The IARU Region 3 Newsletter Issue 9 - January to March 2008, Released April 2008 This month marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of Region 3 and we have some details available on how the region has progressed. The Administrative Council meeting of IARU will be held in June at Konstanz in Germany where R3 will be represented. WRC was recently concluded but associations have already started the ground work for the next conference as it is almost a continuous process to protect our bands and privileges >>> 40 Years on <<< MICHAEL OWEN VK3KI CHAIRMAN - IARU REGION 3 A couple of weeks ago I was helping look for something among old WIA papers in a store room and came across a black and gold address book. The second page was headed "1968 - Inaugural Region III Congress & 1968 Federal Convention" and then "Sydney Easter" and below that "1968". While it was an address book, it had been used to record the names and signatures of those who participated in both meetings. The reference to the 1968 Federal Convention was a reference to the fact that in those days the WIA, as a federal organisation, every Easter held its annual general meeting which was a meeting of the WIA's state organizations, the "Divisions" and it's so called Federal Executive, the people elected to conduct the business of the organization between the annual meetings. But much more interesting were the signatures of those involved in the Inaugural Region III Congress that was conducted at the same time as the WIA Federal Convention in a different part of the same building. There was Harry Burton ZL2APC from Wellington, New Zealand, as well as Tom Clarkson ZL2AZ, also from Wellington, New Zealand. Then, from Newton, Iowa, USA was Bob Denniston W0DX, the President of the IARU. From Manila, Philippines was Emilio Asisitores DU1EA, and from Tokyo, Japan Kan Mizoguchi JA1BK and Ken-ichi Kajii JA1FG. So, the societies represented at the Inaugural Congress were JARL, NZART, PARS (PARA) and the WIA and, of the course, the IARU. And, I found my signature there, among the WIA names, as the "Federal Councilor" for Victoria! While I was not involved with Region III then, it wasn't long before I was. I see the signature of John Battrick VK3OR in the book. He was the WIA representative at the Inaugural Congress. The WIA provided a secretariat and Peter Williams VK3IZ became the secretary of the fledgling organization, and the three of us, John, Peter and me worked together over the next three years before the 1971 Tokyo Conference to create the draft Constitution that was amended and then adopted in Tokyo. And a couple of days after I had found this book of signatures, Fred Johnson ZL2AMJ, one of the great contributors to Region 3, pointed out that this year was the 40th birthday of the organization. So many things have changed in the 40 years. The ITU's World Radiocommunications Conferences (WRC) were then called World Administrative Radio Conferences (WARC) and were held every twenty years or so! Now they happen every three or four years. The Asia Pacific Telecommunity did not exist, and the Region was not going to have to worry about any regional preparatory meetings for many years to come. It was even before the World Administrative Radio Conference for Space Telecommunications (Geneva, 1971)! As we celebrate the 40 years of IARU Region 3 we salute those who had the wisdom to bring Region 3 into existence, all those years ago in Sydney, Australia. >>> W1AW TO CELEBRATE WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY AS NU1AW <<< Each year on the anniversary of its founding, April 18, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) marks World Amateur Radio Day. On this, the 78th anniversary of its inaugural meeting in Paris, the IARU dedicates World Amateur Radio Day to the radio amateurs, educators and administrators who use Amateur Radio to support technology education in the classroom. >>> REGION 3 SOCIETIES WHO ATTENDED THE R3 CONFERENCES OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS, AND ITS GROWTH <<< 1st. 1968 Sydney, April 14 "IARU Region III Association formed" Present - JARL, NZART, PARS (PARA), WIA. IARU (President W0DX) Apology: Ceylon, India, Korea, Laos, Thailand 2nd. 1971 Tokyo, March 17-19 & 21 (6 Societies) "Constitution approved" Present - ARSI, HARTS, JARL, NZART, PARA, WIA. ARRL (invited by proxy to NZART) and IARU (President W0DX). Credential letter and the delegate from PARS (Philippines A. R. Services, Inc). As of 1975.1 Admitted: ARRL, MARTS, PARS, RSSL, SARTS (11 Societies) 3rd. 1975 Hong Kong, March 4-8 (6 Societies) ARRL (W1RU), HARTS, JARL, NZART, SARTS, WIA. RAST(Observer), IARU (VE3CJ) and VS5MC (Brunei) February 