• WIANEWS for WEEK COMMENCING DCEMBER 29 2024 (1/2)

    From National News Broadcast Email List@21:1/5 to All on Sat Dec 28 08:22:27 2024
    XPost: aus.radio.amateur.misc, rec.radio.info

    Weekly news from the WIA:
    MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-12-29.mp3 Text edition:

    2024 DECEMBER 29 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA ------------------------------------------------------------*

    THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK

    THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING DCEMBER 29 2024
    IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

    THIS WEEK:-

    WIA Director and Company Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ. -

    WIA's Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine Roger Harrison VK2ZRH. -

    VK4FUQ Felix will have the operational news, VK3FFF Bruce takes a look at Special Interest Group news and VK2LAW Jason is at our International
    Desk. -

    Many clubs have held a "Bunnings Sausage Sizzle' this year but we have
    news of a club that has done 18,000 times better.

    BUT WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
    WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.

    I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB

    WIA

    JOIN THE WIA
    tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

    WIA Director and Company Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ

    Last week the Pete VK2LP, The WIA Returning Officer advised that there had
    been 5 nominations to fill the 4 vacancies that will be created at the end of the AGM in May 2025.

    As advised in Petes broadcast an election will be held by electronic means in February 2025. Detail of all nominees and the election timetable will be published in Amateur Radio Magazine and on the WIA News Service during
    January 2025.


    Wow so how fast has this year gone, already we have seen out Christmas and it is the new year in a couple of days, and we are already talking about the AGM to be held in May.


    The Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club and the Wireless Institute of Australia advise the dates of the Amateur Radio and Technology Expo to be
    held in Bendigo Victoria in May 2025.


    The Bendigo Amateur Radio and Technology Expo will be held in conjunction
    with the WIA Annual General Meeting. The event will be held over the weekend of3rd and 4th May 2025.


    A program for amateurs, partners and the general public is currently being developed by the Bendigo club and announcements detailing the event and the program will be advertised shortly.


    Congratulations to Graham and the Broadcast team on the advent of our 30th
    year of the WIA News broadcast.


    Director Giles Kirby VK5GK told you about our work being done on the new web pages and also on the the membership system.

    On behalf of President Scott Williams VK3KJ and the Board of the WIA we wish you all seasons greetings and a happy and prosperous 2025.


    This has been WIA Director and Company Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ

    Hey dudes! This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH coming to you from Southport in Queensland, on the traditional lands
    of the Yugambeh people.


    A usually reliable source has told me that a new year will begin in a few
    days.


    If true, and Im mindful that I will only know that it is true once it
    happens, observation or recollections of this period in years gone by
    indicate to me that many people reflect on the year just about to end and cogitate or prognosticate on what may lie in the year just ahead.


    Recognising all that, as well as realising that, as the Bureau of Meteorology well knows, forecasting too far ahead is very tricky, not to mention unreliable, I will pass on a small snippet of what may be in store for
    Amateur Radio magazine Issue 1 for 2025.


    Naturally, we have a little something to say about progress of the current solar cycle. If youre looking for answers to the two questions on everyones lips this past 15 months, you know the ones: are we there yet?, and how high will it go?, all I can say with any shred of reliability is this: what goes up will sometime later go down. Nothing to do with gravity in this instance.


    The theme for the next issue is Portable Pursuits. For the sceptics in the audience, or for the recall-istically challenged, that is the theme as
    printed on Page 3 of the current issue. Every issue, toward the bottom of
    Page 3, we print in large, bold type the focus for the coming issue. So
    far, those forecasts have always come true.


    Portable Pursuits is all about how much fun and pleasure hams can have
    outdoors with their clothes on! The stories we plan to use run from offshore DXpeditioning to beachside support of public events, from operating in lonely low-noise historic places to putting a portable station together in an Esky.


    And, as always, theres much, much, much more in AR magazine, Issue 1 for
    2025.


    More guts. Less gab. Serving Australian amateurs since 1933.

    Proudly produced and printed in Australia. Also available online.

    Always published to a schedule, never random.

    Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.

    OUR GIFT FOR YOU.

