
[ ANARTS - Australian National Amateur Radio Teletype Society ]

ANARTS RTTY News Bulletin 825 4th September 1994       

    Relay frequencies
    -----------------
  3.545 MHz                  0930 UTC     VK2BQS (Jim)
  7.045 MHz -3               0030 UTC     VK2CTD (Col)
 14.070 MHz (amtor/fec)      0030 UTC     VK2DPM (Alan)      
 14.091 MHz                  0030 UTC     VK2BQS (JIM)
146.675 MHz             0030/0930 UTC     VK2JPA (PAT)
144.850 MHz (ax25 bbs)                    VK2JPA AT VK2RWI
                                            (or VK2AAB)
146.675 MHz (rtty mmbbs/repeater)          VK2RTY
   

U.S. Government picks up millions of dollars on frequency sale
--------------------------------------------------------------

You  have probably read recently about the sale of frequencies 
that the FCC has auctioned off to the private sector. The bids 
were  far  beyond anything the FCC  has  anticipated. In fact, 
millions of dollars over their estimates.  A recent  newspaper 
article  quoted  the government gain in the area  of  1  (one) 
billion  dollars.  No  doubt  our Senators  and  Congressional 
people will be watching this action very closely.  I hope  you 
read between the lines here. If frequencies are in such demand 
and  worth  such huge amounts of money,  what's next,  we  may 
wonder.

I'm concerned that maybe one day these independent sources are 
going to be looking at the amateur service with the thought of 
maybe reducing our frequency spectrum. On the other hand, what 
if  the  government  should decide one day to  start  charging 
Amateurs a yearly licensing fee.  A little simple  mathematics 
here  would  indicate  Big Brother could pick up a  couple  of 
billion dollars every year.

Oh,  you're not worried!  ... Okay, maybe not today but, look-
out  big business is just around the corner watching  everyone 
and looking everywhere for frequencies.  Besides, don't forget 
the recent loss in the 220 MHz band. Also keep in mind that in 
some  countries  around  the world it is common  to  charge  a 
yearly licensing fee t0 amateurs.

Please  don't think that I'm an alarmist.  My only  intent  is 
to  alert  you that these are important issues  everyone  must 
keep in mind.  The old cliche -- Use it or lose it -- that has 
been  applied  to  our frequencies so many times  still  holds 
true.  At all times we must demonstrate the usefulness of  our 
fraternity and be ever alert to any invasion thereof. 

de Dale Sinner W6IWO
From the September 1994 ARDS Digital Journal editorial   

Comment:

Well,  as you well know,  we are one of those countries  where 
amateurs pay a yearly fee for the privilege of getting on air.
The Callbook-on-disc in the copy I have says there are 19,133
registered  callsigns  in Australia.  Let's round that  up  to 
20,000  and  see  how  much  we pay  the  government  for  the 
provilege. That's only 700,000 dollars -- small bickies, don't 
you think?

If some commercial party threatens our frequencies,  while the 
government  is  bound  by  international  agreements  to   let 
amateurs use defined frequencies,  who is to say that they may 
not try to milk this cow some more and put up the licence fees 
to  make up for the fact that they really cannot legally  take 
the frequencies away to earn large amounts of money? 

A  small  licence  fee  in a small amateur  population  is  no 
protection.  We  must  be seen to be making good  use  of  the 
spectrum and also to be of assistance to the community, as has 
been shown in recent years in earthquake, storm and fire. Keep 
the  community  side of Amateur Radio to the  fore,  and  keep 
telling  the  public  about the hobby and how it can  be  both 
enjoyment and provide service in times of need.  

de Pat VK2JPA Broadcast Officer

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


CQ/RTTY Journal WW RTTY Contest (part 1)
-------------------------------

September 24-25

Sponsored by CQ Magazine and ADRS RTTY/Digital Journal

NOTE:  Major  change  in this year's rules;  NO  rest  periods 
required.

CONTEST PERIODS: STARTS at 0000 UTC Saturday, and ENDS at 2400 
UTC Sunday,  a total of 48 hours. NO REST PERIODS REQUIRED for 
any entries.

Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10M. (five bands)

OPERATOR  CLASSES:  There is a High Power category (more  than 
150  watts)  and a Low Power category (less than  150  watts). 
ONLY  Single  Op,   All  Band  entries,  and  Multi-Op  single 
transmitter  entries  are  eligible to enter the High  or  Low 
Power categories.  Enter one or the other, and so note in your 
log.  Single  band  Assisted and Multi-multi entries  are  not 
eligible to enter these categories.

  A) Single Op,  All Band and Single Band. One person performs 
all operating and logging functions.  Use of Spotting Nets, DX 
Alert Packet Systems, telephone, etc., is NOT permitted.

  B) Single Op,  Assisted, All Band  Only. One person performs 
all operating and logging functions.  However,  the use of  DX 
Spotting  Nets or sny other form of DX alerting assistance  IS 
allowed.  The operator can change bands at any time. Single op 
stations  are allowed only one transmitted signal at any given 
time.

  C) Multi-Op,  Single Transmitter.  All band entry only. More 
than  one person operates,  logs,  checks for  dupes,  use  of 
spoting, etc.

