From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 02 / 09 / 2016 
Author : Phil Wait – VK2ASD

The hike in postage rates by Australia Post late last year has resulted in a review of how organisations communicate with customers and members.  Banks and many other service providers are now encouraging their customers to receive notifications and accounts electronically.  The ACMA, and all of government, prefer to use electronic methods including website logins, SMS messages and email.

The WIA is no different, and recently it has conducted a review of our postage expenditure, as mentioned at the annual general meeting on Norfolk Island.  Of course some things must, for the time being at least, be sent through the postal system.  However, the WIA has already taken steps to reducing postage where possible.

Exam Service

The WIA Exam Service has been using the now very expensive yellow Express Post satchels to send out exam packs.  This is changing to the red ordinary post satchels which are a little slower delivery but still have tracking.  This action will have a minimal impact on Assessors as the majority hold sufficient exam packs, and are ordering them well in advance of assessment dates.

AR Magazine

The WIA has introduced a paper magazine opt-out system for members that only wish to receive the digital copy of Amateur Radio magazine, not the paper copy in the post.  That will further ease the pressure on the postage costs.  Members who don’t wish to receive the magazine in the post should log into Memnet via this Link and select “Update Details” marking the check the box “Do Not Send Hardcopy AR Magazine”.  Alternately you can use the Contact WIA form on the WIA website and send a message to WIA National Office providing your member number and request to opt out from receiving the paper edition. Link

Remember, this is an Opt-out system – those members who still value their paper copy of AR Magazine delivered in the post will not be affected, and do not have to do anything.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 31 / 08 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

Three stations are commemorating the Battle of Long Tan on August 18, 1966 during the Vietnam War, in which 108 ANZACs were greatly outnumbered, with heavy losses on both sides, and eventually won against a large enemy force.  In the west VI6BLT50, Queensland has VI4BLT50 while Canberra is VI1BLT50 as the 50th anniversary of the Battle continues.

Leading the VI6BLT50 team of three is Mal VK6LC, who served Serving in the Royal Australian Signals in Vietnam, whose antenna array usually puts Zone 29 on air chasing DX and during contests.  Mal VK6LC says a prize QSO in RTTY was with Bruce 3W3B, a veteran himself in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, on one of his frequent visits to Da Nang in Vietnam.  There has been plenty of other DX for VI6BLT50 that has recently increased its log by contacting Brazil, Colombia, Chile, North America, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rica and Alaska.  Mal VK6LC says a prize QSO in RTTY was with Bruce 3W3B, a veteran himself in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, on one of his frequent visits to Da Nang in Vietnam.  VI6BLT50 operates on SSB, CW and RTTY with around 1,500 contacts already being made the website qrz.com having nearly 4,100 hits.

The VI4BLT50 operation in Queensland is led by Dale VK4DMC, who was mainly in the 1st Australian Field Hospital as an Operating Theatre Technician and Intensive Care Medic.  From Far North Queensland VI4BLT50 has worked all VK and ZL call areas, as well as recent QSOs into Japan, Canada, North America and Russia.

VI1BLT50 has logged almost 1000 contacts.  Tex VK1TX reports that most activity has been on 20 metres and 40 metres.  The WIA has licences available for the other states which are most welcome to join the 30 day commemoration.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 24 / 08 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The Australian commemoration of 50 years since the Battle of Long Tan during the Vietnam War continues with at least the states of Western Australia (VK6), Queensland (VK4) and the Australian Capital Territory (VK1) already on air.  The Wireless Institute of Australia has obtained ACMA licences for each state and territory that end with the suffix B L T 50.  These are available under conditions and on a roster for use in the commemoration over 30 days.

The Battle on August 18, 1966, saw 108 ANZACS against an enemy of an estimated up to 2,500 soldiers that resulted in a heavy loss on both sides, and one the few engagements in history to be won against such odds.  The driver of the event, a veteran himself, is Mal VK6LC who has the VI6BLT50 callsign with a team of Steve VK6OZ, Phil VK6GX Craig VK6VCK, Paul VK6LOT, Marty VK6RC and himself, all working through sometimes adverse conditions to make 800 contacts.  VI6BLT50 is on SSB, CW and RTTY working from the North Pole to Antarctica as well as logging the six continents – well done.  The VI6BLT50 calling frequencies and other details are on qrz.com which has had about 2,500 hits.

