From: richardm@runx.oz.au (Richard Murnane)
Subject: VK2WI Weekly News, 24th January 1992
Followup-To: rec.radio.amateur.misc,aus.radio
Organization: RUNX Un*x Timeshare.  Sydney, Australia.
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 93 13:46:50 GMT

VK2WI Weekly News, 24th January, 1993.  Copyright 1993 WIA
(NSW) & contributors.  Material may be used elsewhere if the
source is acknowledged.



                 VK2WI WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN

                            for

                     24th January, 1993


(Our 2m sideband transmitter and 23 cm repeater are
currently out of service for routine maintenance.)



               THE MAJOR NEWS ITEM THIS WEEK:

                         Silent Key
                 Changes to VK2WI Broadcast
                       Divisional AGM
               New Amateur Satellites Coming
                   Special Event Stations



                         SILENT KEY

We regret to have to announce the passing of LESTER PATRICK
GERRITY, formerly VK2KT of Taree, last Tuesday 19th January.

Lester, aged 85, was originally licenced in New Zealand,
where he worked as a ship's radio officer, back in the days
of spark transmitters.

After various different careers, Lester retired first to
Foster before moving to Taree.

Lester passed away peacefully, at Bushland's nursing home
Taree last Tuesday, after a long illness. He is survived by
his wife Margaret VK2MV and his son Michael.

Vale Lester Patrick Gerrity, formerly VK2KT.

   -- Peter VK2EMU




                      DIVISIONAL NEWS

Please note that the Divisional office will be closed
tomorrow and Tuesday, 26th January, for the Australia Day
holiday, and will reopen on Wednesday.

The VK2 Divisional Annual General Meeting has been set down
for the 2nd May 1993.  Please submit your Council
nominations and agenda items to the Parramatta office by the
17th March.

Reports from groups and sections for inclusion in the Annual
Report must be received by the Divisional Secretary, Bob
VK2YEL, by the end of January.  If your report is "camera
ready", or on disk, the typist will look kindly upon you.

The Packet Radio Forum Committee will meet at Amateur Radio
House, Parramatta, on Sunday 7th February.



                 CHANGES TO VK2WI BROADCAST

As noted earlier, our 2m single sideband transmission on
144.120 MHz is currently out of service for a check-up.
When it comes back on line, it will be on the new frequency
of 144.150 MHz.  This follows representations from members
performing weak signal experiments on the calling frequency
of 144.100 MHz.

Last Sunday morning's broadcast coverage on HF was very
poor, though the IPS report doesn't indicate why this might
have been so.  We'd like to remind listeners that, in the
event of poor propagation in the morning, you can still pick
up the news from VK2WI in the evening, or on the packet
radio or Usenet computer networks.



             WIA MEMBERSHIP PROMOTION CONTINUES

Those of you who you join the WIA or renew your membership
before the end of February, you could win a new Kenwood
mobile or hand-held transceiver.

If you've been thinking about joining the WIA, this would be
a good time to do it.  All grades of membership are eligible
to win, and you'll be helping to secure the future of
Amateur Radio in Australia.

For more information, please contact the divisional office
on (02) 689-2417, or write to PO Box 1066, Parramatta 2124.

   -- Roger Harrison VK2ZTB





               AMATEUR CLASSES STARTING SOON

And if you've been thinking about becoming an Amateur, why
not enrol in one of the Amateur Radio classes running at
Parramatta.  Classes begin on the 1st February at 7pm, and
there's still time to join.

Many Amateur Radio clubs also run their own classes and
examinations.  The staff at the divisional office will be
happy to tell you the location of the affiliated club
nearest you.

You can also earn your ticket by taking the WIA's Amateur
Radio correspondence course, and you can progress through
the course at a pace that suits you.

For details of this and other WIA services, please write to

            The Wireless Institute of Australia,
                        PO Box 1066,
                      Parramatta 2124

or phone the divisional office on (02) 689-2417.

The next Divisional exams take place at Amateur Radio House
on the 21st February.  Please note that the closing date for
applications is the 4th February.




                   SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS

On Australia Day, the VK2 division will activate VK2AWI on
2m and several HF bands, mostly 20m.  The station will
operate from the old Goverment House, Parramatta.

And a final reminder that Special Event Station VI5VIA will
be active of the HF and VHF bands next weekend, from the
site of Coastal Radio Station VIA.  QSL via the bureau, or
direct to the South Coast Amateur Radio Club in VK5.




           NEW AMATEUR SATELLITE FOR APRIL LAUNCH

The AMSAT News Service Bulletin for the 9th January reports
that a new Amateur satellite, called ARSENE, is scheduled
for launch on the 20th April.

