
Silent Key - VK2SG

    ANARTS CO-FOUNDER, SYD VK2SG, SILENT KEY

    IT  IS  WITH  DEEP REGRET WE ANNOUNCE THE PASSING  OF  SYD  MOLEN,
    VK2SG,  CO-FOUNDER  OF ANARTS WITH BILL STORER,  VK2EG AND OTHERS.
    SYD  SUCCUMBED  TO A HEART ATTACK ON THE MORNING  OF  FRIDAY  29TH
    DECEMBER 1995.

    REPRINTED BELOW IS THE EULOGY GIVEN BY BILL, VK2EG, AT HIS FUNERAL
    ON WEDNESDAY 3RD JANUARY 1996.

                                ------

    SYD WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN RADIO AND ELECTRONICS. HE WAS AN AVID
    SHORT WAVE LISTENER IN HIS TEENAGE YEARS.

    EVEN  IN  HIS SCHOOL DAYS,  I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT HE HAD BITS  AND
    PIECES OF CRYSTAL SETS HIDDEN IN HIS DESK.

    IN  1939 HE JOINED THE RAAF AND SERVED THROUGHOUT THE  HOSTILITIES
    ON  HUDSON AND DC3 AIRCRAFT IN THE OPERATIONAL PACIFIC THEATRE  OF
    WAR, AS WELL AS AN INSTRUCTOR IN THE FIELD OF ELECTRONICS.

    IT WAS DURING HIS WAR SERVICE THAT HE MET AND MARRIED JEAN.

    AFTER  HIS DISCHARGE FROM THE AIRFORCE IN 1945 HE BECAME  INVOLVED
    WITH  THE  ROYAL  FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE AS ONE  OF  THEIR  LEADING
    MOBILE  TECHNICIANS  IN  THE FAR OUTBACK  OF  QUEENSLAND  AND  THE
    NORTHERN TERRITORY.

    IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT HE BECAME A LICENSED AMATEUR WITH THE
    CALLSIGN OF VK4SE.

    AFTER  LEAVING  THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE,  HE OBTAINED  HIS
    BROADCAST  CERTIFICATE  AND WAS EMPLOYED  WITH  VARIOUS  BROADCAST
    STATIONS  AND  ENDED UP WITH 2UW IN SYDNEY.  HE THEN TOOK OUT  HIS
    CURRENT CALL VK2SG.

    FROM HERE HE BROADENED HIS HORIZONS BY ASSISTING WITH THE PLANNING
    AND EVENTUAL OPENING OF CHANNEL 10 TELEVISION STUDIOS.  HE  SERVED
    IN THEIR STUDIO AND EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMITTING FACILITIES.

    HE EVENTUALLY RETIRED FROM CHANNEL 10 AROUND 1980.

    ALL  THROUGH  THESE  YEARS  HE  WAS  AN  ACTIVE  AMATEUR,  GAINING
    DIFFERENT AWARDS FOR DIFFERENT FIELDS OF COMMUNICATIONS, AND STILL
    CONTINUED EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HIS HOBBY.

    IN  1970 SYD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE COMPLETION OF THE  FIRST
    8600-MILE  VOYAGE OF THE RAFT - LA BALSA - ACROSS THE PACIFIC FROM
    SOUTH   AMERICA   TO  AUSTRALIA.   THE  RAFT'S   RADIO   EQUIPMENT
    MALFUNCTIONED   APPROACHING  AUSTRALIA  AND  IT  WAS  WITH   SYD'S
    TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND DEDICATION THAT ENABLED THEM TO MAKE THEIR
    SUCCESSFUL LANDFALL.

    IT  WAS  DURING  THE LAST 15 YEARS THAT HE  BECAME  INTERESTED  IN
    DIGITAL  METHODS OF COMMUNICATION AND WAS IN THE FOREFRONT OF  ALL
    DEVELOPMENTS  OF THESE NEW MODES.  MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL  EQUIPMENT
    THAT  WAS USED WAS SURPLUS DISPOSALS AND SYD,  WITH HIS  KNOWLEDGE
    AND EXPERTISE, DEVELOPED NEW IDEAS.

    HE  WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDATION MEMBERS OF THE  AUSTRALIAN  NATIONAL
    AMATEUR RADIO TELEPRINTER SOCIETY AND WAS A REGULAR PARTICIPANT IN
    MANY  CONTESTS AND FURTHERED AND ENCOURAGED YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE
    AMATEUR FRATERNITY TO BECOME ACTIVE AMATUERS IN THE DIGITAL MODES.

