
President's Address

    This is Michael Corbin VK2PFQ.

        Well what a week...cheques at last,  I hope...Trash and Treasure
    success....  threatening  letters  from a solicitor,  amongst  other
    things.....

    Listeners will be pleased to know that the process of cheque signing
    has commenced.  As Council  was unwilling to wait to see whether our
    friends  with  the  signatures turned up at  next  Friday's  council
    meeting,   Peter   Kloppenberg  VK2CPK  our  hard   working   office
    Administrative secretary and myself decided to find out which cheque
    book  was  which;  having  achieved this we filled in  the  relevant
    details and send it on to the first signatory who, in turn will send
    it  onto the next who,  hopefully,  will send it on to  Lewarne  and
    Goldsmith.   It  left  for signatory person number one in  Wednesday
    afternoon's mail.  I know he will send it on to the second bloke....
    but will the second send it on to the Solicitor???  We will keep our
    fingers crossed.

        The  Trash  and  Treasure  sale last weekend  was  a  resounding
    success.  The dollars and cents collected were the biggest for quite
    some   time.   The  test  gear  that  was  bequeathed  to  us   sold
    exceptionally  well.  Since  Sunday  Peter K and  I  have  collected
    another truck load.  So, if you missed out last time..Don't miss out
    next time.

         I  have never been to one of these Trash & Treasure before  and
    although my visit was only to drop in that Deceased Estate  gear,  I
    spoke of last weekend, something was immediately obvious....

    It was a stinking hot day, but where were the drinks??!!  So... from
    now on at Trash & Treasure you will be able to purchase an Icy  Cold
    drink and.....for those who are peckish, a Hot Dog.  I'm sure we are
    going  to  make millions out of it....

    Now,  does anyone have an old beer 'fridge they don't want.   If so,
    call the office.   Hot Dogs,  well I'll take care of that,  I'm  the
    expert  at  the  local Baseball Park every  Saturday.   I'll  borrow
    their equipment for the day.  Obviously, our aim is to make the sale
    more attractive for Buyers and Sellers ........Three course sit down
    meals will take just a little longer to provide. But we are  working
    on it!!

        Now  as to the threatening letter from a solicitor....Well I  am
    unable  to  broadcast  the exact details on  this  matter  via  this
    medium.     You'll    have    to   come   to   the   next    Council
    meeting....Hmmmm!!!!!!! The things people do to you.

        On the subject of that new amateur organisation.   Our inquiries
    statewide  can find nobody except the Propaganda Minister  and  some
    bloke  from the North Coast,  who know anything about it...If indeed
    you can believe what they are saying?? Not that I am suggesting that
    they  are  telling un-truths.  One thing that does come  out  though
    however  is  ....The  identity of the person who  is  advising  this
    organisation,  if indeed there is an organisation.  How can you wear
    two hats or is it three???  I wonder if it will become an affiliated
    club.

        Christmas Parties:- Yes,  it's that time of year again,  so  why
    don't  I  remind you of them.   There's one tonight at  Joe's  place
    VK2KAA.   But  if you haven't booked you've missed out on that  one.

    There's  one  next  Friday night after the  Council  meeting.   It's
    success depends on you.   We will provide the venue, you can provide
    the wherewithal and the good cheer.   The meeting won't go past 9.30
    P.M.   What  isn't  done  by  then will have  to  wait  'till  after
    Christmas.   So,  bring  yourself,  your  refreshments  and  perhaps
    something to nibble on....or if you forget then we can send out  for
    some   KFC....Which   of   course  stands  for   Known   Friend   of
    Corbin's...not the other Bloke.

          The  next one is the Broadcast Team Party,  which will be held
    after  the last broadcast for the year....that's December the  18th.
    But more on that next week,  from the Broadcast Team Organiser Steve
    Pullan, VK2QZ.