The new satellite will fly aboard an ARIANE-4 launcher,
together with a geostationary television satellite known as
ASTRA-1C.  Two stations on La Reunion Island will copy
telemetry from ARSENE immediately after it separates from
the rocket booster.  This data will be relayed to the ARSENE
ground control station at Toulouse for analysis.  If you
would like to collect and analyze the telemetry yourself,
you can copy the telemetry on the 2M downlink frequency of
145.975 MHz using a packet radio TNC.  A PC shareware
program for analysing the data is available from ATEPRA, the
French packet radio association:

   Association Technique pour l'Experimentation du Packet
                       Radio Amateur,
                     23, Rue de Provins
                  F-77520 MONS EN MONTOIS
                           France

[You can also contact Bernard (F6VP) for the information
which went into this bulletin item.  If you would like to
contact Bernard, he can be reached at his local packet radio
BBS of F6BVP @ F6BVP.FRPA.FRA.EU or at his INTERNET address
of f6bvp@amsat.org]

Reports from other sources suggest that we can also expect
the launch of RS-15 sometime between February and April.



                     IPS WEEKLY REPORT

                15 January - 21 January 1993
Issue no.: 04
Date of issue:  22 January 1993

Date      15    16    17    18    19    20    21
10cm     126   133   126   122   116   110   107
A         13    07    11    10    19    11   (07 estimated)
T         61   120    60    50    88    84    77

                    Summary of activity

Solar activity was very low on the 15th, 20th and 21st
January, and low for the remainder of the period.

The geomagnetic field at Learmonth (WA) was quiet to
unsettled from the 15th to 18th, at active to minor storm
levels on the 19th peaking to major storm levels from 0000
to 0300 UTC on the 20th. The field returned to quiet levels
on the 21st.

Ionospheric F2 critical frequencies at Sydney were near
January predicted values from the 15th to the 18th, enhanced
by up to 30 per cent on the 19th.  On the 20th, frequencies
were near normal except for up to 30 per cent enhancements
from 0500 to 1100 UTC, and near normal on the 21st.  There
was Sporadic E blanketing several times during 15th January.


        Forecast for the next week (22 - 28 January)

Solar:           Low
Geomagnetic:     Quiet to unsettled.
Ionospheric:     Near normal to up to 30 per cent above
                 predicted January values.

   -- Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services


IPS also provides a daily solar and geophysical report,
which you can hear by dialling (02) 414-8330.  they are
listed in the Commonwealth Government section of the White
Pages, under the Department of Administrative Services.



                     COMING EVENTS

WIA recruitment promotion (win a rig!)   until 28th February
St George ARS VHF Simplex contest . . .  until 28th February

Divisional Office closed . . . . . . . .  MONDAY and TUESDAY
VK2AWI active  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TUESDAY
Closing date for Waverley ARS exams  . . . . . . . .  FRIDAY
VI5VIA Special Event Station active . . FRIDAY - NEXT MONDAY
Closing date for VK2 AGM reports  . . . . . . .  NEXT SUNDAY
Divisional Amateur Radio classes commence  . .  1st February
Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club net . . . . . .  1st February
St George ARS meeting  . . . . . . . . . . . .  3rd February
Closing date for divisional examinations . . .  4th February
Blue Mountains ARC meeting . . . . . . . . . .  5th February
Orange and District ARC meeting  . . . . . . .  5th February
Mid South Coast ARC Annual General Meeting . .  6th February
Chifley ARC classes commence . . . . . . . . .  6th February
Packet Radio Forum Committee meeting . . . . .  7th February
VK2AWX Hunter Branch broadcasts resume . . . .  8th February
Closing date for divisional examinations . . . 11th February
Divisional Council meeting . . . . . . . . . . 12th February
Waverley Amateur Radio Society exams . . . . . 13th February
Australian Amateur TV Club meeting . . . . . . 14th February



                         CLUB NEWS

The RADIO AMATEURS OLD TIMERS CLUB will have its next net
and callbacks on Monday, 1st February, on the following
frequencies:

         10am DST (2300Z) on 147.500 MHz in Melbourne, and
                         7.060 MHz LSB

         11am DST (2400Z) on 14.150 MHz USB, beaming north
                         from Melbourne

         12 noon DST (0100Z) on 14.150 MHz USB, beaming west
                         from Melbourne.

   -- Allan Doble VK3AMD



ORANGE AND DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB meetings resume on
Friday, 5th February, at 7:30pm.  Please note the new venue,
which is the Orange Cultural Centre in Sale Street, opposite
the studios of radio station 2CR.  The meeting will feature
a lecture/demonstration by Peter VK2ALL, entitled "Snap Up
That Junk for Valuable Bits".

