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31-March-2006

Low–frequency experimenters seek reports, crossband skeds

–– The next round of LF transpacific testing between ZM2E, Quartz Hill, New Zealand, and VA7LF, S Pender Island, British Columbia, will take place April 3, 4 and 5. Testing will begin shortly after sunset at VA7LF (approximately 0630 UTC) and will continue until sunrise (approximately 1400 UTC). The frequency will be 137.7890/137.7886 kHz (0.4 Hz shift) using FSK90.

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31-March-2006

ZM2E Will Continue With R6L

Following a schedule with VA7LF, ZM2E will continue with R6L until sunrise in New Zealand. Reception reports via the reflectors are encouraged, and the VA7LF site will be Internet equipped. "If we are able to get things set up smoothly, we may be on the air for testing on Sunday night, April 2," said Steve McDonald, VE7SL. "Since we will be at our maximum ERP limit, we hope to have some time available to attempt some crossband HF–LF CW–CW QSOs or QRSS–CW contacts in our early evening hours (0300–0600 UTC)." Interested stations should contact McDonald via e–mail: jsm@gulfislands.com .

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19-March-2006

InfoLine No: 112 (19 March 2006)

NZART's Headquarters Info–Line Issue Number 112 – General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – comments no interest from branches since the last HQ Info–Line in promotional material (see the previous HQ Info–Line No: 111 for details). But does go to comment what "commercial" retailers are doing, read more in this weeks Info–Line!

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19-March-2006

FMTAG updates, plus additional FMTAG notes on callbook updates, transferring repeater, beacon and fixed link licence's into the name of NZART, and the reasoning behind doing so. Contest Updates, and Training DVD material. And much more... click on the above link to download the PDF (approx. 73kb).

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19-March-2006

NZART Conference in Christchurch Queens Birthday Weekend 2006: Conference this year is to be held at the Riccarton Racecourse in Christchurch. Arrangements to date can be viewed at .

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18-March-2006

VHF–UHF Contest News Update (18 March 2006) – (updated from 10 January 2006) the Wellington VHF Group Branch 74 NZART Inc. advises of VHF–UHF Contest Rules Updates. Doug ZL2TAR, states that for the next few months, until the end of April 2006 that the current rules are still valid, and will be applied to the April Contest. The new rules apply to the June Contest, and onwards, and this early notice will allow entrants plenty of time to change their strategy, and build new equipment.

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18-March-2006

Radio Amateurs of Canada Forms Advisory Committee on a New Entry Level Licence (18 March 2006) The RAC Board of Directors has authorized the formation of an Advisory Committee under the leadership of Midwest Director Bj Madsen, VE5FX, to examine whether Industry Canada should be asked to institute a new Entry Level Certificate for the Amateur Service in Canada. The committee is considering the very successful entry level Foundation Licence that has been implemented in the UK and Australia to encourage youth to take an interest in science and radio and to promote growth in amateur radio, and will seek input from Canadian radio amateurs as to what should be done in Canada. For the scope and details of the Advisory Committee's work, and how to contribute, read the TCA article by clicking here.

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18-March-2006

Solar Cycle Forecast Breakthrough (18 March 2006) The next sunspot cycle will be 30–50 per cent stronger than its predecessor and will begin as much as a year later than previous forecasts, according to scientists from the US–based National Centre for Atmospheric Research. If the prediction is correct, the next solar maximum could be the most intense since the historic solar maximum of 1958.

The National Centre for Atmospheric Research scientists believe they have mastered the art of accurately forecasting solar cycles.

They have developed a computer model that they claim has simulated the strength of the past eight solar cycles with an accuracy of more than 98%.

This amazing precision is achieved by using the subsurface movements of sunspot remnants of the previous two solar cycles to calculate the strength of the next cycle. Mausumi Dikpati, the leader of the research team, said:

"Our model has demonstrated the necessary skill to be used as a forecasting tool."

