� QNEWS - JULY 30 2023 - VK4 ON AIR --------------------------------------------------------------------* DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK? THE WIA HELPED OUT BUNDABERG BY HIGHLIGHTING THE WIA AGM. --------------------------------------------------------------------* 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 VK4OD PETER HARDING 10 JULY 2023 vk4bab --------------------------------------------------------------------* ---------------------------------------------------------------------* CLUBBING ---------------------------------------------------------------------* (j) BARC http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BrisbaneAmateurRadioClub/ or, by E-mail to vk4ba@qsl.net (J) BANANA SHIRE http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BananaShireRepeaterAssociationInc/ (j) BAYSIDE http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BaysideAmateurRadioSociety/ (J) BORDER RANGERS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BorderRangesAmateurRadioClub/ (J) BUNDABERG http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BundabergAmateurRadioClub/ Hello QNEWS listeners and readers, this is Steven Green VK2TSG, one of your WIA national board members. We wish to congratulate the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club on their successful submission to the Board requesting to host next years WIA Annual General Meeting, this will be held in May 2024. Not only will the AGM be hosted, but it will be combined with a showcase of Amateur Radio activities in a 'HamVention'. The Bundaberg Mayor and Council CEO specifically endorsed the clubs bid for the event and were keen to secure their town as the venue. There are still many details to be arranged, so please be on the lookout for future updates on the WIA website as details come to hand as we would like to see many of you there as possible in May. 73 from Steven VK2TSG 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! 😊 (J) Bunya Mts & District AmCom Inc http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BunyaMountainsAndDistrictAmcom/ bunyaamcom.org.au (INPUTS) Caboolture http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/CabooltureRadioClub/ VK4 - Caboolture Radio Club Hamfest July 11 (vk7jea) (J) CABOOLTURE SPECIAL SCHOOL AR CLUB http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/CabooltureSpecialSchoolAmateurRadioClub/ (J) CAIRNS http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/CairnsAmateurRadioClubInc/ (J) CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/CentralHighlandsAmateurRadioClub/ (J) CENTRAL QUEENSLAND AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/CentralQueenslandAmateurRadioAssociation/ CITY OF BRISBANE RADIO SOCIETY COBRS http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/CityOfBrisbaneRadioSociety/ (I) DARLING DOWNS RADIO CLUB http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/DarlingDownsRadioClub/ vk4wid@gmail.com (J) GLADSTONE AR CLUB "Radio_Active". http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/GladstoneAmateurRadioClub/ IRLP Node 6246 President John Hinde VK4JWH gladstone_ar_club@yahoo.com.au (J) GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/GoldCoastAmateurRadioSociety/ IRLP Node 6702 (J) GYMPIE COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS GROUP http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/GympieCommunicationsAndElectronicsGroup/ (J) HERVEY BAY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/HerveyBayAmateurRadioClubInc/ (inputs) Ipswich & District Radio Club http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/IpswichAndDistrict/ Web � www.vk4wip.org.au Email - vk4wip@wia.org.au For a full list of repeaters - www.vk4wip.org.au (defunct) LOCKYER VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/LockyerValleyAmateurRadioClubInc/ (J) MACKAY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/MackayAmateurRadioClub/ MARYBOROUGH ELECTRONICS AND RADIO GROUP http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/MaryboroughElectronicsAndRadioGroup/ (J) Redcliffe and Districts radio club. http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/RedcliffeAndDistrictRadioClub/ WHILST AWAY Redcliffe Club Carboot Sale Greetings from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC Robert Thomson VK4TFN here. The Redcliffe Club will hold our Annual CarBoot Sale on Saturday 26th August 2023 at our club house at Kippa Ring in the City of Redcliffe. Vendors in at seven, breakfast is at eight, gates open at nine, the raffle is at ten thirty $10 per car boot or table, gold coin admission. Go to www dot redclifferadioclub dot org dot au for more information. Thank you and 73's from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club VK4RC Thank you and 73's Robert Thomson VK4TFN (J) ROCKHAMPTON AND DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/RockhamptonAndDistrictAmateurRadioClub/ (J) SOUTHSIDE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/SouthsideAmateurRadioSociety/ (INPUTS) SUNSHINE COAST