
VK2 Div. President's message

This is Michael Corbin VK2PFQ.

There's treachery afoot once more in the ranks of Amateur Radio.  Last weekend
a group of malcontents and "has beens" engineered a meeting, under false
pretences I have been informed, by the Secretary, at the Westlakes Amateur
Radio Club.

What did they do? What did they achieve?....from what can be gathered....
nothing.. and why is this so, do you think?  It's because, I believe, they are
driven by the wrong motives.  They preach the gospel of an eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth.  You've heard it all before and you've heard how much
it cost before ....Oh!.. you haven't. Well why don't I remind you. It cost the
members of the division $54,012.97.

Yes you heard correctly $54,012.97...Half of which was spent "getting even"...
Trying to get rid of "undesirables".

Well I for one will never let this happen again to this division for as long
as I occupy the Chair. I for one will not sit by whilst individuals such as
those who organised such a meeting, once more lobby to immerse this division
in a campaign of... "GETTING EVEN."  How could anyone support a group whose
platform is, and I'll quote from a message put out by their Minister for
Propaganda ..."to examine the memberships of those members who have (done) so
much harm to the division, the matter has already been determined by the best
legal company in the business. If these members are found guilty, they can be
reviewed so they can no longer disrupt progress of the Division" unquote.

Now where have we heard this sort of clap trap before?  Hmmmmmmmmm!!!!....and
these blokes believe that the membership, indeed the hobby, want a return of
these sorts of goings on...Do the members want the Division to spend thousands
and thousands of dollars to get even.

I   DON'T   THINK   SO. You people are going to have to come up with a better
reason than this for taking over the running of the N.S.W. Branch of the
W.I.A. I wonder what we could spend the $54,012.97 this rabble wants to spend,
on MORE LEGAL FEES?????? The list is endless. Forget it guys. Why not, instead
of this counter productive nonsense, get on with the business of enjoying
Amateur Radio? Forget this "getting even" business....Bury it forever along
with those ringleaders who subscribe to such a course of action.

It has been asked in some quarter, why nothing has been done about the legal
business....Well it's simple....We owe the Solicitor $16,062.67....that's the
$16,062.67 someone people on the last Council chose to ignore existed...
Until this is paid, it's unethical of us to expect the solicitor to work for
us on anything else. Why has this not been paid....because some of the same
group, have not made themselves available to sign the necessary cheque.

NO! NO! NO! Not the same cheques we had trouble with before. We fixed that
other cheques business up by removing some signatures and adding others. This
is a different cheque account. I won't bore you with the details except to say
that it is our Investment Account .....Well these signatories were not present
at the last Council Meeting and probably won't bother coming to the next one.
So knockers please note....If you want the thing to go to Court it is really
up to you....organise some signatures for the cheques and the account will be
paid immediately. Lewarne and Goldsmith have submitted an account. An account
which was, way way below what they were entitled to charge. The "A" Team,
above all, should appreciate that, as it was them who dealt with Lewarne, NOT
ME!

All the Legal profession goes on holidays in January. This means that all such
Businesses need to get together a great deal of money to cover the Holiday Pay
due to their employees. Our Solicitor have a right to expect payment for ser-
vices provided. They should not be expected to go into overdraft with the bank
because of a delinquent debtor.

As stated at the last Council meeting, as things are presently going, we seem
likely to have this matter resolved by April.  That's five months to go.  Four
months if you take the Legal professions' Christmas Holidays into account.
Whilst  this is not my own personal preference, it seems that it will be the
case.

I could go on and on about this "meeting of treachery", but to what end. I'll
do so when the time is right and  that will be at Election time. It won't be,
as my detractors would have you believe, according to the same rules they used
at the last Election...It will be fairer. EVERYONE, even my detractors will
get a fair go. In the true Australian tradition...that's a promise....Remember
I'm......NOBODY'S MAN.....That's what probably upsets some of them the most...
They thought I was... THEIR MAN.....They neglected to ....Read the label!!!!!

