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VK7AX > BCAST 10.01.90 07:03z 599 Lines 25855 Bytes #-13119 (0) @ WW
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Subj: VK National News 11Jan26
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VK National News 11Jan26
Weekly news from the WIA:
MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2026-01-11.mp3
Text edition:
2026 JANUARY 11 WIA NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
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IN NATIONAL NEWS THIS WEEK:-
WIA RETURNING OFFICR PETE CHERRY VK2LP. -
WIA DIRECTORS GILES VK5GK AND LEE VK3GK. -
VK4JJW JOINS FELIX IN OPERATIONAL NEWS.-
VK2COD JOINS COL IN SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS.
BUT WAIT - THERE'S MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA 2026 AD IT'S FOR WEEK COMMENCING
SUNDAY JANUARY 11
I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB
WIA
JOIN THE WIA
tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y
This is WIA Director Giles (VK5GK).
Happy 2026 everyone. Under the light of the Wolf Moon, it feels like the right moment to pause briefly, take stock, and look ahead.
The year ahead is shaping up to be a significant one for the Association. Were entering it with strong momentum, and a clear sense that WIA continues to matter to its members and to the wider community.
There are some genuinely exciting developments on the horizon. While I cant say much just yet, I can say that the work being done behind the scenes now will open new doors for the WIA in the months and years ahead. These initiatives are about strengthening what we do, expanding our reach, and ensuring the Association remains relevant and resilient in a changing environment.
Youll be hearing more soon.
This year also brings an important moment of renewal with the election of Directors. The opportunity for fresh voices and perspectives is essential to a healthy organisation, and I encourage members to take an active interest in the process. Governance matters, and who helps steer WIA into the future matters even more. I trust you all to choose wisely because I have to work with the winners!
Thank you to everyone who continues to give their time, ideas, and enthusiasm to WIA. If this last week is any indication, the year ahead promises to be an engaging and rewarding one.
I look forward to sharing it with you all.
73s DE Giles VK5GK
PETE CHERRY WIA ELECTION RETURNING OFFICER
Update for the 2026 Election of Directors of the WIA
As you are aware there were four nominations received for the three Director roles that will be vacant at the end of the WIA AGM in May 2026.
Therefore in accordance with the Election Regulations, an election will be held by Ballot.
I have announced that the candidates for election are:
Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY
Klaus Illhardt VK3IU
Lee Moyle VK3GK
Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW
The bio details of the nominees has been sent to Roger Harrison, VK2ZRH, editor of Amateur Radio Magazine, for publishing in the January/February edition of the magazine. The bio details ar available on the WIA website and will be emailed to all members just before the election.
wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2026/20260108-1/index.php
The Bios will also be included with the postal voting papers sent to those members opting for a postal vote.
The election ballot will commence on 1 February 2026 and close on 28 February 2026.
In order to be able to vote in this election, members must be financial as of 31 December 2025.
So please check the membership portal to ensure that your details are up to date and the correct email address is recorded.
This announcement has been spoken and authorised by Pete Cherry VK2LP the Returning Officer of the Wireless Institute of Australia.
ReturningOfficer(at)nationaloffice.wia.org.au
This is WIA Director, Lee Moyle VK3GK
The WIA board is saddened to hear of the passing of long time WIA member, Keith Proctor, VK3FT and K1UA.
Keith passed away peacefully amongst family on 31-Dec-2025.
Keith was a valued member of the amateur radio community and a friend to many. His knowledge, generosity, and willingness to help others will be remembered with great respect. Keith made a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of knowing him, both on and off the air.
In his professional life, Keith retired as a Superintendent of the Victorian Police Force after several decades of dedicated service.
Keith was a long term member of both the WIA and EMDRC.
Keith made significant contributions to Amateur Radio education and exams providing much to the future of Amateur Radio by mentoring and bringing new people into the hobby. He was a long time WIA and ARRL assessor and a founding member of VEA, Volunteer Examiners of Australia.
Keith also was a keen DXer with over 300 DXCC entities worked. He also operated on several IOTA DX-peditions as well as participating in many lighthouse activations.
Keith will be fare-welled with a celebration of his life which will be held at the Victorian Police Academy Chapel, 1 View Mount Road, Glen Waverley, VIC on Tuesday 13th of January at 11.00am.
