From: richardm@runx.oz.au (Richard Murnane)
Subject: VK2WI Weekly News Bulletin, 13th September 1992
Organization: RUNX Un*x Timeshare.  Sydney, Australia.
Distribution: aus
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 92 05:54:06 GMT

VK2WI Broadcast, 13th September, 1992.  Copyright 1992
WIA(NSW) & contributors. Material may be used elsewhere
if the source is acknowledged.


                      VK2WI BROADCAST

                            for

                    13th September, 1992



          THE MAJOR NEWS ITEMS THIS WEEK INCLUDE:

        Amateurs assist Hurricane victims in Kauai
                    Space Shuttle Update
                Amateur TV in the Classroom
          Sydney Sesquicentary Callsign available




        AMATEURS ASSIST HURRICANE VICTIMS IN KAUAI

This morning, radio 2BL reported that US President George
Bush had declared the Hawaiian Island of Kauai a disaster
area.  The report also stated that communications on the
isand had been devastated, and that radio amateurs are
providing health and welfare traffic into and out of the
area.  More details will appear in next week's bulletin; in
the meantime, amateurs might care to monitor the following
frequencies which were used, following Hurricane Andrew
several weeks ago:

  The International Assistance and Traffic Net on 14.303 MHz
  The Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz,
  United Nations HQ net, 4U1UN, on 14.268 MHz, and
  the Intercontinental Net 14.300 MHz,

Please do not transmit on these frequencies except in
response to instructions from net control stations.  Also,
please do not interrupt nets with requests for storm
coordinates or other general information which is available
from other sources.  Priority must be given to immediate
disaster relief communications.  Control of the
communication situation belongs with amateurs and
authorities in the affected areas.

- info from 2BL and the ARRL Hurricane Andrew reports



                     DIVISIONAL NEWS

The following were recently admitted as members of the New
South Wales division of the WIA:

	Leo Castelli of Werris Creek
	Lex Hayter of Lismore
	Rohan Lorimer of Tumbarumba
	David Lux VK2GRN
	John McCulloch VK2CCC from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia
	William Scott of Guildford
	Pascal Semadeni VK2GMN
	Ian Weston of Kingswood

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



            THE SPACE SHUTTLE ON 2 METRES AGAIN

By now, the Space Shuttle "Endeavor" should be happily
winging its way around the earth.  We're told that the first
married couple, and the first black woman, in space are on
this flight.  Of course, the Shuttle flights wouldn't be the
same without a couple of radio amateurs on board, talking to
the world on two metres!

Jay, N5QWL and Mamoru 7L2NJY will be active on 2m voice,
transmitting on 145.55 MHz, and listening on 144.95, 144.91,
and 144.97 MHz.  The shuttle will also be operating a packet
robot, transmitting on 145.55 and listening on 144.70 MHz,
using the callsign W5RRR-1.

On the ground, W5RRR and WA3NAN will be relaying Shuttle
audio and SAREX bulletins on any or all of the following
frequencies: 3.860, 7.185, 7.215, 14.280, 14.295, 21.360,
21.395, 28.400, and 28.650 MHz.

Pre-launch orbital elements suggest that, from Sydney, the
best (and most sociable) times to contact the Shuttle would
be:
         13th:   20:45
         14th:   20:55
         16th:   19:30
         17th:   19:50

For the insomniacs among you, good passes also occur between
4 and 5am Eastern Standard time...



                AMATEUR TV IN THE CLASSROOM

This is a reminder that the Department of Transport and
Communications is looking for your thoughts on the use of
Amateur Television in our classrooms.  The proposal was
outlined in the September issue of "Amateur Radio" magazine,
and your comments are required by the 21st September.

The joint proposal, from the VK4 division of the WIA, and
the Queensland Department of Education, suggests that ATV
could be used to link classrooms during school hours, when
most of us are too busy to use it.

