The Wireless Institute of Australia has received queries about lapsed callsign recommendations by those who fail to pay the ACMA licence fee invoice on time. Failure to pay the ACMA invoice within 28 days after it is issued results in the ACMA charging a ‘consideration fee’ of $28.
All WIA accessors and learning facilitators are reminded to tell candidates of the process, emphasising that the accuracy of candidate address and email accounts are vital to ensure against lost mail. The ACMA licence invoice may also be inadvertently routed away from their inbox and into the email spam folder. Please be on the lookout for an email from automailer@acma.gov.au
Apart from the ACMA ”consideration fee” it would expect to receive a new licence application along with a fresh WIA callsign recommendation, which will incur extra unnecessary expense. The WIA Exam Service also sends an email to candidates congratulating them on getting a pass, and explains the ACMA licence invoice procedure.
If the ACMA invoice doesn’t arrive shortly after your name and recommend callsign appears on the ACMA database or you see that the displayed licence status is “Not Granted”, then please contact the ACMA Customer Service Centre via phone 1300 850 115 to make a credit card payment over the phone. Or send an email info@acma.gov.au to request an invoice copy.
The Wireless Institute of Australia which provides the ACMA services had 1,271 exams, made 1,119 callsign recommendations, and issued certificates of proficiency. In a break-down table, the ACMA reports an increase in new licences all amateur grades being issued in the 12 month period. These were the Foundation Licence at 397, Standard Licence Standard 108, and the Advance Licence at 89, with an overall increase of 45.
The ACMA had a fall of 77 amateur licences on issue to 15,065 at June 2016, but reports a trend that each type of its 153,000 apparatus licences also declined in the last two years. The timing of the WIA reporting period produces some variation when compared to ACMA licence numbers, and is mostly due to some problems with the new computerised SPECTRA licence database system. Also there have been those who qualify through an assessment, obtain a WIA callsign recommendation, but have not been Granted an ACMA amateur station licence, due to non-payment of the invoice.
Meantime, a reduction in interference caused by dodgy Light Emitting Diodes or LED displays used for Christmas lights has resulted from an ACMA awareness campaign. The ACMA continues its active monitoring and compliance program, and caught up in its net are pirate broadcasters, and a case of harassing and offensive transmissions on Citizen Band Radio.
The ACMA had also permitted phone jammer tests at the Lithgow and Goulburn jails, and are mindful that emissions from the normally illegal devices are not causing interference outside those correctional facilities.
Following on from the sad news of the passing of the King Of Thailand and a comment by John VK2KC, I thought it may be prudent to have a look at some of the notable people who were/are Ham Radio Operators.
It’s a given that many engineers and astro/cosmonauts are Hams – they work in technical fields, so it’s really not much of a surprise that they’re licenced. Nevertheless, did you know that following people were Hams?
Ray Dolby (SK) – American engineer, founder of Dolby Laboratories, F5VBY Akio Morita (SK) – Founder of Sony, JP1DPJ Masaru Ibuka (SK) – Co-founder of Sony, J3BB Bob Moog (SK) – Inventor of the Moog Synthesizer, K2AMH Howard Hughes (SK) – Billionaire, Filmmaker, Aviator, Aircraft designer, W5CY Leo Fender (SK) – Designer of Musical Instruments, Mr “Fender Electric Guitars”, W6DOE Nolan Bushnell – Founder of Atari, W7DUK David Packard (SK) – Co-founder of Hewlett Packard, 9DRV Jack Kilby (SK) – Invented the Microchip and hand Held Digital Calculator, W9GTY
There are just too many astro/cosmonauts to name – they’re all amateurs (not really, but close).
Walter Cronkite (SK) – “The worlds most recognised” US television newsreader, KB2GSD Patty Loveless – Country Music Singer, KD4WUJ James Lance Bass – ‘N SYNC pop singer, KG4UYY Paul Tibbets (SK) – pilot of the “Enola Gay” aircraft that dropped the first A-Bomb in WW2, K4ZVZ Priscilla Presley – Film star & businesswoman. Was Married to Elvis Presley, NY6YOS Joe Walsh – Of The Eagles & James Gang, WB6ACU Donnie Osmond – Singer, WD4SKT Sir Cliff Richard – Singer (USA callsign), W2JOF Tim Allen – Actor, comedian, “Tim the Tool-Man Taylor”, KK6OTD Marlon Brando (SK) – Hollywood Actor, KE6PZH and FO5GJ
And from the “Well, of course!” department:
Tokuzo Inoue – Founder of ICOM, JA3FA Bob Heil – Legendary sound engineer to The Eagles & The Who, Head of Heil Sound, K9EID Hiram Percy Maxim (SK) – Prolific Inventor & ARRL founder, W1AW Dr “Joe” Taylor – Discovered binary pulsars, inventor of weak signal modes, K1JT
This list is by no means comprehensive, and there’s no doubt I’ve left some people off the list whose presence is more deserving; my apologies for anyone I’ve overlooked. Regardless, I think you’ll agree we’ve got some esteemed company! 🙂 Paul, VK2ICQ
I don’t normally like those emails “friends” send saying you must look/read/think about something but I came across this listing on eBay and could barely contain the laughter. It is listed as a “useless piece of wire” which may or may not be correct but please persevere and continue onto the description and then the questions at the bottom, it may just convince you to place a bid!
See the auction here. For when it inevitably gets pulled by the killjoys (!) at eBay, view a screenshot here and read the questions here. I think this guy deserves his $20!
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej HS1A, the patron of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST), passed away on Thursday October 13, 2016. He was 88 years old. He passed away peacefully in a Thailand hospital. All members of the royal family were present.
His Majesty was presented the callsign HS1A by the Ministry of Communications in August, 1989, in a ceremony witnessed by RAST officers. Five years later he put RAST under his royal patronage. He was the world’s long reigning monarch, having been head of state for 70 years. The Thailand Prime Minister’s Office has ordered that all government agencies fly flags at half-mast for 30 days, and that government officials will wear black in mourning for a year.
The International Radio Union Region 3 are among who expressed deep sorrow at the loss. A letter from Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, Chairman IARU Region 3, said: “We are really saddened to get the news of the passing away of your beloved Monarch. On behalf of the directors and members of IARU Region 3, we extend our deepest condolences to RAST and the people of Thailand. We all know what a staunch supporter of Amateur Radio he was and his passing will obviously leave a very large void.”
He has asked RAST to relay this message to all members of RAST, with whom goes our thoughts, prayers, and sincere condolences. Click the following Link for further details.
The WIA has sent the letter of condolence below to Jack Hantongkom HS1FVL, President RAST. Read the letter here.
