From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 06 / 11 / 2015 
Author : Roger Harrison – VK2ZRH

Ninety years is a good innings in anyone’s book.  The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) this year celebrates 90 years standing up for the interests of radio amateurs at the top level of world radiocommunications treaty development at the ITU – the International Telecommunications Union, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

To celebrate this milestone, the IARU is promoting the use of the special callsign suffix ‘90IARU’. 

As a member society of the IARU, the WIA has obtained the callsign VI90IARU to join in the global celebrations with other member societies around the world.  So far, 40 stations, each with the 90IARU-suffix, have been heard and another 25 are expected to come on-air very soon.  Expressions of interest to use VI90IARU opened last month through the WIA National Office.  Both clubs and individual advanced licensees are encouraged to apply.

You need to nominate the date/s and time/s (UTC) you plan to use the callsign.  Email your EOI to the WIA National Office at nationaloffice@wia.org.au.

Give it a thought and get in quick.  The sands of time are moving through the hourglass all the while.  The IARU is offering a handsome diploma for contacting 90IARU callsigns from 10 different countries that are members of the IARU.  Qualifying stations can get the free electronic diploma for QSOs up to 31 December 2015.  Diplomas will be issued for contacts using CW, phone or digital modes, or mixed.  The WIA will acknowledge all QSLs for VI90IARU contacts it receives through the QSL Bureau.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 04 / 11 / 2015
Author : Dale Hughes – VK1DSH

The 2015 World Radiocommunications Conference commenced on Monday morning at 11 AM.  Over 3800 delegates from 162 ITU member countries and 136 ITU sector members are meeting for the next four weeks to discuss a wide range of radio communications issues including several of direct relevance to amateurs.  The outcome of these discussions is a revision of the ITU Radio Regulations which in an international treaty covering most aspects of communications between 8.3 kHz and 275 GHz.

The amateur service is represented at WRC-15 by amateurs who are members of national delegations as well as representatives of the International Amateur Radio Union.  Topics of interest to amateurs include agenda item 1.4 which is a proposal to allocate a new secondary allocation to the amateur service around 5300 kHz as well as agenda item 1.18 which covers a proposed new allocation for vehicle radar systems between 77.5 and 78 GHz that is an existing primary amateur allocation.  There are also other issues which require some consideration by the amateur delegates and it is important that amateurs are able to contribute and be part of these discussions.

Progress on the various agenda items starts with the formalities of approval of chairman of the working and sub-working groups, creation of working groups assigned to each agenda item and document introduction by contributing delegates.  These are important steps in beginning the sometimes difficult or delicate negotiations that are required before most changes to the radio regulations can be made.

The actual work of studying each of the input contributions and developing consensus positions is done by sub-working groups who deal with individual agenda items.  For amateurs, the most challenging issue will be AI 1.4 where there is strong opposition to a new secondary HF allocation.  Work has begun on this issue and will continue over the coming days and weeks.  For most agenda items it will take some time before any firm conclusions are reached as the issues are complex.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 02 / 11 / 2015
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

During the recent International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 3 meeting in Bali Indonesia (October 12-16), WIA representatives Phil Wait VK2ASD and Peter Young VK3MV informally discussed funding for the international work of Dale Hughes VK1DSH.

Dale is Chair of the ITU Working Party 5 (WP-5), which deals with issues concerning the amateur and amateur satellite services.  He has attended a series of five meetings by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity in the lead up to the current World Radio Conference (WRC-15), which is about to be held in Geneva (November 2-27), and which will be discussing a proposed new secondary allocation for the amateur service around 5300 kHz.  The work of Dale as Chair of WP-5 has occurred mostly behind the scenes and has been half funded by the WIA members and half funded by the IARU.

The IARU and the WIA have now come to a new arrangement where the international amateur community, through the IARU, will provide a greater share of funding, and will also fund Dale’s attendance at WRC-15.  The financial load to WIA members is now significantly reduced.
The head of the Australian Delegation to WRC-15 said that Dale is valuable member of the Australian Delegation.  He has been doing an excellent job, and both the IARU and the WIA are very appreciative of his valuable time, expertise, and ongoing commitment to the maintenance and expansion of our operating privileges.

Dale Hughes’ VK1DSH international work follows that done by many others from the WIA, including David Wardlaw VK3ADW and the late Michael Owen VK3KI (sk).  At the IARU Region triennial conference held in Bali in October were the WIA President Phil Wait VK2ASD, and delegate, now IARU regional director, Peter Young VK3MV.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 30 / 10 / 2015
Author : Robert Broomhead – VK3DN

Some misinformation has been spread via the internet that suggests emails from the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA’s) Auto Mail system may be SPAM.

The AMCA has advised the WIA that it is using an auto mailer system with the email address auto_mail@acma.gov.au to send important correspondence and renewal information to licence holders.  Amateurs are advised to keep a close lookout for emails from the ACMA with the email address auto_mail@acma.gov.au.

Please be aware you will not be able to reply to ACMA using the auto mailer email address.

As usual, members are reminded to always remain vigilant and take the usual precautions when opening any email regardless of the sender address.