Parts from ARVic, original post here.  Additional info from the project webpage here.

The marine buoy ZL1SIX with an Amateur radio package is being tracked as it moves around the Pacific Ocean.  Bob Sutton ZL1RS reports that at the mercy of the tides, currents and wind direction, the solar powered buoy is moving at an average of average speed of half a kilometre an hour.

Tracking is via its transmissions of data on the 30m band each hour on the weak signal WSPR and JT9 modes.  More details on the exciting project along with real-time mapping is available here.

At 00:00 UTC today (June 17th 2016) present position after 30 days in the ocean is AG15FD.  Direct line change from the launch point at RG93SQ: 334km at 062 degrees, average speed 0.46km/hr.

Track the floater’s position on the ‘Nullschool’ ocean current map here.  Read about the build here.  

From ARVic, original post here.

Recently an individual and a club let their ACMA licences lapse, but with a friendly alert was sent by a ham both were quickly made current.  The ACMA sends a renewal notice to the email or postal address the licensee has recorded, about two weeks before the licence is due to expire.

The responsibility rests with the licensee to keep the postal address up to date, and pay the licence fee by the due date.  The ACMA said that postal address or email contact change details need to be made in a timely manner so the renewal notice can go to the current address.

This is where current contact details are vital, without them the AMCA has no way of sending you the advice of a pending expiry and renewal invoice.  If a renewal notice is not received in the month leading up to the expiry date, request one by contacting the ACMA Customer Service Centre on 1300 850 115 or info@acma.gov.au

Technically at midnight Canberra time on the expiry date, the station is unlicensed.  However, a small window of opportunity exists up to 60 days when the licensee can renew a licence by paying the licence fee without penalty.

The ACMA will cancel your callsign if it doesn’t receive a response to your renewal invoice within a limited time after the expiry date.  The ACMA will lapse the licence, and your callsign will then be available for re-issue.

The callsign automatically appears on the WIA-administered publically available callsign list, or be subject to a ballot process in some cases of two-letter callsigns.  A few people try to get their licence back after it has expired, but are told by ACMA to apply for a callsign through the WIA Office to re-start the process.

This means that the WIA needs to make a callsign recommendation and submit this to ACMA with a licence application, to enable a new licence to be issued.  However this is not always under the previous callsign, because as we have explained, it may have already been issued to someone else.

The answer is to always know your ACMA Amateur Licence renewal date, whether or not you receive formal renewal, and make sure you renew it to keep the callsign.

Via the club’s email.

The publication date of June 20, 2016 is for “MF Down Under”:  An edited VK-compendium of articles and projects for the 630m & 160m bands which is the first ever Oceania-based one-stop-reference for embarking upon MF operating, and is all-mode inclusive.

The book contains:

• 345 x A4 pages
• ISBN registration 978-0-9873638-6-2
• Wire spiral binding so it will lay flat on a desk for convenience
• Nine chapters

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Chapter 3 Something about MF propagation

Chapter 4 Earthing and lightning protection

Chapter 5 Aerials for MF

Chapter 6 MF transmitting and receiving projects

Chapter 7 MF station accessories

Chapter 8 Portable MF operation

Chapter 9 MF Direction Finding: a new amateur radio horizon?

• 44 articles and projects for 630m and 160m
• Material contributed by 15 VK authors
• Contents and Index pages to facilitate finding topics of specific interest

Continue reading →

Paul VK2ICQ says:

Here’s how our friends in ZL land do it….

From Southgate Amateur Radio News, original post here.

The New Zealand national amateur radio society (the NZART) have made the PDF of their Jan/Feb 2016 Break-In magazine available for download.

Download Break-In magazine here.

New Zealand has just one class of amateur licence (1 kW RF output).  There are no practical tests to take just a single 60 question multiple choice paper.  40 questions must be answered correctly to achieve a pass.  All the questions and answers are made available online to assist memorizing.

NZART Exam Generator and Question/Answer bank is here.

The HamDisk Study Aid is here.

NZ Amateur Radio Licence documentation effective May 5, 2016.