2024 DECEMBER 29 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
------------------------------------------------------------*

 THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK

 THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
 tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos

------------------------------------------------------------*

 NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING DCEMBER 29 2024
 IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS

 

 THIS WEEK:-

 WIA Director and Company Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ. -

 WIA's  Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine Roger Harrison VK2ZRH. -

 VK4FUQ Felix will have the operational news, VK3FFF Bruce takes a look at 
 Special Interest Group news and VK2LAW Jason is at our International  
 Desk. -

 Many clubs have held a "Bunnings Sausage Sizzle' this year but we have
 news of a club that has done 18,000 times better.

 BUT WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
 WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.
 
 I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB





 WIA

 JOIN THE WIA
 tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y

WIA Director and Company Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ

Last week the Pete VK2LP, The WIA Returning Officer advised that there had been 5 nominations to fill the 4 vacancies that will be created at the end of the AGM in May 2025. 
As advised in Petes broadcast an election will be held by electronic means in February 2025. Detail of all nominees and the election timetable will be published in Amateur Radio Magazine and on the WIA News Service during January 2025.

Wow so how fast has this year gone, already we have seen out Christmas and it is the new year in a couple of days, and we are already talking about the AGM to be held in May.

The Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club and the Wireless Institute of Australia advise the dates of the Amateur Radio and Technology Expo to be held in Bendigo Victoria in May 2025.

The Bendigo Amateur Radio and Technology Expo will be held in conjunction with the WIA Annual General Meeting. The event will be held over the weekend of3rd and 4th May 2025.

A program for amateurs, partners and the general public is currently being developed by the Bendigo club and announcements detailing the event and the program will be advertised shortly.

Congratulations to Graham and the Broadcast team on the advent of our 30th year of the WIA News broadcast. 

Director Giles Kirby VK5GK told you about our work being done on the new web pages and also on the the membership system.


On behalf of President Scott Williams VK3KJ and the Board of the WIA we wish you all seasons greetings and a happy and prosperous 2025. 

This has been WIA Director and Company Secretary Peter Clee VK8ZZ





Hey dudes! This is Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH coming to you from Southport in Queensland, on the traditional lands of the Yugambeh people.

A usually reliable source has told me that a new year will begin in a few days. 

If true, and Im mindful that I will only know that it is true once it happens, observation or recollections of this period in years gone by indicate to me that many people reflect on the year just about to end and cogitate or prognosticate on what may lie in the year just ahead. 

Recognising all that, as well as realising that, as the Bureau of Meteorology well knows, forecasting too far ahead is very tricky, not to mention unreliable, I will pass on a small snippet of what may be in store for Amateur Radio magazine Issue 1 for 2025.

Naturally, we have a little something to say about progress of the current solar cycle. If youre looking for answers to the two questions on everyones lips this past 15 months, you know the ones: are we there yet?, and how high will it go?, all I can say with any shred of reliability is this:   what goes up will sometime later go down. Nothing to do with gravity in this instance.

The theme for the next issue is Portable Pursuits. For the sceptics in the audience, or for the recall-istically challenged, that is the theme as printed on Page 3 of the current issue. Every issue, toward the bottom of Page 3, we print  in large, bold type  the focus for the coming issue. So far, those forecasts have always come true.

Portable Pursuits is all about how much fun and pleasure hams can have outdoors with their clothes on! The stories we plan to use run from offshore DXpeditioning to beachside support of public events, from operating in lonely low-noise historic places to putting a portable station together in an Esky.

And, as always, theres much, much, much more in AR magazine, Issue 1 for 2025.

More guts. Less gab. Serving Australian amateurs since 1933. 

Proudly produced and printed in Australia. Also available online. 

Always published to a schedule, never random. 

Im Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.





 OUR GIFT FOR YOU.

 This free calendar looks good in the radio shack.

 Your very own International Space Station 2025 calendar.

 Download here

 nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/iss-calendar-2025.pdf


 Of course don't forget that free copy of the VK4SN Contest Calendar which  
 comes with the current Amateur Radio Magazine from the WIA.

