From: dave@ips.oz.au (Dave Horsfall)
Subject: VK2WI Broadcast, Sunday 16th August, 1992
Organization: IPS Radio and Space Services.  Sydney, Australia.
Distribution: aus
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 00:43:47 GMT

VK2WI Broadcast, 16th August, 1992.  Copyright 1992 WIA
(NSW) & contributors.  Material may be used elsewhere if the
source is acknowledged.



                      VK2WI BROADCAST


                     16th August, 1992




          THE MAJOR NEWS ITEMS THIS WEEK INCLUDE:

               WIA "Open Forum" at Parramatta
             VK2 Divisional President Gets Life
           More on the Hungarian BUS DX-pedition
           Military Intruder on the Amateur Bands






                      DIVISIONAL NEWS

Are you ready with your ideas, plans, and suggestions for
the up-coming WIA "Open Forum"?  You'll be able to air your
views at the forum, which will be held on the 29th August at
Amateur Radio House, 109 Wigram Street, Parramatta.

If you can't attend the meeting, please send your comments
by packet radio, fax, or post to the divisional office.
Anyone can knock the WIA, but it takes real brains to offer
constructive solutions, and this is your chance to show what
you've got.




                        NEW MEMBERS

Joining the WIA is very popular this month, as evidenced by
a flock of new members.  The following were recently
admitted to the New South Wales Division:

         Daniel Brem
         Simone Buck VK2TOY
         James Christensen VK2CAV
         Michael Chylinski
         Ernest DeCelis
         Robert Glass VK2EGR
         William Grindley VK2WLG
         B Markson VK2TBM
         John May
         Peter Mudie VK2XZP
         Barbara O'Connor VK2GTX
         Raymond Poole VK2DMJ
         Cecel Pratt
         Michael Sedgwick

Please join us in welcoming these new members to the oldest
division of the world's oldest Amateur Radio Society.




             VK2 DIVISIONAL PRESIDENT GETS LIFE

The Blue Mountains Amateur Radio Club advises that it has
granted life membership to Terry Ryland VK2UX, in
recognition of the distinguished service he has given to the
club.

A founding member of the club, Terry has been actively
involved in many aspects of Amateur Radio.  As the club's
Education officer, he has passed on knowledge that has
helped many operators to obtain an amateur license, and to
get on air without great expense.

As a radio experimenter, Terry has been astounding radio
operators around the world with his latest antenna, which he
is operating on the 80 metre band.

The club has also recognised Terry's long-running commitment
to the Wireless Institute of Australia, the organisation
which represents the interests of all Australian Radio
Amateurs.  Terry is currently president of the New South
Wales Division of the WIA.

At a recent meeting, the club presented Terry with a plaque
to confirm his life membership.

   - information from Nikolas Weissflugg, publicity officer




           MORE ON THE HUNGARIAN BUS DX-PEDITION

A few weeks ago, we announced that a group of Hungarian
amateurs were operating "bus mobile".  The Sydney Radio
Group tells us that HA5BUS, operating in Australia as
VK5BUS, is currently located at the north end of Maroubra
Beach.  They have also provided us with some details of the
operating conditions on board:

The bus, which was provided by the Hungarian Government-
owned bus and tourist organisation, "Globus", is fully
air-conditioned, has its own 240V power supply, kitchen,
bunks, and many other "mod cons".  A six-section hydraulic
mast extends to 40 feet, and supports a triband beam, but
can retract completely into the body of the bus when not in
use.  If Globus is trying to open the Amateur Radio luxury
holiday market, this sounds like a good way to do it!

If you'd like to meet the visiting amateurs, give them a
call on 2 metres: the liason frequency is 144.550 MHz, or
you can phone them on 314-1064, that number again 314-1064.

   - thanks to the Sydney Radio Group for that information




           MILITARY INTRUDER ON THE AMATEUR BANDS

It appears VK2 amateurs are not the only ones to have been
troubled by non-amateur signals on the bands recently.  The
Victorian division of the WIA tells us that a military
station recently appeared on several amateurs HF bands,
where amateurs are the primary service.

The station, using the callsign VMA, is reported to have
made unauthorised broadcasts on 80, 40, and 20 metres, using
a pre-recorded message inviting listeners to apply for a QSL
card.

The intruder, an army signals station at Toolern Vale, is to
close down in a few months, having been in service for 40
years or so. It's not clear why the station was broadcasting
on amateur frequencies, but following representations from
WIA Victoria, DoTC soon tracked down the station and ordered
it off the air.

