From the WIA, original post here.

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

The Wireless Institute of Australia which provides the ACMA services had 1,271 exams, made 1,119 callsign recommendations, and issued certificates of proficiency.  In a break-down table, the ACMA reports an increase in new licences all amateur grades being issued in the 12 month period.  These were the Foundation Licence at 397, Standard Licence Standard 108, and the Advance Licence at 89, with an overall increase of 45.

The ACMA had a fall of 77 amateur licences on issue to 15,065 at June 2016, but reports a trend that each type of its 153,000 apparatus licences also declined in the last two years.  The timing of the WIA reporting period produces some variation when compared to ACMA licence numbers, and is mostly due to some problems with the new computerised SPECTRA licence database system.  Also there have been those who qualify through an assessment, obtain a WIA callsign recommendation, but have not been Granted an ACMA amateur station licence, due to non-payment of the invoice.

Meantime, a reduction in interference caused by dodgy Light Emitting Diodes or LED displays used for Christmas lights has resulted from an ACMA awareness campaign.  The ACMA continues its active monitoring and compliance program, and caught up in its net are pirate broadcasters, and a case of harassing and offensive transmissions on Citizen Band Radio.

The ACMA had also permitted phone jammer tests at the Lithgow and Goulburn jails, and are mindful that emissions from the normally illegal devices are not causing interference outside those correctional facilities.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 14 / 10 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej HS1A, the patron of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST), passed away on Thursday October 13, 2016.  He was 88 years old.  He passed away peacefully in a Thailand hospital.  All members of the royal family were present.

His Majesty was presented the callsign HS1A by the Ministry of Communications in August, 1989, in a ceremony witnessed by RAST officers.  Five years later he put RAST under his royal patronage.  He was the world’s long reigning monarch, having been head of state for 70 years.  The Thailand Prime Minister’s Office has ordered that all government agencies fly flags at half-mast for 30 days, and that government officials will wear black in mourning for a year.

The International Radio Union Region 3 are among who expressed deep sorrow at the loss.  A letter from Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, Chairman IARU Region 3, said: “We are really saddened to get the news of the passing away of your beloved Monarch.  On behalf of the directors and members of IARU Region 3, we extend our deepest condolences to RAST and the people of Thailand.  We all know what a staunch supporter of Amateur Radio he was and his passing will obviously leave a very large void.”

He has asked RAST to relay this message to all members of RAST, with whom goes our thoughts, prayers, and sincere condolences.  Click the following Link for further details.

The WIA has sent the letter of condolence below to Jack Hantongkom HS1FVL, President RAST.  Read the letter here.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 14 / 10 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

Hurricane Matthew began as a tropical storm near the Windward Islands, but intensified several days later to be a Category 4 Hurricane, unleashing its fury and resulting in hundreds of deaths and widespread damage.  It was the first major event in the Atlantic hurricane season with the superstorm causing many deaths, mostly in Haiti, before reaching the south-eastern United States, and causing flooding in Atlantic Canada.

Cesar Pio Santos HR2P, the Emergency Communications Coordinator for the International Radio Union Region 2 presented on the hurricane at the pre-arranged conference in Chile, which was attended by those from Amateur Radio who are involved disaster response and training.  He told the gathering that when Matthew was still a Tropical Storm, the Caribbean Emergency and Weather Net (CEWN), formed in several Caribbean islands, activated to receive reports about floods, landslides and tidal waves.  During Hurricane Matthew, the Radio Club Dominicano (RDC) was monitoring its course and provided more than 40 radio amateurs in the Emergency Operations Centres.

The Federación de Radioaficionados de Cuba (FRC) swung into full action when the Cuban Meteorological Service determined that the hurricane would cross several eastern provinces of Cuba. FRC set up 505 radio amateurs in six provinces that would be affected by the hurricane with radio stations in safe locations to operate on 2m, 40m and 80m bands.  American Radio Relay League (ARRL) began monitoring Hurricane Matthew on September 28, and liaised with radio amateurs in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba as the storm moved through the Caribbean.  Cesar HR2P says the first impact on the United States was on October 6 in Southern Florida.  Over several days the storm moved along the eastern coast of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina before turning east and heading out to sea.

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