 Or go direct to the VK4SN web page

 vk4sn.com/Contests/Calendar


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 INTERNATIONAL NEWS is with thanks to ARRL, DX-WORLD, eHam, Hackaday,
 IARU, ICQPodcast, IRTS, NEWSLINE, NZART, RAC, Radioworld.com, RSGB,
 SARL and the World Wide sources of the WIA. 

 Transmissions from amateur radio enthusiasts may hold the key to locating
 the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines jet that vanished a decade ago in
 one of the greatest aviation mysteries.

 The Malaysian government has just announced that it has agreed to resume
 the search for the remains of MH370, the Boeing 777 that disappeared in
 March 2014 while carrying 239 people. Efforts will focus on a new area of
 seabed covering around 5,800 square miles - slightly bigger than
 Northern Ireland - according to Anthony Loke, the Malaysian transport
 minister. 

 The search will be led by underwater exploration firm Ocean Infinity,
 which conducted the last sweep in 2018. This time around, the
 investigation is expected to draw on a new area of research involving
 WSPR - transmissions from amateur radio operators.





 Probably more INTERPLANETARY than just INTERNATIONAL but listen to this
 from the Ukraine.

 The search for Near Earth Orbiting Asteroids as potential candidates
 for use in space missions from Earth to Venus and Mars.

 The University of Kyiv has analyzed the orbits of more than 35,000
 near-Earth objects for the possibility of successive approaches to all
 pairs of planets: Earth, Venus, and Mars in the time range from 2020 to
 2120.

 Two academics have selected 120 candidates for fast transfers , ie  within
 180 days; 2 candidates for double transfers (consecutive approaches with
 all three planets); and 10 candidates for multiple transfers, when an
 asteroid has several consecutive paired approaches to planets in a
 hundred years.

 arxiv.org/pdf/2410.17047





 EYES WIDE OPEN

 Many VK ham radio clubs raise a little cash be it by charging $5 for
 entry to a hamfest or even something larger like a "Bunnings Sausage
 Sizzle".

 BUT HOW MANY CAN CLAIM TO BE AS PRACTIVE AS THIS CLUB IN THE USA.

 Portage County Amateur Radio Services (PCARS) in Ohio has made a generous
 donation to the Center of Hope, a program under Family and Community
 Services.

 The amount?

 ALMOST $18,000 AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS.

 Michael Gonzalez, president of PCARS, during the clubs general meeting
 expressed his excitement, stating, We have achieved an outstanding
 fundraising milestone for the Center of Hope. I am delighted to announce
 that our contribution of $11,178.51 is our largest to date! Over the past
 19 years, PCARS has contributed more than $95,000 to support our
 community. I take great pride in this club and its dedication to the
 Center of Hope. Giving back is fundamental to our mission





 WHERE'S YOUR RADIO?

 It appears that the bill to require AM radio in new cars will not pass
 Congress this year in the USA.

 The legislation was absent from a stopgap measure unveiled to keep the
 government funded until spring.

 While we are disappointed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act did not pass
 this Congress, the overwhelming bipartisan and bicameral support
 underscores the vital role AM radio plays in keeping Americans safe during
 emergencies and connected to their local communities, said Curtis LeGeyt,
 President/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters.

 LeGeyt thanked the AM bills sponsors and noted that it received 
 bipartisan favour from more than 125 supportive organizations, hundreds
 of thousands of listeners who contacted their lawmakers and more than
 330 members of Congress who championed this effort. He said NAB plans
 to work with the next Congress to pass the legislation.





 US considers ban on home internet router maker TP-Link.

 US authorities are considering a ban on China's TP-Link Technology Co.
 over potential national security concerns after its home internet routers
 were linked to cyberattacks, says itnews quoting a Wall Street Journal
 report.

 The US Commerce, Defense and Justice departments have opened separate
 probes into the company, with authorities targeting a ban on the sale of
 TP-Link routers in the US as early as this coming year, 2025.

 An office of the Commerce Department has even subpoenaed the company while
 the Defense Department launched its investigation into Chinese 
 manufactured routers earlier this year, the newspaper reported, citing
 people familiar with the matter.

 Last year, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency said TP-Link
 routers had a vulnerability that could be exploited to execute remote 
 code.

 Shares of Netgear, a San Jose-based home networking company and a TP-Link
 rival, jumped more than 12 percent following the report.





 Surges year-on-year.

