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Earlier today, Wednesday 21st June, ACMA had prearranged a zoom session with all current AMC Amateur radio examination assessors. This was to inform them of the new arrangements ACMA plan to be implementing now that AMC have officially informed ACMA they will not be renewing the deed to continue the exam services after February 2024. ACMA propose to initially replicate many of the current AMC exam processes but with a couple of welcomed changes which were enthusiastically received by most assessors on the information session. Proposed is that assessors will once again be able to mark the exams for the candidates at the completion of the exam as the WIA had been doing previously to AMC. Candidates now would be informed of their results and can be provided with direct feedback on the exam results or areas that may need attention if they may need to re-sit again. Currently only one assessor is required to conduct an exam and this is being continued. Assessor accreditation will be required along with Working with Children type compliance. Assessor guidelines will need to be agreed to as assessors will have a binding contract with the ACMA , a federal organization. Exams will be delivered electronically and results uploaded to the new exam portal saving mailing costs and delays in results processing. Along with the ability to provide remote exams via a skype video session or similar there is no proposal from ACMA for exams to be delivered on an online platform at this stage. Many aspects will need to be fine tuned, such as the exam payment process, searchable available callsign database, callsign registers and allocation of callsigns to applicants. The Subject syllibi for each licence level will be updated and question pools were discussed to whether they would be open to the public, like many other countries have done such as the USA, New Zealand and Canada or whether they will be closed, such as when the WIA conducted exams a few years ago. There are pros and cons for either method. Recognition of Prior learning (RPL) and Reciprocal Licencing were briefly discussed. It is important to process applications more efficiently and in a compliant and internationally recognised manner. ACMA mentioned that there will be a public consultation on the assessments and exam procedures around August this year. As an assessor, it would be prudent to respond to the consultation with your concerns, ideas and solutions to any problems you encounter currently as an AMC Assessor. ACMA are being extremely receptive as they envisage a smooth transition from AMC to the ACMA’s exam service, commencing Feburary 2024. Given the extensive previous amateur radio exam experience and knowledge of exam delivery, WIA have offered ACMA assistance as required. You can email ACMA with your concerns at SpectrumLicensingPolicy@acma.gov.au with Assessor accreditation in the subject line. The WIA will also be responding to the consultation and would welcome any comments and concerns for consideration to their consultation response. Email nationaloffice@wia.org.au Update from Michael vk3uuu Hi gents, Close to 80 attended the online meeting with ACMA on Wednesday, basically they wish all current Assessors to become ACMA assessors. I have attached the presentation put to us if you want to have a look, overall is seemed a positive meeting, and many of the Questions and suggestions that were put forward by the Amateurs present will be taken onboard for their next presentation.

Today, Saturday 17th June at club rooms we found out that our terrific group of chaps who recently sat their Foundation Exams have..... !!!!! ..... ALL PASSED ! So.. from all the members of Famparc we congratulate you and welcome you all to the exciting adventure of Amateur Radio. Prepare to meet a massive array of people from all around the world. Congratulations: Robert Murphy Anthony Colussi Rakshit Dhar Michael Booth Geoff Guest Giles Gillison Harry Williams Roy Frattinger Great work guys... we all look forward in chatting to you all on the air.

June 17th 2023 is QRP Day The interest in QRP activities is everlasting in the amateur radio community worldwide. QRP radio communications testify the high ability of radio amateurs and offers advantages concerning, among others, the reduction of QRM on the amateur bands. The 10th IARU Region 3 Conference held in September 1997 in Beijing has resolved the following recommendations based on the document (97/X/14) submitted by NZART, which says; "That Region 3 Societies help to promote the IARU objectives for QRP operation, specifically: i) to support QRP operation on June 17 each year; ii) to foster QRP activities by their members; iii) to encourage regular publication of QRP articles in their national magazines; iv) to provide QRP sections in any national contests; and v) to assist other Societies with the promotion and development of QRP." Accordingly, member Societies are requested to note the above resolution and take appropriate actions with reference to the holdings of the following events, for example, in order to contribute to more effective use of radio spectrum: 1) QRP Field Day; 2) QRP Contest; 3) Distribution of QRP Transmitter Kits and Reference Book; and 4) Workshop of QRP Operation. 73, Yuki, Yosuke Uchiyama, JH1NBN Secretary, IARU Region 3 Click Here for Details

I found this article that may help those who are lucky enough to own a Icom IC-7300 in setting up their rig on FT8... This is for Windows computers.. Sorry no Mac article yet.