    SYD  WAS  KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WITH HIS ORIGINATION  OF  THE
    RADIOTELETYPE  DX NOTES AND,  ALTHOUGH HE GAVE THE ORIGINATION  OF
    THESE
    NOTES TO OVERSEAS AMATEURS AFTER ILLNESS FORCED HIM TO CUT DOWN ON
    HIS
    RADIO ACTIVITIES,  THEY ARE STILL SENT WORLDWIDE WEEKLY AND  KNOWN
    AS  THE  "VK2SG DX NOTES" - THEY EVEN NOW APPEAR ON THE NEW  SUPER
    HIGHWAY  - THE INTERNET.  SYD HAS MANY AMATUER FRIENDS AROUND  THE
    WORLD  WHO  REMEMBER HIM FONDLY AND WILL MISS  SEEING  THAT  VK2SG
    CALLSIGN  ON THEIR SCREENS.  SYD'S PIONEERING IN AMATEUR RADIO HAS
    GIVEN MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD A LOT OF PLEASURE.

    HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE JEAN.


    WRITTEN BY BILL STORER, VK2EG

    SUBMITTED BY PAT LEEPER VK2JPA, SECRETARY, ANARTS


Silent key -- VK2AKC

    It  is  with  deep regret that we announce the  passing  of  Cecil
    Kearins VK2AKC of Dubbo on Monday 18th December.

    Cec  was  well  known  on  the ham  bands  and  was  licensed  for
    approximately 50 years.  Cec was a keen home brewer and was in the
    RAAF for 3 1/2 years during his younger days.


    from Jan Harvey VK2BNH


Silent key -- VK2LM

    It is with a great deal of regret that I inform you of the passing
    of  Len  Brennan VK2LM,  formerly VK2AMU,  of Apex  Street,  Mount
    Victoria.

    Len had been licensed since 1939 and was active on all frequencies
    he was allowed to operate on, which included 11 metres, satellite,
    slow scan TV and the like. He was well known amongst his peers and
    was highly regarded in that community.

    Len may have been remembered by a lot of people in the district as
    the owner and operator of several picture theatres in the  Gosford
    and  Entrance  area  and  was the first person  to  introduce  hi-
    fidelity  sound  and  later stereo and  surround  sound  into  the
    theatres for the enjoyment of his patrons.

    Len was a quiet and private man but was a man of great science and
    understood the theories of sound and R.F. He was an avid keeper of
    sun  spot  cycle records.  I believe that Len was among the  first
    people to discover sun spots and the influence on the transmission
    and receiving of radio waves.

    Len was a leader in technology and was always at the cutting edge,
    he  was the first person to have a packet relay station  over  the
    Blue  Mountains and I am sure he would be remembered by the packet
    using  fraternity  for that.  His input into  Amateur  Radio  will
    probably never be fully realised. Len had a great impact on me and
    was a true friend and I personally regret his passing.

    Len  died at the Lithgow Hospital after a long illness with cancer
    at  4am on Tuesday 19.12.95 and is survived by his wife Betty  who
    is now VK2AMU.


    submitted by Paul Robertson VK2GON


Federal news - Interference

    Interference  Issues regarding interference to amateur  activities
    on the 160m,  2m amd 70cm bands from other services,  and from the
    possible  future installation of Windshear air safety radar system
    in Australia, were discussed at a recent Canberra meeting with the
    SMA.

    As many amateurs well know, interference to repeater systems on 2m
    from  pager systems operating above 148 MHz has been a  particular
    problem  for  many  years.  A technical  report  on  the  subject,
    compiled  by Will McGhie VK6UU,  was presented to the SMA at  the
    previous  WIA-SMA  meeting last May.  An update,  again from  Will
    McGhie,  on a recent pager interference problem, and its solution,
    was  given  to the SMA in November.  The SMA said,  as  a  general
    principle,  they will investigate all well-documented interference
    complaints,  and that the priority given to any such investigation
    is made by the local SMA Area Office.

    Recent experience,  and cooperation with the SMA,  has indicated a
    number of ways to successfully approach pager problems on  2m.  To
    improve  the situation  for repeater system operators,  the WIA in
    conjunction  with the SMA,  will develop a flow-chart  and  "check
    box"  system  as part of a self-managed solution to  investigating
    interference  sources to 2m repeaters.  Providing a copy  of  this
    check  list along with a written complaint should help the SMA  to
    take  the  appropriate  action in the future,  when  it  comes  to
    dealing with such interference.

