CCARC-NEWS 14-31
THE PERIODIC NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
ISSUE No 14-31 12th September 2014
In this Issue:
- Working Bee at Somersby
- VK2RAG Dstar Gateway is now working
- Westlakes Field Day this Sunday
- Solar X-Flare Wednesday evening
- Digital TV Retune
- History This Week
- Broke & fixed
- Reminders
1. Working Bee at Somersby
There will be a working bee at the Somersby Repeater site on Saturday 13th September starting at 1000 hrs. to carry out much needed maintenance. Chainsaws, lawn mowers, trailer to take away rubbish ( cover for load). Free up your schedule for this day.
2. VK2RAG Dstar Gateway is working again
The Dstar Gateway is now working again, so the Dstar repeaters can be used as normally. Thanks to Ian VK2HK for reconfiguring the router.
3. Westlakes Field Day this Sunday 14th September
Westlakes A.R.C. annual field day will be held on the 14th September 2014 in the club grounds at York Street, Teralba.
4. Solar X-Flare Wednesday evening
Space Weather reports Earth-orbiting satellites detected a powerful
X1.6-class solar flare at 17:46 UT on September 10
A pair of CMEs is heading for Earth. The two solar storm clouds were launched on Sept. 9th and 10th by strong explosions in the magnetic canopy of sunspot AR2158. NOAA forecasters estimate a nearly 80% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Sept. 12th when the first of the two CMEs arrives. Auroras are in the offing, possibly visible at mid-latitudes before the weekend.
Ionizing radiation from the flare could cause HF radio blackouts and other communications disturbances, especially on the day-lit side of Earth. Confirmation was awaited from the SOHO and STEREO spacecraft to determine if a CME emerges from the blast site. If so, the cloud would likely be aimed directly at Earth and could reach our planet in 2 to 3 days.
Check Space Weather for further information
5. Digital TV Retune
Some TV channels are changing their frequency as the final step in the move to digital-only TV. You’ll need to retune your TV, set-top box or digital recorder when these changes happen in your area. If you don’t, you won’t be able to receive all free-to-air digital TV channels.
Newcastle Transmitters retune was September 10th. The Gosford, Bouddi and Forresters Transmitters retune will be September 17th.
http://retune.digitalready.gov.au/
6. History This Week
A look back at events that made history this week – compiled by the Summerland Amateur Radio Club of Lismore, NSW
Monday, 8 September, 2014
1716 Boston Light, the first lighthouse in America was first lighted just before sunset.
1833 The first imported shipment of ice arrived in Calcutta, India, from Boston, Mass., U.S.
1846 Elias Howe patents the sewing machine
1853 First electric telegraph in use, Merchant’s Exchange to Pt Lobos
1908 Orville Wright makes first 1-hour airplane flight, Fort Myer, Va
1958 Jack Kilby demonstrated his invention of a miniaturized electronic circuit to his supervisor at Texas Instruments, now recognised as the first integrated circuit.
1973 First all Australian women’s US Open final, (Court beats Goolagong)
BROKE & FIXED
The Dstar Gateway is now working again thanks to Ian VK2HK.
REMINDERS
This section lists important announcements and possibly items from previous CCARC NEWS editions that are still current and may need your input:
If you experience any problems with any of the repeaters not working, please report to Repeater Chairman, Don VK2ZCZ. Do not assume that he already knows about it. As soon as problems are brought to Don’s attention, they will be fixed ASAP.
Jaycar Tuggerah & Erina will give CCARC members a trade discount – approx 10% on purchases over $25. Make sure you ask for it. Thanks Rod VK2LAX and Col VK2ZCO.
Anyone reading this on the website who is not yet a member of the CCARC, please consider joining by emailing ccarc at ccarc dot org dot au for full details.
For submissions to this newsletter from CCARC club members please email the editor news-editor at ccarc dot org dot au
For what’s coming up in the next few months at the CCARC, please check the club calendar, accessible from the header on any page on the website.
Dave VK2DLS … News & Publicity Officer …