The club will also commence Amateur Radio classes next
month, and prospective students should contact Bruce VK2DEQ
at home on (063) 62-8703.

Finally, the club is planning a fund-raising auction in late
March.  Details will appear in the club newsletter.

   -- Peter VK2ETK, club secretary



The BLUE MOUNTAINS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB will hold its first
meeting for 1993 on Friday the 5th of February at Springwood
High School in Faulconbridge.  Attraction of the evening
will be a presentation by Kenwood representatives of
selected items from their range of Amateur Radio gear.  This
might be of interest also to non BMARC members, who are most
welcome to attend the meeting, which starts at 8pm local
time).

   -- Waldis, VK2DXV.


The MID SOUTH COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB announces that its
Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 6th
February, at the Hancock Ranch, Little Forest Road, Milton.
The meeting will also be a family gathering, and the club
provides barbecue facilities, tea, coffe, and afternoon tea.

   -- Ben Mills VK2AJE, Honorary Secretary.


The CHIFLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB would like to anounce that
they will be running classes for all grades of Amateur
license, starting on Saturday, 6th February at 1.30pm.  At
4pm on the same day, there will be 1-hour CW class.  The
Chifley Amateur Radio Club is located at the Good Shepherd
School,  Hyats Road, Plumpton.  Any inquires can be directed
to Leon McHugh VK2SLI on (02) 625- 9646.

   -- Nigel Cupitt VK2KJU, Publicity Officer C.A.R.C




The next meeting of the ST GEORGE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY will
be held at the usual venue, the 1st Allawah Scout Hall, cnr
of Blakesley Road and Bellevue Parade, South Hurstville,
commencing at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, February 3rd, 1993.

The guest speaker will be Rudi Bresnik VK2AOT, who will be
discussing the latest technology in the commercial design
and manufacture of HF amateur antennae.

The Society's 1993 Amateur Radio theory classes will
commence at Peakhurst, on Monday, March 8th, 1993.  If you
are, or you know someone who is interested, please contact
Phil VK2OX during business hours on 212-4133.

And a reminder that the Society's Allan Pettiford Memorial
Auction will be held on Saturday, March 13th, 1993.

   -- Phil VK2OX, President SGARS



The WAVERLEY AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY holds practice Morse
sessions on air on Wednesday nights, from 7:30 to 8pm on
28.330 MHz, then from 8:00 to 8:30pm on 21.145 MHz.
Net operators are Michael VK2ABR and Allan VK2GIN.
Callbacks are taken on 28.330 MHz, 21.145 MHz and 146.450
MHz.  Club nets are held on Tuesday nights from 7:30 to 8pm
on 147.025 MHz (the Paddington repeater VK2ROT), then from
8pm on 28.330 MHz.

   -- Rick VK2QU



The GLADESVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB is running test
transmissions on ATV channel 2 (70 cm.) on Wednesday,
Saturday and Sunday evenings during the Channel 35 test
transmissions.

The club requests signal reports so that further fine
tuning can be done on the 444.25 MHz transmitter before it
is put into service in a repeater.  Please call in with your
signal reports, either on the club repeater 146.925 MHz,  or
ring (02) 427-0530.

   -- Pat VK2JPA


The AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR TELEVISION CLUB will hold its first
meeting of the year, on 14th February, at Amateur Radio
House, Parramatta, starting at 1pm.  Many activities ares
planned for the year, including participation in the Gosford
Field Day at Wyong.

The club also offers members a variety of 70cm, 23cm, and
(soon) 3cm ATV boards and parts.  Enquire at any club
meeting for details.

The club's 2m net is on Tuesdays at 7pm, on 146.625 Mhz.
Correspondence may be sent to PO Box 494, Liverpool 2170, or
phone (02) 671-4832 after hours.

   -- Mark VK2GFR, secretary



Finally, the SUMMERLAND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB will be
conducting its Annual General Meeting at the Clubrooms
Richmond Hill, on Sunday 21st February 1993, commmencing at
2pm.  All members are asked to attend.

Usual refreshments and other "goodies" will be available.
Visitors are always welcome.

   -- Graeme VK2GJ, Publicity Officer.



                      BROADCAST ROSTER

Next Sunday morning:     Richard VK2SKY and Les VK2KCP
Next Sunday evening:     Steven Carr and Colin VK2DYM

The divisional office is open from 11am to 2pm, Monday to
Friday, and 7-9pm Wednesday nights.  The phone is answered
from 12-1pm during the day, and you can leave a message on
the answering machine outside these hours.

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".

News highlights are also available on the divisional voice
mailbox on (02) 552-5188, and you can leave a message
afterwards if you wish.


VK2WI Weekly News, 24th January, 1993.  Copyright 1993 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