 Funds stolen by hacking cryptocurrency platforms surged 21 percent
 from a year ago to  A$3.5 billion Aussie dollars in 2024, a report
 from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis showed.

 In reporting on this Australian itnews says that the rise in crypto heists
 comes as bitcoin jumped 140 percent this year, drawing institutional
 participation and backing from US President-elect Donald Trump.

 "As the digital asset market booms, it is typical to see the illicit
 use of crypto grow in tandem," Chainalysis' cybercrimes research lead
 Eric Jardine said. "Countering the proliferation of these crimes,
 especially fraud, will undoubtedly be a key challenge for the industry
 in 2025."


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 OPERATIONAL NEWS - A FELIX VK4FUQ PRESENTATION

 --------------
 --------------
 NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
 --------------
 --------------

 YOTA CONTEST ON TODAY

 Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC
 29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.

 (yota)

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 NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2025

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

 VHF UHF Field Day

 Upcoming Contest Date & Time

 Summer 2025 - 0100 UTC Saturday 18 January through 0059 UTC Sunday 19 
               January (0400 / 0359 in VK6).

 wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/


 -----------

 CQ 160 METER CONTEST

 CW  January 24 - 2200Z January 26.

 SSB February 21 - 2200Z February 23.

 (cq) 

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

 AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST JANUARY 26.

 Amateurs in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs around the
 world. Some VK operators will be using the AX prefix to celebrate
 Australia day, as its wanted by many amateurs around the world.
 Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
 squares.

 Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN

 It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday that being 26 of
 January.

 wia.org.au/members/contests/australiaday/


 -----------

 CQ 160 METER CONTEST

 SSB February 21 - 2200Z February 23.

 (cq) 

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

 HARRY ANGEL MEMORIAL 80 Meter Sprint, Saturday May 3.     (vk4uh)

  wia.org.au/members/contests/harryangel/


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

 VK Shires Contest  7th - 8th June 2025

 wia.org.au/members/contests/wavks/

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

Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest - 19 JUL 2025

The Trans-Tasman contest, held on the 3rd weekend in July, aims to encourage Low Band activity between VK and ZL

Only contest bands 160 80 and 40M are allowed with SSB, CW and Digital (RTTY OR PSK)

wia.org.au/members/contests/transtasman/


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 DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.
-------------------

 Nominations open soon for hams to be considered for the CQ DX
 Hall of Fame. This award program was once overseen by CQ magazine
 and is now going forward under new stewardship.

 The International DX Association will be taking over the management of
 the CQ DX Hall of Fame. Bob Schenck, N2OO, vice president of INDEXA,
 has announced that the nomination period opens on the 1st of January
 for inductees for 2025. Since 1967, hams whose names appear on the roll
 have done more than activate from challenging and remote locations.
 In many instances they have been organizers of the trips and skillful
 navigators of political and environmental challenges in those locales,
 promoting goodwill and avoiding controversy.

 The nomination period closes on March 1st.

 Names of potential inductees, along with supporting documents, can be
 sent to Bob.

 His email address is N2OO at comcast dot net
 (n2oo@comcast.net).
 The subject line of the email must include the words "CQ DX HALL OF FAME."

 (newsline2460)

 ----------

 The annual Russian New Year Radio Marathon will be on the air from today
 the 29th of December to the 8th of January with special callsigns
 R 2025 NY and UE 25 NY.
 QSL via RQ 7 L.

 (newsline 2460)

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

 Special callsign GB 200 LB from the 4th of January until the 31st of
 January.

 The LB in the callsign stands for Louis [LOO-EY] Braille.

 GB200LB will be operating to celebrate the bicentenary of the invention
 of the Braille Code for the vision impaired. The 4th of January is
 Louis Braille's birthday.

 Activity will be mainly on CW.

 QSL via M0OXO

 (rsgb)


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

 Joe, OZJ, will be using the callsign TO  J from French Guiana until
 the  31st of December.  TO 0 J will operate FT8, CW and SSB on
 80-6 metres.
 See QRZ.com for QSL information

 (newsline 2459)

 ---------------
 Y
 Polish amateurs have activations planned to celebrate Christmas and
 the New Year. Listen for HF  CLAUS and SP  CLAUS on the air now 
 through January 6th. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

 (newsline 2459)


 ----------------
 Y
 Starting in January 2025, members of the British Railways Amateur Radio
 Society will be operating Special Event Station GB 0 LMR to celebrate
 200 years of the modern railway.

