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20-February-2006

InfoLine No: 110

Info–Line No: 110 (20 February 2006)NZART's Headquarters Info–Line Issue Number 110 – General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – thanks to Upper Hutt Branch 63 in hosting the recent Council Face to Face, SMART Update, Examiners ERN Form reminder. Key points from the Council Face to Face are made. Contest information plus notice of Special Event Stations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games soon to be hosted in Melbourne Australia. And much more... click on the above link to download the PDF (approx. 85kb).

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20-February-2006

Results Of The Cliff Betson Memorial VHF–UHF–SHF Contest

Results Of The Cliff Betson Memorial VHF–UHF–SHF Contest 14/15 January 2006 (20 February 2006)

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17-February-2006

Exam Supervisors

Examination Centres and Supervisors around New Zealand (17 February 2006) Updated list General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – advises that the Examination and Supervisors list has been updated and is correct as of 14 February 2006. Click on the above link to download the PDF (approx. 105kb).

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15-February-2006

NASA's latest astronaut candidates – many are Hams!!!

After 18 months of intense training, NASA's latest astronaut candidates now are officially astronauts, and several already are Amateur Radio licensees. The class of 11, including three educator astronauts selected from teachers across the nation, received NASA Astronaut pins in a graduation ceremony February 10. This is NASA's first astronaut class focused from the start on realizing the Vision for Space Exploration, America's long–term exploration strategy that includes extending a human presence across the solar system. Their training has included water and land survival courses, T–38 flight instruction and space shuttle and International Space Station systems training as well as numerous qualifying exams and flight evaluations. The new astronauts' immediate duties include support roles in the space shuttle and space station programs. The new astronauts and their work assignments are: Mission Specialist–Educator Joe Acaba, KE5DAR, Mission Specialist–Educator Richard Arnold, KE5DAU, and Mission Specialist–Educator Dottie Metcalf–Lindenburger, KE5DAT––all Space station branch and education; Pilot Randy Bresnik, Space station branch; Mission Specialist Christopher Cassidy, Space station operations branch and CapCom branch; Pilot James Dutton, Exploration branch; Mission Specialist Jose Hernandez, KE5DAV, Shuttle branch; Mission Specialist Shane Kimbrough, Safety branch; Mission Specialist Thomas Marshburn, Space station and exploration branch; Mission Specialist Robert Satcher, Robotics branch and space station branch, and Mission Specialist Shannon Walker, KD5DXB, Space station operations branch and CapCom branch. Three Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronauts trained alongside the NASA candidates and will join the rest of the corps. They are Mission Specialist Naoko Yamazaki, KE5DAS, Robotics branch; Mission Specialist Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, CapCom branch and space station branch; Mission Specialist Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW, Robotics branch and space station branch.––NASA.

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10-February-2006

Papakura Amateur Radio Club

Papakura Amateur Radio Club (10 February 2006) This coming Wednesday 15 February 2006 the Papakura Amateur Radio Club is holding an open day. Starting at 5 pm there will be live demonstrations of Amateur Radio activities.

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8-February-2006

New York Station Copies Complete "SuitSat–1" Telemetry

Based on recent reports, the already–puny 145.99 MHz signal from "SuitSat–1" may be getting even weaker, but at least one earthbound radio amateur has been able to copy a very nearly complete telemetry transmission. ARRL member Richard Crow, N2SPI, of Smithville Flats, New York, heard the SuitSat–1 audio during a February 8 pass at approximately 1350 UTC. The recording indicated a reasonably strong signal between fades.

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5-February-2006

InfoLine No 109 (5 February 2006)

NZART's Headquarters Info–Line Issue Number 109 – General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – advises National President Bruce Douglas ZL2WP is on the road to a full recovery and Acting President John Lochhead ZL4QS is still taking care of urgent business as Bruce recovers. Jock White Field Day Contest is just a few weeks away, Licence number updates, and 2005 Waitakere Sprints Results. And much more... click on the above link to download the PDF (approx. 78kb).

Break–in Contents Page Preview (4 February 2006) In this issue: Digital Antenna Analyser, Recycled radios, Pt 2, My Town House Antenna Farm, Early frequency measuring in New Zealand, Pt 1, 6 metre propagation and weather patterns, Coil and crystal frequency range finder,  NZART Branch Survey, DVD review; FT5XO – Kerguelen DXpedition, Radio museums you can visit, plus all the regular columns and features.

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3-February-2006

Australian Foundation Licenses allowed power increase

Foundation licence's to be allowed transmitter power of 10 watts all permitted modes. As the new amateur licence structure, including the Foundation licence, came into effect on 19 October 2005, WIA President Michael Owen, VK3KI, said that "Our only regret is that we believe that the power limit of 3 watts for AM, FM and CW for the Foundation licence, while perfectly logical, is unrealistic. That given the output power of commercially available equipment, particularly older equipment, and that the power limit should be 10 watts."

Michael had already advised ACMA that the WIA believed that a power output limit of 10 watts would not result in any difficulties but would enable the use of many older transmitters, particularly VHF transmitters, that would be attractive to the Foundation licensees."

The WIA was advised by ACMA today that "Following reconsideration of the issues involved, it is agreed, under the Foundation licence, to permit a transmitter output power of 10 Watts pX on all permitted emission modes instead of the present 10 Watts pX for J3E emissions and 3 Watts pY for all other permitted emissions."

The change will formally come into effect with the other amendments to the Amateur LCD into force in some months time.

The WIA President said that the WIA welcomed ACMA's decision, which should assist many Foundation licensees, and was grateful that the regulator was prepared to make an early announcement.

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2-February-2006

Arrl Contest Advisory Committee Releases White Paper

The ARRL Contest Advisory Committee (CAC) has released a white paper, "HF Contesting––Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions." The document, which discusses common situations encountered during HF contesting, results from CAC work that arose over the course of an informal committee meeting at Dayton Hamvention. While not a comprehensive set of "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ), the white paper does address many issues that periodically arise related to HF contesting and even some that may apply to VHF/UHF contesting. The white paper operates from an HF perspective, however, recognizing that there are many differences between HF and VHF/UHF contest practices. ARRL Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, stresses that the white paper's interpretations do not supersede the rules for any contest but are intended to assist contesters by providing some interpretations and operating suggestions based on CAC members' accumulated experience.