Listen Now

QNEWS - FEBRUARY 05 2023 - VK4 ON AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------* THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE Available in Audio RIGHT NOW http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3 Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* CLUBBING ---------------------------------------------------------------------* CAIRNS http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/CairnsAmateurRadioClubInc/ AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST FROM VK4BOB Hi, I’m Bob VK4BOB in Cairns. Three members of the Cairns Amateur Radio Club, Steve VK4SJB, Mark VK4JU and I, operated the club’s contest station VK4HM for the Australia Day Contest. While we were setting up a field station on The Esplanade in Cairns, a promo SMS I sent earlier to the local ABC Radio station was read out by the breakfast announcer. Then we got a surprise visit from the show’s producer with his recorder, and the following morning an interview of about 8 minutes was broadcast during the popular breakfast program. This was broadcast by ABC Local Radio all over Cape York and Far North Queensland. Mark VK4JU and I built half-wave dipoles for the ten metre band. The morning DX with North America was problematic apparently due to a solar flare, but later in the early evening the three of us had great fun working DX into Europe. We were visited on site by some of our members and from the Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club, plus the public. Current projects are to get our two metre repeater back on air after vandalism took it out, and building even better portable antennas for ten metres. We plan to operate from the same place for the John Moyle Memorial contest in March. Keep an ear out for us! This is Bob, VK4BOB, signing off for the Cairns Amateur Radio Club. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. This past week has been one of paradox for the weather with the Cape being covered in tropical rain and storms, the east coast experiencing high humidity and a minor heat wave and the south east of the continent getting the cold wintery blasts that promise snow falls in summer. When I look at the rain radar images, I am reminded of how much electrical noise is generated by these storms and how amateurs and other radio users train the brain to filter out the static crashes. Pulling the weak signal from the air has been a skill that users of HF radio have been refining regardless how well the noise blankers and filters deal with man made and Nature’s own symphony. Hopefully the pundits are going to be correct in that the weather should ease as this weekend passes and hopefully that will also mean that short wave conditions will remain favourable with the good propagation that has been happening. Many an old hand is reading the straws in the wind and surmising that we have another couple of years of good conditions on HF during this sunspot cycle. As we have seen the maturing of digital technology over the past 3 decades or so to where it is working quietly for use in so many aspects of our lives, we are seeing the coding algorithms develop from the hopeful to the purposeful with chatGPT creating interest. If we think back to where some of the things we used years back have become and then try and guess where current developments will take us, it is a really fascinating future that we can expect. We have seen the packet radio go from using discrete pieces of gear to being integrated into handhelds with monitoring available via the Internet. What will it be when artificial intelligence can absorb the operating parameters including space weather and effectively maximise radio operations. The old timers, or historical purists, felt that packet radio using internet linking was not true radio but many of the networks that the world depends upon, apart from amateur radio, use it as standard. We have the critics that rail against some of the digital modes as being your computer talking to my computer and not true ham radio. I suspect that in years to come there will be protocols developed which integrate AI and what will be the objections then? Hopefully, as the new school year has started and I am reminded by the multitude of adds that come with my internet feed, that the tertiary sector is canvassing for business. Fortunately I am also seeing that courses for amateur radio are kicking off for this year also. Let us hope that the enthusiasm for this great STEM activity brings many successful candidates into our ranks. Before I go, I must say what a great thing it was to have those club stories go to air last week. This is one way to encourage the listeners who don’t have a licence, to accept things happen in the wonderful world of amateur radio. 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 - SUNSHINE COAST CAR BOOT SALE FEBRUARY 12 This includes a deceased estate sale and it happens at the club house, 85 Godfreys Rd Pacific Paradise, QLD. 10 AM. (vk4an) VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE (vk4tfn) St. Michael's College, Caboolture. VK4 - SUNFEST - NOVEMBER 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 .‘

