CCARC NEWS 15-20
THE PERIODIC NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
ISSUE No 15-20 26th June 2015
In this Issue:
- ARNSW Field Day
- Change is coming for the ACMA
- Another CME is on the way
- Ham Radio Field Day from space
- History This Week
- Broke & fixed
- Reminders
1. ARNSW Field Day
AR NSW is having a field day on Sunday 28 June at Quarry Road, Dural
First presentation is at 1000 hrs and gates open at 0900 hrs
It will be a testing day
We have sourced the best presenters from around the civilised world
It just so happens they are all from Sydney
Topics include:-
Testing valves and semi conductors
Testing and fault finding in transceivers
Testing and application of coaxial feed line
Registrants receive a free sausage sizzle complete with salad + ice cream
RSVP to fieldday@arnsw.org.au
As a bonus, if any member needs either 1:1 or 4:1 baluns, or top quality kevlar antenna wire,
email your order to balun@arnsw.org.au and it will be processed for collection on the day
Al Hirschel
VK2KAM
2. Change is coming for the ACMA
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is anticipated to change in significant ways following a review of its “objectives, functions, structure, governance and resource base”, to be completed before the end of 2015.
In announcing the review, the Minister for Communications, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, said it was ” . . . to ensure the regulator is able to effectively deal with challenges arising from a rapidly changing communications sector . . . to ensure it remains fit-for-purpose for both the contemporary and future communications regulatory environment.”
Noting that the communications sector has changed dramatically since the ACMA’s inception in 2005, the Minister observed that the national broadband network rollout, the pervasive use of digital devices and the extensive use of social media”. . . are all combining to make communications services a more integral part of every Australian home and business.”
The ACMA has regulatory responsibilities under the Radiocommunications Act 1992, the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the Telecommunications Act 1997, along with an extensive range of subordinate legislation and regulations.
The Department of Communications is conducting the review, supported by a reference group of Australian and international experts. An issues paper will be published shortly and the Department will call for submissions. A report will be presented to the Minister by the end of 2015.
The announcement of the Review, and related documentation, is available at this Link
The Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 (the ACMA Act) identifies the full scope of functions of the Authority, set out on the Review’s Terms of Reference, available at this Link
The Terms of Reference advise that the review will “consider whether any of the objectives and functions of, or services provided by, the ACMA can cease, be provided by other agencies or the industry itself. It will also consider whether there are objectives and functions of, or services provided by, other agencies that may be more efficiently and effectively delivered by the ACMA.”
The WIA expects to participate in the Department of Communications’ consultation activities. The Institute will prepare a submission to the ACMA Review following the release of the issues paper.
This review was anticipated by the WIA arising from attending the ACMA’s RadComms 2014 conference, its January 2015 industry workshop and liaison meetings over the past nine months.
Author : Roger Harrison – VK2ZRH
Source WIA
3. Another CME is on the way
Space Weather reports the big sunspot AR2371 erupted again on June 22 (18:23 UT), producing a strong M6.5 class solar flare
The explosion also hurled a full-halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) directly toward Earth. The SWPC say arrival is expected June 24 at 2300 UT
(7 pm EDT). Sky watchers should prepare for more geomagnetic storms and auroras on Wednesday night.
Listen out for auroral signals in the SSB sections of the 50/70/144 MHz bands.
Read the ARRL story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/geomagnetic-storming-reaches-severe-level
Space Weather
http://spaceweather.com/
Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/another-storm-forecast-wednesday-nightthursday
Aurora Watch UK – Alerts from Lancaster University
http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/
https://twitter.com/aurorawatchuk
Source: Southgate AR News
4. Ham Radio Field Day from space
As part of the #askAstro program, 16-year-old Brandon Martinez KF7RAO submitted a video question to astronaut Reid Wiseman KF5LKT about Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
On September 14, 2014 Brandon posted his question on YouTube and on October 10 Reid KF5LKT answered it from the space station. In his reply Reid describes his experience in June of Field Day from space.
Watch Brandon’s question and Reid’s reply
ARISS http://ariss.org/
NASA Astronaut’s ISS Field Day Operation Puts Smiles on Several Faces
http://www.arrl.org/news/nasa-astronaut-s-iss-field-day-operation-puts-smiles-on-several-faces
AMSAT 2015 Field Day – June 27-28
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2015/june/
amsat_2015_field_day.htm
Source: Southgate AR News
History This Week
A look back at events that made history this week – compiled by the Summerland Amateur Radio Club of Lismore, NSW
Monday, 22 June, 2015
1498 The bristle toothbrush was invented in China.
1797 Charles Newbold patents first cast-iron plow. He can’t sell it to
farmers, though, they fear effects of iron on the soil !
1844 Goodyear patents vulcanization of rubber.
1847 New York & Boston linked by telegraph wires
1847 First US postage stamps go on sale, 5c Franklin & 10c Washington, NYC
1919 First advanced monoplane airliner flight (Junkers F13)
1929 First color TV demo (New York City)
1936 Empire State Building emanates high definition TV-343 lines
1963 First demonstration of home video recorder, at BBC Studios, London
BROKE & FIXED
The Kariong antennas and mast have been damaged and are being repaired.
REMINDERS
This section lists important announcements and possibly items from previous CCARC NEWS editions that are still current and may need your input:
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 …