    Recent  interference problems on the 160m and 70cm bands,  arising
    from  other  services,  had  already been dealt  with  before  the
    November  meeting in Canberra.  However,  the SMA will  in  future
    advise  the WIA of any new licences which may affect activities on
    amateur  bands,   particularly  on  bands  where  amateurs  are  a
    secondary service (e.g. 420-450 MHz), and work in conjunction with
    FTAC  to avoid possible mutual interference.  This procedure  will
    also apply to Windshear radars, which operate immediately adjacent
    to the 6m and 70cm bands.


Federal news - exams

    Examination  System:  Revision of the Memorandum of  Understanding
    (MOU)  between the SMA and the WIA Exam Service has been under way
    for more than a year,  and the WIA sought advice on  progress.  In
    addition,  the  issue of invigilator requirements for remote  area
    examinations, raised at the meeting last May, was discussed, along
    with  the matter of the syllabus and exam question banks not being
    in harmony with the current TLSs and Regulations.

    The SMA expalined that the many changes which had occurred in  the
    SMA  over  recent  times had occasioned delays and  some  loss  of
    continuity  in the revision of the MOU,  but it is actively  under
    way  again.  An  SMA  officer was to visit the  WIA  Exam  Service
    operation  in Melbourne before Christmas,  to assess and report on
    current practices and procedures.

    Regarding remote area invigilator requirements,  the WIA  proposed
    that,  rather  than using the Income Tax Act definition of  remote
    areas,   a   definition   based  on  travellling  time  would   be
    administratively  simpler.  The  SMA said they  were  prepared  to
    consider  this further and asked the WIA to put up a more detailed
    submission.

    The SMA said they were progressing with consideration of the  AOCP
    syllabus  and  question bank,  which the WIA submitted earlier  in
    1995.  Finalisation of the review of the AOCP syllabus was antici-
    pated  by  the end of January,  and the question  bank  some  time
    later, although no time frame was proposed at this point.

    Until  the  relevant information booklets on the Amateur  Service,
    RIB70 and RIB71,  were revised,  amateur licence candidates  would
    continue to be examined on the previous regulations, the SMA said.

    Other  matters discussed at the November WIA-SMA meeting  included
    use of the AX2OOO Olympic Games special event call sign, which the
    WIA  wants  to extend the permitted period of operation  from  one
    month  before  and one month after the opening  ceremony,  to  six
    months or more before and up to three months after; further action
    on  proposed  amateur use of LF in the 150-200 kHz region;  and  a
    number  of  issues surrounding the allocation and use  of  amateur
    call  signs.  Armed  with  more information as  a  result  of  the
    November meeting, the WIA is developing further submissions to put
    before the SMA in all these matters.

    More  detailed  information  on all the matters discussed  at  the
    November meeting will be included in later WIA News items.


Divisional news

    Divisional News

    On  behalf  of your Divisional Council,  I wish to extend  a  warm
    welcome  to the following who have been accepted for membership to
    the New South Wales Division of the WIA:

                               FULL MEMBERS

          NAME                  CALLSIGN                ADDRESS

    Gause, M.                   VK2MGM                  Barnsley
    Berry, D.J.                 VK2UDB                  Newcastle
    Blunn, J.H.                 VK2TAT                  Greenacre
    Meinsma, D.R.               VK2FIM                  Charlestown

                ASSOCIATED MEMBERS (SHORT WAVE LISTENERS)

    Roll, M.R.                  L21008                  Balmain
    Wilmanski, W.H.             L21007                  Auburn
    Miller, G.C.                L21008                  Castle Hill
    Unwin, R.J.                 L21009                  Moruya
    Pope, B.F.M.                L21010                  Terrigal

    Your Divisional Council welcomes your decision to join the growing
    number of Amateurs and Short Wave Listeners who are members of the
    NSW  Division,  by now all should have received ther  new-member's
    information kit and Certificate of Membership.

    Membership  of  the  institute  entitles you to  receive  all  the
    services  that  are provided for members in their pursuit  of  the
    hobby of Amateur Radio.

    Should  you  have  any  questions,  suggestions,  or  constructive
    criticism,  don't hesitate to contact me,  at any time,  by one of
    the following means:

                   Telephone  (02) 831-8450 or by
                   Fax on     (02) 621-1516

    I take this opportunity to wish all of you a  prosperous,  healthy
    and happy 1996.


    Cesar Miranda, VK2TCM
    Membership Secretary


WICEN news


    WICEN News

    Welcome to the first WICEN news segment for the year, and we trust
    that all members had a safe holiday. As far as we know, there were
    no activations, although February could be nasty for bushfires.

