Licence letters from the ACMA – what do they mean?

QuestionFrom the WIA, original post here.

Date : 23 / 10 / 2015
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

As a part of the new SPECTRA system, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will send revalidation letters to all radio amateurs 90 days before licences are due to expire.  This letter, or email, has the ACMA licence number – however it does not include your callsign, or callsigns.  You can easily confirm callsigns associated with licence numbers online via the ACMA website. Link

A Validation Notice is sent to all licence holders, and not just radio amateurs.  The purpose of this is to allow licensees to check or change their details, or surrender a licence.  If the details are correct, and you do not surrender a licence, then the ACMA wants you to take no action, until you receive a Renewal Notice, which is the time to pay for the renewal.

The ACMA sends an invoice for renewing licence holders, and after you have paid a Renewal Summary will be sent out.  Is it worth also mentioning that the renewal notice will not contain your callsign so once again you may need to visit the ACMA website and lookup your licence number to confirm the callsign being renewed.  Link

Now here is an important reminder.  If the ACMA does not have your details correctly recorded, it cannot send these letters.  For instance, you may have changed your postal address, or failed to update them with your current email address.

Renewal is always the licensee’s responsibility.  Please check now to avoid delays, or cancellation of your licence, and your callsign being re-assigned to someone else.  The ACMA contact details are: Telephone 1300 850 115 and email info@acma.gov.au

The IARU Region 3 meeting in Indonesia

IARU LogoVia the WIA.  Original post here.

Date : 21 / 10 / 2015 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The 16th triennial conference of International Radio Union Region 3 hosted by Organisasi Amatir Radio Indonesia or ORARI, was held at Bali, Indonesia, October 12-16.  The meeting observed a minute silence in memory of Fred Johnson ZL2AMJ and Ken Pulfer VE3PU, who became silent keys and had contributed enormously to the IARU.

Welcoming everyone, were Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, Chairman of Directors of IARU Region 3, and Conference Chairman, Mr SutiyosoYB0ST.  Fifteen societies were present, and three represented by proxy.  Also there were the IARU President Tim Ellam VE6SH, Vice President Ole Garpestad LA2RR and Secretary Rod Stafford W6ROD, the Region 1 President Don Beattie G3BJ, and Region 2 President Reinaldo Leandro YV5AM and Vice President Jose Molina YS1MS.

Timothy Ellam VE6SH made a warm welcome on behalf of the IARU Officers and the International Secretariat and thanked ORARI for the conference.  He then pointed out that the WRC-15 is to be held in November and the IARU team would make their best effort for a possible allocation to amateur service near 5 MHz.

Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Mr Rudiantara in his welcome recognised the important role of Amateur Radio in disaster communication in the archipelago.  The Minister then joined by other speakers to formally declare the Conference open and jointly with Tim VE6SH, stroke the traditional gong.

The Conference then formed two working groups to handle 37 papers and submit recommendations to all delegates at the plenary sessions.  Working Group 1 handled Policy Matters that included education, training, development of Amateur Radio and international and regional conferences involving radio administrations with special concentration on Youth.  While Working Group 2 concerned Operational and Technical Matters, including emergency communications, digital modes, APRS common frequency and band plans.  In addition a separate Finance committee looked at the budget and the dues were considered for the next three years.

The recommendations adopted included asking the IARU Administrative Council to issue to widely all information on the use of the Amateur Satellite Service.  This information is to include the criteria for a satellite to be in the Amateur Satellite Service, and the procedure for IARU satellite frequency coordination.  The Region 3 band plans were adjusted, and for possible ease of compliance Region 3 directors will consider adopting a format similar to that used in Regions 1 and 2.  Societies were further asked to publicise digital mode developments and educate radio amateurs not to interfere with Amateur Radio digital transmissions.  Attention also was called to newer digital modes, such as MFSK16, DominoEX, and FSQ, as possibly better performers than PSK31.

The following were elected as IARU Region 3 Directors. Rhee, Joong Guen HL1AQQ, Shizuo Endo JE1MUI, Peter Young VK3MV, Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, Wisnu Widjaja YB0AZ, and Don Wallace ZL2TLL.  Peter Lake ZL1AZ retired after having served many years as a Director.  Later Gopal VU2GMN was re-elected as the Chairman.  While Katsumi (Ken) Yamamoto JA1CJP was returned unopposed as Secretary.

A farewell dinner was held by ORARI at which Gopal VU2GMN gave his commendation to the retiring IARU Secretary Dave Sumner K1ZZ, and Peter Lake ZL1AZ, for their long service to IARU.

The Conference discussed many papers that can be found at the following link.

The 17th IARU Region 3 Conference will be at Seoul Korea late in 2018. 

Typhoon in Philippines & Amateur Radio

Typhoon KoppuFrom ARVic, original post here.

Typhoon Koppu (locally Lando) made landfall in the northern Philippines on Sunday, bringing strong wind, heavy rain, flooding, power outages and the loss of vital infrastructure, as it moved slowly for three days.

About 23 people have been killed by the category-four typhoon.  The Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) activated its HERO (Ham Emergency Radio Operations) Network DX1PAR on 7.095 MHz.

Jojo DU1VHY said the HERO Network was requested by the National Telecommunication Commission’s Deputy Commissioner, and part of the disaster response.  The National Telecommunications Commission coordinated with Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) to monitor affected areas, through their local Amateur Radio associations.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has reported on the comprehensive response – with many agencies and volunteers including the HERO Network.

Philippines President, Benigno S. Aquino III, presided over the pre-disaster preparations – knowing that more heartbreak may come in the following months.

Event Reminder: Beechwood Billy Cart Classic

BBCC CartHello All,

Just a reminder that the Beechwood Billy Cart Classic is on this Sunday the 25th of October.

ORARC has been requested to provide communications for the event, as per usual.  Event Volunteers should have (just) received an email containing a map and a Checkpoint operators list.

Event Volunteer or otherwise, we’d love to see you on the day!  For those that haven’t previously attended the day:

The Beechwood Billycart Classic is a great fun day for both adults and kids. The billycart races cater for 100kph speedsters racing down Mt Pappinbarra, veterans and kids’ races, set in the relaxed village atmosphere of Beechwood.

Besides the billycart races, there are stalls, horse rides, jumping castle, barbeques, and of course the hospitality of the Beechwood Hotel.

Started in 1980, the 5km adult’s course attracts entries from far and wide, with the top racers exceeding 100kph! Since there are a couple of small uphill sections, billycarts for the Classic are unique in the world, in that they are two-person. One does the driving, whilst the other – the ‘Co-Driver’ – needs a fit pair of legs to keep the power up when gravity’s working against them.

Children do a much shorter downhill-only course down the main street of Beechwood, but since its only a gentle decline, they use a ‘Co-Driver’ too!

Visit the event’s website here.  See our event calendar entry here.  See you all on the day!

RSGB makes ‘youth’ video

RSGB LogoFrom ARVic, original post here.

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) has a new video production that shows off the diverse nature of Amateur Radio and is aimed at involving more young people.

The RSGB has partnered with TX Factor, the United Kingdom’s only professional TV channel dedicated to programs for radio amateurs.

It involves home-brew, DXing, satellites, ARDF, computing, sending text or pictures, talking to the International Space Station, and other activities – by young girls and boys, in a plain language tone that resonates with youth.

It promotes that Amateur Radio in a hands-on skill based activity, giving a greater understanding of technology beyond being just a consumer.  The fun of Amateur Radio includes being able to chat with, and join in a community interested in communicating.