Wireless Institute of Australia

22/10/2026

100 KILOMETRES, ALL NIGHT, AND AMATEUR RADIO KEEPING WATCH!

24–25 October 2026 | Hawkesbury Canoe Classic, NSW

While paddlers tackle the Hawkesbury River this weekend, another team of volunteers will be working through the night to help keep them safe!

Members of WICEN NSW will be operating portable radio stations at checkpoints along the river, supporting the annual Hawkesbury Canoe Classic.

The Challenge: 100 kilometres from Windsor to Mooney Mooney, with shorter 30 km and 60 km options also available.

The Amateur Radio Contribution:

Establishing and operating portable radio checkpoints.
Reporting canoe numbers as competitors pass.
Relaying information and reporting incidents.
Maintaining communications throughout the night.
Supporting competitor safety and event coordination.

RADIO AMATEURS GIVING BACK

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic raises funds for medical research, including bone marrow and stem cell transplantation research.

For WICEN operators, the event is also an opportunity to develop practical skills in portable communications, message handling, teamwork and operating under challenging conditions.

It's amateur radio making a real contribution to the community!

INTERESTED IN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS?

WICEN groups around Australia support community events and emergency communications activities.

If you're interested in putting your amateur radio skills to practical use, why not get involved?

A big thank you to all the WICEN NSW volunteers supporting this weekend's event!

Our thanks also to Richard VK2SKY, reporting for WICEN NSW in the WIA National News.

21/10/2026

CALLING ALL EmComm AND WICEN REPRESENTATIVES: HAVE WE MISSED YOU?

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) is seeking feedback on its proposed HF Land Mobile Emergency Communications Frequencies Policy and Authorisation Form, covering the WIA's two 5 MHz (60 metre) Land Mobile frequencies.

On 14 October 2026, the WIA contacted a range of WIA affiliated emergency communications organisations and representatives, inviting them to review and comment on the proposed arrangements.

But we want to make sure nobody has been inadvertently left out!

ARE YOU INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS?

We would particularly like to hear from representatives of:

WICEN groups and organisations.
Amateur radio emergency communications (EmComm) groups.
Organisations involved in emergency communications planning, coordination or operational support.
Other relevant groups with experience in HF emergency communications.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

The WIA's two 5 MHz Land Mobile frequencies, situated in the 60 metre band, provide an opportunity to support authorised emergency communications activities.

Establishing clear, practical policy and authorisation arrangements is important, and the experience of those involved in EmComm and WICEN is valuable.

These are Land Mobile frequencies, not a general amateur radio allocation.

WE WANT YOUR INPUT!

If you or your organisation did not receive the original consultation email sent on 14 October 2026, and you would like an opportunity to comment on the policy and authorisation form, please get in touch.

Contact: Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW
WIA Director
[email protected]

Please include your name, organisation and involvement in emergency communications.

Help us reach everyone who should be part of this consultation.

If you know of an EmComm or WICEN organisation that may have missed the original invitation, please share this post with them.

The WIA values the expertise, experience and commitment of Australia's emergency communications volunteers. We want to ensure their voices are heard.

20/10/2026

VK1AX ON THE AIR FROM DEAL ISLAND: IOTA OC-195!

Amateur radio, remote island DXing and conservation volunteering come together in Bass Strait!

Australian radio amateur John VK1AX is currently active from Deal Island, IOTA OC-195, and expects to remain there until late November 2026.

John and his partner regularly volunteer their time assisting Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service at remote locations, helping care for some of Tasmania's most remarkable natural environments.

This time they're on Deal Island, part of the Kent Group National Park, situated between north-east Tasmania and Wilsons Promontory in Victoria.

ABOUT DEAL ISLAND

The island is home to a historic lighthouse, spectacular coastal scenery and important wildlife habitats.

Its remote location makes it a fascinating place for amateur radio operation, particularly for those chasing IOTA contacts.

LISTEN OUT FOR VK1AX!

