[continued from previous message]   
      
   The VKFF National Co-Ordinator.   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL.   
      
   MMDVM, a popular software and hardware project that powers many amateur radio   
   hotspots, has announced the intention to drop the M17 digital voice and data   
   protocol as a supported mode. First communicated to the OpenDV Groups.io list   
   on July 12th, the project's maintainer cited a number of grievances and   
   rumours behind the decision.   
      
      
   Inclusion of M17 among the supported modes of the MMDVM project has been a   
   major benefit to the current rate of adoption of M17. The first commercial   
   radios supporting M17 shipped in the second half of 2024.   
      
      
   The M17 Project is an open source digital voice and data protocol that is   
   positioned as an alternative to digital modes that require use of proprietary   
   encoders.   
      
      
   MMDVM is an open source project that enables amateur radio hotspots to   
   support multiple digital voice modes including D-STAR, DMR, YSF, P25, NXDN,   
   and POCSAG.   
      
   (ard)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER   
   AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org   
      
   SpaceX currently has one active Starship launch tower at Starbase, TEXAS   
   with a second, at Starbase Pad B, nearing completion.   
      
   Meanwhile, at Cape Canaveral, SpaceX is actively building a launch tower   
   at their LC39A site, which could see a launch next year after finishing   
   touches to its launch mount, flame trench, chopsticks, ground support   
   equipment, and plumbing. The company is exploring adding a second,   
   catch-only tower to LC-39A.   
      
   $10 BILLION more for NASA.   
      
   The Republican-controlled US House and Senate passed a budget   
   reconciliation bill on July 3rd that added $10B BACK into the national   
   budget for NASA programs.   
      
   This reconciliation bill, H.R.1, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful   
   Bill, includes roughly $10B in additions that were slated to be cut in   
   the Whitehouses budget request. These include operational funding for   
   the ISS through 2030;   
      
   $4.1B for Artemis IV and V SLS rockets;   
      
   full funding of current Lunar Gateway plans;   
      
   $1B in unspecified improvements to NASA centres around the country;   
      
   $700M for the (revived after 20 years) Mars Telecommunications Orbiter,   
   a close fit to the orbiter in Rocket Labs MSR proposal; an additional   
   $325M for launching the SpaceX ISS deorbit vehicle; and, oddly, the   
   relocation of a space vehicle assumed to be the Space Shuttle Discovery   
   from DC to Johnson Space Centre in Houston (to the tune of $85M)   
      
   (ORBITAL INDEX)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA   
   iota-world.org/   
   --------------------------   
   Announced  participants  in  the  IOTA  Contest  (26-27 July)   
   from Italian islands include:   
      
   IR 5 C from  Capraia (EU-028) SSB.   
   QSL via IU3EDK, direct or bureau.   
      
   IB 7 V from San Pietro (EU-073) SSB.   
   QSL via home call,  IK 7 IMO direct or bureau.   
      
   IP 1 X  Gallinara  (EU-083) ssb AND cw CW.   
   QSL via Club Log's OQRS, or via IU1JCZ (direct or bureau).   
      
   II 3 Y from  Santa Maria di Barbana  (EU-130).   
   They  will operate SSB and CW. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS.   
      
   (425dx news)   
      
   ---------------   
   OC REMINDERS   
   ------------   
   ----------   
      
   OC-013   
      
   Steve, ZL2KE will again be active from Rarotonga as E 51 KEE during   
   August,  3-18 to be exact. He was previously active from there last   
   year.   
      
   QRV mainly on 40-10m, CW & SSB using verticals next to sea and   
   End-fed wires.   
      
   QSL via IK2DUW, LoTW, eQSL, Club Log.   
      
   (dx-world)   
   -----------------   
      
   OC-065   
      
   Lance, W7GJ  will be active as  H40GJ  from Pigeon Island (OC-065),   
   Temotu Province on  8-27 August. This will be a  6m EME DXpedition,   
   using Q65-60A in the "Q65 Pileup" mode.   
      
   "When I am not aimed up at the moon, I will be monitoring 50.313 on FT8   
   mode", Lance says.  "Please take the initiative to call  my direction   
   when you think  there may be  ionospheric propagation.  If propagation   
   is good and there are many callers, I may switch to FT4 or FT8 F/H on a   
   frequency to be announced". QSL via LoTW, or direct to W7GJ.   
      
   (425DX plus facebook.com/lance.collister/)   
   -------------   
      
   OC-054   
      
   The  DX Obsessed Group  will  be active as FW5K from Wallis Island   
   (OC-054) from 20 October to 7 November, including a Multi-2 entry in the   
   CQ WW DX SSB Contest.  Six operators will be QRV on 160-6 metres CW SSB   
   FT8 and RTTY.  QSL via Club Log's OQRS;  QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW   
   6 months after the end of the DXpedition.   
      
   (425 DX and dxobsessed.org/home)   
      
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   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY   
   Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the   
   Signal Identification Guide Wiki at   
   sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military   
   youtube.com/@militaryhfradio244   
   open.spotify.com/playlist/28SXuX8vL2wHbnfCS0uBVF?si=d9ee366a38a4472e   
      
   >From calls home during the Vietnam War, to pilots flying over the Pacific   
   today, MARS has been connecting Americas military for 100 years.   
      
   Since its beginning in 1925, the core mission of the Military Auxiliary   
   Radio System has remained the same:   
   keep our military connected, no matter what.   
      
   "The mission of MARS is to provide contingency backup communications.   
   If SATCOM radios go out, then pilots can jump on the high-frequency   
   radio," explained Dave Antry, Air Force MARS chief. "Most of our aircraft   
   have high-frequency radios in them. Pilots can call into one of our MARS   
   radio operators, and request to make a phone call," said Dave.   
      
   The system supports a range of mission communications for aircraft,   
   including updating bases on arrival times, troubleshooting aircraft   
   issues with maintenance crews, helping with medical evacuation,   
   or even morale calls to mum and dad.   
      
   (eHam)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO   
      
   WICEN NEW SOUTH WALES   
      
   The next WICEN online members forum, will be at 7:30pm, on Tuesday next,   
   i.e. the 22nd of July. This is where members can raise any issues that   
   are concerning them.   
      
   Central Coast WICEN have several events coming up in August   
   they are the Kirrawak Endurance Ride on the 2nd and 3rd;  and the   
   Shazada, which runs from the 25th to the 29th. If you are interested in   
   assisting with these events, please contact Col VK2ZCO.   
      
   col.hodgson@bigpond.com.   
      
   The 2025 WICEN NSW AGM is Scheduled for 2pm on Saturday the 9th of   
   August, at the ARNSW site, Quarry Road, Dural.   
      
   One of WICENs flagship events is the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic.   
   This year, it is on the weekend of the 8th and 9th of November.   
   WICEN NSW provides the safety communications and requires many members   
   to provide coverage of the course.   
      
   And remember, WICEN NSW is a communications support squad of VRA Rescue   
   NSW. For more information about WICEN please visit the website,   
   nsw.wicen.org.au   
      
   (vk2wi)   
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   IT'S A DATE   
      
   Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section,   
   nationalnews@wia.org.au   
      
   Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found   
   on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.   
      
   ----------------------------   
   Reception Reports   
      
   No we DO like to hear where in the world you are listening to this,   
   the WIA NATIONAL NEWS SERVICE.   
      
   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   
      
   Not only but also those watching us on YouTube, leave a comment , access   
   is just below the picture on screen and again tell us where and maybe   
   even the day and time you are listening   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)