    During  the festive season,  Santa Claus brought WICEN (NSW) a Web
    page;  it is temporarily located underneath the NSW Divisional Web
    page, as "http://sydney.dialix.oz.au/~wiansw/wicen/".  Please note
    that  it  is  "still under construction",  but links to  pages  of
    interest to WICEN personnel are being constantly added.   We thank
    the NSW Division of the Wireless Institute of Australia for  their
    generosity.

    Although  still  early in the new year,  the calendar already  has
    several  events upon it.   The Central Coast meeting,  under David
    VK2UDT,  is on Friday,  and the Management Committee meeting is on
    the 20th of this month. The Central Coast Amateur Radio Club Field
    Day,  an event not to be missed for publicity purposes, is on 25th
    February,  and  since we will not have the caravan this time  then
    your ideas are requested;  please let the Publicity Officer,  Dave
    VK2KFU,  know if you can assist.   The Red Cross Calling Doorknock
    Appeal,  with  Andy VK2XRX in charge,  is on 17th  March.  Another
    March event is the annual Cave Rescue Exercise at Bungonia Caves,
    but no details have been forthcoming.   Finally, there are the two
    big annual events;  the City to Surf Fun Run on 11th  August,  and
    the Hawkesbury Classic Paddle on 26-27th October.

    Those regions wishing to have their activities publicised on  this
    broadcast  are  requested  to  get the details  to  the  Publicity
    Officer,  Dave VK2KFU,  by Thursday night at the  latest.   Packet
    radio is the preferred medium,  to the VK2KFU system itself (AX.25
    or TCP/IP), or failing that, to VK2DAA, VK2OP, or VK2GJB.

    WICEN is always looking for members to provide the community with
    communications assistance.   Write to WICEN (NSW) Inc, PO Box 123,
    St Leonards 2065 for further information, or come up on one of the
    WICEN nets:  Blue Mountains each Monday at 8.30pm on 7175 simplex,
    Northern  Rivers  each  Tuesday  at 8pm around  3610  kHz  on  odd
    Tuesdays  and the Lismore repeater 6800 on even  Tuesdays,  Hunter
    each  Wednesday  at  7.30pm on the Newcastle  repeater  6900,  the
    State-wide  HF  net  each Wednesday at  8.30pm  around  3610  kHz,
    Central  Coast each Thursday at 8.30pm on the Wyong repeater 7125,
    and Sydney each Thursday at 9.30pm on the Chatswood repeater
    7150/8275.

    -- Dave Horsfall VK2KFU, WICEN (NSW) Inc. Publicity Officer


News briefs

    The  December 1995 issue of Australian Video Camera reports that a
    UK company has introduced a new dimension into the still-new  area
    of  virtual reality.  The company has introduced a new VR  headset
    that  can  generate smells to match the images being projected  on
    the headset video screns.

    Tiny  cylinders  containing "aroma gases" are  mixed  with  carbon
    dioxide  and alcohol and released into the headset under  computer
    control.  The  headset also contains its own air supply to  remove
    the old smell before the next one is introduced.

    We  wonder if the Amateur Television community will pick this  one
    up and run with it ...

                              *************

    The same magazine also notes that the Israeli intelligence service
    (hello  to all Mossad agents monitoring VK2WI on 10,125 MHz!)  has
    devloped  a video camera and transmitter that can be swallowd  and
    used  inside the body.  The camera,  housed in a  tiny  pill-sized
    capsule,  will  allow  government agents to  locate  incriminating
    evidence  that may have been swallowed by a suspect.  The  capsule
    even  contains  its own light source to illuminate the parts  most
    other cameras can't reach ...


IPS report

               IPS WEEKLY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT

                      (29 DECEMBER - 04 JANUARY)

    ISSUED 05 JANUARY

    SUMMARY
    Date     29    30    31    01    02    03    04
    10cm     76    75    75    75    75    81    85
    A         2     7     7     5     7     8   ( 4 estimated)
    T         4    14    10    -2    19    24    16

    SOLAR  ACTIVITY  WAS  LOW ON 3RD JANUARY,  AND VERY  LOW  FOR  THE
    REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD.

    THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD AT LEARMONTH W.A. WAS QUIET 29TH TO 30TH
    DECEMBER, AND QUIET TO UNSETTLED FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.

    MAXIMUM USABLE FREQUENCIES AT SYDNEY WERE MOSTLY  NEAR PREDICTED
    MONTHLY VALUES,  WITH FREQUENCIES DEPRESSED TO 20 PER CENT  DURING
    NIGHT HOURS ON 31ST DECEMBER, AND ENHANCED AT TIMES TO 15 PER CENT
    ON 3RD JANUARY. SPREAD F WAS OBSERVED DURING LOCAL NIGHT ON 3RD.