    This free calendar looks good in the radio shack.

    Your very own International Space Station 2025 calendar.

    Download here

    nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/iss-calendar-2025.pdf
    Of course don't forget that free copy of the VK4SN Contest Calendar which
    comes with the current Amateur Radio Magazine from the WIA.

    Or go direct to the VK4SN web page

    vk4sn.com/Contests/Calendar ------------------------------------------------------------*
    INTERNATIONAL NEWS is with thanks to ARRL, DX-WORLD, eHam, Hackaday,
    IARU, ICQPodcast, IRTS, NEWSLINE, NZART, RAC, Radioworld.com, RSGB,
    SARL and the World Wide sources of the WIA.

    Transmissions from amateur radio enthusiasts may hold the key to locating
    the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines jet that vanished a decade ago in
    one of the greatest aviation mysteries.

    The Malaysian government has just announced that it has agreed to resume
    the search for the remains of MH370, the Boeing 777 that disappeared in
    March 2014 while carrying 239 people. Efforts will focus on a new area of seabed covering around 5,800 square miles - slightly bigger than
    Northern Ireland - according to Anthony Loke, the Malaysian transport
    minister.

    The search will be led by underwater exploration firm Ocean Infinity,
    which conducted the last sweep in 2018. This time around, the
    investigation is expected to draw on a new area of research involving
    WSPR - transmissions from amateur radio operators.

    Probably more INTERPLANETARY than just INTERNATIONAL but listen to this
    from the Ukraine.

    The search for Near Earth Orbiting Asteroids as potential candidates
    for use in space missions from Earth to Venus and Mars.

    The University of Kyiv has analyzed the orbits of more than 35,000
    near-Earth objects for the possibility of successive approaches to all
    pairs of planets: Earth, Venus, and Mars in the time range from 2020 to
    2120.

    Two academics have selected 120 candidates for fast transfers , ie within
    180 days; 2 candidates for double transfers (consecutive approaches with
    all three planets); and 10 candidates for multiple transfers, when an
    asteroid has several consecutive paired approaches to planets in a
    hundred years.

    arxiv.org/pdf/2410.17047

    EYES WIDE OPEN

    Many VK ham radio clubs raise a little cash be it by charging $5 for
    entry to a hamfest or even something larger like a "Bunnings Sausage
    Sizzle".

    BUT HOW MANY CAN CLAIM TO BE AS PRACTIVE AS THIS CLUB IN THE USA.

    Portage County Amateur Radio Services (PCARS) in Ohio has made a generous donation to the Center of Hope, a program under Family and Community
    Services.

    The amount?

    ALMOST $18,000 AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS.

    Michael Gonzalez, president of PCARS, during the clubs general meeting expressed his excitement, stating, We have achieved an outstanding
    fundraising milestone for the Center of Hope. I am delighted to announce
    that our contribution of $11,178.51 is our largest to date! Over the past
    19 years, PCARS has contributed more than $95,000 to support our
    community. I take great pride in this club and its dedication to the
    Center of Hope. Giving back is fundamental to our mission

    WHERE'S YOUR RADIO?

    It appears that the bill to require AM radio in new cars will not pass
    Congress this year in the USA.

    The legislation was absent from a stopgap measure unveiled to keep the government funded until spring.

    While we are disappointed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act did not pass
    this Congress, the overwhelming bipartisan and bicameral support
    underscores the vital role AM radio plays in keeping Americans safe during emergencies and connected to their local communities, said Curtis LeGeyt, President/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters.

    LeGeyt thanked the AM bills sponsors and noted that it received
    bipartisan favour from more than 125 supportive organizations, hundreds
    of thousands of listeners who contacted their lawmakers and more than
    330 members of Congress who championed this effort. He said NAB plans
    to work with the next Congress to pass the legislation.

    US considers ban on home internet router maker TP-Link.

    US authorities are considering a ban on China's TP-Link Technology Co.
    over potential national security concerns after its home internet routers
    were linked to cyberattacks, says itnews quoting a Wall Street Journal
    report.