QNEWS - JANUARY 29 2023 - VK4 ON AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?  IPSWICH, REDCLIFFE AND SUNSHINE COAST CLUBS DID - Ta Kindly ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE  Available in Audio RIGHT NOW  http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3  Also, search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast.                               CLUBBING ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  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  This is Allan VK4HIT with news from Ipswich and District Radio Club.  The new year is well and truly underway with the club’s first business meeting held on January 23.  Seventeen members attended the clubhouse with a further five on Zoom.  Robert VK4KHW highlighted this year’s WICEN events with the first being the Pinnacles Classic on April 2. This will be followed by the Brisbane Trail Marathon on April 30, Guzzler Ultra Marathon on July 22 and 23, Lake Manchester Trail on August 20 and Mt Glorious Trail on November 12.  Ipswich will join Brisbane WICEN for the Cooyar Horse Ride on March 18 and 19.  Additional volunteers are always needed and welcome to help bolster numbers at checkpoints.  Contact ipswichwicen@gmail.com if you can help at any of these events throughout the year.  In other news:  Trish Kelly VK4TMK became the club’s newest member this month. Welcome to the club Trish.  Greg VK4GJW advised members the next Foundation course started Jan 24 with four candidates enrolled.  Other regular activities have either resumed or will be recommencing  Sister club Zoom meetings with Maple Ridge in Canada started again on Jan 26  Next digital interest group meeting Feb 6  Next social meeting Feb 13  And next business meeting is Feb 27  Check the club’s website for locations and times.  And finally, the recent expansion of the Ipswich repeater network to northern Somerset and Scenic Rim areas is offering the opportunity for amateurs in these more remote locations to join in the daily morning net at 8 am with long-time coordinator Ron VK4RG and the regular stations who call in. They are always happy to welcome you on the morning net.  So, if you live in these areas check out VK4RPR on 439.850 at Gregors Creek in north Somerset  VK4RBO 438.475 on Green Hill Boonah.  For offsets check out ACMA’s online database.  Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.  Redcliffe and Districts radio club. http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/RedcliffeAndDistrictRadioClub/ REDFEST 2023 Saturday 1st April 2023. No, It's not a joke we're fair dinkum. Greetings from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC. Right here in South East Queensland! Robert Thomson VK4TFN here. The Redcliffe Club will hold our HamFest on: Saturday the 1st April 2023 at 9:00am at St. Michael's College, Caboolture. Please mark the date in the calendar on your mobile phone. BREAKFAST is served from 8:00 am. REDFEST opens at 9:00am. $5 Admission. Vendors: Order your tables in March. $10.00 per table. Vendors are admitted free. For Table Bookings Email: redfest@redclifferadioclub.org.au Go to: www.redclifferadioclub.org.au We're also on Facebook. It'll be a good day out. We look forward to seeing you. Thank you and 73's from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC.  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 Gday, this is Mark, VK4AN, President of the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club with news on our upcoming events for 2023. First, up the Club will be holding a deceased estate and car boot sale Sunday, February  12 at the clubhouse, 85 Godfreys  Rd Pacific Paradise, QLD. Gates open at 10 AM  with free entry to both buyers and sellers. With the passing of three long-term experienced members last year, the club has received from their estates a large amount of quality equipment that will be up for sale on the day. Pop in for a cuppa, take a look at what’s on offer or even just enjoy the club facilities while catching up with folk you may not have seen for a while. Our major event for 2023 is SunFest, to be held on Saturday, September the 9th at the Mountain Creek State School’s massive air-conditioned auditorium is just off the Sunshine Motor Way. This is the new home for SunFest as of last year, the venue received very positive feedback from last year’s attendees. The event returns to its normal timing, with plenty of space in the tall venue and loads of free parking. With the date and venue locked in the club's committee can start planning for a comprehensive program of activities, exams and maybe even the odd presentation, so mark your calendar, Saturday, September 9. Finally don’t forget our social get-togethers held every Wednesday from 9 am and our constructor nights Thursdays from around 7 pm, more information can be found on the club's website, VK4WIS.ORG . ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. In my part of the world, Australia Day was greeted with a forecast of temperatures in the mid ’30s. What a way to encourage people to use the amateur bands from the comfort of shady and cool locations with the special prefix of AX, alpha-x ray, to encourage our distant colleagues to greet us. Somehow the hoopla that has marked the public holiday didn’t seem quite as evident this year with less of the face paint and blue-flagged adornments to be seen. Then that may have just been in my area. One of the accessories that have joined the typical amateur shack over the years has been the computer. It seems to have a ubiquitous function for checking reception, following propagation maps and logging contacts as well as generating digital signals and so on. For some time I have had one of those architectural-styled desktop computers needing attention. A blackout caused the corruption of files some time back and I haven’t been able to access the machine since. The opportunity came to be able to substitute