Amateur Radio Hams Support RNLI

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Barrow RNLI have received a large donation from members of the Furness Amateur Radio Society

The Furness Amateur Radio Society members hold an annual fundraising event on behalf of Barrow RNLI lifeboat station. They attend the lifeboat station for two weekends in the spring of the year and are allowed to set up their equipment and transmit to other enthusiasts.

This year they had contacts not only in the United Kingdom and Southern Ireland but also across Europe. Each contact they make pledges to donate a certain amount of cash towards their fundraising venture.

Earlier this year members of FARS attended the lifeboat station and on their behalf, Dick Smith and Les Bell made a presentation of a cheque for £550 to members of the crew aboard Barrow’s ‘ RNLB Grace Dixon’.

Media Story - http://www.cumbriacrack.com/2017/06/22/barrow-rnli-receives-donation-furness-amateur-radio-society/

Furness Amateur Radio Society - http://www.fars.org.uk/

WIA Successful Amateur/Ham Radio Exams Trial

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In May, the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) began its trial of theory and regulation assessments online that have proved to be very popular with about 230 people accessing them.

As explained by WIA Trainer Fred Swainston VK4FE VK3DAC, the Institute had been working toward some on-line assessments for its candidates and used the trial exam system as a 'proof of concept' exercise.

He advises that the trial has been now been completed and a draft process for future online exams worked out, to possibly be used by WIA Nominated

Assessors with candidates needing a remote assessment. It is intended that the on-line exams will be available to all candidates.

The on-line development will then be explained in detail by the WIA to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) seeking its approval for them to be used.

By the end of this month the suite of assessments now available will be joined by two trial Foundation Licence assessment papers - all similar to those used in the actual multi-choice exams.

These exams will be converted into tutorials and remain on-line as an educational resource.

Fred Swainston VK4FE VK3DAC says many thanks to the radio amateurs, upgrades, and those wanting to get into the hobby for giving the trial exams a try.

Join the New Zealand CubeSAT Race

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AMSAT_ZL has reached a staging point in the development of their satellite project, KiwiSAT.

The exciting KiwiSAT project, to create and launch a New Zealand produced satellite, started several years back.

Right when the work was well advanced but based on the USA standards and criteria. Suddenly the development was back to square one due to political changes, requiring redesign of almost everything.

The KiwiSAT Team met that challenge and has produced a fine unit ready to launch. Then came another set-back. Our critically important Leader of the KiwiSAT Engineering Team, Fred Kennedy ZL1BYP, was struck down and driven to endure many months of medical procedures. This has have left him unable to continue his important work.

AMSAT-ZL is looking both to its members and to the general New Zealand amateur radio population for a coordinator to join the team and lead the project through this final stage.

Needed is a volunteer “Orbit Insertion Team” consisting of a Launch Co-ordinator and as many assistants as he/she requires to undertake the task of securing a launch for KiwiSAT. This new team will also take over Fred Kennedy’s leadership responsibilities. In parallel, the established KiwiSAT engineering team will continue their involvement, giving support along the way.

Much of the new team’s work will be organisational rather than hands-on engineering. Involved is arranging final environmental testing of KiwiSAT, identifying and negotiating a launch, attending the launch and attending to funding for this final phase. Basic planning is complete, we need action.

Other tasks will undoubtedly crop up however it is envisaged that the current team will ensure the preparation of KiwiSAT to full flight status is completed.

KiwiSAT by AMSAT-ZL - http://www.kiwisat.org.nz/