    The US Commerce, Defense and Justice departments have opened separate
    probes into the company, with authorities targeting a ban on the sale of TP-Link routers in the US as early as this coming year, 2025.

    An office of the Commerce Department has even subpoenaed the company while
    the Defense Department launched its investigation into Chinese
    manufactured routers earlier this year, the newspaper reported, citing
    people familiar with the matter.

    Last year, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency said TP-Link
    routers had a vulnerability that could be exploited to execute remote
    code.

    Shares of Netgear, a San Jose-based home networking company and a TP-Link rival, jumped more than 12 percent following the report.

    Surges year-on-year.

    Funds stolen by hacking cryptocurrency platforms surged 21 percent
    from a year ago to A$3.5 billion Aussie dollars in 2024, a report
    from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis showed.

    In reporting on this Australian itnews says that the rise in crypto heists comes as bitcoin jumped 140 percent this year, drawing institutional participation and backing from US President-elect Donald Trump.

    "As the digital asset market booms, it is typical to see the illicit
    use of crypto grow in tandem," Chainalysis' cybercrimes research lead
    Eric Jardine said. "Countering the proliferation of these crimes,
    especially fraud, will undoubtedly be a key challenge for the industry
    in 2025."
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    OPERATIONAL NEWS - A FELIX VK4FUQ PRESENTATION

    --------------
    --------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
    --------------
    --------------

    YOTA CONTEST ON TODAY

    Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC
    29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

    (yota)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2025

    -------------------

    VHF UHF Field Day

    Upcoming Contest Date & Time

    Summer 2025 - 0100 UTC Saturday 18 January through 0059 UTC Sunday 19
    January (0400 / 0359 in VK6).

    wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/
    -----------

    CQ 160 METER CONTEST

    CW January 24 - 2200Z January 26.

    SSB February 21 - 2200Z February 23.

    (cq)
    ---------------------

    AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST JANUARY 26.

    Amateurs in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs around the
    world. Some VK operators will be using the AX prefix to celebrate
    Australia day, as its wanted by many amateurs around the world.
    Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
    squares.

    Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN

    It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday that being 26 of
    January.

    wia.org.au/members/contests/australiaday/
    -----------

    CQ 160 METER CONTEST

    SSB February 21 - 2200Z February 23.

    (cq)
    ---------------------

    HARRY ANGEL MEMORIAL 80 Meter Sprint, Saturday May 3. (vk4uh)

    wia.org.au/members/contests/harryangel/
    -------------------------

    VK Shires Contest 7th - 8th June 2025

    wia.org.au/members/contests/wavks/

    -----------------------

    Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest - 19 JUL 2025

    The Trans-Tasman contest, held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL


    Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and Digital (RTTY
    OR PSK)


    wia.org.au/members/contests/transtasman/ -----------------------------------------------------------------
    DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.-------------------

    Nominations open soon for hams to be considered for the CQ DX
    Hall of Fame. This award program was once overseen by CQ magazine
    and is now going forward under new stewardship.

    The International DX Association will be taking over the management of
    the CQ DX Hall of Fame. Bob Schenck, N2OO, vice president of INDEXA,
    has announced that the nomination period opens on the 1st of January
    for inductees for 2025. Since 1967, hams whose names appear on the roll
    have done more than activate from challenging and remote locations.
    In many instances they have been organizers of the trips and skillful navigators of political and environmental challenges in those locales, promoting goodwill and avoiding controversy.

    The nomination period closes on March 1st.

    Names of potential inductees, along with supporting documents, can be
    sent to Bob.

    His email address is N2OO at comcast dot net
    (n2oo@comcast.net).
    The subject line of the email must include the words "CQ DX HALL OF FAME."

    (newsline2460)

    ----------

    The annual Russian New Year Radio Marathon will be on the air from today
    the 29th of December to the 8th of January with special callsigns
    R 2025 NY and UE 25 NY.
    QSL via RQ 7 L.

    (newsline 2460)

    -------------------

    Special callsign GB 200 LB from the 4th of January until the 31st of
    January.

    The LB in the callsign stands for Louis [LOO-EY] Braille.