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please make them
known by the 21st September, by fax on (06) 274-8655, or by
writing to:

         The Assistant Secretary,
         Radiocommunications Operations Branch,
         Radiocommunications Division,
         Department of Transport and Communications,
         GPO Box 594,
         Canberra 2601

Please also send a copy of your submission to the federal
and divisional offices of the WIA.



            SYDNEY SESQUI SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS

This year, Sydney is celebrating its 150th year as a city,
and radio amateurs have been running special event stations
as part of the festivities.  The special callsign VI150SYD
will be available until 31st December, for use by affiliated
clubs and individual amateurs in VK2.

If you'd like to use this callsign, to tell the world about
amateur radio, and the city of Sydney, please write to the
divisional office for an application form.  An attractive
full-colour QSL card will be sent to any stations that you
contact.

The address to write to is:

         Special Event Station VI150SYD,
         WIA (VK2 Division),
         P.O. Box 1066,
         Parramatta 2124.

   - Steven Pall VK2PS, the VK2 Special Projects officer




                         WICEN NEWS

Hunter Valley WICEN holds its next meeting on Wednesday, at
Newcastle Police Station, Church Street, Newcastle, starting
at 7pm.  All are welcome to attend.

Meanwhile, WICEN is looking to harness the creative talents
of the technical experts among you, to join the WICEN
Committee for Technical Excellence.  Whether you're a WICEN
member or not: if you have expertise in the areas of mobile,
portable, or emergency communications techniques, WICEN
would like to hear from you.  Please contact WICEN via the
divisional office, or by phoning Phil VK2IW on (049) 471-202
after hours, or (047) 216-377 during business hours.  Or
call by radio:

WICEN conducts a weekly HF net on Tuesday nights at 8:30pm,
on 3615 kHz. In the Sydney metro area, the WICEN VHF net
takes place on Thursdays at 9:30pm, on the Chatswood
repeater 147.150 MHz.  Enquiries may also be sent to Post
Office Box 123, Saint Leonards 2065.



                         AAPRA NEWS

The Australian Amateur Packet Radio Association advises that
its phone number, as reported in last week's bulletin, was
incorrect: it should have been (02) 489-4393.  AAPRA can
provide advice and technical assistance to new packet radio
operators, as well as to clubs wishing to provide packet
facilities for their members.

The next AAPRA committee meeting will be held on Tuesay, and
a new issue of "Digipeat", the AAPRA newsletter, will be
posted to members in the near future.

  -- Geoff VK2BQ, AAPRA publicity officer.




                   IPS WEEKLY REPORT
                   -----------------

             4 September - 10 September 1992

Issue no. 37

Date of issue: 11 September 1992    

Date      04    05   06   07   08   09   10 
10cm     105   009  139  132  129  117  117
A         23    25   19   21   18   55  (55 estimated)
T         29    55   70   62   69   58   29


                  SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY


Solar activity was high 6th-7th September, and moderate during 
the remainder of the period.

The following flares were reported:

4th : 1 M2 flare
5th : 1 M4 and 1 M1 flare
6th : 2 X1 flares (1852 UTC, 2059 UTC), 1 M4,  1 M3, 1 M2, and 
      7 M1 flares
7th : 1 M7, 1 M5, 3 M3, 1 M2, and 2 M1 flares
8th : 1 M2, and 2 M1 flares
9th : 1 M3, and 1 M1 flare
10th: 1 M3 flare

The geomagnetic field at Learmonth over the week   ranged from 
quiet to active, with periods of minor storm levels on 4th and 
9th-10th  September. There was a sudden commencement on 9th at 
0142 UTC. 

Ionospheric  F2  critical frequencies at Sydney  on  4th  were 
mostly  depressed by up to 40 per cent.  Strong spread  F  was 
observed  0000-0003  UTC,   and  1600-1700  UTC.   Frequencies 
remained  depressed  by up to 20 per cent until 8th when  they 
returned to normal.  Frequencies again became depressed by  up 
to  50 per cent after 1100 UTC on 9th September until the  end 
of the period. 


     Forecast for the next week (11 - 17 September)

Solar  :   Low to moderate.

