Wellington VHF Group, Inc: Online.

I attended NZART Conference during Queens Birthday weekend, which was organised jointly by Hastings and Napier branches, and held in the Opera House at Hastings.The company was good, I met up with those I hadn’t seen for a while, and met a lot of new friends. The AGM was well run and accomplished a lot. The various workshops and meetings were well attended and very useful. As usual there were too many choices, and some conflicts of time, but I managed to attend all those of particular interest to me. The dinner held on Saturday night was a very social and pleasant affair. A full report by our delegates of the business sessions and the results of remits appears elsewhere in this issue. It was great fun, and I can recommend that you all think about attending the next Conference, to be held at Auckland.

One rather chilly feature was the experience on the return journey to Wellington. Leaving Hastings about 3:30pm on Sunday, we encountered a snow storm while travelling across the Takapau plain. We drove in falling snow all the way from from Waipukurau to Dannevirke. This was most unseasonal weather, and whilst the scenery was made “picture postcard perfect”, it was certainly not expected in southern Hawkes Bay.

Meetings & Events calendar

In the last month’s column I reported on the appointment of John ZL2HD as meeting coordinator. I am pleased to say that John and a small team have placed a meeting and event calendar on our website to provide you with information on current and future events. Not only will this enable you to keep up to date, but you can also contribute to the schedule.

Inter-branch collaboration

This month your committee approved an application by Hamilton Branch to use our National System Award. The award has in the past been run every second year, and the Hamilton proposal is for them to run it every other year, so that there is an award every year. Your committee approved this for 2010, and with the proviso that Hamilton acknowledge our creation of the award in their material. We will be assisting them however we can, so look forward to another successful award in 2010.

Group stalwart honoured by NZART

I am very pleased to report that your Group proposed David Andrews ZL2SX, a long-time member of the Group, to be honoured by NZART at their annual conference. David was awarded Life Membership of the association. Well done David!

Ministry of Economic Development - Scoping paper on “Digital Dividend”

Your committee commissioned a small team to develop a response to this important scoping paper. Our concerns are primarily in the areas of 6 Meters (50-54MHz) and in Channel 39 (614-622MHz). Our 13 page response has now been submitted to RFS. The next step is a discussion paper will be released based on the submissions of all interested parties, before a final paper is drafted for the MED Minsiter. Your committee will keep a brief on this. Copies of our submission are available in pdf from the President on request.

Ministry of Economic Development - Discussion paper on “806-960Mhz” band replanning

MED are proposing to replan this band to achieve greater spectrum efficiency. At their last meeting your committee commissioned a small team to develop our response to this paper.

These two last subjects emphasise that we must be vigilant, maintaining a watching brief on regulatory, licencing, and spectrum issues. We must be prepared to make submissions and write papers etc and to be active advocates to guard our spectrum assets.

Digital Amateur Television (dATV)

MED RSM are in the process of developing policy for their various Ministers on the so called “Digital Dividend”. This has so far involved the development of a scoping paper and a first round of consultation. (See above, Wellington VHF Group have submitted a response).

We can possibly expect some pressure will be brought to bear on our allocations, and we are concerned for our Channel 39 allocation.

We have used our Channel 39 allocation locally, and via “Project 39” assisted other areas to do likewise. “Use it – or lose it”. Our ability to continue using the allocation may be challenged on the basis that Amateurs aren’t up to doing digital TV, and are therefore not deserving of the privilege of Ch39 spectrum. We need to act to preserve our allocation. At the least we need to be seen to be working on digital ATV, and it may be advisable to demonstrate our ability in this regard to prevent our allocation being grabbed.

At their last meeting your committee decided to commission a Digital ATV Strategy for the Group. We expect that this will subsequently be followed by construction of equipment. The committee have asked Ralph ZL2TV to head up this work and I am pleased to report that he is happy to do this.

73,
Dick Greenbank ZL2TGQ
President.