The next Council Meeting is set down for the 9th December.  I would like to
make this into a Christmas get together.  Minimal business and lots of good
fellowship.  To this end, mark it in your diary.  But more on that next week.

And don't forget that other party next weekend at Joe's place VK2KAA.  She has
been kind enough to make her home available, all she needs is for you to ring
her....Why not straight after the Callbacks.  The details are in Club News and
no,  she doesn't care whose side you're on....Just come along for some good
old-fashioned camaraderie.

See you there....and don't forget today is TRASH AND TREASURE SUNDAY and boy
oh boy, do we have some treasure for you. If you have not made an offer on
that Deceased Estate gear that was in AR this month then....this is your
opportunity to have a good look at it.....It is in MINT Condition....But then
isn't everything that's for sale at the Trash & Treasure?

Before I go this week....You will recall that earlier in the week we had
terrible storms over most parts of NSW.  It seems that one member of the
Amateur Radio Fraternity, a friend of mine called Brent alias VK2PB decided
that this was as good a time as any to replace the headlights in his car.....
Getting together the necessary tools etc. he began to remove one of the head-
lights when all of a sudden..BANG!! He was thrown to the ground but really
does not remember clearly exactly what happened. Obviously he was admitted to
hospital. Then followed a period of uncertainty....Another member of our group
Jeffrey VK2EO relayed the message to us having heard about it on the commer-
cial radio news...

The good news was that Brent was released soon after from Hospital. Many tests
were made and he does not appear to have suffered any bad side effects except
for some stiffness in his body and a slight stutter which fortunately gets
better by the day....What a lucky escape...The moral, if there is one....Don't
change your headlights before an electrical storm.....no matter how far away
it is. If you do. Don't do it outside. But if you must...Do it well away from
your Ham Radio mast. Fortunately the Lightning appears to have struck the Mast
NOT Brent.

Brent has kindly offered to touch any Lottery Tickets or lotto numbers anyone
cares to send him. Usual conditions and/or percentages apply. On that happy
note. ...

See you next week.


Federal news

    Restrictions lifted for UK Hams

    Amateurs  in the United Kingdom are now able to run more power  on
    segments of the 180 m and 8 m bands.  In addition, restrictions on
    antennas  and  effective  radiated power (ERP) on 6  m  have  been
    lifted.

    On 160 m,  UK holders of the Class A livense may now use 400 watts
    output  between 1810 kHz and 1850 kHz as the power restriction  on
    the  1810-1830 kHz has been lifted.  However,  the power limit for
    the 1850-2000 kHz segment is still 30 watts.

    On 6 m,  UK holders of the Class A and B licences are now able  to
    run  400  watts between 50 MHz and 51 MHz.  Between 51 MHz and  52
    MHz,   they  are  still  restricted  to  a  power  of  100  watts.
    Restrictions on ERP and antenna height which applied to the  50-52
    MHz  band have been removed.  Maritime mobile operation on 6 m  is
    now permitted in the UK, also.

    Meanwhile,  UK  amateurs  are now required to notify  their  local
    regulatory  authority,  the Radio Investigation Service (RIS),  if
    they  operate  an unattended digital station.  Operators  have  to
    notify  their local RIS office on how to close down their  station
    in an emergency.


W.I.A. examinations

    The  next exams to be held at W.I.A.  N.S.W.  Division will be  on
    Sunday the 11th December 1994.

    This  will be your last chance to obtain your licence this year so
    don't miss out!

    Applications  are available from the Divisional Office by  phoning
    689-2417  between  12 pm and 1pm or leave a message  on  answering
    machine at other times.

    Applications will close on Thursday 1st December 1994 at 2pm.

    Jim Walker VK2XJW
    Exam Co-Ordinator


Deceased estate

    Mrs. Deal, phone 809-2831, has a lot of old radios, reels of tapes
    and host of other bits.