The Sun undergoes 11–year cycles of activity, from peak storm activity to quiet and back again. But until now there was no precise method of predicting their timing and strength. Being able to accurately predict the sun's cycles years ahead could help society prepare for periods of intense solar storms, which can disrupt communications, slow down satellite orbits and crash power systems.

Solar storms are thought to be caused by twisted magnetic fields in the Sun that suddenly snap, releasing huge amounts of energy. They usually occur near dark regions of concentrated magnetic fields known as sunspots. (Source: RSGB)

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18-March-2006

Austria Verifies BPL Complaints (18 March 2006) Austria's Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) has verified the interference complaints of HF users in Linz, where a BPL (PLC, or power line communication) system is being operated on a commercial basis. In a report prepared for the February 21–22 meeting of the CENELEC/ETSI Joint Working Group on EMC of Conducted Transmission Networks, the ministry said the measured emission of PLC installations in the Linz region is approximately 42 dB higher than the relevant limit according to CEPT ECC Recommendation (05)04, "Criteria for the Assessment of Radio Interferences Caused by Radiated Disturbances from Wire–Line Telecommunication Networks" [ECC/REC(05)04]. The report says ECC/REC(05)04 "reflects the state of the art in Austria." The limit used by the ministry for the 1–30 MHz range, measured 3 meters from the source, is 40 dBuV/m peak at 1 MHz, decreasing to 27 dBuV/m at 30 MHz. This is roughly comparable to the FCC Part 15 BPL emission limit lowered by 40 dB and applying the 40 dB–per–decade distance factor FCC measurements call for.

Other major differences between the Austrian regulations and Part 15 include distance between source and antenna, use of a peak detector and a logarithmic factor in the limit. The report is intended to inform the Joint Working Group about measurements of PLC systems and harmful interference they can cause in the HF bands, and to trigger a discussion to adopt ECC/REC/(05)04 as the document describing the state–of–the–art for wireline telecommunication networks such as PLC networks within Europe. (Source: ARRL)

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16-March-2006

Exam Supervisors

Examination Centres and Supervisors around New Zealand (16 March 2006) General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – advises that the Examination and Supervisors list has been updated and is correct as of 16 March 2006. Click on the above link to download the PDF (approx. 67kb).

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5-March-2006

Proposed Waikato District Plan: Submission 167 – Aerials (5 March 2006)>

NZART’s Local Government Liaison Officer, Mike Newman, ZL1BNB has prepared a response to the proposed plan. Mike is now seeking a wider response from members of NZART about this important issue. In order for additional feedback from members, the contents of the letter from Mike to the Waikato District Council is now available from this link . All comments need to be addressed to Mike Newman at localgovt@nzart.org.nz

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5-March-2006

InfoLine No: 111 (5 March 2006)

NZART's Headquarters Info–Line Issue Number 111 – General Secretary, Debby Morgan ZL2TDM – On a number of occasions I have been asked for advertising material from branches for upcoming events. To date there has been very little I have been able to supply. If you require banners or flags then NOW is your chance to order by contacting NZART HQ.

MED: Report of meeting held 23 February 2006 and Proposed Waikato District Plan: Submission 167 – Aerials (your feedback is required on this planning issue – see below). And much more...

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18-March-2006

Both the banner and the flag PDF's are available for download by following these links BANNER or FLAG.

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1-March-2006

Commonwealth Games Special Event Stations (1 March 2006) On air for the entire month of March are special event stations – AX3GAMES and AX3MCG – being activated by members of Amateur Radio Victoria in celebration of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. A roster of about a dozen on Phone and CW have volunteered for AX3GAMES, while AX3MCG is being operated by top DXers Peter VK3QI on CW and David VK3EW phone. All are ready to make plenty of contacts that will qualify for commemorative QSL cards. QSL info QRZ.COM While AX3GAMES and AX3MCG are the only special event callsigns issued by the ACMA, it has also released the alternative AX prefix for use by all VK stations during the games period 1–31 March.