From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 21 / 11 / 2015
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

After two days of blizzard conditions the weather forecast is enabling VI0ANZAC to be on air from Casey Base in the Australian Antarctic Territory.  As part of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) ANZAC 100 program it plans to be operating on November 22, from 1pm (AEDT) or 0200 UTC . A large transport aircraft is due to land at Casey Base just before the operation begins.  The only other time VI0ANZAC has been able to be on air was August 29-30, again cut short by blizzard conditions.

The WIA reminds all that this is not a DXpedition, only possible during available spare time, and no pre-arranged skeds or indirect contact with the operator is possible.  Fred Swainston VK3DAC will be on air and in contact with the operator Doug VK0MV during the event.

The WIA is delighted that VI0ANZAC is to reactivate and expressed sincere thanks to Doug VK0DMV and the Australian Antarctic Division.  VI0ANZAC will start on 14.250MHz and QSY if necessary.  Other possible frequencies are: 40m 7.135, 7.100 and 7090, 7.105, and 15m 21.250, 21.255, 21.260, 21.265, 21.270 USB.  Casey Station is located in a World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF) site VKFF0571.  QSL via the Bureau and eQSL.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 19 / 11 / 2015
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) in Geneva has agreed on a secondary allocation of 5351.5-5366.5 kHz for the Amateur Service, with regional power limits of 15 watts to 25 Watts measured in effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP).  That decision came on November 18 at the conference Plenary Meeting, the outcome of Item 1.4 that proposed to give the amateur service its first new HF allocation since 1979.

The fixed service, which has primary status in the new allocation, mounted strong pressure that saw a varied approach taken on the power limit.  Generally 15 Watts EIRP is permitted in the ITU Regions 1 and 3, however Region 2 has 15 Watts for the USA, 20 Watts for Mexico, and 25 Watts in Central America, South America and most of the Caribbean area.  The USA has channelised access for radio amateurs on 5 MHz, and this is to change to the normal frequency agility.

The last step and a formality is the signing of the Final Act when WRC-15 closes on November 27.  Then adoption of new International Telecommunications Union treaty obligations from all of the WRC-15 outcomes, expected to flow into domestic frequency allocations in coming months.  The breakthrough for the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) on the 5 MHz issue came as the result of years of preparation, trials and talks.  The IARU team went to the WRC-15 not at all confident on getting a new 60 metre band allocation.

The 18 member IARU-team, co-lead by President Tim Ellam VE6SH and Vice-President Ole Garpestad LA2RR, includes Dale Hughes VK1DSH partly funded by the WIA and IARU, and about 10 others with their country-based delegation.  It also engaged on a number of agenda items that may impact the amateur and amateur satellite services – and is keeping a watch on future proposals.  The IARU-team faced firm opposition against a wide sharing spectrum slice at 5 MHz.  The IARU had pressed its case at the spectrum marathon, but through a considered strategy, with careful listening, compromise and negotiation, found a way.

The first big hurdle came from major countries including Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, who felt such an allocation was too generous.  To persuade some to abandon their no-allocation position, a 15 kHz-wide slice compromise was agreed.  The other hurdle was the power limit, with it being lower than originally proposed, and now has measurement at EIRP, or Effective Isotropic Radiated Power, rather than transmitter output in watts.  The limit sought by some was designed to protect existing in-band and adjacent band services at 5 MHz from perceived harmful interference, and that compromise gained even more support.

The IARU had earlier presented a report documenting the compatibility characteristics of amateur stations on that band.  The outcome of talks, as already revealed, has been a consensus for a new 15 kHz-wide global secondary 60 metre Amateur Radio allocation at 5351.5-5366.5 kHz, with a varied power limit.  On the next WRC-19 agenda are proposals for 50-54 MHz, the amateur service and amateur satellite service band at 47-47.2 GHz, and small non-amateur, non-geostationary satellites that are looking for VHF and UHF allocations – possible threats to the 144 MHz and 430 MHz allocations.

A proposed agenda item to align the 160 metre allocation throughout the world is no longer on the table.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 15 / 11 / 2015 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

VI0ANZAC from Casey Base in the Antarctic will try to hold another activation this month as bad weather caused the event, part of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) ANZAC 100 program to be postponed in August.  Despite the adverse Antarctic weather the station made it to air on the weekend of August 29-30.  However, blizzard conditions and poor propagation resulted in only 56 contacts logged.

The WIA is delighted that VI0ANZAC will try to reactivate the station and expressed sincere thanks to Doug VK0DMV and the Australian Antarctic Division.  The WIA repeats that this is not a DXpedition, and only possible during available spare time.  There can be no pre-arranged skeds and please no direct or indirect contact with the operator of this WIA commemorative event station.

At this stage, depending on the weather and availability, VI0ANZAC is trying to re-activate on Sunday November 22, starting at 1pm (AEDT) local time or 0200UTC.  It will start on 14.250MHz and QSY if necessary.  Other possible frequencies are: 40m 7.135, 7.100 and 7090, 7.105, and 15m 21.250, 21.255, 21.260, 21.265, 21.270 USB.

QSL via the Bureau and eQSL.  More details will be issued on VI0ANZAC and see it listed on qrz.com.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 14 / 11 / 2015 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is celebrating its 90th year of being the global voice of Amateur Radio.  The latest advocacy work by the IARU is at the World Radiocommunications Conference 2015 in Geneva.  Through the United Nations body, the International Telecommunications Union, it continues to look after the interests of the amateur service and amateur satellite service.

To celebrate its 90th year, all IARU member societies are encouraged to promote the occasion by a special callsign suffix ‘90IARU’.  About 50 stations are already activated by IARU member societies.  The WIA is now active with its VI90IARU callsign rostered to 12 members.  Both clubs and individual Advanced licence holders are encouraged to apply.

Those with a rostered slot will be given the requirements for using the VI90IARU callsign including the electronic logging.  QSL is via the Bureau.  Please email the date/s and time/s (UTC) you plan to use the callsign to nationaloffice@wia.org.au.

The roster starts with the St George Amateur Radio Society (November 13-16), with the weekend coinciding with both the Japan International DX Contest and the WIA VHF/UHF Field Day.  SGARS is using the VI90IARU call on the HF, VHF and UHF bands – any modes.  More information is at available via this Link.

The IARU has a handsome diploma available to those who contact 90IARU callsigns from 10 different countries, members of IARU.  Qualifying stations can get the free electronic diploma for QSOs between January 1 to December 31, 2015 – issued either as Mixed, CW, Phone or Digital.

The WIA will acknowledge all QSLs it receives for VI90IARU through the QSL Bureau.

See this Link for more information on R90IARU.