        I  was disturbed to hear this week,  that Jim Walker VK2XJW  had
    been  admitted to Westmead Hospital with chest pains.  I'm sure  you
    will join with me in wishing him a speedy recovery.  We hope he will
    be home for Christmas.  As I said Jim is in Westmead Hospital... But
    not too many visitors just yet....If you want to visit Jim, it might
    be wise to call first.

        Those who made an offer on the Deceased Estate equipment offered
    for sale in November A.R.  will be advised as to the result of their
    tenders later this week.  However will the bloke who made the  offer
    last  weekend  please  submit it in writing by Monday,  or  give  me
    another  call...  so as this can be finalised.  The balance  of  the
    estate  is  advertised in this months Amateur Radio  Magazine.   For
    information  on  any  piece  of  the  equipment,   please  call  the
    Divisional Office or myself.

        Finally, we have office space to rent...Unfortunately for us but
    fortunately for them The Appliance and Limb Centre,  our  downstairs
    tenants  ever  since  we moved into our  Parramatta  premises,  have
    outgrown themselves. Since they first moved there that have expanded
    by about half.  We accommodated this expansion by putting them  into
    what  should be our lockup garage.  As Parramatta City Council  will
    not allow the Limb Centre to expand anymore. The only option open to
    them  was,  unfortunately for us,  to move to a larger  building.  I
    don't  need  to tell you what sort of a hole that will make  in  our
    Income.  My  detractors  will be overjoyed....I can almost hear  the
    clackity clackity of their poison word processors from here....Never
    Mind...... Life wasn't meant to be easy.

    See you next week.

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

    New WIA members

    The  WIA  bids a warm welcome to the following new members who  were
    entered into the WIA Membership Register during the month of October
    1994.

    VK2CAP  Mr H Prehn
    VK2IBF  Mr H Kenzian
    VK2MOM  Mr B Shipton
    VK2MON  Mr A Turvey
    VK2QC   Mr K Sharpe
    VK2TDT  Mr D J Taylor
    VK2TFT  Mr E M Stringer

    The President and the Council of the NSW Division add their  welcome
    to that of the Federal body ... WELCOME!!!

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

    New Federal Secretary

    Mr Lewis Badge has been appointed the new WIA Federal Secretary. His
    appointment was made by the WIA Federal Executive at the quarterly
    extraordinary  convention  over the weekend of 29-30th  October.  He
    took up his appointment in early November. Mr Badge is an accountant
    by profession and has a commercial background as a company secretary.

    Donna  Reilly,  who  served  as Federal  Secretary  following  Bruce
    Thorne's resignation in August, has returned to her previous role as
    Office Manager.


    Boost to SMA Liaison

    Liaison with the SMA at Federal level will encompass a more cohesive
    team approach following a decision of the WIA Federal Council at its
    October quarterly meeting.

    The principal SMA Liaison team now consists of Federal SMA Liaison
    Officer, Gavan Berger VK1EB (appointed at the Federal AGM in May),
    Federal  President  Neil Penfold VK6NE,  and Federal  Vice  Chairman
    Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.  For particular meetings where specific know-
    edge  or expertise is required in given areas of  the  hobby,  other
    people will be called on to participate in meetings with the SMA.

    While SMA liaison has, in the past, been conducted with several WIA
    people occasionally present at various meetings, this new approach
    is expected to improve communication between the SMA and the WIA and
    keep the Federal Council more closely associated with activities and
    negotiations.  Federal  President  Neil Penfold was to seek  a  team
    meeting with the SMA Spectrum Manager, Christine Goode, and other
    senior SMA staffers at the earliest available opportunity with a
    view to outlining general agendas, issues and approaches for future
    meetings. It was hoped that this could be done in early December.


    WIA Federal Budget

    The October quarterly convention of the WIA Federal Council, held in
    Melbourne over 29-30th of the month, considered the 1995 budget in
    some depth.

    Forecasting  a further small decline in income from membership  sub-
    scriptions, together with a fall in costs in some areas, the Council
    looked  at the Federal Office operations and decided on a conservat-
    ive  approach,  budgeting for economies in several  critical  areas.
    Overall  expenditure  was  set  at a level  below  the  past  years'
    figures.