    She needs help to dispose of the gear, call her on the weekends.

    from Aub Topp VK2AXT
    Librarian

                   ------------------------------------

    Circuit wanted

    A senior electronics enthusiast is attempting to restore a Philips
    R.F.  signal generator, model TA101A, circa 1948, and would find a
    copy  of  a circuit or manual invaluable.  As Philips  in  Holland
    cannot  help,  (and are somewhat amazed to learn of the  continued
    existence  of  such  a  unit) could anyone  with  the  appropriate
    information  kindly  contact  Bob,   VK2CAN,  QTHR,  who  will  be
    delighted to pass it on.

    Bob, VK2CAN


    WICEN News

    This is supposed to be a quiet time for WICEN, but in the past we
    have had fire, flood, tempest, and earthquake around this time of
    the year; about all that is left is famine (unfortunately, we may
    already  have  this  in  the  form  of  the  drought)  and  plague
    (hopefully WICEN will not be involved in that one!),  so do not be
    complacent;  keep  your equipment ready at all times for a  sudden
    activation.

    Members  are reminded that the closing date for the Newsletter  is
    this Wednesday.

    For next month, there is the Blue Mountains meeting on Monday 5th
    December (and what appears to be a variety of Christmas parties by
    various Clubs).  Also, WICEN has been requested to assist with the
    NSW  Water Ski Association "Lion Island Classic",  on Sunday  11th
    December  1994.   Along  with  the  usual  2m  requirements,  long
    distance   communications  are  required  from  Croppy  Point   to
    Laughtondale,  and this will probably involve 80m.   At least  six
    personnel  are required,  from 0900 to 1430,  and those interested
    are invited to contact David Ramsay VK2KLX.

    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 either VK2AAB or VK2OP BBS.

    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 on the first Monday of each month  at
    8.30pm on channel 7175 simplex, Hunter each Wednesday at 7.30pm on
    channel  6900,  Northern Rivers each Wednesday at 8pm around  3610
    kHz,  Central  Coast each Thursday at 8.30pm on channel 7125,  and
    Sydney each Thursday at 9.30pm on channels 7150/8275.

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


                        Bits and Bytes

    Welcome to this segment of the Broadcast, resurrected after some
    years, in which we take an irregular and often irreverent look at
    the high-tech industry, and computers in particular.

    Pentium chip doesn't add up -- well,  divide,  actually ...The hot
    news  today  is  that so-called "power users" who bought  the  new
    "Pentium" chip have discovered that its calculations are not quite
    up  to scratch,  in fact,  in certain cases they can be  blatantly
    incorrect!  These users, who perform heavy computational work such
    as ray-tracing and mathematical modelling, have discovered that if
    certain  numbers are divided by each other then the  Pentium  chip
    reverts  to  single  precision  instead  of  the  intended  double
    precision.

    In  a concocted example which involves just a few operations,  the
    result is "256" instead of "0",  so this is hardly a harmless  bug
    as  some people are claiming!   The problem seems to stem from the
    actual   "bit  pattern"  by  which  floating  point  numbers   are
    represented in computers,  and certain numbers possess certain bit
    patterns which tickle whatever bug is on the Pentium's silicon.

    In the meantime, Intel are denying that this is a major problem
    (the Herald notes that Intel officials were aware of this  problem
    as far back as June, but continued to ship the defective chips re-
    gardless)  and are demanding that their customers show evidence of
    an actual problem before they will replace the faulty chip (there
    must  have been thousands,  if not millions,  of  these  expensive
    chips shipped). Listeners will be aware  of  other  floating-point
    problems  in  Intel chips,  although it is agreed that this  is  a
    difficult  thing to get right.   Those with access to "USENET" can
    check out the stories over on "comp.sys.intel".


    Spell Checker Goes Berserk; Editorial Maimed

    Meanwhile, while still in the Land of the Free (where else do we
    hear  whacky stories?),  we note that a human being  had  suddenly
    turned  into an infamous program loader.   The following  sentence
    was taken from Richard Cohen's column on page A19 of the November
    15, 1994 Washington Post:

    "GOP national chairman Haley Barbour instantly announced that New
    York City was no longer in the running for the Republican National
    Convention, and, more ominous, Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, the state's
    leading Republican and Pataki's Disk Operating System (DOS), said
    he would not seek revenge on Giuliani."

