Australian Ham Radio Discussion Forum ( AHRDF )

I received a direct email yesterday with a link to the WIA's 2018 AGM registration / booking page: https://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/2018agm/

I don't know if the email went to all WIA members or just selected ones but I would be interested to know. The thing is that it was sent my non-AR email address, i.e. one that is not registered with the WIA, so why that one ???

The body of the email is as below:

"The WIA is pleased to announce that registrations are now open for the 2018 WIA Radio and Electronics Convention and AGM. You can register today via the online registration form on the WIA website via this  Link

The 2018 WIA Radio and Electronics Convention and AGM is being held at the SeaWorld Resort on Queensland's Gold Coast. The venue is located in the heart of the Gold Coast, with easy access from the airport and to a wide range of hotel accommodation and with parking nearby. 

For those arriving at the Gold Coast on Friday evening the traditional informal dinner and get together is being held at Fisherman's Wharf Tavern, which is located near Sea World on Main Beach. The evening meal will be of your choice and budget.

On Saturday morning at 9am the formal WIA AGM and Open Forum will take place in SeaWorld's conference centre. This important event will be followed by an eye opening afternoon program themed "Beyond 2020”. A commemorative activity to launch the armistice is to be announced by the WIA.

The afternoon program will include guest speakers presenting on some cutting edge technologies as well as a range of strategy workshops providing members with the opportunity to share their views and ideas for the shaping the future of the WIA beyond 2020. Saturday will also offer a range of relaxing activities for the partners including Sea World tours and an opportunity to visit some of Australia’s largest shopping centres.

At 7pm on Saturday evening the traditional WIA Annual Dinner will take place. The dinner is being held at SeaWorld's Shoreline Restaurant, featuring the restaurants signature seafood buffet. During the evening guests will be privileged to hear from Jeff Johnson VK4XJJ as he talks to us about his walk across Australia with Amateur Radio. Partners and friend are invited to join in the WIA Annual Dinner, seats are available for just $85 per person. (Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase on the night.)

On Sunday morning consider trying something different, and join us for an early morning Champagne and Breakfast Hot Air Balloon Ride. Consider taking your radio with you and discover how far for you can work from such heights. Sunday morning will also feature tours of the Queensland Telecommunications Museum, a tour of the Surf Life Saving Command Centre, plus a variety of demonstrations and displays of Amateur Radio equipment. There will be a Microwave shootout, talks on a range of interesting topics plus displays of latest radio equipment by some of our leading commercial suppliers.

And last but not least, for those not traveling back to their home QTH on Sunday afternoon, you are invited to join us for a free BBQ dinner courtesy of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society.

Further information and the Full weekend program with online registration form is now available on the WIA Website via this Link
 
Regards
The Wireless Institute Of Australia
PO Box 2042
Bayswater
Victoria, 3153
www.wia.org.au"

Got the same email.

Don't have a WIA email address, so turned up in my regular inbox.

(06-02-2018, 12:04 PM)VK5TM Wrote: [ -> ]Got the same email.

Don't have a WIA email address, so turned up in my regular inbox.

As a WIA member, I have an email VK4...@ wia.org.au set up and that is simply a mail forward to another 'private' address. That private address is where I would have expected the above email to arrive (and addressed to the callsign @ wia.org.au).  It didn't.  It arrived at another private email address that is not used for AR purposes, and definitely not the one that the WIA Assessors list contains either.

Ok, from where did they harvest the email addresses ????????

Good question and not one I can think of a logical answer to.

interestingly enough i got this as well - i'm not a WIA member and the email address they sent it to was not the one used on any forms i submitted with my licence - it went to my uni one i exclusively use for my PhD studies.

i'd also love to know where these addresses come from

There's one way to find out. Ask them!
If they are not inclined to tell, perhaps a call to the privacy comissioner or the appropriate ombudsman.

Nev
Edit... I believe email addresses can be bought from the black market. A possibility?

FB perhaps?

I'm not on FB, and do have a wia.org.au address, but as yet haven't received the AGM notification.