Callsign: VK1AX

Location: Deal Island, Bass Strait, Tasmania

IOTA Reference: OC-195

Operating until: Late November 2026

Bands: 80–10 metres

Primary mode: FT8

Additional mode: SSB

Operating times: When John's volunteer commitments allow

VOLUNTEERING AND AMATEUR RADIO

John's operation is a reminder that amateur radio fits wonderfully alongside other interests and community service.

While John and his partner contribute to the care of Tasmania's remote island environments, he is also giving radio amateurs around the world an opportunity to work an interesting Australian IOTA location.

The WIA thanks John and his partner for their continuing volunteer contribution to Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service and wishes John plenty of successful DX contacts!

Keep an eye on the bands and listen out for VK1AX from OC-195.

Image sourced from the Tasmania Facebook Group.

19/10/2026

MOBILE BLACKSPOTS, UNRELIABLE COVERAGE AND NETWORK SHARING: THE ACCC WANTS YOUR VIEWS!

Have you ever been operating portable, travelling through regional Australia or visiting a remote location where your mobile phone had little or no coverage?

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) wants to hear about experiences like yours!

As reported by Critical Comms, the ACCC has launched public consultation for its 2026–27 Mobile Services Inquiry, examining whether changes to mobile network access arrangements could improve coverage, competition and service quality.

WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED?

Domestic mobile roaming: Could customers use another provider's network when their own provider has no coverage?

Radio Access Network sharing: Could telecommunications providers share radio infrastructure to improve service availability and competition?

The ACCC has not made any decisions and is seeking feedback from consumers, businesses and community organisations.

WHY SHOULD RADIO AMATEURS BE INTERESTED?

Australian radio amateurs regularly operate in areas where mobile coverage is limited or unreliable.

SOTA and portable operations.
POTA activations and field days.
Travelling through regional and remote Australia.
Emergency communications and WICEN activities.
Operating independently of commercial communications infrastructure.

Amateurs also have practical experience with radio propagation, antennas, terrain, interference and the limitations of communications networks.

That experience could make a valuable contribution to the ACCC's inquiry.

And while network sharing may improve access to existing mobile infrastructure, it won't automatically create coverage where no network exists.

This is also a reminder of the continuing value of amateur radio as a supplementary communications capability, particularly when conventional networks are unavailable.

HAVE YOUR SAY!

26 November 2026: Written submissions close.

10 December 2026: Online consumer survey closes.

The WIA encourages radio amateurs and affiliated clubs to consider sharing their experiences, particularly those involving regional coverage gaps, unreliable services and communications resilience.

If you've experienced the difference between a mobile coverage map and the reality on the ground, here's an opportunity to tell the regulator!

consultation dot accc dot gov dot au

18/10/2026

Australian Amateur Chris VK2YUS Returns to Vanuatu as YJ0CA

18–30 October 2026 | Port Vila, Efate Island, Vanuatu

Australian radio amateur Chris VK2YUS is returning to the airwaves from Vanuatu, operating under the callsign YJ0CA from Port Vila on Efate Island between 18 and 30 October 2026.

The operation provides another opportunity for Australian and international radio amateurs to work Vanuatu, a popular Pacific DXCC entity, using traditional voice communications.

SSB Only, From 40 to 10 Metres

Chris will operate exclusively on SSB, with activity expected across the 40 to 10 metre amateur bands.

His operating hours are expected to be mainly between 2100 and 1000 UTC, providing opportunities for contacts across Australia and further afield, depending on propagation conditions.

The station uses straightforward, effective antenna systems, demonstrating that successful DX operation doesn't necessarily require elaborate equipment.

Traditional DXing and QSL Cards

Unlike many modern DXpeditions that rely heavily on digital modes and automated logging, Chris is concentrating entirely on SSB contacts.

QSL confirmation will be available via his home callsign, VK2YUS, with no Logbook of The World (LoTW) confirmations.

Listen Out for YJ0CA

For Australian amateurs, Vanuatu is geographically relatively close, but propagation and band conditions will determine the best opportunities to make contact.