    The only explanation we can come up with (other than Sen. D'Amato
    really being a copy of DOS) is that Cohen typed `doss' instead of
    `boss', and the spelling checker not only corrected it to DOS, but
    spelled the acronym out since it's the first appearance of it in
    a non-computer-related news story.

    (Courtesy of Bob Bane, Global Science & Technology, Inc.)

    The above information was abstracted from a variety of sources,
    including but not limited to "comp.risks" and "comp.sys.intel".

    Contributed by Dave VK2ZTB


    News briefs

    It's been another quiet week for communications news, but those wh
    were  interested  on  the recent High Court ruling  regarding  our
    defamation laws might like to know that the days of astronomically
    high  damages awarded by juries will soon be a thing of the  past.
    In  future,  it's the judges who will determine the damages to  be
    awarded,  and  the  amounts will be in line with  those  given  to
    people who suffer physical injuries in accidents.

    Pretty soon, it may once again be safe to criticise the actions of
    others, even on packet, without fear of legal reprisals from those
    with fragile egos.  You'll still have to make sure what you say is
    true,  so  no  making up stories now,  otherwise we can  all  look
    forward to the day when the only lawyers on our band will be those
    with their own callsigns.

                                 ********

    In  Hong Kong,  a struggling local TV station came under fire when
    it tried to grab the attention of potential advertisers. Their ad,
    a  poster  depicting  Europe's most  infamous  war-time  dictator,
    contained several dubious slogans, including (wait for it): "Thank
    goodness he couldn't advertise on ATV". Hmmmm...

                                 ********

    Finally,  an idea for anyone wishing to pick up one of the Instit-
    ute's  awards  for  technical innovation:  CSIRO  scientists  have
    developed an antimethanogen,  a compound which,  when added to the
    feed  of livestock,  reduces the emission of greenhouse  gases  --
    from both ends.  Can anyone suggest a way this new substance might
    be applied to Amateur Radio (packet perhaps?).

                                *********

    "News  briefs"  looks at communications news items that appear  in
    the mainstream media.  Thanks this week go to "The Sydney  Morning
    Herald".  If your local or regional paper runs an item of interest
    to  Radio  Amateurs,  why  not send a clipping to  the  Divisional
    Office?

    --Richard Murnane VK2SKY


                          IPS WEEKLY REPORT
                          -----------------
                      18 NOVEMBER - 25 NOVEMBER

    DATE OF ISSUE: 25 NOVEMBER 1994

    INDICES:

    DATE     18    19    20    21    22    23    24
    10CM     80    78    79    78    76    78    79
    A         5    17    23     6     6     3   (4 ESTIMATED)
    T        36    33     5    28    45    10    37


    SOLAR ACTIVITY WAS VERY LOW THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD.

    THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD AT LEARMONTH WAS QUIET,OR MOSTLY QUIET
    18TH, AND 21ST-24TH NOVEMBER, UNSETTLED ON 19TH, AND AT ACTIVE
    TO MINOR STORM LEVELS ON 20TH.

    IONOSPHERIC F2 CRITICAL FREQUENCIES AT SYDNEY WERE MOSTLY NEAR
    NORMAL OR ENHANCED BY 15-30 PER CENT, EXCEPT FOR ENHANCEMENTS
    OF UP TO 50 PER CENT ON 18TH, AND DEPRESSED PERIODS OF UP TO
    20TH-21ST NOVEMBER. SPORADIC E BLANKETING OCCURRED AT TIMES ON
    20TH-22ND.


                 FORECAST (25 NOVEMBER - 01 DECEMBER)

    SOLAR:        VERY LOW

    GEOMAGNETIC:  ACTIVE TO MINOR STORM LEVELS EXPECTED DURING
              INTERVAL 25-27 NOV.