If attending, photo ID is required for admission.
The WIA expresses our condolences to his wife Inna, Keith's children, his extended family and friends.
Vale Keith Procter VK3FT
tinyurl.com/9dykcmza
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS is with thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, ARRL,
DX-WORLD, eHam, Hackaday, IARU, IRTS, NEWSLINE, NZART, RAC,
Radioworld.com, RSGB, SARL and the World Wide sources of WIA.
The 52 Week Ham Challenge is back for 2026.
This year's challenge consists of weekly exercises ranging from making a QSO on EchoLink to eliminating a source of interference.
This is meant to inspire you to extend your horizon in amateur radio by weekly challenges through the year that touch all aspects of ham radio (and related fields). A lot of the challenges may be trivial for some participants (because it is what they do all the time), but very challenging to others. Participants of the challenge are encouraged to help each other in any way possible.
Participants are encouraged to post progress through social media using the #hamchallenge hashtag.
hamchallenge.org/
ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to Bouvet DXpedition
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio in the USA has awarded a
$5,000 Colvin Award grant to the Delta-Xray Group, organizers of the upcoming 3YK DXpedition to Bouvet Island, scheduled for February and March, this year.
Bouvet is a remote island in the Southern Ocean, populated only by seals and penguins, and known for treacherous weather and surf conditions. It is a territory of Norway and nearly all of it is covered by glaciers. The most recent amateur radio operation from Bouvet was the 3YJ DXpedition in 2023, which moved the island from #2 on the Club Log most wanted list to #10.
Two camps are planned, operating all HF bands. Each camp will consist of three tents serving as operating, sleeping, and communal spaces.
Plans call for the team to leave for Bouvet from Cape Town, South Africa, on February 1. Weather permitting, 3YK plans to use helicopter airlifts to transport personnel and equipment between the vessel and the island. The group expects to spend three weeks on and around the island and will attempt to contact as many other ham radio operators around the world as they can, using up to 8 stations operating on CW, SSB, FT8, RTTY and the QO-100 geostationary satellite for those within its footprint.
The 3YK DXpedition is perhaps the most expensive ham radio expedition ever mounted, with a budget of $1.7 million US Dollars.
Team leaders note that the foremost priority of the 3YK expedition is the safety of the operating team, support personnel, and the vessel and helicopter crews.
The team consists of 24 operators from 14 countries. Two of the team members are young hams, 21-year-old Max Freedman, N4ML, an ARRL staff member; and 26-year-old Alex Schengber, DL2ALY, an aviation engineer currently working at a German research station in Antarctica.
The Colvin Award is funded by an endowment established by the legendary DX couple Lloyd Colvin, W6KG (SK), and Iris Colvin, W6QL (SK), both now deceased. The award is intended to support amateur radio projects that promote international goodwill in the field of DX.
The complete 3YK log will be uploaded to ARRLs Logbook of The World LoTW within 12 months following the DXpedition.
For more information, visit 3y0k.com
UK-based company Space Forge has successfully generated plasma aboard its ForgeStar-1 satellite, marking a milestone in commercial in-space manufacturing.
The demonstration establishes ForgeStar-1 as the first free-flying commercial spacecraft to operate as a semiconductor manufacturing platform in low Earth orbit. Space Forge says the plasma test confirms that the extreme conditions required for gas-phase crystal growth can be created and controlled on an autonomous satellite.
The company says microgravity conditions may enable cleaner crystal growth than is possible on Earth. Data from the ForgeStar-1 mission will be used to inform future in-space manufacturing missions. The satellite is expected to complete its mission with a controlled atmospheric re-entry as part of a planned end-of-life demonstration.
Exactly one year ago, ham radio stations were established in 20 residential schools in disadvantaged areas of one state in southwest India. One year later, teachers and their students have become a small, thriving amateur radio community thanks to these small digital mobile radios, or DMR.
The challenge of teaching science and communication to disadvantaged students in the Indian state of Karnataka [CAR-NUH-TOCK-AH] got a big boost one year ago when the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society turned 20 of its schools into hamshacks.
Some of the teachers became hams and, in turn, guided their young students in grades 6 through 12 along the way. Shirin, VU 3 DBO, is one of the 20
teachers in the school system who received her ham radio certificate from the Ministry of Communication. The science teacher wove the radio curriculum into the classes where she also taught about energy, technology, the environment and space.
