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27-August-2006

Official Broadcast

Official Broadcast August 2006 – details presidential update from NZART President Bruce Douglas ZL2WP. NZART Headquarters update from the General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM... all this and much more in this months Official Broadcast. Click on the above link to navigate to the Official Broadcast page to download the full broadcast in MP3 format (approximate. size 5.0 MB – about 15–20 minutes at 56K dial up speed or faster by broadband).

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27-August-2006

Chris Jones, VK2ZDD – Silent Key

It is with very great sadness that I have to tell you that Chris Jones, VK2ZDD, passed away early today, Friday 25 August 2006. Chris was secretary of the WIA, but more importantly the person whose vision and commitment made the WIA what it is today. It was Chris who talked a group of amateurs in late 2003 into believing that a national WIA was a realistic and better option.

It was Chris who believed fervently that the organisation would grow if it delivered service and avoided conflict.

It was Chris who inspired so many to contribute in so many different ways.

It was Chris who contacted and organised the WIA Assessor training courses, who inspired so many people to make our new licence system really work.

It was Chris who made sure that somehow the WIA delivered many things that many wanted. It was Chris who worked the phones like no one else I have ever met. It was Chris who involved so many people in so many things.

Chris Jones was a person who avoided conflict and loved to be surrounded by his many friends. I extend our most sincere sympathy to his family and his many friends.

His passing is a very great loss to the Wireless Institute of Australia.

Michael J Owen
WIA President
25 August 2006

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20-August-2006

InfoLine No: 121 (20 August 2006)

NZART's Headquarters Info–Line Issue Number 121 – General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – gives thanks to long time serving Jim Meachen ZL2BHF for his efforts to get Info–Line off the ground and running from issue number one to the latest issue out today, some 121 issues in total. Jim has now passed the job to Jamie Pye ZL2NN to carry on as the new author of Info–Line. Jim is not giving up any of his other tasks he does for NZART. Subscriptions for 2007 will have been posted in the July/August issue of Break–In which is out now. If you haven't received an invoice then you don't need to pay. Also details for paying the invoice by Internet Banking are included (bank account details). If you make payment (by any method) before 30 November 2006 you will save $15.00 !!! over the normal rate.

A new policy on operating in the 614 – 622 MHz band from President Bruce Douglas ZL2WP. A very important read for those using this band or contesters.

Contest News with John Powell ZL1BHQ, NZART Contest Manager and much more...

Click on the above link to download the PDF (approx. 71kb).

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16-August-2006

Radiation Belt Remediation

"Radiation Belt Remediation" Plan Could Affect HF Propagation, Study Suggests (16 August 2006) A New Zealand university research group believes a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency "Radiation Belt Remediation" (RBR) plan could cause major worldwide disruptions to HF radio communication and GPS navigation. DARPA reportedly envisions the "Radiation Belt Remediation" (RBR) system as a way to protect low–Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites from damage caused by severe solar storms or even from high–altitude nuclear detonations. The New Zealand–based research group suggests, however, that policymakers need to carefully consider the implications of the project. Headed by Otago Physics Department researcher Craig Rodger, the research group says RBR could significantly affect radio propagation from several days to a week or longer.

"We've calculated that Earth's upper atmosphere would be dramatically affected by such a system, causing unusually intense HF blackouts around most of the world," Rodger said in an Otago University news release. "Airplane pilots and ships would lose radio contact, and some Pacific Island nations could be isolated for as long as six to seven days, depending on the system's design and how it was operated." GPS would likely also be disrupted on a large scale, he added.

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14-August-2006

IARU Region 3 Elects New Leadership

The 13th Conference of IARU Region 3 was held in Bangalore, India August 7–11. IARU Region 3 consists of the member–societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in the Asia–Pacific area. There were 13 IARU member–societies represented in person with another five represented by proxy. Conference arrangements were made by an outstanding team of volunteers of the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI), the IARU member–society for India. he conference considered more than 60 input documents containing reports and proposals from Region 3 member–societies, coordinators and committee chairmen, as well as from IARU Regions 1 and 2. The conference documents are available on the Web

A new slate of Directors was elected to manage the affairs of the Region between conferences. They are Michael Owen, VK3KI, who also was elected Chairman of Directors; Shizuo Endo, JE1MUI; Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN; Peter B. Lake, ZL2AZ; and Prof. Rhee–Joong Guen, HL1AQQ. The contributions of retiring Directors Y. S. Park, HL1IFM, Chandru Ramchandra, VU2RCR, Yoshiji Sekido, JJ1OEY, and K. C. Selvadurai, 9V1UV were noted with great appreciation. Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB, continues as Secretary of the Region.

The 14th Region 3 Conference is planned for Christchurch, New Zealand in 2009.

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14-August-2006

Administrative Council Reviews IARU's Role and Structure

Meeting in Bangalore, India, August 12–14, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council heard a progress report from an ad hoc panel that's looking into the IARU's future role and structure. The Council confirmed its desire for the committee to continue its work and provide a recommendation by year's end addressing the feasibility, budget and possible timetable to put a revised organization into place.

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6-August-2006

Info–Line No: 120

InfoLine No: 120 (6 August 2006) NZART's Headquarters Info–Line Issue Number 120 – General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – states that subscriptions for 2007 will have been posted in the July/August issue of Break–In which is out now. If you haven't received an invoice then you don't need to pay. Also details for paying the invoice by Internet Banking. Make payment before 30 November 2006 and save $15.00 !!!

Repeater Fee's – an update from Acting President Stuart Watchman ZL2TW. A very important read!

And much more... click on the above link to download the PDF (approx. 35kb).

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1-August-2006

Exam Supervisors

Examination Centres and Supervisors around New Zealand (1 August 2006) General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – advises that the Examination and Supervisors list has been updated and is correct as of 31 July 2006. Click on the above link to download the PDF (approx. 35kb).