    However, an increase in SMA Liaison costs was budgeted to cover
    travel expenses expected following a separate Council decision to
    boost representation over the coming year. Costs for production of
    Amateur Radio magazine were maintained at forecast levels.

    In an effort to economise on Federal Office computer system costs
    and to further streamline office operations, the computer system
    software and hardware is to be upgraded, commencing in January. Bill
    Wardrop VK5AWM, VK5 Federal Councillor, volunteered his services to
    assist in this process and is to spend some time in the Federal
    Office during January.


    80 metre DX window

    The  SMA  has confirmed that amateur stations operating in  the  80
    metre  DX  window must comply with the regulations as  explained  in
    recent  issues  of "Amateur Radio".  A letter received from the  SMA
    states:

    "The 80 metre DX window (3794-3800 kHz) is set aside for use by  the
    Amateur  service in Australiaon a secondary (non-interference) basis
    and  is  specified  in Australian footnote AUS8  of  the  Australian
    Spectrum Plan (Statutory Rules 1990 No. 413). This band is available
    for  use by unrestricted amateur licensees only and  is  conditional
    upon  the avoidance of operation within 1 kHz of 3794 kHz,  which in
    effect  reduces  the band to 3795-3800  kHz.  Amateur licensees must
    ensure  that  their  transmissions are wholly contained  within  the
    band.

    "When  using lower sideband emission for voice transmission,  as  is
    customary for amateur operation on 80 metres,  care must be taken to
    ensure that the transmitted sidebands do not extend below 3795  kHz.
    Consequently,  depending  on  the transmitted audio  bandwidth,  the
    operating  (carrier) frequency may be limited tp approximtely  3798-
    3800  kHz.  Ohter modes of transmission which occupy  less  spectrum
    (such as CW) permit closer operation to the 3795 kHz lower limit.

    "Within  Australia,  the spectrum immediately below the 80 metre  DX
    window is occupied by a number of primary services.  It is important
    that  these  services do not receive interference  from  out-of-band
    amateur transmissions.

    "I  trust this information settles any disputes regarding the use of
    this band."

    The letter was signed by Mr.  Peter Allen, Acting Manager, Technical
    Services Team, Customer Services Group of the SMA.

    To sum up briefly:
    1.  No part of an amateur signal should extend below 3795 kHz.
    2.    When  using  LSB,   the  lowest  legal  carrier  frequency  is
    approximatwely 3798 kHz.
    3.   Interference to services operating below the DX window must  be
    avoided.

    John Martin VK3KWA Chairman, FTAC


    New National Parks

    Last  Thursday,  1st December 1994,  the New South Wales  government
    proclaimed ten new National Parks. They are:

           Gardens of Stone National Park near Lithgow
           Cudmirrah National Park near Sussex Inlet
           Conjola National park near Lake Conjola
           Popran National Park near Gosford

    and six (or is it seven) in the south east forest near Eden

           Coolangubra National Park,
           Yowaka National Park,
           Tantawangalo National Park,
           Genoa Nationa Park,
           Bemboka National Park,
           Biamanga National Park,
           Bondi Gulf National Park.

    Now  what has this to do with Amateur radio?  Well in 1988,  the New
    South   Wales  division of the  Wireless  Institute   of   Australia
    introduced  a number of awards,  among these awards was the National
    Parks award,  which was for amateurs (and short wave listeners)  who
    made  25  (or  heard) contacts from  or  to  National  Parks,  State
    Recreation  Areas  and Historic Sites.  These new parks bring  to  a
    total  of  125 National Parks,  State Recreation Areas and  Historic
    Sites that can be activated.

    For more details of the National Parks award, or the other awards;

             The Shires award,
             The Clubs award,
             The 25 award,
         or  The Special award;

    then phone,  write or call into the Divisional office for an  awards
    booklet and I'll see you in a National Park soon.

    Peter O'Connell VK2EMU
    Divisional Awards Manager

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


    WICEN News

    There is little to report for now, so we will lead with some items
    of interest to WICEN members.