VK SHIRES 10th June 2023 Contest Manager Diane Main VK4DI VKCL Shires log submission to vklogchecker. Please be aware that version 4.15 of VKCL may output cabrillo with two spaces in front of the "QSO:" line. Not sure why, but with spaces before this line, the log will be rejected and you will receive an email to that effect. Two fixes.. 1. Manually remove the spaces yourself, or 2. On receiving the rejection email, copy and past the returned log into the submission window, and submit again. IF all else fails, attach the log and email to the manager. Contest Introduction Held the Saturday and Sunday of the weekend prior to the second Monday of June every year. Starts: 00.00 UTC Saturday Ends: 23.59 UTC VK Stations work VK Shires and CQ Zones whereas international stations only work VK Shires Operation on the 160m band has been added and there is a new start time, but the major change is that reworking stations is now allowed in 4-hour blocks. The rules for the blocks are, however, somewhat different to what is in John Moyle Memorial Field Day or VHF-UHF Field Day use, so read the rules carefully. Aim Of The Contest The objectives of this contest are for amateurs around the world to contact as many VK shires as possible in the contest period. VK amateurs are to work the world including VK, whilst the rest of the world can only work VK. More Details Here

Thanks to Harry, he found this website which has an array of Amateur Radio ideas, tips etc. Also a section where you can design and save a Azimuthal Map. Harry has taken the time to make the one below. Take a look at the website and make your own Azimuthal Map based on your own location. Thanks to Tom NS6T.

by Jesslyn Shields You may be surprised to learn what sending out an SOS really means — and what it doesn't mean. Aquir/Shutterstock Even children at play know that when you're in a life-threatening emergency — maybe you need to be rescued from an island filled with human-eating crabs that's also surrounded by lava — the way you let the world know you're in trouble is to wave your arms and signal distress by repeatedly shouting three simple letters: SOS. You can write them on the beach, send them via Morse code or, if you have a pen, write them on your hand and flash them at passersby. We all know that sending out an SOS signal is the best chance you've got at being rescued. So, what does SOS mean? An SOS message must mean something important, right? Nope. The letters SOS stand for nothing. Not "Save Our Ship," not "Save Our Souls" — it wasn't even originally designed to stand for letters of the English alphabet. Yet, it's the standard distress signal most people know. The Introduction of Morse Code Although the letter sequence "SOS" stands for nothing, it came from somewhere as a replacement for a visual distress signal. That somewhere is Morse code, which was developed along with the wireless telegraph machine to send messages using electrical signals. Samuel Morse himself sent the first telegraph, which said: "What hath God wrought?" He sent the message in Morse code over an experimental line from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Maryland. In Morse code, dots and dashes are assembled in different configurations to represent the different letters of the alphabet. In this way, messages could be sent wirelessly all over the world using radio equipment — even from ships. This proved useful, because prior to the beginning of the 20th century, ships were pretty much out of luck when they needed to get a message to shore. Morse code did not exist yet. But as ships began carrying telegraph equipment, distress signals were adopted early and were great when the ship transmitting the signal and the operator on the receiving end spoke the same distress language. But at first, different countries used different codes for emergency situations, which was obviously not ideal. SOS as a Universal Distress Signal However, in 1905 the German government published the "German Regulations for the Control of Spark Telegraphy." It mandated that German wireless operators use "... --- ..." (three dots, three dashes and three dots) to signal an emergency. This didn't really have anything to do with letters of the alphabet, but it was quick and easy to type, and difficult to mistake for anything else. It also happened to spell "SOS" in Morse code. Everyone agreed it was way better than "SSSDDD," which is what the Italians were pushing for at the International Radiotelegraph Convention in November of 1906. The term SOS was voted in as the official international distress signal and went into effect July 1, 1908. The SOS Distress Signal Takes Root It took a while for the SOS distress call to catch on. For instance, the British Marconi International Marine Communication Company that outfitted ships with telegraph equipment preferred the distress code "CQD," or "-.-. --.- -.." in Morse code, and continued using it in Morse code sequence long after the SOS call was established as the international standard. In fact, it was the first distress code sent by the telegraph operators on the Titanic after the ship hit the iceberg, although they eventually used the SOS signal as well. The first recorded American use of SOS to call for help was sent Aug. 11, 1909, off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, when Theodore Haubner called for help from the steamship SS Arapahoe. As the Morse code SOS call was initially intended for maritime use, it was replaced with the verbal signal "Mayday" at the International Radiotelegraphic Convention in 1927. Mayday is derived from the French "m'aider" which means "help me." But SOS couldn't be ousted so easily: Mayday is still in use today as the distress signal for voice communication, while the SOS is still used as the distress signal in telecommunication.