    GB200LB will be operating to celebrate the bicentenary of the invention
    of the Braille Code for the vision impaired. The 4th of January is
    Louis Braille's birthday.

    Activity will be mainly on CW.

    QSL via M0OXO

    (rsgb)
    -------------------

    Joe, OZJ, will be using the callsign TO J from French Guiana until
    the 31st of December. TO 0 J will operate FT8, CW and SSB on
    80-6 metres.
    See QRZ.com for QSL information

    (newsline 2459)

    ---------------
    Y
    Polish amateurs have activations planned to celebrate Christmas and
    the New Year. Listen for HF CLAUS and SP CLAUS on the air now
    through January 6th. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

    (newsline 2459)
    ----------------
    Y
    Starting in January 2025, members of the British Railways Amateur Radio
    Society will be operating Special Event Station GB 0 LMR to celebrate
    200 years of the modern railway.

    A year-long celebration of how the railway has shaped Britain:
    its achievements, its future, its opportunities and its people.

    2025 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.
    Britain and the world changed forever.
    Railway 200 celebrates the past, present and future of rail.

    QSL station GB 0 LMR via the Bureau or direct by sending a
    Stamped Addressed Envelope to Mark, G1PIE.

    (qrz.com)

    -----------------------
    Y
    During 2025 the SARL will be on the air with special event callsign
    ZS 100 SARL, as well as the permanent callsigns ZS6SRL and ZS9HQ and
    possibly other special event callsigns.

    (sarl)

    -------
    Y
    Celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Israel Association
    of Radio Communication (formerly known as Israel Amateur Radio
    Club) will be running special event stations 4 X 8 NER and 4 Z 8 NER
    from 25 December to 2 January.

    QSL these 2 stations via LoTW, eQSL, or via 4Z5MU.

    (425dxnews)

    -----------------------
    Y
    VI 2025 AJ

    Australian Scout Jamboree 2025

    From the 5th to the 16th Jan 2025, yes about 2 weeks away, Scouts
    will be operating an onsite Radio Base from Maryborough QLD.

    2 HF stations on SSB and FT8 on multiple HF bands.

    Chris VK2CGH / VI 2025 AJ is on a QRZ page
    (FBook)

    -----------------------
    y
    ARCTIC

    Oleg, RD 1 A is on board Severny Polyus / North Pole and will be
    active when time permits as RI 42 SP as the ship travels through
    various parts of the Arctic.

    The vessel departed Murmansk on September 15 with a team of scientists
    aboard, and is heading towards the Novosibirsk islands. This is where
    the drifting polar station will begin its work as part of the
    North Pole-42 expedition. For many months, polar explorers will
    conduct research in the high latitudes of the Arctic Ocean,
    encompassing over fifty scientific programs.

    Ham station RD1A is primarily on CW & FT8 from October 5th for
    approximately one year.

    QSL RD1A via Club Log OQRS.

    (dx-world)

    ------------
    Y

    Our I.A.R.U. celebrates its centenary in 2025.

    Since its founding in Paris, France, IARU has worked tirelessly to
    promote innovation in amateur radio and to encourage the growth of
    the service in communities throughout the world.

    VI 100 IARU is a special event callsign transmitting from VK3 to help
    celebrate the IARU Centennial.

    qsl via MO 0 OXO

    (qrz.com)

    ----------
    Y
    Listen throughout the rest of the year for the special callsign
    9 A 1 RKZ marking the 100th anniversary of the Radioklub Zagreb
    which was founded the 24th of March 1924 in Croatia

    QSL via 9A1ADE.

    (ARNewsLine 2410)

    -------------
    Y
    AUSTRIA

    OE100RADIO [OSCAR-ECHO-ONE-HUNDRED-ROMEO-ALPHA-DELTA-INDIA-OSCAR] is
    active until the 31st of December celebrating the 100th anniversary
    of beginning of regular radio transmissions in Austria in 1924.
    The station has heard recently on the 40m band using CW.

    QSL via the Bureau.

    (gb2rs)

    ----------
    Y
    In the World of DX, be listening for members of the Zurich City
    Police Radio Amateur Club who have been operating as HB 2 SP
    the club is marking its 20th anniversary. NO Bureau QSL's but you can
    use Logbook Of The World, and HB20SP runs until months end,
    December 31.