NOTE:  Only  one  (1) transmitter and one (1)  band  permitted 
during the same period (defined as ten (10) minutes). Once the 
station  has begun operation on a given band,  it MUST  remain 
on  that  band  for  10  minutes;  listening  time  counts  as 
operating time.  EXCEPTION:  One, and only one, other band may 
be  used  during the same time period if,  and  only  if,  the 
station worked is a new multiplier. Logs found in violation of 
the  ten  minute rule will be  automatically  reclassified  as 
multi-multi to reflect their actual status.

  D)  Multi-Op,  Multi-Transmitter.  All band entry  only.  No 
limit  to number of transmitters,  but only one (1) signal per 
band permitted.  All transmitters must be located within a 500 
meter diameter,  or within the property limits of the  station 
licensee's  address,  whichever is the greater.  The  antennas 
must be physically connected by wires to the transmitter.  

More next week

       ------------------------------------------------
  
 
                      IPS weekly report
                      -----------------
                  26 August - 1 September 1994
Issue No 35
Date of issue: 02 September 94

INDICES:

Date     26    27    28    29    30    31    01

10cm     72    71    71    78    83    82    86
A         8     8     7     4     3     6   (10 estimated)
T        26    19    25    21    28    25    24


                     SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY

Solar activity was moderate on 30th August,  with 2 M1 flares, 
low  on 1st Spetember,  and very low for the remainder of  the 
period.  

The  geomagnetic  field at Learmonth (WA) was quiet  26th  and 
30th  August, and quiet to unsettled otherwise.  

Ionospheric  F2 critical frequencies at Sydney were near  pre-
dicted  monthly values with enhancements of up to 30 per  cent 
on 29th, and up to 50 per cent on 30th August.

        FORECAST FOR THE NEXT WEEK (2 - 8 September)

SOLAR:        Moderate to low (isolated fadeouts possible).

GEOMAGNETIC:  Quiet  to  unsettled,  until  6  September  then 
              increasing to active levels with possible  minor 
              storm periods during local night.

IONOSPHERIC:  Near predicted monthly values, until 6 September 
              after which degraded conditions are expected.


       Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services, Sydney

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

There  are no VK2SG Rtty DX Notes available for the last  week 
in  August so unfortunately we will have to wait  for  further 
information until next week. But in the meantime we have :

 
ARLD053 DX news

The  items in this week's bulletin are courtesy of Jim,  AD1C, 
Doc, K0HTF, Len, W7MCU, Bob, W5KNE, the QRZ DX bulletin, Chod, 
VP2ML,  The  DX  Bulletin and the Yankee Clipper Contest  Club 
PacketCluster network.  Thanks.
 
THAILAND.   Fred,  K3ZO,  is in Thailand until October 10  and 
will  be  signing HZ0ZAR.   Check 20 meters between  1130  and 
1400z.   He  plans to give 40 meters a try for  stateside  Qs.  
Sunrise  in  Bangkok is at 2307z and sunset at  1119z.   Plans 
also call for a trip to Singapore to attend the IARU Region  3 
Conference there.  QSL via K3ZO.

NEPAL.   Kyoko, NH6RT, is active as 9N1KY.  Check 14184 kHz at 
1648z  and  14270 at 1700.   QSL via Kyoko  Yamakami,  Box  3, 
Tokaimura, 319-11, Japan.
 
RWANDA.   Both  VE3MJQ and PA3DZN should be active any day now 
from Kigali.   In the meantime, try working 9X5/F5PGP on 14195 
kHz at about 2030z.
 
MONGOLIA.   Members of the Japan UNICEF Ham Club should be  on 
the  air  as JU1HC through the end of the month.   There  have 
been no PacketCluster spots for this one in New England as  we 
approach  bulletin  time.   Howe6Pr,  try JT1KAA on 14021  kHz 
around 0210z.
 
UGANDA.   Paul, WF5T, plans to return to Uganda and operate as 
5X1XT, concentrating on CW and RTTY.  QSL via his home call.
 
CHAGOS.   Pete, VQ9TP, aka N5TP, has been busy on his favorite 
mode,  CW.  Check 18083 kHz from 1345 to 1600z.  Pete operates 
almost exclusively between the hours of 1230 and 1630:,   Tom, 
VQ9TT, has been worked on 14014 kHz at 1300z.
 
CHINA.   Len,  W7MCU,  called ARRL Hq recently to report  that 
BY1QH is back on Oscar 13.  QSL via the 1994 CBA.
 
ARUBA.  Contest station P40W will be rebuilt at a new location 
just  prior to the CQWW SSB contest in October.   John,  W2GD, 
will be doing both the rebuilding and operating.

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

Society information

The Society may be contacted at :  PO Box 860, Crows Nest 2065 
Australia,   for   such  matters  as  membership  and  general 
enquiries.  Enquiries  can  also  be made  by  packet  to  the 
President  (Col)  VK2CTD, or the  Secretary  (Pat) VK2JPA at 
VK2RWI.
  
News  items  may  be  sent to  Broadcast  Officer  PO  Box  60 
Blacktown  2148 Australia,  or by packet to VK2JPA at  VK2RWI. 
Email addresses for the Broadcast Officer are : 

patl(at)pitt.conmusic.su.oz.au  

The  Society welcomes news items on any digital subjects  from 
anywhere in the broadcast coverage area.  We know we reach New 
Zealand and many South Pacific islands,  and we were  reaching 
as  far  north  as Japan when conditions were  right.  We  are 
looking forward to news from your areas to let other  amateurs 
know what you are doing in the hobby. Hope to hear from you.

73s de Pat VK2JPA Broadcast Officer 
That concludes the broadcast for this morning/evening.