it with a working model and thus the research began. Here was the classic success of the internet, making available the knowledge of how best to deploy this unit which is regarded as old for a silicon-based machine. Their consistent advice was to replace the internal hard drive with a new solid-state drive. Then I happened on more advice that as all the USB ports were usb3 standard, no need to perform surgery but attach an SSD externally and performance will still be at least 5 times what it was originally. So I got in the necessary bits and set about setting the operating system back to factory defaults. Well, I’m not all that literate in computer geek and managed to wipe the system before creating a boot drive. This was becoming a saga of reading and watching videos and printing the instructions that I thought I needed. As the pile of paper grew and the USB stick remained defiantly vacant when using another computer of the same brand, a chance link appeared that solved the issue, well almost. These computers are able to be restored over the internet but with no OS there was no way to connect to the WiFi. A search began and a short Ethernet cable was found which duly linked the router to the computer and the process of upgrading began. It went well until another piece of advice from a few videos penetrated the grey matter. Clearing the nonvolatile RAM seemed to work but duh!!! it also cleared the memory of the password necessary to access the system. Still, it gave me the chance to practice recovering the system via the internet, again. This time I left alone and after tweaking settings I can say I have a computer that runs as well as the laptop that is my daily driver but with a nicer and larger display. I don’t know whether the system is now 5 times as fast as it was but it certainly performs nicely for my needs. The moral I take from this is that, if you don’t have the instructions, do the best checking you can when you commission secondhand gear and be prepared to correct errors in the instructions you find on the internet. 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 - SUNSHINE COAST CAR BOOT SALE FEBRUARY 12 This includes a deceased estate sale and it happens at the clubhouse, 85 Godfreys  Rd Pacific Paradise, QLD.       10 AM.                                                 (vk4an)  VK4 - REDCLIFFE - REDFEST APRIL ONE                         (vk4tfn)        St. Michael's College, Caboolture.  VK4 - SUNFEST - NOVEMBER 9                                  (vk4an)  At Mountain Creek State School’s massive air-conditioned auditorium, just off the Sunshine Motor Way. Mountain Creek is tucked into 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 and send audio to http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcas

QNEWS - JANUARY 22 2023 - VK4 ON AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  DID YOUR CLUB TELL ANYONE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO THIS WEEK?  TOWNSVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (TARC) DID. ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE  Available in Audio RIGHT NOW  http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3  Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------*                               CLUBBING  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  TARC Club  theTARCinc has a meeting recess from the December Social Meeting until the Management Meeting on Tuesday 7th February.  There will be other activities happening though, including the January Ann Renton Memorial Ladies Net, the Sunday Morning WIANews 2m Net, the Sunday evening North Queensland Net on 3605.4kHz and 2m, the Tech on the Air Net on the last Tuesday of the month plus the Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp amongst other things keep your eyes glued to this dispatch and your ear glued to the  news transmissions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. Well that was good to hear from the Townsville Amateur Radio Club and Gavin, VK4ZZ. Now, to all the clubs and particularly those that seem to rely on Gavin to get their happenings and news out to the folk in the North, how about you ALSO send and record your activities for QNEWS? This is a standing invitation to get the news out. Can this be your special activity for 2023? Well it has been a terrific week but hardly one that many along the coast and especially Mackay would want repeated. The rainfall has been beyond most people’s imagining and the disruptions to life in the north of the state has been quite severe with so many items not reaching the shelves of the grocery stores and supermarkets. The irony is that, in my area, an upgraded and now flood proof section of the Bruce Highway has been officially opened during the last week as we received the tail end showers from the monsoon system which has caused the damage, inland and to the north. I wonder how many people are geared up to enjoy the Australia Day contest, an event that is relatively new on the Australian amateur calendar? All being equal and if the gods of weather favour us, the conditions will remain good for all participants. For clubs it isn’t too late to organise some activities to coincide with the holiday and the contest and for some clubs it will be the opportunity for a good social get-together to start the year off. For the parents, it has been a flurry of activity making sure that everything is ready for the start of the school year. Is that the sound of normality I hear settling over the world again? One change that happened during