    IONOSPHERIC:  DEGRADED HF COMMS CONDITIONS EXPECTED 26-27 NOV.
              NEAR NORMAL ON OTHER DAYS.


    COURTESY OF THE IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES

    SUMMARY BY PAT VK2JPA ANARTS BROADCAST OFFICER


                                INVITATION

    The  Wireless  Institute of Australia in conjunction  with  WAHRA,
    AAPRA,  SPARC  and other groups is pleased to announce that  there
    will  be a social function and get-together at the home QTH of Jo,
    VK2KAA, on Sunday 4 December 1994.

    All  Amateur  Radio Operators are welcome to attend  the  barbeque
    which will commence at 5.00 pm.

                The QTH is 59 Westbrook Avenue, Wahroonga.

    The  function  will  cost $10 per head and  in  the  interests  of
    catering,  would  you  please contact Jo at the above  address  by
    Sunday 27th of November to indicate your intention to attend. Pre-
    payment  for the function would be appreciated. Wives and  friends
    are  very  welcome.  A pool is available so bring  your  "Cossie".
    Please bring your own drinks.

    Jo's  telephone number is 489 4393.  She can also be contacted  on
    Packet via VK2AAB or on the Hornsby repeater, on 147.250 MHz.

    We  are  looking  forward  to seeing you there  to  celebrate  the
    passing of a turbulent but interesting year, 1994.


Club News

    Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club
    ------------------------------
    Members  and  friends  of the Radio Amateurs Old Timers  Club  are
    reminded  that the next series of broadcasts and call  backs  will
    take place on Monday December 5.

    Times and frequencies will be as follows:

    10 AM.  MELBOURNE TIME (2300 ZULU)
            145.700 MegaHertz  FM
                   AND
              7.060 Megahertz  LSB
              3650  MegaHertz  LSB

    11 AM.  MELBOURNE TIME (0001 HOURS ZULU)
             14.150 MegaHertz  USB beaming NORTH
                                   from Melbourne

    12 NOON MELBOURNE TIME (0100 HOURS ZULU)
             14.150 MegaHertz  USB beaming WEST
                                   from Melbourne

    8.30 PM MELBOURNE TIME (0930 HOURS ZULU)
              3650 MegaHertz   For the benefit of members
                               of friends who, for whatever
                               reason are unable to hear any
                               of the morning transmissions.

    Callbacks will follow all six transmissions.
    News for inclusion in the club broadcasts will be welcomed by Club
    Secretary  Arthur  Evans VK3VQ or Allan Doble VK3AMD both of  whom
    are OK in any call book.


    From the St George Amateur Radio Society

    The  next meeting of the Society will be held at the usual  venue,
    that is in the 1st Allawah Scout Hall, corner of Bellevue Pde. and
    Blakesley  Rd.,  South Hurstville at 7.30 pm Wednesday evening the
    7th of December 1994.

    Due  to  illness  the Society's guest  speaker  for  its  November
    meeting, David Pack VK2GIO was unable to attend. David is now well
    again  and  has  indicated  that  he will be  there  to  give  his
    interesting  talk and demonstration on Amateur Television at  this
    December meeting.  Members and interested visitors should not miss
    this opportunity to improve their knowledge of this emerging facet
    of our hobby.

    The  Society  is pleased to advise interested  amateurs  that  its
    repeater VK2RDX normally sited on Mt. Bindo and some time ago made
    unserviceable  by repeated vandalism is now up and running on test
    at a temporary site in the Mt. Victoria area.

    Unfortunately  this  new site is considerable lower  in  elevation
    than Mt.  Bindo and even though some reports are good, many others
    indicate a loss in coverage and signal strength.

    The  Society  intends  to  retain  its  site  at  Mt.   Bindo   in
    anticipation  of  talks  with the  Forestry  Commission  regarding
    improved  security being fruitful.  This could be some time  away,
    but  would mean that VK2RDX could be resited back to Bindo with  a
    higher degree of safety than at present.