 A year-long celebration of how the railway has shaped Britain:
 its achievements, its future, its opportunities and its people.

 2025 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.
 Britain and the world changed forever.
 Railway 200 celebrates the past, present and future of rail.

 QSL station GB 0 LMR via the Bureau or direct by sending a
 Stamped Addressed Envelope to  Mark, G1PIE.

 (qrz.com)

 -----------------------
 Y
 During 2025 the SARL will be on the air with special event callsign
 ZS 100 SARL, as well as the permanent callsigns ZS6SRL and ZS9HQ and
 possibly other special event callsigns.

 (sarl)

 -------
 Y
 Celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Israel Association
 of Radio Communication (formerly known as Israel Amateur Radio
 Club) will be running special event stations 4 X 8 NER and 4 Z 8 NER
 from 25 December to 2 January.

 QSL these 2 stations via LoTW, eQSL, or via 4Z5MU.

 (425dxnews)

 -----------------------
 Y
 VI 2025 AJ

 Australian Scout Jamboree 2025

 From the 5th to the 16th Jan 2025, yes about 2 weeks away, Scouts
 will be operating an onsite Radio Base from Maryborough QLD.

 2 HF stations on SSB and FT8 on multiple HF bands.

 Chris VK2CGH / VI 2025 AJ is on a QRZ page


 (FBook)

 -----------------------
 y
 ARCTIC

 Oleg, RD 1 A is on board Severny Polyus / North Pole and will be
 active when time permits as RI 42 SP as the ship travels through
 various parts of the Arctic.

 The vessel departed Murmansk on September 15 with a team of scientists
 aboard, and is heading towards the Novosibirsk islands. This is where 
 the drifting polar station will begin its work as part of the
 North Pole-42 expedition. For many months, polar explorers will
 conduct research in the high latitudes of the Arctic Ocean,
 encompassing over fifty scientific programs.

 Ham station RD1A is primarily on CW & FT8 from October 5th for 
 approximately one year.

 QSL RD1A via Club Log OQRS. 

 (dx-world)

 ------------
 Y

 Our I.A.R.U. celebrates its centenary in 2025.

 Since its founding in Paris, France, IARU has worked tirelessly to
 promote innovation in amateur radio and to encourage the growth of
 the service in communities throughout the world.

 VI 100 IARU is a special event callsign transmitting from VK3 to help
 celebrate the IARU Centennial.

 qsl via MO 0 OXO

 (qrz.com)

 ----------
 Y
 Listen throughout the rest of the year for the special callsign
 9 A 1 RKZ marking the 100th anniversary of the Radioklub Zagreb
 which was founded the 24th of March 1924 in Croatia

 QSL via 9A1ADE.

 (ARNewsLine 2410)

 -------------
 Y
 AUSTRIA

 OE100RADIO [OSCAR-ECHO-ONE-HUNDRED-ROMEO-ALPHA-DELTA-INDIA-OSCAR] is
 active until the 31st of December celebrating the 100th anniversary  
 of beginning of regular radio transmissions in Austria in 1924.
 The station has heard recently on the 40m band using CW.

 QSL via the Bureau.

 (gb2rs)

 ----------
 Y
 In the World of DX, be listening for members of the Zurich City 
 Police Radio Amateur Club who have been operating as HB 2 SP
 the club is marking its 20th anniversary. NO Bureau QSL's but you can
 use Logbook Of The World, and HB20SP runs until months end,
 December 31.

 (sourced to ARNewsLine 2410)

 -------------------
 Y
 Special callsign HB 50 VC is active until 31 December celebrating the
 50th anniversary of the Swissair Amateur Radio Club, HB 9 VC.

 A growing trend these days is that QSL cards will not be provided
 but QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World.

 You can also download a certificate for working this special event
 station from the link we like in the text editions of
 WIA National News

 tinyurl.com/HB50VC-24.