1977 Admitted: RAST (12 Societies) February 1978 Admitted: KARL, PNGARS (14 Societies) 4th. 1978 Bangkok, October 7-9 (9 Societies) ARRL, HARTS, JARL, MARTS, NZART, PARA, RAST, SARTS, WIA. ORARI (Observer) August 1981 Admitted: RSGB, FARA, SIRS (17 Societies) 5th. 1982 Manila, April 2-5 (12 Societies + 2 Proxies) ARRL, ARSI, HARTS, JARL, MARTS, NZART, ORARI, PARA, RAST, RSGB, SARTS, WIA. Proxies: FARA /NZART, SIRS/RSGB. August 1982 Admitted: BARL (18 Societies) August 1984 Admitted: CRSA, CORA, ORARI, VARS (22 Societies) August 1985 Admitted: BARTS (Brunei) (23 Societies) changed name to BDARA in 1988.5 6th. 1985 Auckland, November 13-17 (10 Societies + 5 Proxies) ARRL, CRSA, JARL, KARL, MARTS, NZART, ORARI, PNGARS, RSGB, WIA. Proxies: PARS/JARL, PARA/NZART, HARTS/ORARI, BARL/RSGB, SARTS/WIA CRSA Delegate: Wang Xun (and Observer): not licensed amateurs but CRSA members. PNGARS Delegate: Cliff Hawkins ZL1BXX. He had P29CHcall sign but not accredited. April 1986 Admitted: ARCOT (24 Societies) 7th. 1988 Seoul, October 10-14 (11 Societies + 3 Proxies) ARRL, CRSA, JARL, KARL, MARTS, NZART, ORARI, RAST, RSGB, SARTS, WIA. Proxies: PARA/ARRL, PARS/JARL, SIRS/WIA 8th. 1991, Bandung, October 8-12 (14 Societies + 4 Proxies) "Name changed to IARU Region 3" ARRL, BARL, CRSA, JARL, KARL, MARTS, NZART, ORARI, PARA, RAST, RSGB, RSSL, SARTS, WIA. Proxies: ARCOT/JARL, BDARA/ORARI, HARTS/RSGB, SIRS /WIA BARL Delegate: Saif Shahed licensed G1NUJ.There was at that time no Bangladesh amateur license. October 1992. Admitted: CTARL (25 Societies) 1994 Suspended: BDARA 9th. 1994 Singapore, August 5-9 (18 Societies + 3 Proxies) ARRL, ARSI, BARL, CRSA, CTARL, HARTS, JARL, KARL, MARTS, NZART, ORARI, PARA, PARS, RAST, RSGB, RSSL, SARTS, WIA. Proxies: ARCOT/JARL, FARA/NZART, SIRS/WIA 10th. 1997 Beijing, August 8-12 (16 Societies + 4 Proxies) ARRL, ARSI, BARL, CRSA, CTARL, HARTS, JARL, KARL, MARTS, NZART, ORARI, PARA, RAST, RSGB, SARTS, WIA. Proxies: ARCOT/JARL, FARA/NZART, RSSL/SARTS, SIRS/WIA. VARC (observer) March 2000. Admitted: ARANC (26 Societies) March 2000. Reinstated: BDARA 11th. 2000 Darwin, August 28-September 1 (13 Societies + 4 Proxies) ARRL, ARSI, CRSA, CTARL, HARTS, JARL, KARL, MARTS, NZART, RAST, RSGB, SARTS, WIA. Proxy: ARCOT/JARL, PARA/NZART, BARL/RAST, RSSL/9V1UV(agreed by Conf) November 2001. Admitted: PIARA (27 Societies) December 2002. Admitted: ARM (28 Societies) April 2003. Admitted: VARC (29 Societies) 12th. 2004 Taipei, February 16-20 (16 Societies + 8 Proxies) ARM, ARRL, ARSI, CRSA, CTARL, FARA, HARTS, JARL, KARL, MARTS, NZART, PARA, PIARA, RAST, SARTS, WIA. Proxy: ARANC/PIARA, ARCOT/FARA, BARL/WIA, ORARI/NZART, PARS/SARTS, RSGB/G4JKS, RSSL/ARSI, VARC/JARL August 2005 Admitted: SARC (30 Societies) 13th. 2006 Bangalore, August 7-11 (13 Societies + 5 Proxies) ARSI, ARRL, CTARL, HARTS, JARL, KARL, MARTS, NZART, PIARA, RAST, RSGB, SARTS, WIA. Proxy: ARANC/PIARA, ARM/HARTS, ORARI/SARTS, PARA/ARSI, VARC/JARL Note: In addition, BARS (Burma Amateur Radio Society) was admitted into IARU in May 1940. However, BARS (later BARTS) ceased operation on 10 January 1964 under military order and went inactive. BARTSfs rights are presently suspended in IARU and IARU Region 3. >>> AUSTRALIA ISSUES CLASS LICENCE FOR VISITING AMATEURS <<< The Wireless Institute of Australia advises that on 14 February 2008 a Class Licence issued by the Australian regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), allowing visiting amateurs to operate while in Australia came into effect. The Class Licence is issued under the Australian Radiocommunication Legislation, and allows any overseas amateur visiting Australia to operate for up to 90 days after each entry to Australia. A visiting amateur does not have to make any application or payment to operate, but must hold evidence of a licence or qualification recognized by ACMA and a call sign issued by the administration that issued the licence or qualification. The conditions of operation are fully set out in the Class Licence, including the 5 levels of operation permitted. The Class Licence may be found on the WIA's website www.wia.org.au. The level of operation, which range from the privileges and bands allowed to the Australian Advanced licence to a 146 to 148 MHz low power FM licence (essentially for hand held operation), depends on the level of the overseas licence. Overseas licences and the equivalent level are set out in the Table of Equivalent Qualifications and Licences, which can be found on the ACMA's website. The URL for the part of the ACMA site 'Apparatus Licensing ? Amateurs Visiting Australia' that includes the table is: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1311. And if an