The Federal Communications Commission in the US made a subtle change last month that requires experimental high-frequency stations to follow its station identification rules. In an online article, radioworld.com said
previously, some HF experimental licensees were able to transmit without identifying by utilizing waivers. The licenses, which cover experimental operation in the 225 MHz band, are available on a temporary but renewable basis.
Experimental HF stations are known to run as much as 800 kW of power, but until December, some licensees held waivers allowing them to operate without ID. However, in letters issued to licensees on Dec. 17, the commission emphasized their obligations. These now include strict adherence to the ID rule. The commission explained that an experimental radio station must transmit its assigned call sign at the end of each complete transmission at least once every 30 minutes in clear voice or Morse code.
These licenses have drawn significant interest from the HF trading industry for sending data between U.S. and foreign exchanges. While experimental HF stations can operate under Part 5 of the FCC rules, the commission states that licensees are not permitted to provide commercial service, charge fees or receive payments for products or services of operation.
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OPERATIONAL NEWS -
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CONWAY REEF
The Rebel DX Group reports that Conway Reef will soon be classified as a
restricted-access zone.
The new regulations will significantly complicate the process of obtaining landing permits. Although the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji continues to issue operating licenses, physical access to the reef will be strictly limited.
Consequently, Rebel DX Group is accelerating plans for an activation to take place before the implementation of these new restrictions.
facebook.com/rebeldxgroup
(425dxnews)
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The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters was created for the country's ham radio operators 100 years ago in Auckland on the 16th of August. Not looking to miss out on a full-scale celebration this year, hams have already begun marking the occasion with modified callsigns.
John Williams VK4JJW joins us with a report he has filed for Newsline:-
"How do you show pride in the group that has come to represent and advocate for amateur radio in New Zealand? One way is to drop the "ZL" prefix and swap it out with "ZM" during the centenary year of 2026. So be listening! The "ZM" prefix is a recognised special-event callsign in New Zealand and has been used before. This occasion is a far happier one than the previous authorisation by Radio Spectrum Management, which allowed the use of "ZM" during the period of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Don't worry, the "ZL" prefix isn't going away for the year. You'll see be hearing for special event callsigns such as ZL100MVL and ZL100AM, which have been approved for use until 31 March.
This is John Williams VK4JJW."
Here's to the next 100 years for New Zealand's hams!
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NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2026
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ROSS HULL all January.
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JANUARY 2026 AX DAY CONTEST JANUARY 26 MONDAY ONLY.
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FEBRUARY 21 and 22 ARRL DX CW
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MARCH - Jock White Memorial Field Day
This annual contest is named to honour Jock White ZL2GX, NZART Contest
and Awards Manager for over 40 years, for the service that he gave to
NZART during that time.
Feb 28, Saturday, 1500-2400 NZDT and Sunday March one 0600-1500 NZDT.
40 and/or 80 metres, PHONE (SSB) and/or CW, 100 watts PEP maximum.
Stations using two transmitters may operate simultaneously on both bands,
however only one transmitter may be operated on a single band at a time.
Single transmitter stations may operate on one or both bands.
(nzart.org.nz)
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MARCH 7 - 8 ARRL DX SSB
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MARCH 15 BERU
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MARCH 21 and 22 JOHN MOYLE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY
(new rules for 2026)
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NOW LET'S OPEN THE DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD ------------
Morocco.
Members of the Association Royale des Radioamateurs du Maroc are active as
CN 35 CAN during the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the
biennial international competition for African soccer teams.
Morocco host the tournament until January 18.
Also Yannick is active as CN 2 YD from Marrakech, Morocco until the 31st of March this '26 year. You can find him using SSB on the 20 to 10m bands.
QSL via F6FYD directly or via the Bureau
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ZL 100 C is the callsign celebrating the centenary of NZART
the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters which was formed
on 16 August 1926.
The callsign is valid until 6 August 2026.
QSL via the bureau and LoTW.
(425dxnews)
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SOTA Croatia is marking 10 years. Listen for the special callsign
9 A 10 SOTA. The callsign is on the air through to 2026, the 30th of
September 2026 to be precise.
