From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 09 / 09 / 2017
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) competitions in the USA, and at the IARU Region 3 championship in Mongolia – saw the WIA Team win a swag of medals.  Ewen VK3OW, Jenelle VK3FJTE and Jack VK3WWW were at the Harrison Ohio event in July, which was coupled with the IARU Region 2 ARDF Championships.  Fierce competition saw them win medals.  Then they broke up, most back to Australia for a rest, and another caught up with a stateside relative.

Next was the 11th IARU Region 3 Championships hosted by the Mongolian Radio Sports Federation.  The original three were joined by Peter VK3ADY and Kristian VK3FDAC.  The WIA Team of five scored well in the medal tally.  Congratulations to all.

IARU ARDF events need WIA membership, but the competing expense is borne by the individual.  A full story has been written for a future Amateur Radio magazine by Jack Bramham VK3WWW, the WIA ARDF Coordinator.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 07 / 09 / 2017
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

In a part of the ongoing consultation process the Wireless Institute of Australia wants to measure the views of those in Amateur Radio.

No, you don’t have to be a WIA member, or even give your identity.  The WIA asks a series of simple questions and the answers will be automatically handled by software to come up with the results.

Questions are about how long you have you been in Amateur Radio, what sparked your interest, awareness of WIA services,  Amateur Radio magazine contents, volunteering and social media use.  It’s all about learning of your activity, motivation, and make-up, as the institute sets its path for the future.

Please take a moment to complete the WIA survey found on WIA website www.wia.org.au to and encourage others to also share their opinions.

The WIA Online Survey can be accessed here.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 01 / 09 / 2017
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

Monsoon rains in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh over the past month has according to the UN affected 41 million people, and left an estimated 1,200 dead.  The latest on the subcontinent was on Tuesday August 29 when the rain, the worst in decades, flooded the Mumbai and Pune areas with immediate action by local HAMS helping out during the adverse weather.  All traffic was disrupted, even local trains and buses were submerged and unable to move.  Children stranded in a school were left hungry and the electricity also went off.

Satish Shah VU2SVS and Ankur Puranik VU2AXN and 50 HAMS involved arranging food and power for the school.  The HAMs of Mumbai were in touch with each other, even those who don’t have a VHF transceiver.  The ‘ZELLO app’ was used to connect those without suitable radio equipment to interface with a VHF HAM radio frequency.  Many workers were stranded in their offices or at railway stations until midnight.  Looking after the central railway in Mumbai were the Bharat Scouts & Guides that had undergone previous disaster communication training.

The recent rain is likely to remain for a while, with schools and offices closed.  All the HAMs are kept on alert by government and local bodies should their communications be needed.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee with Jayu S. Bhide VU2JAU National Coordinator for Disaster Communication in India