    First off, it seems that the Parliamentary Committee currently
    investigating the January bushfires has found there was a serious
    lack of communications between the various agencies.  Speaking of
    communications, we are fortunate that the Dural Engineer, who is
    responsible for maintaining the Divisional repeaters, is also an
    active WICEN member; he will personally ensure that the repeaters
    remain on air to provide auxiliary communications during what
    promises to be a worse bush-fire season than last year.

    Meanwhile, further to the north, we are informed of the scale of
    disasters suffered by Indonesia.  According to the Sydney Morning
    Herald,  Indonesia, home of many of the world's active volcanoes and
    host  to some of its worst earthquakes,  bushfires and tidal  waves,
    averaged at least four natural disasters a day.  Poor communications
    and  inadequate  data  hindered  cataloguing the  numbers  of  those
    affected  by  such disasters -- 772 killed,  2.2  million  hurt  and
    15,000  buildings  destroyed this year.   We in Australia can  count
    ourselves fortunate,  although it is worth reminding listeners  that
    this month is the 20th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy, which flattened
    Darwin  on  Christmas  Day  1974,  and the 5th  anniversary  of  the
    Newcastle Earthquake,  which did its best to level Newcastle on 28th
    December 1989.  WICEN members were heavily involved in the aftermath
    of both disasters.

    Turning closer to home, we advise of a meeting of the Blue Mountains
    region  tomorrow,  starting at 8pm.   The location is the  Glenbrook
    Bush Fire Brigade Station, and there will be a talk-in on 147.175
    MHz simplex for peoplc needing directions.  All interested persons
    are invited to attend, and for more information please contact Alan
    VK2YYJ on (02) 839-1388 during office hours.  The other events are
    the Management Committee meeting next Saturday (which we understand
    may be followed by a "barbie"); the NSW Water Ski Association "Lion
    Island Classic" next Sunday, for which David VK2KLX is the contact;
    and the Hunter region meeting at the Emergency Operations Centre,
    corner of Elizabeth and Hannel Sts, Carrington, commencing at 7pm,
    at which Pauline VK2GTB will make you welcome.

    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.

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

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

    Dural Report

    This report was submitted by Tony Liolio VK2ZLT

    Last  weekend  whilst some of you were spending myour money  at  the
    trash & treasure sale at Parramatta Head Office,  I was slaving away
    in  the  attic  (?) at Dural.  Tim Mills (VK2ZTM)  and  yours  truly
    (VK2ZLT) have now, some of you will say at last, installed emergency
    lighting  at  Dural.  This  was  spurred on  by  those  three  power
    balckouts we have had over the last couple of months. Although the 7
    trailer  lights  only have 12 volt 5 watt globes in them at  present
    they will soon be replaced with 22 watt ones. The main thing is that
    there  are  emergency  lights  of  some  description  installed  and
    working.  I  would  like to thank Tim Mills for helping  me  in  the
    sweltering  heat  ,  when  he  could  have  been  home  in  the  air
    conditioned comfort of his home.

    Dave  Horsfall (VK2KFU) has been putting together some  recommendat-
    ions  for  the upgrade of the station.  There is now once  again  a
    Dural  committee.  The Dural facility was put together in the  early
    1950's  by  Michael Corbin VK2PFQ's father Jim VK2YC  together  with
    many willing workers, not forgetting those donations from you blokes
    in the country.  The Dural committee's aim is to modernise the Dural
    site  and make the station better and that little bit more  reliable
    for you the listener. Some of our ideas are:

           * more beacons and repeaters
           * a much needed coat of paint
           *  conversion of as many transmitters as possible to 12  volt
    operation. This will mean blackouts won't put us off the air.
           * an upgraded battery back-up system.

    Finally a word on the six metre repeater.  I have discovered a blown
    final transistor in the P.A.  stage which, when it is replaced, will
    get things going again.  My biggest problem is time ... something of
    which I never seem to have enough.  I would like to thank all  those
    who  have helped with this project.  We hope to have it back on  the
    air sometime after Christmas.

