of Australia Weekly Amateur Radio News Broadcast now being
transmitted in South Africa
The Wireless Institute of Australia produces a 30 minute audio news service which is
transmitted across Australia on both Amateur and Citizen Band frequencies. It is now
also transmitted in South Africa.
Starting 15h00 SAST and ending 15h30 SAST every Sunday Afternoon.
Radio Amateurs can listen on the Aasvoelkop Repeater (145.625 MHz. 88.5 hz tone) or
connect via ZS1SB-L EchoLink, ZS1I-R EchoLink, 49355 AllStar or TG65511 on
DMR and
the 145.550 MHz. 88.5 hz tone ZS1I Simplex HUB Link.
Come and join us and listen to one of the most interesting amateur radio news broadcasts in the world.
Blog:
https://grhubnetwork.blogspot.com
Reception Reports
WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a
welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs
straight after the Local News. Local news follows National
news in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would
email their reception reports and location to
callbacks@wia.org.au
Submitting news items
If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion
in the VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to
nationalnews@wia.org.au and don't JUST send url's links or
posters, but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.
To submit audio, email
nationalnews@wia.org.au
and send BOTH the audio and the text
We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 mts in
length as we only have a half hour.
Remember the sooner you submit material the more the
likelihood of it being broadcast in the very next edition of
WIA National News.
Each recorded item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple
of mentions, please submit different slants to keep your
event 'fresh' and always if the news room is to read your
item --- write it in the 3rd person. (First if YOU are
reading your own item). If you are mentioning your own name / call
in the story, say something like "and myself, Pat, vk11abc"
Promote your local rebroadcast; details on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't
plug DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the
WIA will put your supporters 'goods' in this text edition
"no worries."
We will not give blatant 'plugs' to raffles, be it raffles
at the event or "on-line".
------------------------------------------------------------*
Oh... and to contact us with your news because
If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!
WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on
wiaq.org.au
BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!! thanks to Tony VK7AX
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
to the original text version and original audio on wia site) ------------------------------------------------------------*
WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
TWITTER twitter.com/VK1WIA
Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed
prior to the actual broadcast date, e-mail
nationalnews@wia.org.au
Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers
you may lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who
knows, you might even get a "cheerio call".
Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who
utilize their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly
broadcast.
Who and where are they?
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
Promote your local rebroadcast; details on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of
interest to WIA affiliated clubs and active amateurs residing
in Australia and the globe.
We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
Australia and participation in the activities of local clubs.
Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who
submit material and do not necessarily reflect those of the
rebroadcasters, nor the National WIA, but IF broadcast, are
done so in the spirit in which they were submitted."
If you would like to see the call-backs reported each
broadcast, OR have call-backs to contribute to the National
News call back tally then please send through your call-backs
to
callbacks@wia.org.au
How do I join this REBROADCASTERS List?
(subscribe for an automatic feed.)
Email to
vk1wia-broadcasters-join@lists.wia.org.au
from the email account that you wish the emails to go to.
How do I join this National News List?
(subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.)
Email to
vk1wia-news-join@lists.wia.org.au
from the email account that you wish the emails to go to.
How do I leave this National News List? (unsubscribe your
weekly feed)
Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want
to unsubscribe from. Send unsubscribe to the list
unsubscribe address
vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au
You will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the
instructions given in that mail to complete the
unsubscription.
Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will
probably receive a message confirming your unsubscription
from the list and at that point you should stop receiving
messages.
-------------------------------
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--- MBSE BBS v1.1.1 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: Wireless Institute of Australia (3:633/280.2@fidonet)