    Visitors  are  always welcome to club meetings,  coffee,  tea  and
    biscuits  are  provided and the members look  forward  to  meeting
    those interested in attending.

    frm Allan VK2XF Publicity Officer


    AATC

    The next general meeting of the A.A.T.C. Inc. is on December 11th,
    the  second  Sunday  of  the month at 1.00 pm  at  Amateur  House,
    Parramatta.

    The  technical lecture on the day will be on  (a)  Power  supplies
    and  as  a backup lecture (b) will be on gel-cel sealed lead  acid
    batteries  plus a demonstration of an 8 channel  relay  controlled
    output  from your IBM computer so you can operate external devices
    via the keyboard.

    The  committee  wishes to thank all those who attended  the  AATC-
    Christmas bar-b-que. Very special thanks to Dave and Judy catering
    serices.

    Calling  all AATC - don't forget to put your thinking cap  on  for
    Wyong  display next year - remeber it is only 12 plus weeks  away.
    So  start sorting out what items of equipment you wish to display.
    No flying leads with RCA or BNC plugs attached will be displayed.

    Newsflash from the Publicity Oficer to be discussed next meeting.
    Item 1. - The 11kv power supplies and item 2. the 200 foot tower.

    For  more  information about the A.A.T.C.  listen to  the  net  on
    Tuesday  nights  from the Liverpool area on 146.625  MHz  - approx
    19.30 hrs - or watch us on 1250 MHz from our Oaldale repeater any-
    time.

    AATC Inc. Publicity Officer Bob Barnes


    Packet meeting

    The  Packet  Group  of the Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio  Club  are
    pleased  to announce their 2nd get-together for System  Operators,
    Service Providers and other interested parties.

    The  meeting  is  intended  to  be  both  inform  each  other   on
    experiments  and networking as well as to provide a forum for some
    form   of  network  planning  primarily  in  the  area  south   of
    Campbelltown into the Southern Highlands.

    At  the meeting will be 9600 baud modems,  kit TNC's as well as  a
    4800  baud  Baycom style modem.  There will  also  be  information
    provided  on  Spread  Spectrum  Packet  networks  and  high  speed
    broadcast techniques.

    The  meeting  is  at  the regular Fisher's  Ghost  Club  venue  of
    Campblltown  High School in the room under the HF Yagi.  It is  on
    NEXT SUNDAY 5th December starting at 10:00 am.  We intend to break
    at around noon so be sure to bring meat and drinks for a BBQ.

    Once  again the Packet meeting is next Sunday at Campbelltown High
    School at 10 am.

    Darryl VK2TDS


                               Coming events

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

    Solar '94 Conference & Exhibition. . . . . . . .Wednesday-Friday
    Divisional exam applications close (contact Jim VK2XJW) Thursday
    Manly-Warringah Radio Society Christmas Function . . . . .Friday
    WAHRA, AAPRA, & SPARC Christmas Party. . . . . . . . next Sunday
    Summerland ARC Christmas party . . . . . . . . . . . next Sunday
    Blue Mountains WICEN meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 December
    Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club net . . . . . . . . . .5 December
    Fishers Ghost Packet Group meeting . . . . . . . . . .5 December
    St George ARC meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 December
    Waverley ARC Christmas Dinner. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 December
    NSW Water Ski Ass'n Lion island Classic (VK2KLX) . . 11 December
    Divisional exams at Parramatta . . . . . . . . . . . 11 December
    Summerland ARC exams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 December
    Australian Amateur TV Club general meeting . . . . . 11 December

    Do  you  have an event you'd like publicised on the weekly  broad-
    cast?  If so, then please send details to the Divisional Broadcast
    Officer,  Michael Corbin VK2PFQ, by phone on (02) 626-9288,  or by
    fax on (02) 626-6066.Items can also be forwarded to the Divisional
    Office.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    VK2WI Broadcast, 27th November  1994. Copyright 1994 WIA (NSW) &
    contributors.   Material  may be used elsewhere if the source  is
    acknowledged.