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

    Magazine Roundup

    Here  again  is  a  summary of the local  magazines,  which  in  the
    author's  opinion  could be of interest to Amateurs.  This  week  we
    discuss the December issues of the various magazines.

    "Electronics  Australia"  decribes "Asynchronous Transfer Mode"  (or
    ATM),  which  will  form  the basis for networking  in  the  future;
    discusses toxic computer scrap, soldering safety, and RFI from touch
    lamps; concludes the construction of their intelligent solar battery
    charger; shows how to adapt the "Pocket Packet" kit for a Macintosh;
    introduces  Erasable  Programmable Logic Devices (or EPLDs)  with  a
    simple pulse-generator kit; and finishes with a series on modems and
    data communications.

    "Silicon  Chip" decribes how buyers of 9-bit SIMMs are being  conned
    by  fake  memory  modules (the parity bit is replaced  with  a  much
    cheaper parity generator chip); Australian ingenuity is demonstrated
    once  again by a "world first" -- a Dolby Pro Logic  Surround  Sound
    Decoder  kit;  Amateurs  can  torment  their kids  at  Christmas  by
    building an electronic cricket and hiding it; a simple but effective
    car  burglar  alarm using a dedicated chip is  described;  a  "Basic
    Stamp" micro-controller is discussed ;  a three-spot low  distortion
    sinewave  oscillator  is  constructed;  and in  another  example  of
    Australian  ingenuity,  a complex radio control system for models is
    introduced.

    "Amateur  Radio"  describes  a simple  and  transportable  tilt-over
    tower; an alternator is modified to produce a battery charger;adds a
    PLL  carrier-detect  circuit to the venerable "7910"  packet  modem;
    everything  the  packet beginner wanted to know  about  the  various
    acronyms  is  explained;  a  noise  bridge is  modified  for  better
    performance;  basic packet radio operation is explained;  Morse code
    users will find an explanation of the Curtis keyer chip;  and  power
    supplies for repeaters are discussed.

    Finally,  "Amateur  Radio  Action"  describes the  SMA's  policy  on
    interference  (sub-titled  "Read it and Weep");  how to get  started
    cheaply in Amateur radio is discussed;  a review of an antenna tuner
    would  not  have  been mentioned,  except it was used to tune  up  a
    lettuce  successfully  on  40m;  the NOAA-11  weather  satellite  is
    discussed,  as it appears to have failed in a peculiar  manner;  and
    high-speed  packet  radio is introduced,  with particular  attention
    paid to bandwidth.

    Be listening next month for another summary of the local magazines.

    --Dave VK2KFU


    News briefs

    With  frequent  thunder storms occurring at this time of  the  year,
    it's  worth  reminding  listeners of the dangers.  Most  of  us
    probably  know  not  to go out playing golf or climbing  our  towers
    during thundery weather, but there are other precautions we can take
    to avoid injury.

    For   example,   you   should  avoid  using  the  telephone   during
    thunderstorms.  A Sydney woman ended up in hospital last Sunday when
    she suffered an electric shock while talking on the telephone during
    a thunderstorm.  Don't forget that your computer and telephone modem
    can also suffer a similar fate.

    And,  of course, earth or unplug those antennas, and disconnect your
    radio and computer gear from the mains to be on the safe side.

                                    ***

    At  the Solar '94 Conference in Sydney this  week,  Professor  David
    Suzuki  urged the Government to support solar energy and to adopt  a
    long-term renewable energy strategy.  The conference,  hosted at the
    University  of  New South Wales by the Australia New  Zealand  Solar
    Energy  Society,  also  saw  the  launch of a book  by  ABC  science
    reporter Gavin Gilchrist.  Entitled The Big Switch,  the book argues
    that Australia's coal reserves will start to run out as early as the
    year 2007.