VI4BLT50 in Queensland has been active on all bands since August 18, and is on air for 30 days.  Ewan VK4ERM says several VK4 stations have activated the callsign and made good contacts across Australia in spite of the generally poor conditions.  VK4 individual and club stations may book their operating time slots, remember the need for an accurate log of VI4BLT.  Those on the roster must log the start and end times, plus the location used for the callsign. Link

Ewan VK4ERM welcomes this commemorative activity and thanks all who have so far made the contact.  VI1BLT50 is in Canberra courtesy Tex VK1TX.  All report good activity and appreciation of the effort being shown. 

From New Scientist, original post here.  By David Hambling, 17/8/2016.

CAN you hear me now?  The US Air Force has plans to improve radio communication over long distances by detonating plasma bombs in the upper atmosphere using a fleet of micro satellites.

Since the early days of radio, we have known that signals that cannot be picked up by day may be heard clearly at night from hundreds of kilometres away.

This is down to changes in the ionosphere, a layer of charged particles in the atmosphere that starts around 60 kilometres up (for more on this mysterious layer see “No-fly zone: Exploring the uncharted layers of our atmosphere“).  The curvature of Earth stops most ground-based radio signals travelling more than 70 kilometres without a boost.  But by bouncing between the ionosphere and the ground they can zigzag for much greater distances.  At night the ionosphere is denser and more reflective.

It’s not the first time we’ve tried to improve radio communication by tinkering with the ionosphere.  HAARP, the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program in Alaska, stimulates the ionosphere with radiation from ground-based antennas to produce radio-reflecting plasma.

Now the USAF wants to do this more efficiently, with tiny satellites – such as CubeSats – carrying large volumes of ionised gas directly into the ionosphere.

There are at least two major challenges.  One is building a plasma generator small enough to fit on a CubeSat.  Then there’s the problem of controlling how the plasma disperses once released.

The USAF has awarded contracts to three teams sketching out different approaches.  The best proposal will be selected for a second phase in which plasma generators will be tested in vacuum chambers and exploratory space flights.

General Science in Souderton, Pennsylvania, is working with researchers at Drexel University in Philadelphia on a method that involves using a chemical reaction to heat a piece of metal beyond its boiling point.  The vaporised metal will react with atmospheric oxygen to produce plasma.

“It’s not the first time we’ve tried to improve radio signal by tinkering with the ionosphere”

Another team, Enig Associates of Bethesda, Maryland, and researchers at the University of Maryland, want to rapidly heat a piece of metal by detonating a small bomb and converting the blast into electrical energy.  Different shaped plasma clouds can be generated by changing the form of the initial explosion.

However, it’s not clear whether the USAF will succeed.  “These are really early-stage projects, representing the boundaries of plasma research into ionosphere modification,” says John Kline, who leads the Plasma Engineering group at Research Support Instruments in Hopewell, New Jersey.  He thinks one of the biggest stumbling blocks will be packing enough power to generate plasma on to small satellites.  “It may be an insurmountable challenge.”

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 25 / 08 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The recent flooding in India triggered by monsoonal rains has a death toll of 300 and forcing many villages to flee to higher ground.  National Coordinator for Disaster Communication in India, Jayu Bhide VU2JAU reports that in the eastern region Ambrish VU2JFA, Dutta VU2TTC and their team are busy in providing necessary communication in North Pargana.

The emergency communications and help being provided by hams coordinates the responding administration.  Jayu VU2JAU also reports on flooding in central India with hams again helping the administration as it seeks to prevent any accidents.  So far five people have been saved from deep flood waters and brought to safety.  Hams deployment has been through the District Commanders with Jayu VU2JAU in frequent liaison with them.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.