amateur wishing to visit Australia cannot find his or her licence in the Table, then they can still use the low power 146 - 148 MHz FM licence, which is where all the repeaters are to be found. There are currently a number of errors and omissions in the Table of Equivalent Qualifications and Licences and the WIA is assisting ACMA in identifying them. Any suggestions should be emailed to the WIA at nationaloffice@wia.org.au. The WIA is delighted that all visiting amateurs will now find it so easy to operate in Australia. >>> INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE / LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND <<< This highly popular annual amateur radio event (not a contest) will be held over the weekend of 16-17 August 2008. There were 380 lights on the air from 48 countries last year. All you need to know about the event is contained on the official web site at http://illw.net which has been the official web site since 2001. The event is organized and managed by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group in Scotland since the passing of the founder of the weekend, Mike Dalrymple, GM4SUC, in December 2005. >>> GAREC-2008 <<< Thursday, 26 and Friday, 27 June 2008 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in combination with HamRadio 2008 (27-29 June) in the conference center of the Friedrichshafen Messe, Room "Oesterreich". Details and URL for on-line registration available at http://www.iaru.org/emergency/ >>> DEVELOPMENTS IN SRI LANKA RSSL- VICTOR GOONETILLEKE - 4S7VK <<< On the 22/23 March CW tests were conducted by the TRC (Telecommunications Regulatory Commission) with the assistance of the RSSL providing the examiners. 35 candidates faced the test, 25 for 12 WPM and 10 for 5 WPM. Out of these 28 passed. Out of the new hams other than for 5 who are over 40 years all the others are below 30 years. This is a huge improvement in a country of 21 million people and just about 150 active licenses. This is the result of new programmes initiated in 2004 (before the Tsunami) to promote Amateur Radio by the RSSL. The major problem faced by RSSL however is to find equipment for the new hams. Victor also reports of re-locating of their repeaters to new and much improved locations, which now covers the country extensively >>> FUND FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS - FOUNDED BY 9V1UV <<< Region 3 has not received any projects for funding yet and so this item is being repeated. The Directors of IARU Region 3 have gratefully accepted the gift of US$5,000 offered by Selva 9V1UV to establish a special fund to be called the "Fund for Special Projects - Founded by 9V1UV". The fund is to enable the Directors to undertake tasks or projects that can help Region 3 better achieve its missions and goals. Selva has expressed the hope that others may also contribute to the fund. >>> D-STAR <<< D-Star - a new technology, which integrates radio and the internet digitally giving outstanding transmission quality. is progressing very fast in Australia and elsewhere. It is also rapidly being integrated into emergency communications protocol in several countries. The Winlink team is also looking at ways to use its very special capabilities in its programs, which provide essential communications to seafaring hams, and also is a great emergency communication tool when normal communications fail. >>> SEANET 2008 <<< The 36th Seanet will be held in Kota Kinabalu and Kudat in Sabah, Malaysia between the 20th and 24th November 2008 The Seanet Contest 2008 will be on the 7th and 8th June 2008. Details of the conference, and also the rules of the contest are available at www.seanet.cc. Of particular interest will be the suggestion made in their webpage that avid DXers could visit Labuan after the conference for a few days of great DXing apart from a super holiday. >>> A REMINDER <<< 14th IARU R3 Conference Christchurch 12 - 16 October 2009. Details at http://www.christchurch.org.nz/ The Region 3 Web Site: Go to: http://www.iaru-r3.org/ Newsletter Editor: Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, Director IARU Region3. E-mail: vu2gmn@gmail.com Publisher: The International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 P. O. Box 73, Toshima, Tokyo 170-8691, Japan. E-mail: iaru-r3@jarl.or.jp Tel: +81 3 3944 3322 Fax: +81 3 3943 8282 The statements or opinions in this Newsletter do not, unless otherwise stated, necessarily reflect the views of IARU Region 3, the Directors or the Secretariat. Items from this Newsletter may be freely copied for publication by Member Societies of IARU. MS Word version of this newsletter is available at http://www.iaru-r3.org/news/r3nl-08-04.doc