   - item from Jim Linton VK3PC, VK3 broadcast officer




                         WICEN NEWS

The Variety Club of Australia is holding its annual
cross-country "bash" next month, starting at Sydney's
Darling Harbour, and WICEN is providing communications for
the event.  As reported a few weeks ago, Hunter WICEN is
providing base communications from Newcastle, but a WICEN
team is also required at the start of the race.  The local
net will comprise five operators, using 2 metre handhelds,
plus an HF link to Newcastle, possibly by packet radio, with
a landline backup.

This is a "high-profile" event, with several V.I.P's
attending, so it's important for WICEN operators to put in a
good appearance.  The event starts at Darling Harbour on
Friday, 4th September.  If you wish join "Team WICEN" for
this event, please contact Richard VK2SKY, by packet as
"VK2SKY @ VK2RWI", at work on (02) 260-5823, at home on (02)
971-4431, fax on (02) 260-5911, or via the divisional
office.

One for amateurs in Sydney North: on Sunday, 8th November,
commercial radio station 2MMM-FM will be staging a
triathalon on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and WICEN will be
doing the comms.  Details will be available in coming weeks
from Barry VK2AAB and Richard VK2SKY.

Don't forget the WICEN HF Net, 8:30pm Tuesdays on 3615 kHz,
and the Sydney VHF net, 9:30pm Thursdays on 147.150 MHz

   - item from Richard VK2SKY (wearer of many hats!)




                     IPS WEEKLY REPORT

                 7 August - 13 August 1992

Issue No 33
Date of issue: 14th August 1992

Date       07    08    09    10    11    12    13
10cm      141   144   137   133   130   128   129
A          20    18    15    08    11    08  (06)
T          94    65    83    86    84    90    76


                    Summary of Activity

Solar activity was low throughout the most of the period,
and moderate on the 11th and 12th, with an M1 flare on the
11th, and an M1/1N flare on the 12th.

The geomagnetic field at Sydney was quiet to unsettled on
the 7th-10th, with active levels from 0600-1200 UTC on the
7th August.  At Learmonth, it was quiet on the 11th-13th,
with a brief active period on th 13t hfrom 1400-1700 UTC.

Ionospheric F2 critical frequencies were near normal for
most of the period, with 15-30% depressions after 1600 UTC
on the 7th, and during daylight hours on the 8th. They were
slightly depressed on the 13th.  Sporadic E layer was noted
during local day on the 8th, and some spread F occurred at
night on the 12th.


       Forecast for the next week (14th-20th August)

Solar:           Low to moderate.
Geomagnetic:     Mostly quiet until the 18th, then active to
                 minor storm levels are expected until the
                 20th, due to a coronal hole.
Ionospheric:     Near normal until the 19th, then enhanced
                 up to 30th initially in response to the
                 geomagnetic activity, followed by
                 depressions of up to 40%.

  - thanks as always to the IPS Radio and Space Services


If you'd like to better understand this IPS report, you
might like attend the IPS User Training Course, to be held
in Sydney on the 16th September.  Details may be obtained
from IPS Radio and Space Services by phone on (02) 414-8000,
or by fax on (02) 414-8331.



Continuing our change of format, we'll skip ahead to the
coming events for the next few weeks.  The details of some
of these events may follow in Club News.


Coastwatchers 50th anniversary reunion  .    . UNTIL SUNDAY

Remembrance Day Contest  .    .    6PM TODAY - 6PM TOMORROW

Orange ARC examinations  .    .   [TOMORROW/THIS] AFTERNOON

Saint John Ambulance ARC meeting    [TOMORROW/THIS] EVENING

Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society meting     .    .  MONDAY

Fisher's Ghost Monthly General Meeting  .    .      TUESDAY

Radio Veterans meeting at Parramatta    .    .     THURSDAY

Closing Date for Saint George examinations   .    .  FRIDAY

Batemans Bay Car Rally (WICEN)     . NEXT SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Southern Cross & DX Australia Clubs meet     .  NEXT SUNDAY

