The regularly scheduled August club meeting WILL NOT be at Denny’s on August 13th. But the annual WNYDXA picnic WILL be on August 14th at W2UB/WA2LGZ’s estate in Clarence, NY. If you have not been to this picnic, you have missed out on the best fun and camaraderie of the year! The time is yet to be established, but SAVE THE DATE. Now is the time to make sure your swim suit is in order and ready to go. Fred and Debbie’s pool if fabulous.

See you there!

Tags: Picnic, Meetings

Don’t forget that tonight is the July meeting. Your webmaster is slipping as I just realized this yesterday! Ouch. At any rate, join fellow members for Amateur fellowship and DX talk tonight at the regular club meeting spot.

Tags: Meetings

The club election and results meeting is June 11th, 2010. This has been one of the most interesting election seasons in recent memory. Be at the meeting for the results!!

With the election of new officers at hand, the biographies of the two presidential candidates are now published on the Web site. Check out this special page for the information that will help you cast you vote.

Tags: Election

Amateur radio operator charged

Tuesday, 25 May 2010

Press Release: New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development

Radio Spectrum Management recently prosecuted Amateur Radio Operator Alan Potter, ZL3II, for transmitting outside the terms and conditions of the General User Radio License for Amateur Radio Operators.

The radio spectrum is an important resource for New Zealand and a key part of Radio Spectrum Management’s work is to ensure responsible use of the radio spectrum in a way that doesn’t cause interference to other users.


All amateur radio operators are required to gain a qualification that covers the risks and harmful effects of interference from their transmitting equipment. This includes the risks associated with transmitting at high power levels.
“As a qualified amateur operator, Mr Potter is well aware of the risks but has chosen to ignore them”, says Chris Brennan, Compliance Manager for Radio Spectrum Management.

“This behaviour is unacceptable. Radio Spectrum Management are serious about protecting the radio spectrum for all users; we are continually monitoring and enforcing radio spectrum compliance, which includes prosecution when necessary”.

Radio Spectrum Management was alerted to a video Mr Potter posted on ‘You Tube’, a well known online video sharing site, which showed his transmitter operating at 3100 Watts. Operating at such high transmitting power is likely to cause interference to, and disruption of, a range of other licensed radio services in the local area.

Radio Spectrum Management’s role is to protect the public good by ensuring equipment capable of transmitting radio waves complies with the terms, conditions and restrictions of radio licences and International standards applicable in New Zealand.

Conviction and charge

Mr Potter was charged in the Christchurch District Court on 14 April. He was found guilty of breaching section 113 of the Radiocommunications Act 1989. He was fined $1,750 and $130 for costs, plus he has been required to forfeit his radio equipment.

For the purposes of section 113, any person who erects, constructs, establishes, maintains, or is in possession of any radio transmitter is presumed to have used the radio transmitter. In this case, Mr Potter was found in possession of radio transmitting equipment that was capable of operating at a significantly higher power than the Amateur Radio Operators General Licence allows.

Tags: News

Mark, W2MFT, reports that the "claimed scores before log checking" list just posted for the CQ WPX SSB 2010 contest shows him in the 8th position in North America QRP SOAB. He does mention that QRP with a vertical and 40m delta loop is NOT an exercise in dominant run operating!

The CW version of this contest is May 27 and 28. NEXT WEEKEND! The rules are posted at http://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm

From Dave, N2RHL: I just woke up to some snail mail, one from the ARRL. A certificate from the 2009 June VHF contest for first place single operator, low power for WESTERN NEW YORK 144MHz. Looks like I have a title to defend in a few weeks.

Dave-N2RHL

And from K2QO/R, the postman was just as responsive. First place Atlantic Division Rover.

At our May meeting Bill, WB2AIV presents an appreciation plaque to Mike, W2TB for service to the club as President for the past two years.

The May program will be twofold: First, there will be a review of the club's election process and a call for nominations. Second, K2RSK will present a video of the October 2009 K4M DX-Pedition to Midway Island.

Tags: Meetings

The March WNYDXA meeting program will held Friday, March 12, 2010. The presenter is our esteemed 100 watt DX'er Peter, K2RSK.

Peter will present a DVD program on the exploits of the famous Kon-Tiki which was a raft that drifted from the shores of South America across the Pacific Ocean and smashing onto a reef in the Tuamotu Islands on August 7, 1947 as proof that the ocean currents could propel a raft across the Pacific.

You may ask what does this have to do with ham radio? It was ham radio that provided the communications while they were sailing across the Pacific. No transistor solar powered rigs in the raft! Wait till you see what they used for their transmitter and receiver.

The expedition was headed up by Thor Heyerdahl who wrote a book on the expedition along with four others.

See this months QST, March, page 73 for a brief synopsis and indicating that the last survivor of the raft exploit has died.
George W2YJ

Tags: Meetings

Another super meeting is in the bag and if you did not get a handout of the presentation by Bob, WB2YQH, simply click on the Files page and download a copy. Enjoy.

Tags: Meetings, Files