The WIA wishes Chris VK2YUS every success with his Vanuatu activity and encourages Australian amateurs to keep an ear out for YJ0CA over the coming days.

Source acknowledgement: DX-World, 17 October 2026, reporting Chris VK2YUS's forthcoming YJ0CA activity. 425 DX News is included as an additional DX news resource.

18/10/2026

NEARLY 17,000 SATELLITES IN ORBIT. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR AMATEUR RADIO?

The skies above us are getting crowded, and the implications for amateur radio are becoming increasingly significant.

A report published by Critical Comms, using data from the latest Look Up x Le Point Space Barometer, reveals some extraordinary figures.

16,819 active satellites now orbit Earth, up 29% in just twelve months.
4,737 satellites launched in the past year, averaging almost 13 every day.
11,041 Starlink satellites, representing nearly two-thirds of all active satellites.
Around 640 Starlink Direct to Cell satellites are dedicated to mobile connectivity.

More than 34,000 objects are being tracked in Earth orbit, including satellites, rocket stages and space debris.

But there's a serious issue for amateur radio beyond the growing number of satellites.

THE AST SPACEMOBILE WARNING

In April 2026, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorised AST SpaceMobile to use five channels within the 430–440 MHz amateur radio band for limited emergency satellite telemetry, tracking and command operations outside the United States.

The authorisation covers the company's planned constellation of 248 satellites and permits emergency use when other frequencies are unavailable, for up to 24 hours per event.

The decision came despite more than 2,500 public comments, including submissions from amateur radio organisations.

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has expressed concern about the use of ITU Radio Regulations Article 4.4 to authorise these transmissions, arguing that existing satellite control allocations should have been used instead.

WHY SHOULD AUSTRALIAN AMATEURS CARE?

The 70cm band supports amateur satellites, repeaters, weak-signal experimentation, digital communications and other activities.

The AST ruling does not remove the amateur allocation, and its authorisation is limited. Nevertheless, it illustrates the pressure that commercial satellite requirements can place on amateur spectrum.

OUR FREQUENCIES NEED REPRESENTATION

The WIA and IARU play important roles in representing amateur radio in national and international spectrum discussions.

As commercial satellite constellations grow, effective advocacy, technical expertise and evidence of interference become increasingly important.

17/10/2026

Good morning fellow radio enthusiasts, the latest visual adaptation of the VK1WIA Weekly News Service is uploading to the servers now, hope you enjoy
https://youtu.be/oUzCuJsl4Ys
73,
VK5BD

This is a visual adaptation of the VK1WIA Wireless Institute of Aus...

16/10/2026

IT'S RAINING MOTHS! WHEN WEATHER RADAR GETS FOOLED BY NATURE!

What happens when the Bureau of Meteorology's rain radar shows what looks like rainfall, but the skies are clear?

It might be millions of Bogong moths migrating across southeastern Australia!

Huge swarms of Bogong moths have recently been reported around Sydney, Canberra and the NSW South Coast, as these extraordinary insects make their annual journey towards the Australian Alps.

And here's where things get interesting for radio amateurs!

RADAR DOESN'T JUST DETECT RAIN!

Weather radar transmits pulses of radio energy and measures the signals reflected back.

Those reflections might come from:

Rain and hail

Millions of migrating moths

Flocks of birds

Aircraft

Sea clutter

Smoke, ash and unusual atmospheric conditions

Large swarms of insects can produce radar echoes resembling light rain, even when there's no precipitation.

THE AMATEUR RADIO CONNECTION

Why not try Bogong Moth scatter experiments much like scattering a signal off a rain front or Auroral curtain.

Just because a signal appears on the display doesn't mean it's what you think it is!

AND THERE'S SOME ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS!

The Bogong moth population suffered a devastating decline between 2017 and 2019.

This year's unusually large migration is encouraging scientists, although the species still faces significant conservation challenges.