the last week was the reduction in the health traffic light status, amber has gone to green. After claiming the 4th wave of the COVID pandemic has now receded and an estimated 80% of Queenslanders have already been infected by the virus, the Chief Medical Officer conceded that no one knows what the continuing progress of the changing virus will bring. Now I only raise the matter as when I see photos of club events, I am reminded of the high membership of elderly people. We oldies are classed as being in a vulnerable group and so it remains right that when we organise meetings and events, we should ensure safety for our club members. BBQ’s are a good thing as fresh air is the most healthy place to inhabit and properly ventilated meeting rooms are next best. From what I am seeing, Old Sol continues to ring the changes in the space weather with large flares causing radio blackouts and sun spots appearing and keeping propagation a combination of good, bad and amazing. Here’s hoping Australia Day is wide open for us.  And remember all you clubs north, south and over the face of Queensland we are waiting your reports here on QNEWS. 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 and so far this year it appears no activity is planned (or has been sent in to publicise)  TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-  Send SCRIPT with AUDIO to qnews@wia.org.au  QNEWS Tips to get MORE out of your weekly newscast on VK4WIA 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 .‘

QNEWS - JANUARY 15 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  http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3  Also, search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* VK4 SILENT KEYS  @  WIA YEAR COMMENCING MAY 2022 SK CALL    SK NAME            DATE                ADVISED BY VK4MBH     Keith Allison       03/06/2022          (vk4vp) VK4AVF     Des Flor            13/06/2022          (vk4hit) VK4DV      Merv Deakin         18/06               (vk4cnq - vk4zz) VK4SO      Les Parker          21/06               (vk4atc) VK4AJL     George Glendinning  22/06               (vk4zz) VK4NW      Warwick Marshallsea 14/07               (vk4vp) VK4ET/5WC  Tony Van Lysdonk    16/07               (vk4vp) VK4SF      Jack Ford           18/07               vk4hit) VK4AVS     Jim Storch          22/07               (vk4zz) VK4AGS     Geoff Strom         23/08               (vk4zz) VK4HGT     George Turner       02/09               (vk4gcr) VK4DK      Stanley 'Dave' West 08/09               (vk4zz) VK4HAJ     Merrell Coleman   Sept or Oct?          (vk4acc) VK4YT      Nick Watling        22/10               (vk4zz) VK4HS      Howard Stephenson   06/01/23            (vk4acc) Howard Stephenson VK4HS has become a Silent Key, not only to the Ham Radio world but to his wife, 4 kids and 8 grandkids. This was on January Six 2023 at Yeppoon  Howard VK4HS had been a member of RADAR CLUB ROCKHAMPTON for many years.  He had an interesting career working around the world for the World Health Organisation. He lived in many countries and used Amateur Radio to keep in contact with the rest of the world before he settled in a beaut spot in Yeppoon.  Many spoke to him on air. However newcomers did not meet him at meetings as he was not able to drive at night.  Howard Stephenson's funeral service was Friday 13th 4 pm in Rockhampton ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. When we take the time to reflect on our history, it is quite amazing the progress that we have experienced during the last hundred years or so. We have seen the rail network expand and contract around the country. Years of work altering the terrain to allow the steel horses to negotiate the country have been extended and a lot have been closed as people used the independence of the motor vehicle instead. The telegraph and telephone followed, in part a similar trajectory of development to the railways and we are seeing the transfer of technology from wires to glass fibres. I remember, as a child, going to houses that had no electricity and people were fortunate if they sported some form of home lighting plant. These days there aren’t many places where reticulated electricity isn’t available and we are living through the transition from centralised generation to local and home-sited plants which produce electricity and also store it for later use. Imagine if we still had telephones with rotary handles to call the exchange operator and we were using a device which was permanently tethered. As we come towards the remembrance day that we call Australia Day, it is more than just some pomp and ceremony, more than some party events and more than we radio amateurs changing our callsign prefix. Australia Day, regardless of the trappings of colonialism marks the time when the settlers of this land brought their individual colonies into unity as States in our Commonwealth. Sadly the times were not as enlightened as we feel that we are and restrictions and ignorance of facts meant the early years were not the inclusive country in which we now live.  