From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 27 / 10 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The International Space Station has a problem with its 2-metre hand held radio used to connect the astronauts with students under the ARISS program.  The transceiver has developed a programming error message and cannot be used at this time.

Australian ARISS Coordinator Shane Lynd VK4KHZ was set last Saturday to provide a telebridge contact for the Peter Kiewit Institute in Omaha Nebraska when he was advised by Kenneth Ransom N5VHO, ISS Ham Project Coordinator, that the fault had occurred.  Shane VK4KHZ says when the problem was found with the radio on the Columbus module, Astronaut Kate Rubens KG5FYJ quickly manually reconfigured the Russian service module radio, which was not programmed for ARISS Telebridge operations, so the scheduled contact could proceed.  The ARISS technical team is still evaluating the problem and may use UHF frequencies for some future contacts.

Meantime the ARISS hardware team is moving ahead with its planned upgrade of space communication equipment.  ARISS stalwart Frank Bauer KA3HDO reports that a very major milestone has occurred with NASA experts offering advice and agreeing on a new radio and multi-voltage power supply.  The final design process is to be completed over the next few months, with ARISS hoping the new hardware system will be launched as early as October 2017.  The ARISS involvement over nearly 20 years have been expensive, and the AMSAT website is asking for support donations from the Amateur Radio community.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 26 / 10 / 2016 
Author : Roger Harrison – VK2ZRH

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) has submitted a comprehensive response to the proposed update of the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan (ARSP), prepared by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and released for stakeholder comment in September, with a four-week deadline for submissions.

Following up on previous submissions on amateur licence conditions to the ACMA in 2014 and in April this year, the WIA’s response to the proposed Spectrum Plan update seeks access to new bands at 70 MHz and 920 MHz, in addition to the new global amateur band at 5.3 MHz – 60 metres – agreed at the World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-15, last November.  In addition, the WIA is seeking primary status for 50-52 MHz and extensions to the 160 metre band and the 80 metre DX Window.

The Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan includes a Table of Frequency Allocations from 8.3 kHz to 420 terahertz (THz) that divides-up the spectrum to show the general purpose of each band, to which services the bands are allocated, and associated footnotes relevant to particular allocations. It was last reviewed in 2013.

In the submission, the WIA notes – with evident relief – that there are few changes that impact the 25 amateur bands spread throughout the Table of Frequency Allocations.  However, the Institute highlights the issue that the secondary Amateur allocations, where amateurs share bands with primary users, face pressures of spectrum demand – and loss of band access – from telecommunications services and applications for the Internet of Things.  This is particularly so for amateur bands across the microwave spectrum. Continue reading →

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 24 / 10 / 2016 
Author : Roger Harrison – VK2ZRH

Many WIA membership renewals fall due at this time of the year.  Quite a few members recall it and make their renewal via the WIA website.  But, with busy lives, inevitably, some forget and will be sent a reminder letter from the National Office.  A number decide, for various reasons, to not renew.  Some just “let it slide” without any clear reason in mind.

Being a member of the Institute means different things to different people.  There may be many reasons to belong and, it seems, a countervailing range of reasons to not belong.  In this era, in which social media and short attention spans hold sway over many aspects of life, when membership renewal comes up, perhaps it’s time to remind ourselves about the role of the WIA in your life – whether you’re active on-air, or in your club, or just minimally involved and maintaining your licence for the day when you can return to the bands.

Every sphere of what the Institute does is explained graphically on the inside back cover of Amateur Radio magazine.  It comes down to three basic key things: Advocacy, Education and Support.  Advocacy is about representing radio amateurs’ collective interests nationally and internationally, to all the authorities and institutions that influence our licensing, licence conditions and our life on-air.  Nationally, taking it top-down, this means promoting the interests of Amateur Radio to government at federal and state level where necessity or opportunity arises.  The WIA has taken part in the federal government’s consultation on its Spectrum Review, which has led to the drafting of a new Radiocommunications Act, soon to be considered by the federal parliament.  Some years back, you may recall the Institute supported a campaign to have the New South Wales Government planning agency permit radio amateurs to erect antennas or masts up to 10 metres height, without needing council permission.

Next, it means working with the regulatory authority, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, one of the most important relationships the WIA maintains.  But it also includes representing Amateur Radio interest on relevant Standards Australia committees, for example.  Internationally, the WIA is a member of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), which advocates and represents our interests to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that organises the important World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC).  These WRCs, held every few years, determine frequency allocations and global radio regulations.  You will recall that the last one was in November last year.  From that, Australian radio amateurs will get to use a new amateur band at 5.3 MHz.  The WIA’s ITU Specialist, Dale Hughes VK1DSH, as head of the Australian delegation to WRC-15, played an important role in securing that new band for amateur radio across the world.  Members are bought up to date on IARU matters through Amateur Radio magazine, broadcasts and the website. Continue reading →

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 20 / 10 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The Wireless Institute of Australia has received queries about lapsed callsign recommendations by those who fail to pay the ACMA licence fee invoice on time.  Failure to pay the ACMA invoice within 28 days after it is issued results in the ACMA charging a ‘consideration fee’ of $28.

All WIA accessors and learning facilitators are reminded to tell candidates of the process, emphasising that the accuracy of candidate address and email accounts are vital to ensure against lost mail.  The ACMA licence invoice may also be inadvertently routed away from their inbox and into the email spam folder.  Please be on the lookout for an email from automailer@acma.gov.au 

Apart from the ACMA ”consideration fee” it would expect to receive a new licence application along with a fresh WIA callsign recommendation, which will incur extra unnecessary expense.  The WIA Exam Service also sends an email to candidates congratulating them on getting a pass, and explains the ACMA licence invoice procedure.

If the ACMA invoice doesn’t arrive shortly after your name and recommend callsign appears on the ACMA database or you see that the displayed licence status is “Not Granted”, then please contact the ACMA Customer Service Centre via phone 1300 850 115 to make a credit card payment over the phone.  Or send an email info@acma.gov.au to request an invoice copy.