Australian Balloon Circumnavigates the Globe

Launched in Victoria Australia on Easter Monday (6 April 2015), the foil party-type balloon PS-41 has achieved the longest range in project Picospace and circled the globe.

The latest solar powered helium filled balloon PS-41 launched by Andy Nguyen VK3YT on 6 April 2015, has an HF payload, transmitting 25mW on the 30m and 20m bands, sending WSPR spots and JT9 telemetry.

"PS-41 crossed 144.903 degree longitude (0120 UTC Thursday April 16) which it started from more than 10 days ago, marking a complete round trip around the globe. said Andy Nguyen VK3YT

"Thanks to everyone for assistance with tracking and providing encouragement for the project, the trip would not have been possible without you."

Earlier its sister balloon PS-30 went down on 16 January 2015 in suspected poor weather off the east coast of Africa near Madagascar.

The high-altitude balloon PS-41 took a path over Tasmania, then south of New Zealand, the southern tip of South America, directly over the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, well south of Africa, and back across to Australia.

While south of Tasmania, it abruptly changed course like a petulant child to be on a southerly track, but it has encircled the globe.

Another balloon PS-42 made its way to the Southern Pacific between New Zealand and South America.

Andy Nguyen VK3YT said: "PS-41 and PS-42 are still in the air, and will continue to be tracked in the coming days."

These have been extensively via JT9 by a network in VK, ZL, South America and South Africa, and Ireland. WSPR spots have as received all over the world.

How much longer the pico balloons can stay afloat in for anyone to guess - but we congratulate Andy VK3YT, his team and the trackers as near-space exploration continues.

New Award Scheme for Portable Operators

The Amateur Radio Portable Operators Club (ARPOC) have unveiled a new award scheme encouraging operators to get out and about.

“We hope that the award scheme encourages operators to get out in the fresh air with their radio equipment and enjoy the benefits that portable operating can bring as well as help with promoting the hobby to the public.”

— Matthew Payne, M0LMK, ARPOC

Any licensed operator can take part in the award scheme and individuals can apply for and claim their personalised award certificates online. Downloadable certificates cost £2.00 each or are free for full members of ARPOC which costs just £5 a year. Funds raised from the award scheme go towards ensuring the scheme can be continued for many years to come.

There are a number of different award certificates that can be gained each with their own challenges. These include awards such as:

• Life’s A Beach
• Portable Professional
• Lighthouse Lurker
• Operating Within Tent

While many licence holders have shacks at home and associated QRM issues, ARPOC want to encourage members to get out and about and experience the joys of operating a portable station away from the noise.

The names of the awards themselves hint towards what situations and locations the members will experience when they work towards these certificates. For instance, a few trips to the seaside will be needed for the Life’s A Beach award, while members will have to travel to five other countries if they opt to work towards their European Sun Seeker award. This award tasks members with operating a station from two different beaches that are in no less than five different European countries. Operators will also need to complete a standard exchange with at least one station at each location.

Once members have successfully completed their tasks, they can apply for the awards they have worked towards. All of these new ARPOC awards are available to download. That means these prized certificates can be downloaded and printed off quickly and easily, ensuring members are able to enjoy them almost immediately.

ARPOC - http://www.arpoc.org

Surprise Decrease in Australian Ham Licence Renewal Fees

The annual Amateur / Ham Radio licence fee in Australia has decreased from AUS$74 to AUS$51 from April 2015, returning the price to levels seen 20 years ago.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) told the WIA that, “as part of the introduction of a new licensing system this year, the ACMA has reviewed the charging component of its fees for renewal of licences. From 5 April 2015, the ACMA reduced the fee for renewal of amateur licences.”

However, while renewal fees have dropped, the ACMA’s fee for the issue of a new licence has increased to AUD$75, an increase of one dollar on the fee that prevailed over the previous year.

The WIA said that, while to some people this may seem a comparative disincentive to new licensees, there is essentially no change to the situation that has prevailed to date.

WIA - http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2015/20150422-2/index.php