In the time that our federated country has existed, we have seen music storage go from sheet music through disks and CDs to streaming services. The nostalgia has brought a renaissance in vinyl, and CD and analogue enthusiasts are even restoring reel-to-reel machines. Information still comes on printed paper but typically is focused on digital storage. I am thankful that those silly small data CDs are no longer coming and manufacturers are reverting to printed user manuals. There is so much in our history that directly touches the recreation we pursue and it is interesting to think about what used to be and what we have today. Are the services on which we depend more reliable than what they have replaced and how can day-to-day items be improved to give a greater economy, for instance, by lasting longer in this disposable world. In the time that most of us will have lived, we have seen the demise of the consumer electronics service industry and the loss of skilled people because the trash and recycling are more convenient and cheaper than fixing things. These are things that I feel we should ponder as January 26th approaches and when we need to dispose of the empty tinnies and bottles on the day after, do we just bin them or recycle them to live another day? A bit of reflection is sometimes good for the soul. 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  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 .‘

QNEWS - JANUARY 08 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 http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3 Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. The sounds of summer are upon us with chirps and cracks and croaks from insects, lizards and amphibians providing a chorus each night and some days, where I live. On the other hand, those of us who enjoy shortwave listening and operating are having to tolerate or move higher in the bands to escape the noise of summer storms illuminating the display and distorting the signals on the lower bands. In it’s own way, radio brings changes to our patterns of operating to remind us of different features of seasons and space weather. We spend our enjoyment of amateur radio in familiarising ourselves with the world around that the average user of electronics may never recognise. The tropical monsoon is deluging large parts of the state in the north and the weather patterns have kept reminding many of us that we have been experiencing a la Nina event and more rainfall is prone to run off or increase the depth of the flooding in areas that are looking to recover and return farming land to useful production. At the other end of society, events in the wider world are starting to impact production of items from pharmaceuticals to radios with Yaesu announcing the cessation of production of two models of transceivers. Materials necessary for the self administration of some pharmaceuticals are not available and the ubiquitous silicon chips have been depleted to the stage of extinction with manufacturers announcing the end of production of some older variants. With disruption of supply of fuels and chemicals, this year may bring some interesting changes to our life styles as manufacturers attempt to keep plants operating and stocks of component items flowing though the production cycle. Of course, the sunspot cycle, our eleven year tease, manages to sustain the thrill of shortwave DX with contacts being made on digital and analogue modes. From what I can see, 10m and 6m have been opening well and many reports have been made of more numerous use of the WARC bands also. The VHF and UHF bands usually provide some surprising openings around this time of year and there appears to be interest in working SSB on two on a more regular basis. How about some of you experimenters giving us a heads up audio report on QNews? Most of us would be aware of the announcement during the past week, that the ACMA has approved an increase of 5% to the fees charged by the Australian Maritime College. It has been pointed out that this is below the annual inflation rate of just over 6%. This means that getting items done by AMC under the Deed with ACMA will draw more of our precious play money out of circulation, this year. And on that mildly sobering note I will wish everyone a Happy New Year, once more and sign with the usual, 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 Apparently no VK4 activity? Well no stories received as yet in text and audio. 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 .‘

QNEWS - JANUARY 01 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  http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3  Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. Happy Birthday to the Commonwealth of Australia which was born on this day in 1901.We have a holiday for the New Year and the birthday party in 3 and a bit weeks’ time. I trust we all enjoy the summer and the holidays and manage to squeeze in some operating and maybe contesting as well. Just before the Christmas break, the WIA lodged its response to the Class Licence Discussion Paper with the ACMA. With lots of detail and questions as to the protection our service can expect under the proposals, the reply will be eagerly awaited by the amateur community. As others have pointed out the Citizens Band Service has been operating for many years with effectively no regulation under a class licence. This came home to me during the past week when the continuing breakthrough I was hearing on the UHF road channel, 40, turned out to be some very young children playing with what I can take were low powered hand helds. Fortunately, at the time, there were only a couple of users who were strong enough to over-ride the interference thanks to the FM capture. In other circumstances this misuse of the channel could have had more serious consequences. We all probably saw that some of the flood effected areas south of Brisbane have set up safety networks using UHF CB and in the TV story that I saw, people were using handheld radios with all the