[continued from previous message]   
      
   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   
   ------------------------------------------------------------*   
   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."   
   -------------------------------------------------------------------   
      
   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)   
      
   --------------------------------------------------------------------   
   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   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)