St. Albans Shizada Enduro (WICEN)   NEXT SATURDAY to 26 Aug

International Six Day Enduro (WICEN)    .  25th-30th August

Closing date for Fisher's Ghost examinations    28th August

Open forum on the WIA    .    .    .    .    .  29th August

VK2 Division examinations     .    .    .    .  30th August

Annual Variety Club Bash (WICEN)   .   starts 4th September

Saint George Amateur Radio Club Examinations  5th September

Wagga Wagga City Fun Run (WICEN)   .    .     5th September

CAPRG Technical Symposium     .    .    .     5th September

Fisher's Ghost ARC examinations    .    .    13th September

WICEN Sydney South meeting    .    .    .    15th September

I.P.S User Training Course    .    .    .    16th September




                         CLUB NEWS

The New South Wales Chapter of the Royal Naval Amateur Radio
Society will hold its monthly meeting at the home of
president Eric VK2FYM, on Monday 17th August, at 10:30am.
All members and interested parties are cordially invited.
Please ring Eric on (02) 603-9042 for further details.  A
buffet lunch follows the meeting.

   - Casey Schreuder VK2CWS, club secretary




The Manly-Warringah Radio Society would like to welcome
visiting amateur, Ellis Maris VK2GUD, who is radio officer
on board the oceanographic research vessel, "Knorr".  The
Knorr, which is credited with the discovery of the Titanic a
few years ago, is currently studing the effect of ocean
currents on the world's climate.  This is in no way
connected with the fact that this coming Wednesday, the
Manly-Warringah Radio Society meeting features a lecture on
Audio Filters, by Marque Crozman of Silicon Chip magazine.
Doors open at 7:30pm for the 8pm lecture.  The Society is
located at the Volunteer Services Centre, Kamber Road, Terry
Hills, and meets every Wednesday evening, with lectures on
the third Wednesday of each month.  Call in on the club's
2-metre repeater on 146.875 MHz if you need directions.

   - info from Pat VK2BTA and Richard VK2SKY



The next meeting of the Saint John Ambulance Amateur Radio
Club will be held on Thursday, 20th August, in the club room
on the corner of Castlereagh Street and Masters Place
Penrith.  The meeting starts at 8pm, and all those
interested in Amateur Radio are welcome to attend.

   - Cec O. Healy VK2COH



                  RADIO VETERANS'S MEETING

Don't forget that next Thursday is the regular "Radio
Veteran's" meeting at Parramatta, from 11am to 2pm. All are
invited to come along: bring your lunch, meet old friends,
and make new ones.




The next combined meeting of the Sydney members of the
Southern Cross and DX Australia radio Clubs is to be held
next Sunday at the home of Alex Welner in Bondi, starting at
2pm.  These friendly, informal meetings are held every 2nd
month and the last one, held in June in Leichhardt was a
great success with many new and old faces turning up, and
many technical and non tecnical matters discussed.

Anyone interested in attending can phone Ian Baxter after
hours on (02) 809 7772, or send packet mail to Jimmy Cullen
VK2JEM @ VK2XSB.

You can also contact Ian or Jimmy by Fidonet at the
Shortwave Possums Bulletin Board, net address 3:713/605.
phone (02) 351-6055. They hope to see you all on August 23.

   - item from Jimmy VK2JEM




The Orange and District Amateur Radio Club held their AGM on
Friday, 7th August, where a new Committee was elected.  A
very healthy sign was the large number of of candidates
accepting nominations, leading to ballots for five of the
seven positions.  The club holds its exams [tomorrow/today];
good luck to all candidates.  The club also invites anyone
who can work the 2 metre repeater, "Fred", 146.700 MHz, at
8pm every Sunday for the regular "Fred Net".




                      BROADCAST ROSTER

Next Sunday morning:     Peter VK2BPN and A.N.Other

Next Sunday evening:     Bill VK2DWW and Colin VK2DYM


The Duty Councillor at Amateur Radio House next Wednesday
night is [don't know!].  The Divisional Office is located at
109 Wigram St, Parramatta and is open from 11am to 2pm
Monday to Friday and from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday nights.

Items for inclusion in this bulletin may be submitted by
mail to Post Office Box 1066, Parramatta 2124; by fax to
(02) 633-1525, or by packet radio to "VK2WI at VK2RWI".
Highlights of this broadcast are also available by phoning
the divisional voice mailbox on (02) 552-5188, and you can
leave a message afterwards if you wish.


VK2WI Broadcast, 16th August, 1992.  Copyright 1992 WIA
(NSW) & contributors.  Material may be used elsewhere if the
source is acknowledged.

-- 
Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU)         VK2KFU @ VK2RWI.NSW.AUS.OC
dave@ips.OZ.AU                  ...munnari!ips.OZ.AU!dave
Newsgroups: aus.radio