The Morse Code revival: how dots and dashes are being embraced by a new generation To mark Morse Code Day (27 April), we explore its modern-day applications, along with its surprising comeback spurred on by the younger generation. Morse Code may be 180 years old - but it's making a comeback (Image: Getty / Kim Mogg) (Getty / Kim Mogg) Devised by Samuel Morse over 180 years ago, Morse, short for Morse code, consists of dots and dashes that represent individual letters in the alphabet. Over time, its uses have ranged from incredible rescue stories to romantic tales between separated couples. Now, its purposes are making headlines for new reasons. While Morse code hasn’t been used in commercial telecommunications since the 1990s, it has been kept alive by radio enthusiasts for decades. Elsewhere, Morse code has retained its position in society, providing a valuable service for those working in the military and healthcare sectors. Through its behind-the-scenes presence, Morse has very much remained quietly part of our cultural consciousness. Yet all this may be about to change as tech companies, musicians and social networks appear to be fuelling its widespread resurgence. Earlier this year, evidence of Morse’s return was supported by the Radio Society of Great Britain, which revealed that the number of amateur radio licences had increased by 60%. Learning Morse as a hobby may, on the surface, appear an unusual choice of skill to learn. Although, if we consider the relentless pace of life, the decision starts to become clearer. Interestingly, the rise in uptake itself may explain a lot about our attitudes towards the digital age. The Morse Code alphabet (Image: Adobe Stock) (cristi180884 - stock.adobe.com) Of course, nobody is saying that being able to communicate at the touch of a button is a bad thing. Instead, the observation is that manual and offline forms of communication have become a more attractive proposition. Like listening to vinyl records, communicating in Morse reignites a sense of romanticism. Just the fact that each message needs decoding makes the content more meaningful. At the same time, by slowing communication down, modern-day-Morse, as it were, may in fact be providing a welcome break from the fast-paced and overwhelming world we live in. On a different note, Morse code has also become more relevant thanks to the music industry. Pop culture has always had a great deal of say in what society does and doesn’t find interesting. An appealing aspect of Morse lies in the fact only a minority can identify and translate it, giving it a unique and overt secrecy. So, this year, when a K-pop band leaked details about their new songs through Morse code, fans as young as five started learning the system. This started a chain reaction. People began questioning how many other secret Morse messages might exist? This idea of using Morse to convey hidden meaning and exclusivity is another reason why younger people are eager to obtain fluency. Especially in a culture where everything is shared online. Last, but not least, technology companies are also supporting Morse’s revival. Being able to communicate through speech isn’t universal. Royal Air Force recruits learning Morse code at a training station in 1945 (Image: Getty) (Getty Images) Equally, for those in need of non-verbal communication options, Morse provides a valuable workaround. Acknowledging this, big technology companies have integrated Morse into their solutions. One example is Google’s Gboard, a keyboard app for mobile devices which features a Morse input method, allowing users to type messages in Morse code by tapping their screen. Never one to miss a trick, Apple’s geniuses replicated this for their breakthrough Apple Watch. There’s no doubt that by leveraging the haptic capabilities of devices, technology companies will continue to play an important role in the growth of Morse code. Overall, it’s great to see that people are using the technology at their disposal to learn new skills. Whether it’s mastering secret codes, fictional texts, or foreign languages, it’s vital that we encourage young and old to keep expanding their knowledge. Esteban Touma is a Spanish teacher for Babbel Thanks to National World

