WIA AGM 2018 - Gold Coast, Seaworld Resort

[VK4ADC]

As the WIA AGM approaches the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society would like to draw your attention to a number of additions to the Saturday and Sunday programme. 


Saturday the 19th of May

Firstly, for partners, Blues on Broadbeach  (www.bluesonbroadbeach.com) a free blues music festival is on in the Broadbeach entertainment precinct approximately 8km south of Sea World which is also home to the The Star" Casino, and countless other food and entertainment venus.    Transport will be provided from Sea World to Broad Beach for those wishing to travel to Broadbeach on Saturday the 19th. 

Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society welcomes questions regarding other tours and activities that are available Saturday, and encourages people who are attending to visit https://www.destinationgoldcoast.com/tours-to-take for other tours and activities that are available. 


For the more technically minded the Saturday program has been expanded to include a number of additional technical sessions including:


The FT-8 Revolution
Rex (VK7MO) holder of the current 10GHz EME record and winner of the Digital Modes section of the Ross Hull contest will unearth the secrets  of FT-8 and other weak signal digital modes in the SWJT-X program and take us through the features of FT-8 operation.
 
MMDVM How does it work ? 
Join Lindsay (VK2AMV), Amateur Radio Central West group, as he unravels the mysteries of MMDVM, how it, and the respective networks work.
A live demonstration of the technology will be conducted by the Amateur Radio Central West group on the Sunday.

Electromagnetic Compatibility and its impact on Amateur Operations
The battle of amateurs against QRM is one that is only intensifying as time marches on. Brian, VK2GCE will map out the EMI / EMC / EMR field and then focus on a few things we as radio amateurs can do to reduce EMI, to achieve a modicum of EMC and live more happily with EMR now and
in the future.
 
Meteor Scatter Communications
Bouncing transmisions off the ionised tails of meteors as they burn through the Earths atmosphere may seem out of this world but the technology has long held practical uses in military communications, scientific research, meteorology and of course Amateur Radio. Dr Kevin Johnston (VK4UH) from
Brisbane will take us through the ins and outs of Meteor Scatter Communications

 
DX on 630m and 2200m
It has been over 10 years since the ITU formally granted Amateurs access to the 2200m band. Join Roger as he demystifies DXing on the Low Frequency band.  Participants will embark on a journey of discovery as they learn  how to get started and the gear required, the facts and fantasy of antennas and propagation characteristics before being provided with the best strategies for making your first DX contact.

Telcall+:  HF meets 4G in the bush
Since Alfred Traeger introduced the pedal radio in 1929 HF radio has had a place in the Australian outback. Over the years the technologies have evolved and the application of the technology altered but despite this HF land mobile radio continues to play an important role in this vast country. Geoff Peck of Austravel Safety Net will introduce us to Telcall+, a fusion of HF radio and contemporary smart phone technology that brings puts the vast communication capabilities of HF in the hands of everyone with a smartphone.

Amateur Radio Licence Conditions and Spectrum Regulation
Representatives of the WIA will provide us with the latest on Amateur Radio Licence Conditions in Australia and the current trends in spectrum regulation and how this may impact Amateur Radio.



Sunday the 20th of May


The Sunday program is expected to be held in the North Pavillion of the Broadwater Parklands in Southport.   

This newly built facility is a significant Commonwealth Games Legacy project built on 3.5 hectares of land on the Broadwater.   The site contains amongst other  things, a 3m high statue of a surfer called the 'Blue Perspective' that was purchased by Councillor Dawn Crichlow a long term supporter of Amateur Radio and the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society.
 




The Sunday program continues to be expanded with new participants and demonstrations being added weekly. The lineup now includes:
 
A microwave shoot out by the Redcliffe club

Amateur Radio Central West Group demonstrating the latest in MMDVM hotspots and repeaters

The theory and practice of EME and a 10GHz Moon Bounce (EME) Demonstration at 11AM

The black art of Duplexers: A practical guide to the black art of cavity filters for repeaters and digital TV transmitters courtesy of Drew (VK4ZXI)

Future Systems showcasing the latest SDR technologies from Flex Radios

RF Solutions with latest products from Icom including the IC-7610 driving a SPE EXPERT 1.5K-FA linear amplifier.

HF Land Mobile emergency network demonstrations by VK737, The Australian HF Touring Club and Austravel Safety Net Inc

 
The new Barrett 4050 HF SDR Tranceiver bought to us by Bushcomm

Funding through Grants - bought to you by the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society

Demonstrations of emergency field communications facilities by:
Queensland Fire and Emergency Sevices,
Queensland Ambulance Service
Queensland State Emergency Service
Queensland Police Service
Queensland Rural Fire Service


Tours of the Surf Life Saving Command Centre, Rescue Helicopter Base and Brisbane Telecom Museum.


Sunday will include a free BBQ courtesy of GCARS.

If you or your club wishes to participate in the presentations and demonstrations during the event, or there is a specific topic you would like to see presented please do not hesitate to contact the WIA AGM organising committee  on  wiaagm@wia.org.au

For further information, the program and registration please see the 2018 WIA AGM by visiting https://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/2018agm/


We hope to see you there

73,
Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society & WIA AGM organising committee