    Professor  Suzuki said that solar energy technology by itself  would
    not  be enough to protect the environment,  but that it would  be  a
    step on the way to "lightening the human ecological footprint on the
    Earth".

    Dr.  David Mills,  a physicist at the University of Sydney, lamented
    that  the  government  was  allocating less money  to  solar  energy
    research  than it was willing to spend tearing down old eyesores  at
    Sydney's Circular Quay.  He called for "broad-based simulation of  a
    range of technologies, including bio fuels for vehicles, wind power,
    and solar thermal energy".

    A  report  from  the  Institute of  Engineers  Australia  said  that
    Australia  was not on track for meeting its greenhouse gas  emission
    targets  for the year,  and that in fact emissions were still on the
    increase.  These  targets  were set under the  1992  United  Nations
    Global  Convention  on  Climate  Change,  to which  Australia  is  a
    signatory.

                                    ***

    A  common complaint from users of battery-powered  laptop  computers
    (well in fact anyone who uses batteries) is that the batteries never
    seem  to last long enough.  While the elctronic circuits  themselves
    are  becoming  more  efficient,  manufacturers are packing  in  more
    circuits and features into their products, so that the power problem
    still remains.

    A.E.R.  Energy thinks it has the answer,  with a new zinc-air design
    it calls the Energy Power 220,  a 1.3 kg battery with a capacity  of
    140  Watt-hours (by comparision,  a Nickel Metal Hydride battery  of
    similar  weight has a capacity of only 50 Watt-hours).  A.E.R.  says
    its  battery  has  a longer operating life  and  is  environmentally
    friendly,  as it uses air as the catalyst.  On the downside, the air
    catalyst means the battery is significantly larger,  and can only be
    recharged about 50 times.

    Offering  better  performance is a new lithium  ion  battery,  which
    could  be recycled between 500 and 1000  times.  However,  cost  and
    availablilty are still a problem, and there is some concern over the
    safety of the unit.

    Other  possible contenders in the "best battery" stakes are  lithium
    polymer batteries being developed by companies like Dell  Computers,
    Toshiba, and Texas Instruments.

    Meanwhile  a  Valence lithium battery could be available  late  next
    year:  this battery will have a lifetime three to four times that of
    Nicads,  and  will  be  rechargeable over  several  hundred  cycles.
    Initially  a  110 Watt-hour battery will be available,  with  a  150
    Watt-hour model coming into production later.

                                    ***

    Finally,  environmentally-aware Amateurs might like to get hold of a
    free  booklet  published  by the  Environmental  Protection  Agency.
    Entitled "Everyday things we can do to improve our environment", the
    booklet may be obtained simply by phoning 1800 632-907.

                                    ***

    "News briefs" looks at communications news items that appear in  the
    mainstream media.  Thanks this week go to "The Australian" and  "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


    A free invitation

    to  visit  the  telecommunications repository and see 100  years  of
    telephony including:
      old phones
      photographs
      switchboards
      Morse equipment and demonstrations of morse equipment restored  to
    working order
      telegraph and telex equipment

    Films   on   various  telecommunications  subjects  shown   in   the
    theatrette.

    Convenient location: The old Ashfield Post Office
                         11 Hercules Street
                         Ashfield NSW

    100  metres from Ashfield Railway Station and undercover public  car
    park.

    Open   every  Wednesday  from  12.30pm  to  2.30pm  (closed   public
    holidays).

    Just call in - you will be glad you did!

    Their phone number is 716-8071.

    submitted by Mal Sinclair VK2BMS


    Going to the Cook Islands?

    With  the approach of the Christmas holidays some lucky amateurs may
    be doing just that.  If this description fits you, why don't you get
    your own "ZK" callsign?

    How? Write to:
          Cook Island Amateur Radio Club ZK1CI
          P.O. Box 663
          Raratonga
          Cook Island
          South Pacific

    Club  meetings  are held at Tangaroa Liqueur Bar  Ara  Metua (Inland
    Road)  Tutakimoa  (next to "The Perfume  Factory")  Raratonga,  Cook
    Island.