                 FORECAST (05 JANUARY - 11 JANUARY)

    SOLAR:        VERY LOW TO LOW

    GEOMAGNETIC:  QUIET TO UNSETTLED

    IONOSPHERIC:   NEAR PREDICTED MONTHLY VALUES.


    COURTESY OF IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES

    SUMMARY BY PAT VK2JPA ANARTS BROADCAST OFFICER


Club news: Gladesville

    Now for some news from the Gladesville Amateur Radio Club --
    The  club would like to wish the VK2WI listeners all the best  for
    96 and to bring you some dates and activities for your diary.

    Tonight  (Sunday)  VK2TVG  resumes  the relay of  the  VK2WI  news
    session.

    The  live  Test Transmission resumes next Wednesday  at  7.30  pm,
    originated  at  VK2TVG  and relayed in Sydney  through  VK2RTV  on
    Channel  35.  The  Australian Amateur Television Club  provides  a
    relay  through VK2RFM at Oakdale on 1250 MegaHertz and the Central
    Coast  Amateur Radio Club relays through VK2RTG on 444  MegaHertz.
    Both  groups  also  provide a relay on Sunday  evening  at  7  pm.
    Television  Gladesville thanks them for their support in providing
    the extended coverage.

    VK2TVG  is  also  radiated in Sudney at 7  pm  through  VK2RTV  on
    Channel 35.

    Part  of  the  Amateur  Radio hobby is  to  keep  one's  technical
    knowledge  refreshed and this is the philosophy behind the Glades-
    ville Test Transmissions.

    On Wednesday and Friday the first technical segment in the  trans-
    mission  is from the Club's lectures in NAOCP and AOCP theory - an
    opportunity for newcomers to prepare for that future exam and  for
    the older licence to brush up on some theory.

    Our  hobby covers broad interests and the Crew at VK2TVG feel that
    the test transmissions help provide an understanding of the  tech-
    nology  involved.  Please  check  us  out on one or  more  of  our
    transmission evenings.

    The  first Gladesville Club meeting for 1996 will be  Monday  12th
    February at 7.30 pm.

    Country listeners visiting the forthcoming Central Coast Field Day
    are  invited  to call into the club stand,  its location  will  be
    advised in a future VK2WI broadcast.

    Again best wishes for 96 from the Gladesville Amateur Radio Club


Club news: Veterans Group

    The next meeting of the Veterans Group at Amateur Radio House will
    be  on  Thursday February 15th 1996 from 1100 hrs to 1400 hrs  and
    thereafter on the third Thursday of each month.

    No meeting is organised for this month January.

    Season's Greeting to all


    submitted by Franklyn Pain VK2DYP


Coming events

    Now,  a  summary  of upcoming events of interest to members  and  other
    Radio Amateurs and Short Wave Listeners ...

    SUNSAT (with "parrot repeater") launch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TBA
    Gladesville ATV live test transmissions resume . . . . . . . .Wednesday
    Ross Hull Contest and VHF/UHF Field Day . . . . . . . . Saturday-Sunday
    Divisional Office re-opens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15th
    VHF to SHF DX Group meeting at Parramatta . . . . . . . . . . . . .16th
    Waverley ARS meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17th
    Manly-Warringah  Radio Society lecture night (Woomera &  Rockets/atomic
    bombs from a personal perpective! Bob VK2GRY). . . . . . . . . . . 17th
    Parramatta ARC meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18th
    Divisional Council meeting at Parramatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19th
    Divisional Trash and Treasure Sale at Parramatta . . . . . . . . . 28th
    Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest ends , . . . . . . . . 11am EST 28th

    February
    --------
    Divisional Council meeting at Tamworth  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10th
    Radio Veterans maating at Parramatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15th
    MIR space station's tenth birthday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19th
    Waverley ARS meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21st
    Mnly-Warringah Radio Society lecture night . . . . . . . . . . . . 21st

    March
    -----
    John Moyle Memorial Field Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBA
    Daylight Saving time ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3rd
    Divisional Council meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8th
    Red Cross Calling Doorknock Appeal (Andy VK2XRX) . . . . . . . . . 17th

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    VK2WI Broadcast 7th January 1996. Copyright 1996 WIA (NSW) &
    contributors.   Material  may  be used elsewhere if the source  is
    acknowledged.

-- 