(06-02-2018, 08:24 AM)VK4ADC Wrote: [ -> ]"The WIA is pleased to announce that registrations are now open for the 2018 WIA Radio and Electronics Convention and AGM. You can register today via the online registration form on the WIA website via this  Link

The 2018 WIA Radio and Electronics Convention and AGM is being held at the SeaWorld Resort on Queensland's Gold Coast. The venue is located in the heart of the Gold Coast, with easy access from the airport and to a wide range of hotel accommodation and with parking nearby. 

For those arriving at the Gold Coast on Friday evening the traditional informal dinner and get together is being held at Fisherman's Wharf Tavern, which is located near Sea World on Main Beach. The evening meal will be of your choice and budget.

On Saturday morning at 9am the formal WIA AGM and Open Forum will take place in SeaWorld's conference centre. This important event will be followed by an eye opening afternoon program themed "Beyond 2020”. A commemorative activity to launch the armistice is to be announced by the WIA.

The afternoon program will include guest speakers presenting on some cutting edge technologies as well as a range of strategy workshops providing members with the opportunity to share their views and ideas for the shaping the future of the WIA beyond 2020. Saturday will also offer a range of relaxing activities for the partners including Sea World tours and an opportunity to visit some of Australia’s largest shopping centres.

At 7pm on Saturday evening the traditional WIA Annual Dinner will take place. The dinner is being held at SeaWorld's Shoreline Restaurant, featuring the restaurants signature seafood buffet. During the evening guests will be privileged to hear from Jeff Johnson VK4XJJ as he talks to us about his walk across Australia with Amateur Radio. Partners and friend are invited to join in the WIA Annual Dinner, seats are available for just $85 per person. (Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase on the night.)

On Sunday morning consider trying something different, and join us for an early morning Champagne and Breakfast Hot Air Balloon Ride. Consider taking your radio with you and discover how far for you can work from such heights. Sunday morning will also feature tours of the Queensland Telecommunications Museum, a tour of the Surf Life Saving Command Centre, plus a variety of demonstrations and displays of Amateur Radio equipment. There will be a Microwave shootout, talks on a range of interesting topics plus displays of latest radio equipment by some of our leading commercial suppliers.

And last but not least, for those not traveling back to their home QTH on Sunday afternoon, you are invited to join us for a free BBQ dinner courtesy of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society.

Further information and the Full weekend program with online registration form is now available on the WIA Website via this Link
 
Regards
The Wireless Institute Of Australia
PO Box 2042
Bayswater
Victoria, 3153
www.wia.org.au"

Back on track to the original theme of the post...  

It is probably a good opportunity to socialise with others from out-of-state as well as seeing what the WIA Board looks like, sounds like, etc from face to face perspective.

I am thinking about going for the Saturday morning & maybe some (or all) of the afternoon.  Currently  undecided. They will need to know numbers so I will have to confirm if I want to attend rather than making a last-minute decision.

Who else is contemplating attending ??

I am going, probably for the day events....

73

Phil VK4CDI

Awesome Phil

Be good to catch up

73

VK4TS

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Reminder that registrations are now open and they have been flooding in.

Did you know that the 2018 WIA Radio and Electronics Convention and AGM is being held at the SeaWorld Resort on Queensland's Gold Coast. The venue is located in the heart of the Gold Coast, with easy access from the airport and to a wide range of hotel accommodation and price range and lots of parking nearby.

For those arriving at the Gold Coast on Friday evening the traditional informal dinner and get together is being held at Fisherman's Wharf Tavern and the evening meal will be of your choice and budget.

On Saturday morning from 9am the WIA AGM and Open Forum will take place in SeaWorld's conference centre. This will be followed by the eye opening afternoon program themed "Beyond 2020”. This program will include guest speakers presenting on some cutting edge technologies as well as a range of strategy workshops providing members with the opportunity to share their views and ideas for the shaping the future of the WIA beyond 2020. A commemorative activity to launch the armistice is to be announced by the WIA.