 (rsgb)


------------------------------------------------------------*


 WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
 SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,
 PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.
 
 hema.org.uk/index.jsp
 minesontheair.com/about-mota
 parksontheair.com/
 sota.org.uk 
 sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/
 facebook.com/SotaAustralia/
 wwffaustralia.com/
 
 Raisa R1BIG is taking her first leap into the exhilarating world of
 DXpeditionsand what a leap it is!

 Raisa we have mentioned MANY a time the past 18 months or so, that Russian 
 YouTuber.

 Together with seasoned expedition leader Yuri N3QQ, shes gearing up for a
 rare activation of Cano Island, Costa Rica, operating under the call sign
 TI 1 RRC. This adventure, organized by the Russian Robinson Club, is set
 to combine Islands on the Air (IOTA) and Parks on the Air (POTA), making
 it a must-chase event for IOTA DXers and POTA hunters alike.

 The TI1RRC team consists of Raisa R1BIG, and 7 other members.

 The team plans to hit the airwaves from February 1925, operating across
 multiple bands and modes with three 1kW stations ep KILLOWATTS and a 
 couple of 100W setups.

 Cano Island is a remote and rarely activated IOTA location (NA-191)
 Meanwhile, part of the team will also operate from the adjacent POTA park,
 ensuring every operator has a shot at logging them.

 Why should you care?

 Because this isn't just about logging a rare one; its about witnessing 
 the journey of a new DXpeditioner and supporting a team that embodies
 ham radios adventurous spirit. Raisas enthusiasm promises to make this
 a story worth following.

 If youre lucky enough to land in Raisas log, you might just score a
 signed QSL card.

 youtube.com/watch?v=uo08QEywohY
 
 (qrz)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
 www.morsecodeclassnet.com 

 NZ Straight Key Night

 New Zealand Straight Key Night (Summer Edition) will be held
 Sunday 8 Jun e from 9pm to 10pm NZDT (0800 to 0900 UTC) on 80 metres.

 Polish and lubricate that old morse key and enjoy an evening of
 old-time radio fun.

 Straight Key Night is an informal event which honours the roots of
 amateur radio: Morse Code sent with a straight key (no bugs,
 sideswipers, keyers or keyboards).

 When.
 Winter SKN is the second Sunday in June, 8-9pm NZ time.
 Summer SKN is always the first Sunday in December, 9-10pm NZ time.

 SKN honours the original amateur radio mode in an easy-going style.
 Operators send signal report, name, location, type of key, type of
 transmitter and power output. Stations are limited to 100W output 
 power.

 SKN is not a contest - but the operator who gets the most votes for the 
 quality of their sending will win the Bruce Scahill Best Fist Award.
 This certificate honours Bruce ZL1BWG (SK), who was a dedicated
 supporter of SKN. Please email your nomination to ZL1NZ within one week 
 following the event.

 (Neil ZL1NZ, SKN Manager)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER 
 AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org



 OUT OF THIS WORLD

 SOUNDS LIKE .... MARS

 A couple of very short recordings to "spin" for you today, top of the 
 pops Martian Style and no not "The Martian Hop" some Old Timers will 
 recall from the 1963 top 4o group The Ran-Dells but actuality from the 
 Martian Rover Perseverance. 

 Mars atmosphere is quite thin, also on account of the planet having
 lost its magnetosphere a long time ago, exposing the atmosphere to the
 solar winds as they rip and tear away at it. With an atmospheric
 density of at most 1,150 Pa its akin to being on Earth at an altitude
 of 35 km, or well above the average commercial jetliners cruising
 altitude of below 12 km. Even so, sounds are audible, albeit attenuated
 courtesy of the 96% CO2 content of the Martian atmosphere. This makes
 everything sound muted and quite different from what we are used to on 
 Earth.

                            sfx


 That recording was made by the SuperCam instrument on NASAs 
 Perseverance Mars rover February 21, just about 18 hours after landing
 on the missions first sol or Martian day. The rovers mast, holding
 the microphone, was still stowed on Perseverances deck, and so the
 sound was muffled, a little like the sound one hears listening to a
 seashell or having a hand cupped over the ear. BUT a little wind
 can be heard.

 Perseverance also captured the noise of the Ingenuity helicopter as it
 flew near the rover at a distance of 80 meters, all of which provided
 researchers with invaluable data on how sound propagates on Mars.

