[continued from previous message]   
      
   The only contact details the WIA uses to get in touch with your club is   
   solely based on the information drawn from your Club pages on the WIA   
   Website. There are no other lists.   
      
      
   The WIA corresponds directly with Clubs via email on a range of matters such   
   as major news topics, providing advance notice and invitations to your club   
   for upcoming WIA online forums or webinar, seeking feedback or to direct   
   inquires that we may receive from the public wanting more information about   
   your club.   
      
      
   Its amazing just how many club contact details are incorrect right now,   
   leading to missed opportunities and confusion.   
      
      
   A perfect example of what can go wrong is the recent email sent out by the   
   WIA to the Presidents and Secretaries of all Affiliated clubs. The email,   
   regarding the excellent initiative by the WIA Education Committee provided   
   details of their work as well as requesting club input for consideration as   
   they progress. Incredibly, over two dozen emails were bounced back as   
   undeliverable. I will be reaching out to those clubs over the next few days   
   to request the correct information, but this is really something every club   
   needs to get right not only for WIA correspondence but for anybody wishing to   
   contact your club. Bounced emails and incorrect phone numbers will never   
   create a great first impression.   
      
      
   So, Im reaching out not just to Club Presidents and Secretaries but to all   
   members of WIA Affiliated Clubs and ask that you take a fresh look at your   
   Clubs contact details on the WIA website and advise the nominated person in   
   your club to make any corrections as soon as possible.   
      
      
   As always, if you need any assistance with Affiliated Club matters, please   
   don't hesitate to contact me via email at vk2nwt@wia.org.au   
      
      
   This has been Angelo VK2NWT for VK1WIA News.   
      
   EDUCATION.   
      
   This is Amanda VK1AH Chair of the WIA Education Committee.   
      
   I would like to thank all of you who took that have taken trouble to   
   respond to our education survey, which is still open.   
      
   We are in the process of collating and analysing the responses received   
   so far.   
      
   In due course we will contact those who have made comments and provided   
   contact details.   
      
   Initial results suggest that the Amateur community would welcome   
   standardized training materials and information to better inform   
   current operators and newcomers.   
      
   You may have heard on last weeks broadcast the announcement about the   
   release of a package to enable self-assessment of your station for its   
   EMR compliance as required by the class licence regulations. This   
   package is an initiative by the committee that has been in the works   
   for some months along with other information that we believe will   
   assist the amateur community with training and general information.   
      
   If you have not yet made a submission to the survey it is still open.   
      
   73 Amanda VK1AH on behalf of the WIA Education Committee   
      
   surveymonkey.com/r/EducatioCommittee2024   
      
   AUSTRALIANA   
      
   Maser and its partner MatSing, a leading innovator in high-capacity   
   lens antenna technology, have assisted in the enhancement of cellular   
   connectivity at one of Sydneys iconic stadiums with the integration   
   of advanced lens antennas into a new distributed antenna system (DAS)   
   providing high-speed mobile connectivity for spectators attending   
   sporting, music and other festivals at Sydneys largest entertainment   
   venue.   
      
   To meet the communication needs of the stadium, which has a capacity of   
   83,500 people, a state-of-the-art indoor network has been deployed.   
      
   This network incorporates 14 MatSing lens antennas strategically placed   
   to cover the field and lower seating areas.   
      
   These multi-beam, tri-band antennas utilise a patented spherical lens   
   design with four isolated F-band (3.34.2 GHz) cross-polarised beams,   
   four isolated mid-band (16952690 MHz) cross-polarised beams and   
   two isolated low-band (698960 MHz) beams.   
      
   There is a need for increased connectivity in todays world of sports   
   and entertainment, and these lens antennas are proven to deliver   
   industry-leading, high-capacity connectivity, said Bo Larsson,   
   CEO of MatSing.   
      
   (sourced to critical comms)   
      
   ------------------------------------------------------------*   
   INTERNATIONAL NEWS is with thanks to ARRL, DX-WORLD, eHam, Hackaday,   
   IARU, ICQPodcast, IRTS, NEWSLINE and the World Wide sources of the WIA.   
      
   As parts of Spain were overtaken by historic flooding, two groups   
   provided emergency radio communications through VHF/UHF repeaters in   
   the hard-hit region.   
      
   Much of the response came from R.E.M.E.R., the government's Civil   
   Protection Radio Network, which draws membership from the amateur   
   community. Other hams were deployed from Emcom-Espana, the emergency   
   communications group of the URE, the Spanish national amateur radio   
   society, whose messages proved vital as flash floods pounded eastern   
   Spain, trapping and killing people in the unrelenting weather   
   conditions.   
      
   Meanwhile, as officials assessed the flood damage, search parties were   
   dispatched to seek out those reported missing.   
      
   A draft report about the 2020 collapse that led to the dismantling of   
   the Arecibo Observatory's 305-metre telescope has pinpointed what is   
   believed to be the root cause.   
      
   Investigators found "unprecedented and accelerated long-term zinc creep   
   induced failure."   
      
   In other words, the failure occurred in the radio telescope's cable   
   sockets designed to support the 900-ton platform that was above the   
   dish.   
      
   The telescope was constructed in the early '60's.   
      
   Investigators believe that the sequence of events leading to the   
   collapse may have begun with Hurricane Maria, which hit the telescope   
   in 2017. Inspections before the storm found the zinc leading edge to be   
   intact - but in late 2018 and early 2019 cable slippage was detected.   
      
   With Hamvention 2025 set for the weekend of May 16th, the organizers   
   are asking prospective attendees to ponder the question of what   
   "radio independence" means to them.   
      
   That is, in fact, the theme for the convention in Xenia, Ohio.   
      
   In announcing the theme, the Hamvention team says "In the course of   
   history radio has been heavily regulated and, in some instances, banned   
   altogether. We are fortunate to enjoy these freedoms, and for us at   
   Hamvention we are proud of our Radio Independence. What does Radio   
   Independence mean to you?"   
      
   No doubt there will be many answers found in the workshops, seminars   
   and eyeball QSOs at the Greene County Fairgrounds USA.   
      
   For those who like "collecting wallpaper" how about a card/certificate   
   from the Oval Office?   
      
   A group to keep an ear out for you was very active the past weekend   
   from the White House Communications Agency Amateur Radio Club,   
   established by former members of the White House Communications Agency.   
   The White House Communications team is made up of military personnel   
   who play essential roles in overseeing communication strategies and   
   activities for the White House.   
      
   Last week end saw them active for about 4 days prior to Remembrance,   
   or as the USA call it Veterans Day. Usually on air for very special   
   events keep listening for W 0 H.   
      
   twiar.net/?p=25483   
      
   Its been about a decade since Amazon in the USA began to fly its   
   delivery drones, aiming to revolutionize the online shopping experience   
   with rapid delivery of certain items.   
      
   Most recently Amazon got permission from the FAA to not only start   
   flying from its new Arizona-based location, but also to fly beyond   
   line of sight (BLOS) missions with the new MK30 drone.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)