    (sourced to ARNewsLine 2410)

    -------------------
    Y
    Special callsign HB 50 VC is active until 31 December celebrating the
    50th anniversary of the Swissair Amateur Radio Club, HB 9 VC.

    A growing trend these days is that QSL cards will not be provided
    but QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World.

    You can also download a certificate for working this special event
    station from the link we like in the text editions of
    WIA National News

    tinyurl.com/HB50VC-24.

    (rsgb)
    ------------------------------------------------------------*
    WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
    SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,
    PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.

    hema.org.uk/index.jsp
    minesontheair.com/about-mota
    parksontheair.com/
    sota.org.uk
    sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/
    facebook.com/SotaAustralia/
    wwffaustralia.com/

    Raisa R1BIG is taking her first leap into the exhilarating world of DXpeditionsand what a leap it is!

    Raisa we have mentioned MANY a time the past 18 months or so, that Russian YouTuber.

    Together with seasoned expedition leader Yuri N3QQ, shes gearing up for a
    rare activation of Cano Island, Costa Rica, operating under the call sign
    TI 1 RRC. This adventure, organized by the Russian Robinson Club, is set
    to combine Islands on the Air (IOTA) and Parks on the Air (POTA), making
    it a must-chase event for IOTA DXers and POTA hunters alike.

    The TI1RRC team consists of Raisa R1BIG, and 7 other members.

    The team plans to hit the airwaves from February 1925, operating across multiple bands and modes with three 1kW stations ep KILLOWATTS and a
    couple of 100W setups.

    Cano Island is a remote and rarely activated IOTA location (NA-191)
    Meanwhile, part of the team will also operate from the adjacent POTA park, ensuring every operator has a shot at logging them.

    Why should you care?

    Because this isn't just about logging a rare one; its about witnessing
    the journey of a new DXpeditioner and supporting a team that embodies
    ham radios adventurous spirit. Raisas enthusiasm promises to make this
    a story worth following.

    If youre lucky enough to land in Raisas log, you might just score a
    signed QSL card.

    youtube.com/watch?v=uo08QEywohY

    (qrz)

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
    www.morsecodeclassnet.com

    NZ Straight Key Night

    New Zealand Straight Key Night (Summer Edition) will be held
    Sunday 8 Jun e from 9pm to 10pm NZDT (0800 to 0900 UTC) on 80 metres.

    Polish and lubricate that old morse key and enjoy an evening of
    old-time radio fun.

    Straight Key Night is an informal event which honours the roots of
    amateur radio: Morse Code sent with a straight key (no bugs,
    sideswipers, keyers or keyboards).

    When.
    Winter SKN is the second Sunday in June, 8-9pm NZ time.
    Summer SKN is always the first Sunday in December, 9-10pm NZ time.

    SKN honours the original amateur radio mode in an easy-going style.
    Operators send signal report, name, location, type of key, type of
    transmitter and power output. Stations are limited to 100W output
    power.

    SKN is not a contest - but the operator who gets the most votes for the
    quality of their sending will win the Bruce Scahill Best Fist Award.
    This certificate honours Bruce ZL1BWG (SK), who was a dedicated
    supporter of SKN. Please email your nomination to ZL1NZ within one week following the event.

    (Neil ZL1NZ, SKN Manager)

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
    AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org

    OUT OF THIS WORLD

    SOUNDS LIKE .... MARS

    A couple of very short recordings to "spin" for you today, top of the
    pops Martian Style and no not "The Martian Hop" some Old Timers will
    recall from the 1963 top 4o group The Ran-Dells but actuality from the
    Martian Rover Perseverance.