limitations that they carry. It is a shame that these items can be purchased as stocking fillers and allowed to be used as toys by unskilled children. Like it used to be thought proper to teach children their street address and telephone number, it now seems important that they be taught the basics of good radio procedures. The fact that the ACMA hides behind the reasoning that they don’t have the resources to protect spectrum just perpetuates the misuse. Like lack of policing dangerous driving allows the unwary to place themselves and others in danger, the failure to regulate the airwaves has the potential to cause loss of life also. If funding is the issue, then this is an issue for our Federal politicians to address. As spectrum users and electors it is our right to take the matter to them. So whatever the festivities we have to ring in the New Year, isn’t it amazing how much worth we place on an event that celebrates the arbitrary selection of a day on which to commence the calender which eventually gave us the variant that we use today. It is one great historical lottery that makes January 1 the rollover day of the calendar. Still it won’t lessen the celebrations and beach rituals for the Aussie masses or even take anything from the Scots and Hogmanay. Whatever we all enjoy today, let it be safe so that we can enjoy it again in 12 months time. Before I leave, a big shout out to the publicity folk in clubs:- We are looking forward to including your story in QNews throughout 2023. 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  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 .‘

QNEWS - DECEMBER 25 - 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 http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3 Also search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* VK4 SILENT KEYS @ WIA YEAR COMMENCING MAY 2022 SK CALL SK NAME DATE ADVISED BY VK4MBH Keith Allison 03/06/2022 (vk4vp) VK4AVF Des Flor 13/06/2022 (vk4hit) VK4DV Merv Deakin 18/06 (vk4cnq - vk4zz) VK4SO Les Parker 21/06 (vk4atc) VK4AJL George Glendinning 22/06 (vk4zz) VK4NW Warwick Marshallsea 14/07 (vk4vp) VK4ET/5WC Tony Van Lysdonk 16/07 (vk4vp) VK4SF Jack Ford 18/07 vk4hit) VK4AVS Jim Storch 22/07 (vk4zz) VK4AGS Geoff Strom 23/08 (vk4zz) VK4HGT George Turner 02/09 (vk4gcr) VK4DK Stanley 'Dave' West 08/09 (vk4zz) VK4HAJ Merrell Coleman Sept or Oct? (vk4acc) VK4YT Nick Watling 22/10 (vk4zz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. I trust that all our wishes for this Christmas are coming true and the feelings of happiness and togetherness that we seek are around us all. As behoves the occasion, Merry Christmas from the QNews team. After clearing the wrapping paper and spreading out the nibbles and drinks, the traditions of the season will fill the space for so many of us. For many this year will be filled with memories of those people who are no longer with us and for a number they will spend today alone, not in the bosom of a supporting family or friendship group. It is important for us to remember the basis of the holiday we are celebrating and the traditions of caring and sharing that the Christmas message carries. It is something that has transmuted into a largely secular happening with less people attending the church services and more taking significance from the togetherness and enjoyment of usually beautiful weather and the summer sun. For me, acknowledging the religious message gives a poignancy which the adopted trappings of trees and Saint Nicholas are meant to enhance. The rush to spend and surround the gatherings with paper and tinsel as gifts are unwrapped is just a commercial manifestation of our society and not the be all and end all of as a time to think about those we care about and the world in which we live. Christmas marks the beginnings of valiant sporting events with cricket and sailing high on the list and backyards and beaches ringing to the efforts of the young and not so young with everything from shuttlecocks to plastic bats. In many towns and cities, special Christmas meals are given to people who aren’t well off enough to go to more up market venues or have the joy of family and friends amongst which to dine. For some the deep and abiding pangs of loneliness will reside in their hearts as they spend this time alone. It really is the right time for us to reach out and ask the question, “R U OK?” with sincerity and hopefulness that we can make a difference for another person. So as we move to enjoy the cold cuts of meat and the Christmas pudding, I would hope that we can extend the feelings of the Season throughout the coming year and make the sharing and friendship that we seek in amateur radio part of our lives for 2023. If you are listening and you feel the need, remember that there is someone to share your feelings with on Lifeline on telephone 13 11 14. The number again is 13 11 14. I’m Geoff Emery wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* 2023 Social Scene Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section 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 .‘