Saturday evening is the WIA Annual Dinner being held at SeaWorld's Shoreline Restaurant. During the evening our guest speaker will be Jeff Johnson VK4XJJ as he talks to us about his walk across Australia with Amateur Radio.
Sunday morning there are a broad range of activities from a Champagne and Breakfast Hot Air Balloon Ride, the Queensland Telecommunications Museum, Surf Life Saving Command Centre, plus a variety of demonstrations and displays of Amateur Radio equipment including a Microwave shootout.

And last but not least, for those not travelling back to their home QTH on Sunday afternoon, you are invited to join us for a free BBQ dinner courtesy of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society.

Further information and the Full weekend program with online registration form is now available on the WIA Website at the link on the email edition of this broadcast.


https://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/2018agm/

From WIA News for 4th March 2018

thinking about going along too.

Booked in and ready to rumble - it should be a few good days - some great speakers and always good for the camaraderie.

As the WIA AGM approaches the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society would like to draw your attention to a number of additions to the Saturday and Sunday programme. 


Saturday the 19th of May

Firstly, for partners, Blues on Broadbeach  (www.bluesonbroadbeach.com) a free blues music festival is on in the Broadbeach entertainment precinct approximately 8km south of Sea World which is also home to the The Star" Casino, and countless other food and entertainment venus.    Transport will be provided from Sea World to Broad Beach for those wishing to travel to Broadbeach on Saturday the 19th. 

Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society welcomes questions regarding other tours and activities that are available Saturday, and encourages people who are attending to visit https://www.destinationgoldcoast.com/tours-to-take for other tours and activities that are available. 


For the more technically minded the Saturday program has been expanded to include a number of additional technical sessions including:


The FT-8 Revolution
Rex (VK7MO) holder of the current 10GHz EME record and winner of the Digital Modes section of the Ross Hull contest will unearth the secrets  of FT-8 and other weak signal digital modes in the SWJT-X program and take us through the features of FT-8 operation.
 
MMDVM How does it work ? 
Join Lindsay (VK2AMV), Amateur Radio Central West group, as he unravels the mysteries of MMDVM, how it, and the respective networks work.
A live demonstration of the technology will be conducted by the Amateur Radio Central West group on the Sunday.

Electromagnetic Compatibility and its impact on Amateur Operations
The battle of amateurs against QRM is one that is only intensifying as time marches on. Brian, VK2GCE will map out the EMI / EMC / EMR field and then focus on a few things we as radio amateurs can do to reduce EMI, to achieve a modicum of EMC and live more happily with EMR now and
in the future.
 
Meteor Scatter Communications
Bouncing transmisions off the ionised tails of meteors as they burn through the Earths atmosphere may seem out of this world but the technology has long held practical uses in military communications, scientific research, meteorology and of course Amateur Radio. Dr Kevin Johnston (VK4UH) from
Brisbane will take us through the ins and outs of Meteor Scatter Communications

 
DX on 630m and 2200m
It has been over 10 years since the ITU formally granted Amateurs access to the 2200m band. Join Roger as he demystifies DXing on the Low Frequency band.  Participants will embark on a journey of discovery as they learn  how to get started and the gear required, the facts and fantasy of antennas and propagation characteristics before being provided with the best strategies for making your first DX contact.

Telcall+:  HF meets 4G in the bush
Since Alfred Traeger introduced the pedal radio in 1929 HF radio has had a place in the Australian outback. Over the years the technologies have evolved and the application of the technology altered but despite this HF land mobile radio continues to play an important role in this vast country. Geoff Peck of Austravel Safety Net will introduce us to Telcall+, a fusion of HF radio and contemporary smart phone technology that brings puts the vast communication capabilities of HF in the hands of everyone with a smartphone.

Amateur Radio Licence Conditions and Spectrum Regulation
Representatives of the WIA will provide us with the latest on Amateur Radio Licence Conditions in Australia and the current trends in spectrum regulation and how this may impact Amateur Radio.



Sunday the 20th of May


The Sunday program is expected to be held in the North Pavillion of the Broadwater Parklands in Southport.   