The month of June 2023 sees the centenary celebration of organised amateur radio in Tasmania. There are a huge number of activities happening throughout the month of June and beyond. These include: Operation of the Special Centenary callsign – VK7WIA Any Amateur Radio Operator with a VK7 callsign and based in Tasmania can apply to operate the special event callsign for a short period in the month of June. Watch this space for the link to the rostering and logging system that will be come available very soon. Contact person for the operation of the VK7WIA callsign is Reg Emmett VK7KK – regemm@ozemail.com.au Trevor obtained the call 7AA in 1922. When international communication became possible, it became necessary to add letters to identify the countries, hence the “A” for Australia. Special QSL cards will be available as a physical card or an electronic card via LOTW. Hobart Radio Research Club QSL Card (circa 1930s) Special Centenary Award Certificate will be available for those amateurs who meet the following centenary award conditions: At least one RF phone contact; 10 Contacts with VK7WIA within VK/ZL 5 Contacts with VK7WIA outside VK/ZL There will be special Tassie Devil Award – Centenary Endorsements available Bill Nicholas, VK7WR, won the hidden transmitter hunt at the Field Day in Hobart in 1935. Open Days held around the State – amateur radio historic and working displays open to the public: SOUTH – Saturday June 10th – Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania Inc – Queens Domain Clubrooms, Hobart Contact Rod Finlayson VK7TRF – roja3kel@yahoo.com.au NORTH – Saturday June 17th – Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Inc. – Scout Hall Archer St, Rocherlea, Launceston Contact Peter Dowde VK7PD – pdowde@bigpond.com NORTH WEST – Saturday June 24th – North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Club Inc. – Scout Hall Alexandra Road Ulverstone Contact Eric van de Neut VK7EV – ericvdneut1@bigpond.com Media Opportunities to promote amateur Radio to the general public. Contact person is Reg Emmett VK7KK – regemm@ozemail.com.au Amateur Radio Magazine will have features on VK7 History starting in the May/June edition with a history of amateur radio in Tasmania (VK7). WIA National News Broadcast will be coming from VK7 on the 18th June 2023. And many more activities – watch this space. This event is support by our national representative body the Wireless Institute of Australia. Some of the amateurs at an exhibition in Launceston. The VK7 Centenary is: Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW Reg Emmett VK7KK Rod Finlayson VK7TRF Peter Dowde VK7PD Eric Van De Neut VK7EV Mike Jenner VK7FB Linda Luther VK7QP Phil Corby VK7ZAX Committee contact email is: vk7tw@wia.org.au Len Crooks VK7BQ in his Shack in May 1969. Content supplied by: Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania Inc. Craig. vk3ncr

Hey guys, I have been very busy adding many more antennas to our Antenna Fun Page on our website. We now have a range of antenna designs from UHF to HF, as well as downloadable Build Sheets, and Graphics showing the design. Sample above of the 80M OCF Graphic. So please take a look and share around. Cheers. Craig vk3ncr

23 May 2023 Amateur class licensing update We would like to inform you the Australian Maritime College (AMC), has decided not to extend its deed for the provision of amateur licensee services beyond February 2024. In light of the AMC’s decision and the planned move to class licensing of amateur services, we have taken the opportunity to review how amateur radio qualifications and call signs can be best supported under a class licence framework. Background: For some time, the AMC managed several functions on behalf of the ACMA, including conducting amateur radio operator exams, issuing qualifications and recommending call signs for successful candidates to the ACMA. However, after examining how to provide the best continuity of service for amateurs, we are proposing an alternative way to deliver these services. New, more effective arrangements We will no longer use a deed arrangement to provide amateur radio qualifications and call sign recommendations. Instead, we have decided to update the amateur radio qualification and call sign framework alongside the class licence implementation, and manage some of these services ourselves. New accreditation procedures We propose to use the network of voluntary assessors used by the AMC as accredited assessors under a scheme managed by the ACMA. Assessors will be able to conduct theoretical and practical examinations for amateur radio. Qualified and experienced amateur operators will be able to seek ACMA accreditation to conduct amateur radio examinations. As part of this accreditation work, we are: preparing operational guidelines for accredited assessors developing examination material compiling a list of allocated and available call signs to go on our website. The ACMA will still be responsible for approving the amateur radio syllabi. Better alignment of qualification levels The new framework will keep the Foundation, Standard and Advanced qualification levels for amateur radio examinations. This aligns with the qualification levels in the proposed class-licensing arrangements. ACMA to issue qualifications and call signs Under the new arrangement, qualifications will be issued by ACMA staff after an application from a person who has passed an examination. We will continue to be the call sign administrator and issue call signs to amateurs with recognised qualifications. These arrangements are consistent with our amateur spectrum management obligations under the International Telecommunication Union’s Radio Regulations and the Radiocommunications Act 1992. Next steps We want to introduce the new accreditation scheme at the same time as the class licensing arrangements. At this stage, we expect to consult on the new accreditation scheme in August 2023. We welcome your feedback through the public consultation process, and we’ll keep you updated on progress. To prepare for the move to class licensing, we have changed the renewal periods for non-assigned amateur licences to 12-months only. This will help amateur licensees make a smooth transition to class licensing. We are grateful for your engagement and assistance in this transition, and look forward to a smoother, more efficient framework.

If anyone is chasing local Australian stock for Rasberry Pi boards this place has them in stock at the moment the zero is great for building hotspots and for this price is rare https://core-electronics.com.au/ I will contact them over the next few days to see if we can get a club discount code Regards Peter VK3DEL