QNEWS - DECEMBER 18 - VK4 ON AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------*                               CLUBBING ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  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  This is Allan VK4HIT with news from Ipswich and District Radio Club.  The club held its final get together of the year with a combined social and business meeting on Monday December 12.  Wicen coordinator Robert VK4KHW reported the recent Mount Glorious Trail and Pinnacles events went well and more broadly thanked members for support of all Wicen events during 2022.  Five events are booked in for next year –  Pinnacles Classic April 2  Brisbane Trail Marathon April 30  Guzzler Ultra Marathon July 23 and 24  Lake Manchester Trail August 20  Mount Glorious Trail November 12  A joint event with Brisbane Wicen is planned for March 18 and 19 and that is the Cooyar Horse Ride.  If you can help at any of these events in 2023 please contact ipswichwicen@gmail.com  Glen VK4HMI reminds members that contact with Ipswich’s sister club in Canada will recommence late January/early February with Zoom details available from Glen.  Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. This is QNEWS. News? What do we mean by news and how does it effect us all? When we look at the meaning of the word, “news” it tells us that we have something which is novel to us. It may mean it happened within hours for the daily services or it could be quite delayed if it is something published quarterly, for instance. When we think back to the time of the sailing ships, newspapers made a circuitous journey of some months to arrive at destinations where settlers passed the papers around after reading. What I am seeing is that news is something which is relative to our circumstances. Similarly news may not always be retrospective but can be the announcement of future events in order that people can make provision to pay attention to a coming event when it arrives. Just as there has been a macabre fascination with the death notices on the rear pages of the daily press, news can be anything that is important to the reader, listener or viewer. The strip cartoon features or the form guides can be as important to some followers as the banner headline of the front page. Now having set up what I think we accept as news, let me look at what it means to us radio amateurs. The internet provides many facilities to improve our hobby from space weather projections to clusters showing stations heard. We also get the more mundane but no less important material from our clubs and regulators on web sites and social media and between podcasts and video there is such a plethora of material that we can immerse ourselves in entertainment and educational material without ever turning on a rig. Still for the great unknown followers who wish to engage with us as interested students of our crafts there is one medium that has an immediacy that no other has. That is the collection of items that compose the news as a compilation, as a paper a broadcast or a video stream. Now here we are close to the Christmas holiday period and the slogan rings in our ears, “’tis the Season for giving”. This can be so much more that a pitch to lighten our pockets of superfluous money, it can also be the spirit of bringing the news to more people. Just think, if you are aware of a worthwhile project that is being developed, a club supporting and activity by providing funds or equipment, an amateur who has a particular bent towards a part of the hobby; these are all matters we can describe as news. Each week, the news is compiled and broadcast and we so often hear that such and such has happened or so and so has achieved this award but we don’t get it on the news. Now I accept that we have demands on time and resources but most of us have a pocket recorder, in the shape of our phone. The majority of us have 24/7 internet access and we all have the opportunity to make this weekly news so much more by giving us your contributions. I hope you and yours have the run up to Christmas that we all deserve. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?  ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  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 .‘

QNEWS - DECEMBER 11 - 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  http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3  Also, search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. Well, it must be near the time of goodwill to all men as the household has received its yearly card from the local politician with Christmas wishes and a fridge magnet calendar. I am ever so grateful for these reminders as it would be so easy to overlook the admonitions to spend, spend and spend more money with the TV news seeking to set a goal for us to collectively reach. Well I don’t know about you but I do know one household that will be enjoying a simple celebration and looking forward to the visit of family. The weather gurus have seemed to get the forecasts right lately and the temperature has hit levels which can be quite uncomfortable when combined with higher-than-normal humidity. The outside is quite unrelenting in establishing a high level of discomfort and I have seen a couple of incidences of sunburn which have convinced me to remain in long sleeves and pants. The health warnings are quite clear and for this collective of people, we need to ensure that proper precautions are taken to avoid not only sunstroke and sunburn but also dehydration. Although the caution is quite pertinent to our more senior, it applies to the very young equally. There is the temptation to flaunt our ability to endure in spite of what nature dictates and with a large amount of the State under heatwave warnings in the last week and resumption of the hot weather in the coming week, it is ever so important, whether we are enjoying holidays away or doing our usual things from home that we take the warnings seriously. I can identify with people being