    When: Meetings held first Thursday of every month at 8.30pm.

    General information:  The club is a great place for visitors to meet
    LOCAL AMATEURS and  RADIO ENTHUSIASTS. A warm welcome is guaranteed.
    No joining fee. Enjoy a swim amongst lush tropical garden setting in
    full  size  pool.  Club  can arrange meetings and skeds  with  Outer
    Island  Amateurs and discounted travel to the  outer  islands.  Full
    Amateur Shack at Club House with excellent Antennas available.  Club
    can organize local ZK RADIO LICENCE whilst visiting.

    ORIGINAL:  (SMA) AMATEUR OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATE of PROFICIENCY  must
    be  produced - A copy not acceptable,  to obtain your ZK LICENCE  to
    operate in the Cook Islands.

    Further information from John Abbott ZK1AX (Club Secretary)
                  Telephone  0011-682-21190
                  Fax        0015-682-20964


                          IPS WEEKLY REPORT
                          -----------------
                      25 NOVEMBER - 01 DECEMBER

    DATE OF ISSUE: 02 DECEMBER 1994

    INDICES:
    DATE     25    26    27    28    29    30    01
    10CM     82    83    80    80    80    78    79
    A         3    24    18    12     8    16   (10 ESTIMATED)
    T         3    31   -15    19    24    40     6

    SOLAR ACTIVITY WAS VERY LOW, EXCEPT FOR 16TH NOVEMBER WHEN  IT
    WAS LOW.

    THE  GEOMAGNETIC  FIELD AT LEARMONTH WAS QUIET ON  25TH,  THEN
    WENT  TO MAJOR STORM LEVELS ON 26TH,  DECREASING TO ACTIVE  TO
    MINOR STORM LEVELS DURING LOCAL NIGHT ON 26TH,  THEN QUIET  OR
    QUIET TO UNSETTLED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD.

    IONOSPHERIC  F2 CRITICAL FREQUENCIES AT SYDNEY WERE  DEPRESSED
    ABOUT 15 PER CENT ON 25TH,  THEN NEAR PREDICTED 26TH AND 28TH-
    29TH  NOVEMBER.  fREQUENCIES  WERE DEPRESSED  15-30  PER  CENT
    DURING LOCAL NIGHT ON 27TH,  15-20 PER CENT ABOVE ON 30TH, AND
    NEAR PREDICTED TO SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED ON 1ST DECEMBER.

                 FORECAST (02 NOVEMBER - 08 DECEMBER)

    SOLAR:        VERY LOW

    GEOMAGNETIC:  QUIET TO UNSETTLED.

    IONOSPHERIC:    SLIGHTLY   DEGRADED  HF  COMMS  EXPECTED   2-3
                          DECEMBER, NEAR NORMAL OTHERWISE.


    COURTESY OF THE IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES

    SUMMARY BY PAT VK2JPA ANARTS BROADCAST OFFICER



CLUB NEWS

    A.A.T.C.

    Stop  press  - Attention  all AATC mwembers - changes  to  the  next
    meeting  location - it will be on December 11th at Dave Pack's  home
    10 Manus Place 1.00 pm Glenfield owing to an oversight by the WIA -
    Parramatta.

    The technical lecture on the day will be on  (a) oscilloscopes - the
    use and abuse. A demonstration of an 8 channel  relay  controlled
    output  from your IBM computer so you can operate external devices
    via  the  keyboard,  and the backup lecture (b) will be on  charging
    lead acid batteries.

    Calling  all AATC members - start thinking about what input you  can
    do  for  the Wyong field day next year - remember Feb 26 is only  12
    weeks away. Sort out what equipment you wish to have displayed. Also
    the timings you will be present to man or woman the site etc.

    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. Also you can ring for more info to Sydney 02 587-3491 any time
    !!!