http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/SunshineCoastAmateurRadioClub/ Maleny VK4RSC 146.850 and 438.075 VK4RSN 53.7 Noosa Heads VK4RSL 146.825 and 438.175 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 (J) TABLELANDS RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/TablelandsRadioAndElectronicsClub/ vk4wat@wia.org.au TOWNSVILLE http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/TownsvilleAmateurRadioClub/ vk4wit@wia.org.au 4773 1196 or 0408 001142 po box 333 Garbutt East, QLD 4814 www.tarc.org.au VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND ATV GROUP http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/SouthEastQueenslandATVGroup/ VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL QUEENSLAND DIGITAL GROUP http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/QueenslandDigitalGroup/ 438.200 MHz IRLP Node 6964 President: Alan Wills VK4YAR (J) VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- HISTORICAL RADIO HISTORICAL WIRELESS SOCIETY OF SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/HistoricalWirelessSocietyOfSouthEastQueensland/ VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- LEARN OUR CRAFT RADIO AND ELECTRONICS SCHOOL http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/RadioAndElectronicsSchool/ (input) VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- NOELS NUTTY CAMPERS (input) VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF BRISBANE VHF GROUP http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/BrisbaneVHFGroup/ VK4 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- WICEN http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/WICENBrisbane/ ALARA - SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. One of the hallmarks of amateur radio over the years has been its capacity for adaption and innovation. Before the world had sliced bread from the supermarket or corner store, bread came in unsliced loaves which had to be sliced before use. The term breadboard has become well known from the early days of valves and batteries and stays with us today as a building platform sold ready to insert components. I remember seeing a 2 metre transmitter and receiver both built on metal cake tins bought at the local shopping centre. This was a convenient way to get a strong pair of chassis for some home brew projects published by the ARRL. Vertical loop antennas called cubical quads became popular but the mechanics of construction presented some issues, especially for the short wave bands. From the tropics and subtropics, bamboo became a sought after material for making these directional loops. Today we can purchase ready made synthetic composites from the local hardware or from sporting stores in the fishing section, for instance. What shack would be classed as complete without a termination for the antenna socket, the proverbial dummy load? Back in time, the more expensive incandescent lamps using a carbon filaments instead of tungsten were sought after as they provided a great tuning aid for valve based transmitters. Some people even went to the extent of using rare gas lamps mounted across the antenna terminals for a more precise visual aid. So it is these days with so many people joining the amateur ranks and growing up in the age of disposable consumerism that off the shelf solutions are seen as the way to build one’s station. Yet there are still the opportunities to adapt and innovate with bits and pieces not designed for electronics or radio. Over 100 years ago the first patents for using a living, growing tree as a radio antenna were granted, towards the end of the First World War. Our magazine, Amateur Radio, has carried articles on doing this some years ago. One feature of the semiconductor age has been the reduction in size and weight of commercially available gear. This has given rise to more frequent portable operations from tops of hills, gazetted parks, the surrounds of lighthouses and grain silos to mention a few operating venues. The lightweight but inherently strong squid pole has seen the development of specific collapsible masts which can be comfortably transported and easily erected from such places. I have specific needs and my variant has been to use some recycled fibreglass poles to extend a multisection tapered support from an advertising flag. Join this with a speaker tripod stand and strap it to a copper earth rod and lo and behold, there is the basis for a simple vertical wire antenna. Currently I have a non-resonant OCF which is tuning nicely and bringing in the signals. What I am suggesting is that there are ways of doing things which have been proven before. Dry bamboo could be cheaper than a fibreglass pole. Just let the mind go free and see what you can come up with and add another level to your recreation. 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 - Redcliffe Club CarBoot Sale Saturday 26 August at club house Kippa Ring (VK4TFN) 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) VK - WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. 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