A certificate will be available for contacts made between the 1st of October and the 31st of December THIS YEAR.. QSL via LoTW.
(newsline2501)
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WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,
PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.
hema.org.uk/index.jsp
minesontheair.com/about-mota
parksontheair.com/
sota.org.uk
sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/
facebook.com/SotaAustralia/
wwffaustralia.com/
LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE, OR WHATEVER COMES YOUR WAY.
Sports success - 2025 in Tambov, Russia.
On December 24, 2025, the Sports Success 2025 award ceremony was held in the building of the Tambov State Drama Theatre. The awarding ceremony was carried out by the Minister of Sports of the Tambov Region Pavel Gritskov.
The Minister of Sports of the Tambov Region presented radio athlete
Pavel Gogulin, R3RZ with a well-deserved award -
Badge and certificate "Master of Sports of Russia of International Class".
srr.ru/sportivnyj-uspeh-2025-v-tambove/
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - BALLOONS
Pico Balloons ZS6SRC-32 and ZS6SRC-33 were successfully launched on 29 December 2025 from Bloemfontein in South Africa. ZS6SRC-32 reached an altitude of 12,620 m in three hours. During the first two days it travelled northwards into Mozambique, but as these word were penned, it was well on its way to South America, via Australia at approximately
180 km/h and an altitude of 12,500 m.
BUT ZS6SRC-33 reached 10,960 m in about two and a half hours, but then sadly began losing altitude. By 16:34 on the day of launch, it was down to 3,360 m. Its last transmission was at 16:44.
ZS1ERZ-12 completed its eleventh circumnavigation of the planet on New Years Day. As of that date it has travelled 353,679 km over 139 days. On Friday 2 January, it ventured into the Indian Ocean at the start of its twelfth lap of the world. It is presently at an altitude of 12,840 m and travelling at 60 kph.
Tracking is via aprs.fi
(sarl)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - CW
It may be an antiquated form of communication, but many Australians from all walks of life are helping to keep Morse code alive.
Leo Nette calls himself a proud "Morsecodian" and has been a long-time volunteer at Beechworth Telegraph Station. Beechworth is a town located in the north-east of Victoria, Australia, just short of 300km NE of Melbourne.
The station opened in 1858 and is the last one left in operation in Australia, albeit using telephone lines to transmit messages now that telegraph lines are long gone.
ABC Goulburn Murray say volunteers at Beechworth Telegraph Station work with Mr Nette to receive messages, type them out and then post a telegram through the mail.
"Our oldest [volunteer] is 95, and our youngest is in his early 70s, so our future's looking grim," Mr Nette told the ABC.
tinyurl.com/yw2mb4wu
(ABC)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary(at)amsat-vk.org
The largest commercial satellite to ever be in Earth orbit has been launched. It's called BlueBird6 and it was launched from India.
The satellite features an array of antennas which, when deployed, compares in size to the dimensions of a tennis court, 693 square foot.
The project by the Texas-based start-up is considered a direct rival to SpaceXs Starlink constellation. Last September, the FCCs Space Bureau granted AST SpaceMobile limited use of frequencies in the amateur band between 430 and 440 MHz.
Permission was given on an emergency basis only after overwhelming objections raised by ham radio operators and amateur radio societies worldwide. They argued that alternate UHF frequencies are available for the satellites telemetry, tracking and command functions.
QMR-KWT-2 (Moon of Kuwait) is a 1U CubeSat carrying an amateur radio mission led by Oleg Razin, R3AOR, in cooperation with the Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics.
This satellite features an FM amateur radio transponder intended to encourage participation by students and new operators, along with a miniature camera capable of transmitting SSTV images. The mission operates under IARU coordination, with a downlink on 436.950 MHz and a transponder uplink on 145.920 MHz.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA
iota-world.org/
OC-150
Jozef is active again as YB9/ON6HX from Mataram on Lombok Island (OC-150)
until 11 March. His application for a regular YB9 callsign is being processed.
Listen for YB9/ON6HX as he operates CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, and FT4 from 0C-150 and QSL via LoTW, eQSL, or via home call which again is ON6HX.
(425dxnews)
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NA-024
Rikk, WE9G, is on the air from Grenada, IOTA Number NA 024, as J38WG until the 16th of January. He will be doing mostly FT8 on 160-6 metres, with some CW and SSB.