So next time the rain radar shows something unusual, remember that it might not be a storm.

It could be a few million moths heading off on their annual summer holiday!

15/10/2026

RSGB CONVENTION 2026: LEARN, CONNECT AND INSPIRE!

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) has just wrapped up its 2026 Convention, held from 9 to 11 October in Milton Keynes, UK.

With more than 50 lectures, workshops, forums and activities on the programme, the event showcased the extraordinary diversity of amateur radio, from radio astronomy and satellite communications to AI, propagation, microwave experimentation and international DXing.

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS

The Future of Amateur Radio: IARU President Tim Ellam VE6SH/G4HUA delivered the keynote presentation, examining spectrum protection, emerging technologies, education, innovation and the importance of national amateur radio societies.

Radio Astronomy at Home: Paul Whiting G4YQC explored how radio amateurs can use the 21cm hydrogen line to map our Milky Way galaxy using affordable equipment.

Solar Eclipse Propagation: Steve Nichols G0KYA and the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee presented findings from their August 2026 eclipse propagation experiment.

Microwave Developments: Heather Nickalls M0HMO and Brian Coleman G4NNS featured in an update on the latest microwave activities.

Amateur Satellites: AMSAT-UK held its annual Colloquium alongside the Convention, with presentations available online.

Hands-On Workshops: Practical sessions covered NanoVNA measurements, identifying and reducing RFI, and AI: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

DXpedition Adventures: Adrian Ciuperca KO8SCA was the gala dinner's after-dinner speaker, discussing the challenges of DXpeditions.

Youth and Education: The Convention also featured expanded activities aimed at encouraging younger radio amateurs.

MISSED THE CONVENTION? WATCH ONLINE!

One of the best things about the RSGB Convention is that its lecture livestreams remain available online, giving Australian amateurs access to a wealth of technical presentations and ideas.

Congratulations to the RSGB and its volunteers on bringing together another wide-ranging programme celebrating amateur radio!

15/10/2026

THE RADIO SPECTRUM IS GETTING CROWDED. WHO IS PROTECTING OUR FREQUENCIES?

A new article from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) raises some serious concerns about the future of radio spectrum protection, and the implications extend well beyond radio astronomy.

Written by Australian CSIRO scientist Balthasar Indermuehle, the article examines how rapidly expanding satellite constellations are creating unprecedented interference challenges for radio astronomy.

The numbers are staggering!

The number of active satellites in low Earth orbit has increased from around 1,500 in 2019 to more than 15,000 in 2026, with proposals pointing towards a future involving more than 100,000 spacecraft.

Even when individual satellite transmitters comply with existing technical requirements, their combined emissions can overwhelm sensitive receivers.

SOUND FAMILIAR, RADIO AMATEURS?

Amateur radio faces its own growing interference problems.

Solar inverters and switching power supplies.

Broadband communications and electronic devices.

Satellite emissions and increasing spectrum-sharing pressures.

Commercial demand for frequencies used by amateur services.

And there's another problem: the ability of smaller spectrum users to influence increasingly complex regulatory decisions is under pressure.

Major telecommunications and satellite companies have substantial resources to influence spectrum policy. Amateur radio depends heavily on the expertise and commitment of volunteers and representative organisations.

A real-world example came in April 2026, when the US FCC authorised emergency satellite telemetry, tracking and control operations in parts of the 430–440 MHz amateur band outside the United States, despite more than 2,500 comments submitted during the review. The IARU expressed concern about the regulatory approach.

WRC-27 IS APPROACHING

The next World Radiocommunication Conference will be held in Shanghai from 18 October to 12 November 2027.

Decisions made there will help shape international spectrum access and interference protections for years to come.

This is why the work of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) and International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) matters.

They provide a collective voice for amateur radio in national and international regulatory discussions.

The challenge is not just keeping our frequency allocations. It's ensuring those frequencies remain usable.

Without effective spectrum protection and representation, amateur radio risks losing not only access to spectrum, but also the practical ability to experiment and communicate.