    Mars atmosphere is quite thin, also on account of the planet having
    lost its magnetosphere a long time ago, exposing the atmosphere to the
    solar winds as they rip and tear away at it. With an atmospheric
    density of at most 1,150 Pa its akin to being on Earth at an altitude
    of 35 km, or well above the average commercial jetliners cruising
    altitude of below 12 km. Even so, sounds are audible, albeit attenuated courtesy of the 96% CO2 content of the Martian atmosphere. This makes everything sound muted and quite different from what we are used to on
    Earth.

    sfx
    That recording was made by the SuperCam instrument on NASAs
    Perseverance Mars rover February 21, just about 18 hours after landing
    on the missions first sol or Martian day. The rovers mast, holding
    the microphone, was still stowed on Perseverances deck, and so the
    sound was muffled, a little like the sound one hears listening to a
    seashell or having a hand cupped over the ear. BUT a little wind
    can be heard.

    Perseverance also captured the noise of the Ingenuity helicopter as it
    flew near the rover at a distance of 80 meters, all of which provided researchers with invaluable data on how sound propagates on Mars.

    sfx

    That recording was the very first time, a spacecraft on another planet
    recorded the sounds of a separate spacecraft.

    NASAs Perseverance Mars rover used its SuperCam microphone to listen
    to the Ingenuity helicopter on April 30, 2021 as it flew on Mars for
    the fourth time.

    Even during flight when the helicopters blades are spinning at 2,537
    rpm, the sound is greatly muffled by the thin Martian atmosphere. It is
    further obscured by Martian wind gusts but listening closely you can
    hear the helicopters hum faintly above the sound of those winds.

    The USC Rocket Propulsion Lab (USCRPL) at the University of Southern
    California has shattered the international altitude record for
    amateur rocketry with their Aftershock II rocket, reaching an
    unprecedented 470,000 feet.

    This achievement surpasses the previous 20-year record of 380,000 feet
    and establishes Aftershock II as the first civilian-built rocket to
    achieve this altitude. Equipped with the most powerful solid-propellant
    motor ever fired by students and enhanced thermal protection systems,
    the rocket endured hypersonic speeds with innovative features like titanium-coated fins and a custom paint system.

    (ANS)

    NOW THAT'S A SPACESHIP

    The first Block 2 version of the giant SpaceX Starship, Ship 33, recently rolled out for testing and completed its first static fire test.

    It will be stacked on Booster 14 before it is targeted to complete the
    first flight of the Block 2 reusable upper stage in January this coming
    year. This upgraded Ship adds catch hardware and an additional ring,
    making it 1.8 m taller and now totaling 408 feet when eventually stacked
    on top of Booster 14. This added height will allow it to pack 300 ton
    more propellant. (ANS)

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA
    iota-world.org/

    NA-101

    The J75K team is active in Dominica until the 4th of January.

    The IOTA reference is NA-101.

    They will be operating on the 160 to 6m bands using SSB, CW and FT8.
    QSL via Logbook of the World or directly to IV 3 JVJ.

    (rsgb)
    IOTA SA - 036 -TH HAPPIEST ISLAND

    Mat activate P 40 AA from Aruba Island, (known to the locals as 'The
    Happiest Island) IOTA SA - 036, 18 - 28 January.

    P40AA will operate on HF Bands, CW, SSB, FT8, including activity in CQ WW
    160m CW Contest January 24 - 26 where he will operate in the
    Single Operator Assisted Category.

    QSL P40AA via ClubLog OQRS.

    Aruba is the happiest island In the southern Caribbean Sea, not far from
    the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela. This self-governing state is part
    of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a a local governor is chosen from Amsterdam and rules the country

    (dx-news)

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
    (Youngsters On The Air)
    WIA committee:- Steve VK6SJ, Alec VK2MV and Pete VK2LP. ham-yota.com/category/yota-region-3/
    facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
    youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA

    The internet news site MSN recently published a feature on the history of amateur radio and astronauts in orbit beginning with Owen Garriott, W5LFL,
    in 1983 and continuing to the present ARISS program.

    How Amateur Radio Is Connecting Astronauts In Space With Kids On Earth
    was written by Leonard David.

    See it on
    bit.ly/4gnfE3y

    (ANS)

    Owen Garriott W5LFL has sparked kids imagination around the globe,
    including one McKenzie Denton KO4GLN a name we should remember in
    both ham radio and leadership.