                              sfx

 That recording was the very first time, a spacecraft on another planet
 recorded the sounds of a separate spacecraft.

 NASAs Perseverance Mars rover used its SuperCam microphone to listen
 to the Ingenuity helicopter on April 30, 2021 as it flew on Mars for
 the fourth time.

 Even during flight when the helicopters blades are spinning at 2,537
 rpm, the sound is greatly muffled by the thin Martian atmosphere. It is
 further obscured by Martian wind gusts but listening closely you can
 hear the helicopters hum  faintly above the sound of those winds.





 The USC Rocket Propulsion Lab (USCRPL) at the University of Southern
 California has shattered the international altitude record for
 amateur rocketry with their Aftershock II rocket, reaching an
 unprecedented 470,000 feet.

 This achievement surpasses the previous 20-year record of 380,000 feet
 and establishes Aftershock II as the first civilian-built rocket to
 achieve this altitude. Equipped with the most powerful solid-propellant
 motor ever fired by students and enhanced thermal protection systems,
 the rocket endured hypersonic speeds with innovative features like
 titanium-coated fins and a custom paint system.

 (ANS) 





 NOW THAT'S A SPACESHIP

 The first Block 2 version of the giant SpaceX Starship, Ship 33, recently
 rolled out for testing and completed its first static fire test.

 It will be stacked on Booster 14 before it is targeted to complete the
 first flight of the Block 2 reusable upper stage in January this coming 
 year. This upgraded Ship adds catch hardware and an additional ring, 
 making it 1.8 m taller and now totaling 408 feet when eventually stacked
 on top of Booster 14. This added height will allow it to pack 300 ton
 more propellant. (ANS)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA
 iota-world.org/

 NA-101

 The J75K team is active in Dominica until the 4th of January.

 The IOTA reference is NA-101.

 They will be operating on the 160 to 6m bands using SSB, CW and FT8.
 QSL via Logbook of the World or directly to IV 3 JVJ.

 (rsgb)




 IOTA SA - 036 -TH HAPPIEST ISLAND

 Mat activate P 40 AA from Aruba Island, (known to the locals as 'The 
 Happiest Island) IOTA SA - 036, 18 - 28 January.

 P40AA will operate on HF Bands, CW, SSB, FT8, including activity in CQ WW   
 160m CW Contest January 24 - 26 where he will operate in the
 Single Operator Assisted Category.

 QSL P40AA via ClubLog OQRS.

 Aruba is the happiest island In the southern Caribbean Sea, not far from
 the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela. This self-governing state is part
 of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a a local governor is chosen from
 Amsterdam and rules the country

 (dx-news)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
 (Youngsters On The Air)
 WIA committee:- Steve VK6SJ, Alec VK2MV and Pete VK2LP.
 ham-yota.com/category/yota-region-3/
 facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
 youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA

 The internet news site MSN recently published a feature on the history of
 amateur radio and astronauts in orbit beginning with Owen Garriott, W5LFL,
 in 1983 and continuing to the present ARISS program.

 How Amateur Radio Is Connecting Astronauts In Space With Kids On Earth
 was written by Leonard David.
 
 See it on 
 bit.ly/4gnfE3y

 (ANS) 

 Owen Garriott W5LFL has sparked kids imagination around the globe, 
 including one  McKenzie Denton KO4GLN a name we should remember in
 both ham radio and leadership.

 A pre-med junior at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia,
 McKenzie has already achieved what most of us only aspire to
 in a lifetime. Licensed during the pandemic, she has risen quickly to
 earn her Extra Class license, rejuvenate her universitys amateur radio
 club, and take on roles like Virginia Section Youth Coordinator for the
 ARRLall while excelling as a student and aspiring physician.

 Her unique journey into ham radio was sparked by a fascination with
 astronaut Owen Garriotts historic space contacts. She says the hobby
 became a cornerstone of her development, offering her friendships,
 mentorship, and even opportunities to shadow in an emergency roomcritical
 for her career path in medicine.

 McKenzies leadership extends beyond ham radio.

 She draws connections between the hobby and broader fields, from emergency
 preparedness to STEM education, while advocating for integrating amateur
 radio into schools and modern technology.