frustrated because I have mentioned before that I have a list of things to be done and most of them are jobs in the backyard. Maybe it will be kind to me and I can get on with some that are niggling at my conscience for lack of action if the weather stays good. During the week, I had the good fortune to meet up with another amateur in the local area. I was following up on an item I saw advertised and which will improve the station when it is installed. It was great to sit in the shade with a nice breeze coming from across the bay and have a good old-fashioned eyeball rag chew. We soon found we had similar experiences and we both got involved in the hobby around the same time, although I was the slower off the mark in that regard. What could have been a five-minute deal elsewhere was an enjoyable conversation of sharing that went on for over an hour when time caught me out. It is one of life’s pleasures to enjoy meetings like this which are, to me, so much more in the spirit of amateur radio, than the quick “you’re 5 9 and look forward to our next contact” engagement that seems to be popular on air. Amateur radio may be enjoyed alone but it blossoms when shared in company. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?  ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  TO SUPPLY QNEWS ITEMS:-  Send SCRIPT to qnews@wia.org.au and 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 the audio email qnews@wia.org.au and ask for the current password then read "how to submit items" on the weekly news page at  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 .‘

QNEWS - DECEMBER 4 - VK4 ON AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  THE FOLLOWING NEWS CAN BE HEARD FROM OUR AUDIO SERVICE  Available in Audio RIGHT NOW  http://www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3  Also, search QNEWS (make sure it IS the Ham Radio QNEWS) in your podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. Around my part of the world, if you haven’t got the outside chores done you will have to hold off for some days. Mowing grass when the ground is sodden is not on the agenda and all good amateurs will have done their summer preparation for rain, wind, storms and the like. With 10 metres and 6 metres creating some excitement, in the past week, it is good news that we can sit inside the shack and enjoy the fun without worrying too much about the effects of the weather. We just can’t take things too easily with a couple of low-pressure systems affecting the coast and a watch on the northernmost one in case it decides to turn nasty in the Coral Sea. The expectation was for the coast of the country to receive around 11 cyclones this summer. I hope that your Christmas events aren’t too upset by inclement weather as clubs and workplaces share the festive spirit of the Christmas season and parents and grandparents prepare for the traditions of Christmas Day. Perhaps the current climate is a warning to be prepared for different conditions this year, I don’t know. But ever cautious we perhaps should be looking for alternative venues for the cold meat and fruit pudding and custard if we have plans to share with the ant colonies outdoors. The winds that whip sand in your face and the rain that washes away the enjoyment of the happy gathering are points for us to consider as possibilities. One of the many concerns for the radio-using community is the influx of untested and uncertified electrical and electronic festive decorations. The electrical noise that radiates from modern household attachments such as solar photo voltaic systems is currently being enhanced by the plethora of flashing and blinking decorations people adorn their living areas with. It may be a gift to the radio hobbyist world if when we come across particular devices that do not radiate that we record the details in a database. I see that our WIA has said the ACMA is under-resourced and that is a major driver of its efforts to institute the class licence system. So many have been pointing out the poor resourcing and lack of activity in dealing with EMI for several years. It is little wonder that many radio amateurs are sceptical of the claim that ACMA will continue to act in the prevention of interference to the amateur service. However it doesn't take much reading to realise that spectrum regulators around the world are regarded as inept or negligent in this part of their defined duties. Maybe I shouldn’t worry about what goes in the mythical stocking or what is under the Christmas tree but pray that the genie of the ether grants my wish and gets rid of the damned interference because our regulators certainly won’t. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you?  ---------------------------------------------------------------------* 2022 Social Scene  VK4 - Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club  Car Boot Sale Saturday 10th Dec. Macfarlane Park, Klingner Road Kippa-Ring.     (vk4tn)  ---------------------------------------------------------------------*  Hi, this is John Seamons, vk3jls, from the National Inwards QSL Bureau.  I am calling for any amateur or Radio club in VK4 that is willing to undertake to distribute QSL cards to VK4. This WIA volunteer position will help out your fellow VK4 amateurs, who are patiently waiting to receive their Bureau QSL cards stuck in VK3 land.  Currently, over 3,000 cards are awaiting.  Contact me for any further details, or any questions you may have via:-  vk3jls@wia.org.au  ---------------------------------------------------------------------*