    A pre-med junior at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia,
    McKenzie has already achieved what most of us only aspire to
    in a lifetime. Licensed during the pandemic, she has risen quickly to
    earn her Extra Class license, rejuvenate her universitys amateur radio
    club, and take on roles like Virginia Section Youth Coordinator for the
    ARRLall while excelling as a student and aspiring physician.

    Her unique journey into ham radio was sparked by a fascination with
    astronaut Owen Garriotts historic space contacts. She says the hobby
    became a cornerstone of her development, offering her friendships,
    mentorship, and even opportunities to shadow in an emergency roomcritical
    for her career path in medicine.

    McKenzies leadership extends beyond ham radio.

    She draws connections between the hobby and broader fields, from emergency preparedness to STEM education, while advocating for integrating amateur
    radio into schools and modern technology.

    She says in a call to action "let's align the hobby with emerging
    frontiers like quantum computing and space exploration, ensuring ham radio remains relevant and transformative for generations to come."

    tinyurl.com/2re3svnn

    WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VIDEO.
    ATV SSTV and other forms such as YouTube.

    Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

    tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
    THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
    Holiday SSTV Experiment from the International Space Station

    ARISS is conducting an SSTV experiment from the International Space
    Station, it began on Christmas Day and is running through January 5th.

    Officially titled Expedition 72 - ARISS Series 23 SSTV Experiment,
    interested viewers can receive SSTV images in PD120 mode from the ISS
    on 145.800 MHz. There are 12 different images in the series coming from callsign RS 0 ISS.

    (ard)

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    IT'S A DATE

    Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section

    Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found
    on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.

    ----------------------------

    2025

    VK7 - REAST CAR BOOT SALE January 19 @ 11 am (vk7news)
    VK6 - PARGFEST PEEL AMATEUR RADIO GROUP held February 15 9AM at
    Mandurah Bowling Club 89 Allnutt Street ( parg.org.au/ )
    VK - WIA AGM May 3 - 4. Hosted by Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics
    Club (vk3gtv)

    VK - Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association 50th anniversary
    Glen Waverly July 26 president@alara.org (vk2ayl)

    VK4 - GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY 2025 HAMFEST NOV 9 (vk4dmh)
    Country Paradise Parklands 231 Beaudesert Nerang Road.
    Reception Reports

    WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a
    welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs
    straight after the Local News. Local news follows National
    news in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would
    email their reception reports and location to
    callbacks@wia.org.au
    Submitting news items

    If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion
    in the VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to nationalnews@wia.org.au and don't JUST send url's links or
    posters, but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.

    To submit audio, email nationalnews@wia.org.au
    and send BOTH the audio and the text

    We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 mts in
    length as we only have a half hour.

    Remember the sooner you submit material the more the
    likelihood of it being broadcast in the very next edition of
    WIA National News.

    Each recorded item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple
    of mentions, please submit different slants to keep your
    event 'fresh' and always if the news room is to read your
    item --- write it in the 3rd person. (First if YOU are
    reading your own item). If you are mentioning your own name / call
    in the story, say something like "and myself, Pat, vk11abc"

    Promote your local rebroadcast; details on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/

    A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't
    plug DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the
    WIA will put your supporters 'goods' in this text edition
    "no worries."

    We will not give blatant 'plugs' to raffles, be it raffles
    at the event or "on-line".

    ------------------------------------------------------------*

    Oh... and to contact us with your news because
    If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
    Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
    National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!

    WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on
    wiaq.org.au

    BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!! thanks to Tony VK7AX
    www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/

    wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
    to the original text version and original audio on wia site) ------------------------------------------------------------*

    WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.

    TWITTER twitter.com/VK1WIA

    Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed
    prior to the actual broadcast date, e-mail
    nationalnews@wia.org.au

    Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers
    you may lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who
    knows, you might even get a "cheerio call".

    Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who
    utilize their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly
    broadcast.
    Who and where are they?
    wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
    Promote your local rebroadcast; details on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
    The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of
    interest to WIA affiliated clubs and active amateurs residing
    in Australia and the globe.

    We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of

    [continued in next message]

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