    AATC Inc. Publicity Officer Bob Barnes


    Parramatta Amateur Radio Club

    The  planned picnic day this Sunday has been cancelled.  In lieu  of
    this  the  club's  Christmas  function will be  held  on  the  third
    Thursday of this month,  that being the 15th of December, it will be
    held  at the Lancers Barracks Bistro,  the Commercial Inn located at
    the corner of Wigram Street and Station Street Parramatta,  commenc-
    ing at 7.30pm.
    You  can  see us there after 7.30pm or meet at Amateur  Radio  House
    Wigram Street just prior to 7.30 and then walk up.

    The club's repeater VK2RPC located at Kurrajong has been in  service
    since  the  9th  of October.  This repeater has been  used  by  many
    operators,  the  reports received have indicated excellent coverage
    of the Sydney and surrounding areas,  it has also opened up coverage
    in previous known shadow areas not covered by other repeaters.

    It  is worth noting that this amateur service shares the  site  with
    other commercial services,  including 5 pager transmitters.  It just
    goes to show that both commercial and amateur services can co-exist,
    despite the potential interference problems.

    Unfortunately,  there  are some problems.  Apparently some  stations
    accessing  the  Kurrajong repeater are also opening up the  Tamworth
    repeater. This is causing problems to the Tamworth repeater as it is
    a solar powered service.

    Subsequently,  NTAC  have asked the Parramatta Club  to  temporarily
    close down the Kurrajong repeater.  So in good faith, we will comply
    with  this request.  The repeater will be switched off some time  in
    the next few days.

    Apologies  to  the current users of this service,  we do promise  to
    work  with  the relevant authorities and people,  with  the  aim  to
    return this excellent facility to full service, without causing any
    undue  interference  to other amateur service areas.  If anyone  can
    offer a potential solution to this problem, we would be keen to hear
    your comments.

    These  can be sent to PARC PO Box 2391 North Parramatta 2151  or  by
    packet to VK2TQM @ VK2XSO.

    The members of the club wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a  Happy
    and Prosperous New Year.

    submitted by David VK2TQM (Secretary)


    Great Lakes

    On  Friday  25th November the Great Lakes Radio Club Inc.  held  its
    final  meeting  for 1994.  During the Christmas break  the  repeater
    Committee   will  be  pursuing  finalisation  of  the  club's   four
    outstanding  repeater  applications with the hope that this  may  be
    reached in time for our first 1995 meeting on the 27th January,

    An informal Christmas function has been arranged for the evening  of
    Thursday 8th December at the Forster Bowling Club. This will also be
    a  farewell to our UK member,  Stephen Linden,  who will shortly  be
    returning  home  after twelve months exchange  teaching.  Would  any
    member wishing to attend please advise Stan Ellis on 065-54-7996  by
    Tuesday 6th.

    At  our  January  meeting arrangements will be made for  our  annual
    pilgrimage to Wyong for the Central Coast Club's field day. Bus hire
    will  depend  on the number wanting this form  of  transport.  Cost,
    including admission, is estimated at $25.

    Warm Christmas Greetings and Sincere Wishes for a more peaceful  New
    Year are extended to all amateurs and their families from us here at
    the beautiful Great Lakes

    Stan Ellis VK2DDL


                               Coming events

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

    WAHRA, AAPRA, & SPARC Christmas Party. . . . . . . . . . . Today
    Summerland ARC Christmas party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Today
    Blue Mountains WICEN meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday
    Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club net . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday
    St George ARC meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday
    Great Lakes ARC Christmas party. . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday
    Divisional Council meeting & Christmas get-together. . . .Friday
    Waverley ARC Christmas Dinner. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Saturday
    NSW Water Ski Ass'n Lion island Classic (VK2KLX) . . Next Sunday
    Divisional exams at Parramatta . . . . . . . . . . . Next Sunday
    Summerland ARC exams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Next Sunday
    Australian Amateur TV Club gen.meeting at Glenfield  Next Sunday
    Parramatta ARC Christmas function. . . . . . . . . . 15 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, 4th December  1994. Copyright 1994 WIA (NSW) &
    contributors.   Material  may be used elsewhere if the source  is
    acknowledged.