Geomagnetic:   Active  September 11,  unsettled September  12, 
               active to minor storm September 13-14,  unsettled 
               to  active  thereafter.   

Ionospheric   :  MUFs  are  expected to be 20 to 40  per  cent 
                 depressed September 11,  near normal September 
                 12,  15 to 30 per cent depressed september 13-
                 14, and near normal thereafter. 

Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services




                     COMING EVENTS

Special Event Station VI3MEL on 10, 15, 20m  .   THIS MONTH
Fisher's Ghost ARC examinations    .    .    .    .   TODAY
AX3T35 experimenting on 196 kHz    .    .    .    .   TODAY
Australian ATV Club meeting at Parramatta    .    .   TODAY
Space Shuttle "Endeavour" on 2 metres   .    .    THIS WEEK
WICEN Sydney South meeting    .    .    .    .      TUESDAY
Fisher's Ghost ARC Inc. general meeting .    .    . TUESDAY
I.P.S User Training Course    .    .    .    .    WEDNESDAY
Hunter WICEN meeting at Newcastle  .    .    .    WEDNESDAY
Radio Veterans meeting at Parramatta    .    .     THURSDAY
Warragee One Day Equestrian Event (WICEN)    .  NEXT SUNDAY
Shepparton 1992 Communications Day .    .    .  NEXT SUNDAY
Deadline for comments on ATV in Education    21st September
Closing Date for Waverly ARC examinations    25th September
Divisional Trash and Treasure Sale .    .    27th September
Wollongong SES navagation exercise (WICEN)   27th September
VK-ZL Oceania DX Contest (SSB)     .    .   3rd-4th October
VK-ZL Oceania DX Contest (CW) .    .    . 10th-11th October
Waverley Amateur Radio Society examinations    10th October


                         CLUB NEWS

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.



And, from the club which gave you Australia's most
successful Amateur Radio Balloon flight, the Shepparton and
District Amateur Radio Club, now comes the 1992 Shepparton
Communications Day.

The event will take place in Shepparton, 180 km north of
Melbourne, next Sunday, the 20th September.  It starts at
10am at the Saint Augustine's Hall, Orr Street, Shepparton,
just north of the man business area of the city.

The club station VK3SOL will provide talk-ins on repeater
VK3RGV (146.650 MHz), and the event organisers hope to
out-do last years effort.

   - Peter VK3YF




                     BROADCAST ROSTER

This evening:            Alan VK2XAT and Kevin VK2CKD
Next Sunday morning:     Kerry VK2BXT and Peter VK2JPJ
Next Sunday evening:     Peter VK2CZX and Peter VK2EMU

The roster for the period October to December will be drawn
up shortly.  Would all broadcast personnel please contact
the Roster Coordinator, Steve VK2QZ, with details of any
unavailable dates.  As always, we're on the lookout for
announcers and engineers who would like to join the team
that produces the best Divisional broadcast in the country.


The duty officer at Parramatta this Wednesday night will be
Bob VK2YEL.  The Divisional Office is located at 109 Wigram
Street, Parramatta and is open from 11am to 2pm, Monday to
Friday, and from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday nights.  The phone
is answered during the day from 12-1pm; the number is (02)
689-2417.

Items for inclusion in this bulletin may be sent by mail to
Post Office Box 1066, Parramatta 2124; by fax on (02)
633-1525, or by packet radio to "VK2WI at VK2RWI".
Highlights of this bulletin 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, 13th September, 1992.  Copyright 1992
WIA(NSW) & contributors. Material may be used elsewhere
if the source is acknowledged.
-- 
Richard P. Murnane                     "Making it up? Making it up? Why should
Internet: richardm@runx.oz.au          I want to make anything up? Life's bad
UUCP:     uunet!runx.oz.au!richardm    enough without inventing more of it."
Packet:   VK2SKY @ VK2RWI.NSW.AUS.OC   - Marvin the Paranoid Android
Newsgroups: aus.radio