All posts by VK2VEL

Century for Centenary Project

The Waverley Amateur Radio Society is on the countdown to its centenary on 27 January 2019!

The ‘Century for Centenary Project’ is the first of the activities to celebrate the centenary of the club’s founding in 1919.

The ‘Century for Centenary Project’ is very simply, a project intended to encourage member’s activity on the radio, with the aim of achieving the DXCC (DX Century Club) award, and as many other operating awards as possible for club callsign VK2BV,  in the next three years to the centenary in 2019.

Operating awards are issued for achievements in working contacts and receiving verifications by QSL.  Examples of some awards include the ‘DX Century Club’ for working and QSLing 100 DX ‘countries’ (entities) on HF, or ‘Worked All States’ on VHF.   There are a range of operating awards on offer through a number of programmes administered by the WIA, ARRL, eQSL and QRZ.com among others.

Financial members of the club can read further on how to participate in the Century for Centenary Project.

Guest speaker, 18 May monthly meeting. Mark Fahey – Behind the Curtain – Gathering propaganda broadcasts inside North Korea

The special guest speaker for the Wednesday monthly meeting on 18 May is Mark Fahey.  Mark Fahey is a well known expert on North Korean broadcast media, who will be speaking  about his six visits to North Korea, where he not only documented and photographed propaganda as a part of every day life, but using clandestine recording devices, monitored and recorded North Korean radio and tv broadcast media signals.

Mark has documented this project as an interactive media e-book, Behind the Curtain.
http://www.behindthecurtain.asia/

More about the project:
http://mashable.com/…/life-inside-strangest-nation-on-ear…/…

Mark is well known in SWL circles for breaking the puzzle of the Chinese Firedrake SW broadcast jammer. http://www.satdirectory.com/firedrake.html

This is a not to be missed presentation about clandestine toilet breaks, the missing 5th floor of a Pyongyang hotel, MacGyvered radio intercept devices and sending SMS messages from the northern side of the Demilitarised Zone at Panmunjom.

Club Entry to the Harry Angel 80m Sprint Contest

The Waverley Amateur Radio Society is entering the Harry Angel 80m Sprint Contest on Saturday 07 May 1000-1146 UTC (2000-2146 local) operating from the club station.

This is a short contest ideal for the beginner to amateur radio and contesting or the casual operator.  There is a small club team preparing for the contest, but all members are encouraged to join the club operation.

We particularly encourage those members who are new or returning to amateur radio, those members who don’t normally participate in contests due to commitments, or those who cannot normally operate HF at home.   Experienced contesters will be on hand to advise on operating procedures and contest strategy, but the emphasis will be on practise and experience for the new contesters.  We are also looking for more CW operators.

This is a perfect opportunity to hone the club’s contest skills and experience, as there are a number of contest opportunities over the next few months.
Further details about the contest:  http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/harryangel/

If you are interested, please contact VK2VEL.  Further information will be circulated in due course.

WIA President’s Visit in March

This year, the Waverley Amateur Radio Society celebrates its 90th anniversary as a WIA affiliated club.  Fittingly, the club welcomed WIA President Phil Wait VK2ASD as guest speaker at the club’s monthly meeting on 16 March 2016.

After joining members for dinner in the Rose Bay RSL Club, Phil spoke about three broad areas in a wide ranging presentation.  Phil began with a review of the role of the WIA and its range of members services, such as Amateur Radio magazine, the QSL bureau, as well as its roles in advocacy with government, international liaison and coordination, and its role in amateur radio education, licensing and callsign administration.  Phil provided a snapshot of the WIA today, reviewing the state of membership and financial health, as well as addressing some of the criticisms leveled at the WIA, including a review of recent operational challenges and responses (more on these issues can be found in the April 2016 issue of Amateur Radio).

Finally Phil discussed the WIA’s strategic directions for the future, with a range of objectives such as improving member’s services, improving amateur license conditions with the forthcoming changes to the regulatory framework (eg. increased power for all levels of licenses, access to digital modes and computer control for foundation licenses, full access to 6m for standard licenses).  A major WIA strategic objective is to promote the growth of amateur radio by promoting its relevance in the 21st century at a fundamental level, by promoting the public value of amateur radio.  Phil spoke about addressing these objectives on two levels – through youth involvement, particularly via the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) initiative in school curriculum development, and through technology involvement via DIY and maker activities.

Phil took a wide range of questions from the floor and engaged in some thoughtful discussion to feedback, to end a useful and mutually informative presentation and dialogue. – Waverley ARS

WIA affliation c_resize1985

 

Club Licenses

Historical Licenses issued to the club since 1920.

Operating Awards

Awards issued to the Waverley Amateur Radio Society for achievements in operating.