(NEWSLINE2514)
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IOTA SA-013
The 3 G 0 XQ Team will be active from San Amrosio Island, IOTA SA-013,
12 January - 15 February 160 - 6m, CW, SSB, FT8.
Team leader is XQ 7 IR and you QSL via M 0 URX, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
(dxnews.com)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
(Youngsters On The Air)
WIA committee:- Steve VK6SJ, Alec VK2MV and Pete VK2LP.
ham-yota.com/category/yota-region-3/
facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
Thank you Col
Happy new year to all.
December is over and we are now almost through the second week of January!
Time is sure flying past.
Speaking of December, how did you go in the VK YOTA Contest?
My log is in, I hope your log is too.
A little secret, your everyday log can also be used for the VK YOTA contest.
As long as the other party also submits a log, you will receive the one point for non-YOTA contacts and the 100 points for YOTA contacts.
And remember send in your YOTA articles to the WIA news team so we can spread the word on how you are supporting YOTAs and growing this hobby!
For WIA National News, I am Alan, VK2COD in Sydney. Now back to you Col
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
Almost a year ago, 90 percent of Chile was plunged into darkness during a national blackout, causing the government to declare a state of emergency.
Recalling that disaster recently, the mayor of the municipality of Villa Alemana, Nelson Estay, said that "the only ones who were functioning and available were the amateur radio operators."
If anything of that magnitude should ever happen again - or, for that matter, should almost any emergency occur at all - the municipality knows that the radio operators are there. Now, however, it has been formalized.
The Los Molinos Amateur Radio Club has signed an agreement with Villa Alemana in support of the Communal Emergency Operations Committee
(newsline 2514)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VIDEO
SSTV enthusiasts have been enjoying receiving images from at least
2 active satellites during the Christmas period. Both are still active
on the 70cm band at the time of voicing.
Articsat-1 is in polar-orbit monitoring the Arctic environment.
It also carries a SSTV transmitter operating on 435.890MHz plus or minus Doppler.
Umka-1 RS40S is a second satellite transmitting SSTV in the 70cm band on 437.625MHz. It is also in a polar orbit. Both satellites are transmitting
very distinctive images and are well worth the challenge of tracking and attempting to receive these images for yourself.
In addition to a free mobile phone app called Robot36, RX-SSTV and MMSSTV are the names of two free Windows applications you can use to decode the images.
(irts)
Amateur Television operations aboard the International Space Station have received a significant upgrade, when an HDMI converter was installed on the ARISS HamTV system.
The new hardware expands video capabilities for HamTV and supports the use of a broader range of on-board cameras during future educational contacts. The installation was performed during scheduled maintenance activities by NASA astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW.
ARISS reported that the HDMI converter can generate a video test signal when the system is in standby mode, providing a clear visual indication of system readiness and video-path functionality.
The December upgrade builds on HamTVs return to operation during 2025.
(ans004)
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IT'S A DATE
Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section,
nationalnews(at)wia.org.au
Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found
on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.
. This is VK5LSB and
--------------------- SOCIAL SCENE 2026 ------------------
January 2026 - Huge Carboot Sale and BBQ
https://www.reast.asn.au/event/huge-carboot-sale-sausage-sizzle/
REAST will be holding a huge amateur radio carboot sale in the Queens
Domain compound from 11am on Sunday 18th January 2025.
Want to sell something it will cost you $10 to setup your carboot then
you can sell as much as you want all profit goes to you.
There will be a Sausage Sizzle on the day with Snags and Bread at $3 and
Burgers and Bread at $5 Soft drinks available $2 per can.
No need to book just turn up.
https://www.reast.asn.au/event/huge-carboot-sale-sausage-sizzle/
73, REAST Committee
VK3 - Ballarat Amateur Radio Group Hamvention Sunday Feb 1 (wiacal)
VK6 - PARGFEST Mandurah Bowling Club February 7 9am (vk6pbs)
VK4 - Redfest - Deception Bay North State School 9am April 11. (vk4ble)
VK - WIA AGM May 2 at 2pm Albury VK2 couples with ICOM VK SUMMIT 2026
also somewhere in Albury May 2 and 3. (wiacal/ARMAG )
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(at)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
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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