QNEWS - JUNE 11 2023 - VK4 ON AIR --------------------------------------------------------------------* DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK? --------------------------------------------------------------------* THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE Available in Audio RIGHT NOW QNEWS thanks to Tony VK7AX can be found on www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/ 203.31.7.19/wianews/ QNEWS audio ready to download thanks to Brendan VK4BLP from www.wiaq.org.au Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. --------------------------------------------------------------------* VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR FROM MAY 13 2023 SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY --------------------------------------------------------------------* ---------------------------------------------------------------------* CLUBBING ---------------------------------------------------------------------* BUNDABERG http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BundabergAmateurRadioClub/ FROM CB RADIO OPERATOR TO AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS! Have you thought about getting your amateur radio licence? This article will explain the easy process of going from a Citizen's Band (CB) radio operator to a licensed amateur radio operator in Australia. CB Radio operators are some of the most passionate radio enthusiasts in our community! And just like amateur stations, CB operators enjoy the thrill of contacting distant stations and also making friends over the air. But CB is limited to a couple of bands and very limited power output. Amateur Radio opens up a whole new world of possibilities! Once you have your license, you are able to use a range of different bands and frequencies � Everything from satellite communications to digital modes (connecting you to repeaters all over the world!) If conditions on one band are not ideal, you can often change to another band depending on the time of day / and other conditions. To begin with, it's worth noting that while CB radio operators are not required to have a license in Australia, Amateur radio operators must obtain a license from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to operate their equipment legally. The first step towards obtaining your amateur radio license is to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. This can be done through self-study or by attending a course. (Your local amateur radio club will offer courses and exam services, but you can also find lots of resources online to help you.) Once you have the required knowledge, you can apply to sit for the ACMA's Foundation License examination. This exam covers topics such as radio theory, operating procedures, and regulations. It is a multiple-choice exam, and you need to score at least 70% to pass. You also need to sit the practical exam, which covers the basics of setting up a station and other basic skills. ( Note: For the Practical you need a 100% mark to pass.) Once again, this is easy enough to do if you are willing to put in the time and effort! And it is actually much easier than you think! After passing the exams, you will need to apply for your Foundation License through the ACMA. The application process involves submitting the appropriate forms, along with a fee. Once your application has been processed and approved, you will be issued with your own call sign, which you can use to identify yourself on the airwaves to stations all over the world! (with amateur callsigns, you also have the option of applying for a unique callsign and if its available, it will be assigned to you.) It's worth noting that the Foundation License is the first step in a series of license classes, each of which allows you to operate more powerful equipment and access more frequencies. As you gain experience and knowledge, you can progress through the classes, ultimately reaching the highest class, the Advanced License! Getting an amateur radio license is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a hobby if you are interested in radio! (It opens up so many amazing possibilities!) We hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions or would like more detailed information, please contact your local amateur radio club who will be more than happy to help you with all the information you need to get your callsign and on the air on the amateur radio bands. Good Luck! --------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. Here it is, almost mid year and have we got our calendar marked with all the events that are coming? If you are like me and many others, you will have noted some things that are on the agenda and you really need a reminder of the others that have slipped the mind or whose dates haven’t been well promoted. I remember when there was a monthly newsletter devoted to VK4 news and events and it became an insert with Amateur Radio magazine. That was QTC. I remember when the national magazine provided dates of contests, DX expeditions and field days but as the costs have increased the publication has been reduced to a bi-monthly publication. That and along with having suitably enthusiastic contributors means that there seems to be less notice being given these days. How do we get this information? In my area we have commercial and “free� newspapers which are a valuable source of date, time and place advice. We have many bodies which make efforts to inform members and the public by posts in social media (and seemingly less via web sites). Then if you sit and watch the TV news there are both paid and unpaid promotions broadcast, at least on a weekly basis. So in the world that is external to amateur radio, there are plenty of examples of getting the message out, so why aren’t we just as effective? There is a certain mood in the world these days that seems to suggest that doing things is always for someone else. There is this invisible figure that lets us all down when things haven’t happened as the bush lawyers propound. The trouble is that amongst our ranks of radio, electronics and communications enthusiasts we have regular, ordinary people who just happen to enjoy this recreation when life doesn’t too far intrude. The needs of living can overtake us and life and health and ageing are all a part of this great personal adventure. So realistically it is not the mythical they that is not doing things for us but as a group, a collective we can contribute small pieces which when put together bring a fuller piece of the story for everyone to appreciate. We have available to us a weekly broadcast which goes out on various platforms and which is there to help promote and relate the stories of amateur radio. The more clubs and individuals, QSL managers, contest managers and experimenters in the wide, wide field that is amateur radio come together and put the news out the greater support we will garner. The more participation we can raise the better. Who is up for it? I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you? -------------------------------------------------------------------* 2023 Social Scene Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section VK4 - SUNFEST - SEPTEMBER 9 (vk4an) At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air conditioned auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek is tucked in to the west of Mooloolaba VK - ALARAMeet2023 4/5 November in HOBART (luther8@bigpond.com) TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:- Send SCRIPT to qnews@wia.org.au send audio to http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/upload/ QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA If you would like to submit club news items for inclusion in QNEWS broadcasts, please email your item in text to:- qnews@wia.org.au THEN submit audio:- To submit audio email qnews@wia.org.au and ask for the current password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/ Remember the sooner you submit audio material the more the likelihood of it being broadcast in the very next edition QNEWS. Each item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh .� Subscribe: QNEWS-VK+subscribe@groups.io Group Owner: QNEWS-VK+owner@groups.io Help: QNEWS-VK+help@groups.io TO CEASE GETTING THIS EMAILED SERVICE:- Unsubscribe: QNEWS-VK+unsubscribe@groups.io -----------------------------ENDS------------------------------------*