This newly built facility is a significant Commonwealth Games Legacy project built on 3.5 hectares of land on the Broadwater.   The site contains amongst other  things, a 3m high statue of a surfer called the 'Blue Perspective' that was purchased by Councillor Dawn Crichlow a long term supporter of Amateur Radio and the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society.
 




The Sunday program continues to be expanded with new participants and demonstrations being added weekly. The lineup now includes:
 
A microwave shoot out by the Redcliffe club

Amateur Radio Central West Group demonstrating the latest in MMDVM hotspots and repeaters

The theory and practice of EME and a 10GHz Moon Bounce (EME) Demonstration at 11AM

The black art of Duplexers: A practical guide to the black art of cavity filters for repeaters and digital TV transmitters courtesy of Drew (VK4ZXI)

Future Systems showcasing the latest SDR technologies from Flex Radios

RF Solutions with latest products from Icom including the IC-7610 driving a SPE EXPERT 1.5K-FA linear amplifier.

HF Land Mobile emergency network demonstrations by VK737, The Australian HF Touring Club and Austravel Safety Net Inc

 
The new Barrett 4050 HF SDR Tranceiver bought to us by Bushcomm

Funding through Grants - bought to you by the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society

Demonstrations of emergency field communications facilities by:
Queensland Fire and Emergency Sevices,
Queensland Ambulance Service
Queensland State Emergency Service
Queensland Police Service
Queensland Rural Fire Service


Tours of the Surf Life Saving Command Centre, Rescue Helicopter Base and Brisbane Telecom Museum.


Sunday will include a free BBQ courtesy of GCARS.

If you or your club wishes to participate in the presentations and demonstrations during the event, or there is a specific topic you would like to see presented please do not hesitate to contact the WIA AGM organising committee  on  wiaagm@wia.org.au

For further information, the program and registration please see the 2018 WIA AGM by visiting https://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/2018agm/


We hope to see you there

73,
Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society & WIA AGM organising committee

I attended the AGM yesterday (Saturday) and all went smoothly except for the timeline, it running overtime as explanations were provided by the  Board on a number of matters.  Attendees from all VK call areas were present, including a few voices from on-air that I had an opportunity to meet in person.

The afternoon Open Forum and info sessions were informative and well attended. The session that probably struck the most interest in me was the LCD changes update one by Phil VK2ASD when he spoke about impending changes to the LCD after the new RadioComm Act changes come into play, what the WIA is seeking for amateurs in the various licence classes.  Since there is no definitive public timeline for the new RC Act, the LCD changes will simply be a follow-on - possibly late 2018 or 2019.

I didn't stay for the dinner and won't be attending any of the practical-oriented Sunday (today) activities.

I have to ask myself a question though - was it actually worthwhile attending ?   Short answer is yes.  If I had to travel at significant cost (mine was fuel for an hour drive each way), maybe not.   The info sessions were not too revealing of new ideas although they probably highlighted new directions (eg FreeDV, MMDVM, MS, WSJTX modes) for many not previously exposed to them. These info sessions were videoed and I hope the WIA makes them available for viewing via YouTube etc.

Congratulations to Aidan Mountford and GCARS for a fine environment for the AGM, well organised and presented.

73 Doug VK4ADC

Part of the finances discussion at the AGM rose to the top yesterday when I looked up the membership fees:


WIA Membership - Australian address only 
   Full Membership One Year - $95.00 
   Full Membership Five Year - $451.00 
   Concession Membership One Year - $80.00 
   Concession Membership Five Year - $380.00 

(as at May 2018)

It seems that I could have saved myself some dollars for the last few years of membership had I been aware that all I needed to do was supply my Centrelink "pension health card benefits number" to change my membership level.  You can be sure that I will be doing so very shortly so that my next renewal will be at the $80 rate.

I wonder how many others have let this happen to them too ??

I paid 5 years up front about 4 years ago at concession rate before the last price rise.

It was a bargain doing it that way, but even $80 per year at concession is not bad.

vk6ro
e&oe

And paying that concession rate quarterly is a big help with one's budget.