 She says in a call to action "let's align the hobby with emerging 
 frontiers like quantum computing and space exploration, ensuring ham radio
 remains relevant and transformative for generations to come."

 tinyurl.com/2re3svnn





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS  --- VIDEO.
 ATV SSTV and other forms such as YouTube.

 Peter VK3BFG is your WIA ATV representative. pcossins@bigpond.com

 tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
 THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN


 Holiday SSTV Experiment from the International Space Station

 ARISS is conducting an SSTV experiment from the International Space
 Station, it began on Christmas Day and is running through January 5th.

 Officially titled Expedition 72 - ARISS Series 23 SSTV Experiment,
 interested viewers can receive SSTV images in PD120 mode from the ISS
 on 145.800 MHz. There are 12 different images in the series coming from
 callsign RS 0 ISS.

 (ard)

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

 IT'S A DATE

 Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section

 Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found
 on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.
  
 ----------------------------


2025

 VK7 - REAST CAR BOOT SALE January 19 @ 11 am           (vk7news)


 VK6 - PARGFEST PEEL AMATEUR RADIO GROUP held February 15 9AM at
       Mandurah Bowling Club 89 Allnutt Street      ( parg.org.au/ )


 VK - WIA AGM May 3 - 4. Hosted by Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics
      Club                                                  (vk3gtv) 

 VK  - Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association 50th anniversary
       Glen Waverly July 26 president@alara.org              (vk2ayl)

 VK4 - GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY  2025 HAMFEST NOV 9  (vk4dmh)
       Country Paradise Parklands 231 Beaudesert Nerang Road.




 Reception Reports

 WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a
 welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs
 straight after the Local News. Local news follows National
 news in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would
 email their reception reports and location to
 callbacks@wia.org.au




 Submitting news items

 If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion
 in the VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to
 nationalnews@wia.org.au   and don't JUST send url's links or
 posters, but take the time to pen YOUR contribution. 

 To submit audio, email nationalnews@wia.org.au
 and send BOTH the audio and the text
  
 We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 mts in
 length as we only have a half hour.

 Remember the sooner you submit material the more the
 likelihood of it being broadcast in the very next edition of
 WIA National News.

 Each recorded item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple
 of mentions, please submit different slants to keep your
 event 'fresh' and always if the news room is to read your
 item --- write it in the 3rd person. (First if YOU are
 reading your own item).  If you are mentioning your own name / call
 in the story, say something like "and myself, Pat, vk11abc"
 
 Promote your local rebroadcast; details on
 wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
 
 A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't
 plug DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the
 WIA will put your supporters 'goods' in this text edition
 "no worries."

 We will not give blatant 'plugs' to raffles, be it raffles
 at the event or "on-line".


 
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 Oh... and to contact us with your news because
 If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!


 Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
 National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!

 WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on
 wiaq.org.au

 BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!!  thanks to Tony VK7AX
 www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
 
 wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
 to the original text version and original audio on wia site)


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 WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.

 TWITTER  twitter.com/VK1WIA

 Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed
 prior to the actual broadcast date, e-mail
 nationalnews@wia.org.au

 Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers
 you may lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who
 knows, you might even get a "cheerio call".

 Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who
 utilize their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly
 broadcast. 
 Who and where are they?
 wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
 Promote your local rebroadcast; details on
 wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
 The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of
 interest to WIA affiliated clubs and active amateurs residing
 in Australia and the globe. 

 We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
 Australia and participation in the activities of local clubs.
 Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who
 submit material and do not necessarily reflect those of the
 rebroadcasters, nor the National WIA, but IF broadcast, are
 done so in the spirit in which they were submitted." 

 If you would like to see the call-backs reported each
 broadcast, OR have call-backs to contribute to the National
 News call back tally then please send through your call-backs
 to callbacks@wia.org.au


 How do I join this National News List? 
 (subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.)
 Email to vk1wia-news-join@lists.wia.org.au
 from the email account that you wish the emails to go to.


 How do I leave this National News List? (unsubscribe your
 weekly feed)
 Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want
 to unsubscribe from.  Send unsubscribe to the list
 unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au
 You will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the
 instructions given in that mail to complete the 
 unsubscription. 
 
 Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will
 probably receive a message confirming your unsubscription
 from the list and at that point you should stop receiving
 messages.

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