Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Mar 08 2019 11:40 am
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2158, for Friday, March 8th, 2019
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2158, with a release date of Friday,
March 8th, 2019, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Hams in Australia face heavy hikes in fines. A
youth contesting program gears up -- and AMSAT celebrates 50 years of
satellite contacts. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Number
2158, comes your way right now.
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BILLBOARD CART
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CONCERN OVER HIKE IN AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR RADIO FEES
JIM MEACHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report in Australia, where a
dramatic rise in fees for amateur radio is causing a stir. Here's Graham
Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Hams and amateur radio candidates in Australia have been notified
that fees for the hobby are going up substantially - in some cases more
than 200 percent. The Australian Maritime College, which recently signed
a deed of arrangement with the Australian Communications and Media
Authority, has released its new prices, prompting criticism and outcry
from the Wireless Institute of Australia. The WIA, which had formerly
handled the licence examinations and related services for the ACMA, said
in a statement that it deemed the new fee schedule "predatory." Justin
Giles-Clark, president and director of the WIA, said in a statement
[quote]: "The WIA board is of the view that preying on the good nature of
the amateur community by organisations and individuals who are seeking
commercial, personal and political outcomes is unconscionable..."
The WIA said it feared the new pricing structure would make the hobby
especially inaccessible to younger candidates. The WIA statement also
noted that it believed the exam services being provided met lower
standards than those that were offered by the WIA, which had made its own
proposal to continue those services for the ACMA.
The college's various pricing changes included an increase of more than
140 percent for the foundation assessment, practical assessment and
callsign recommendation for adults, a price hike from $75 to $115. The
WIA had proposed $49. For youths, the price for the same services rises
from $40 to $115 - an increase of 285 percent. The WIA had proposed a
fee of $27.
Amateur Radio Newsline sent an email to the maritime college's
communications office for their input, and a further explanation of
the fees, but as this report went to production, the college had not
responded.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN MARITIME COLLEGE WEBSITE)
**
AIMING HIGH FOR SATELLITE HONORS
JIM/ANCHOR: If you've made some memorable contacts using amateur radio
satellites, Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, has another tangible way you can
remember them.
SKEETER: If you like to be busy chasing satellite contacts, now you can
chase a little bit of satellite glory along with it, as part of AMSAT's
50th anniversary awards program. A number of special awards are being
made available this year to commemorate the formation of the Radio
Amateur Satellite Corporation on March 3, 1969. They are the 50th
anniversary AMSAT OSCAR Satellite Communications Achievement Award; the
50th Anniversary AMSAT Satellite Friends of 50 Award; the AMSAT on HF 50th
Anniversary Award, and a limited edition of the 50th Anniversary AMSAT
OSCAR Satellite Communications Achievement Award.
There will only be 20 original certificates available for this last one.
This award will be issued to the first 20 amateurs to complete 20
confirmed, qualifying contacts on any satellite. The certificate itself
is unique. It is on goldenrod paper stock, and signed by AMSAT's founding
president, Perry Klein, K3JTE, who now uses the call sign W3PK. Contacts
must be made this year between the 3rd of March, and the 31st of December.
The first 20 applicants who successfully submit 20 confirmed, qualifying
contacts on any satellite will receive this award. Two-way contacts can
be made with stations in the U.S., Canada, or any DXCC entity. Certificates
cost $25 plus postage, and will be numbered sequentially.
For more details about any of the awards or to apply, send an email to
kk5do at amsat dot org.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.
