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VK7 Amateur Radio News 04Aug24
Text edition:
--------------------------------
VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 4th August 2024
--------------------------------
Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News.
This was first broadcast on Sunday, August 4th, 2024 and we bring you the
latest from the world of amateur radio in VK7.
This week, joining you from the Tasmanian Amateur Radio News desk is Nic, VK7WW.
Tune in as we share updates and insights across VK7, broadcast through an
array of platforms and frequencies:
On DMR Talk Group 5 and D-Star Reflector 91C, managed by Clayton, VK7ZCR.
On Medium and high frequency rebroadcasts thanks to our dedicated operators:
1.862 MHz by Graham, VK7GS
3.670 MHz by Dale, VK7DG
7.140 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE
14.130 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
28.525 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD and
UHF CB Channel 24 in the Hobart area, hosted by Mark, VK7FMAC
If you missed todays broadcast then you can catch the replay on Tuesday
night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RHT and UHFCB24 in
Southern VK7.
Thank you for tuning in and enjoy the broadcast!
--------------------------------
RAOTC News
Monthly Broadcast
Further to that mentioned on the WIA National News, this is another reminder
about the RAOTC broadcast for Monday the 5th of August 2024 at 8 pm local time;
thats tomorrow night for those listening on Sunday.
This month, one standout event is the RAOTC Melbourne luncheon to be held on
September 19; this will feature a presentation by Mike VK3CH on his SSB
operation on bands up to 3cm. It will include a static display of his microwave
equipment.
The event is to be video streamed and can be viewed on platforms such as Zoom.
Details can be found on the RAOTC website.
The first technical article was written by Herman, VK2IXV; it details the 3
different distress calls used by radio telegraphy: CQD, SOE and SOS, how they
evolved and who used them.
The final technical subject is titled: A Strong Attraction. Here we find an
interesting history about the material used for permanent magnets. Over the
past 90 years these have included alnico, ferrite and more recently ‘rare
earth magnets. The article examines why ‘rare earth is so-called and
what it is.
Listen at 8 pm Monday, local time, over the VK7RAA/VK7RAD state-wide network or
at about 8:30pm as a telecast on VK7AX ‘Spectrum Tasmania via the BATC
members stream or in the Ulverstone area on 445.50MHz DATV. Audio feed is
available on VK7RDR, 439.775MHz, Dazzler Range.
The broadcast date again is Monday August 5th. Call backs will follow on both
networks. Please call in if you are able; this provides the RAOTC broadcast
committee with an idea of how many are listening to these broadcasts.
If you miss the off-air broadcasts you can listen to audio files on the RAOTC
website:
https://www.raotc.org.au/
73, Peter VK7PD
--------------------------------
Statewide News
Thursday Night SSTV Nets
Another quiet net night that saw the following participants, VK7s – FGGT,
EV, AAR, OO, ZAB, ZSB and KT all sharing over twenty photos. Note: Some photo
didnt make it up north so remember the CTCSS tone of 141.3Hz to link RAF
South to RJG in the North.
The main theme was “illusions” and the highlights were:
An elephant with 5 legs
A 3 prong U bolt
Infinite and impossible pathways
An old couple looking at each other or is it a guitarist and a vase
A row of sailing ships or is it a bridge
Wildlife
A balloon launcher and what goes up must come down
Recovered weather radiosondes
A new looking drill press
The web site for the Mac version of the SSTV App
And 73 from a potential amateur
Remember Ken VK7KRJs and Steve VK7OOs fully automatic 24/7 monitoring
sites that allow anyone who has sent an SSTV picture the ability to check them
on their pages almost immediately, any time, both South and North Tasmania.
Also if you missed the net there are archives of all SSTV nights. These photos
can be seen on Kens and Steves SSTV websites or on NTARCs website
under blogs and arranged as weekly nets.
There is no suggested theme for next weeks net.
SSTV VK7OO Tasmania Australia (tasme.com)
VK7KRJ's 2m SSTV scrolling web gallery
Blog 3 NTARC Inc.
73 from Andre VK7ZAB
--------------------------------
Tassie Ham-E-Con
Innovation in Amateur Radio - Bookings Now Open
Exciting news!
The Tassie Ham Conference is set for November 2nd and 3rd, 2024, at the Sir
Stanley Burbury Theatre on the Sandy Bay Campus of UTAS. This year's event is
fully catered, offering endless tea, coffee, and other beverages, plus
delicious morning and afternoon teas, and lunches on both days, all included in
the conference fee.
Kick off the weekend with a pre-conference BBQ social gathering at the REAST
Clubrooms on Friday night. Then, dive into a fun-filled conference on Saturday
and the first half of Sunday, featuring engaging presentations and activities
centered around the theme of "Innovation in Amateur Radio."
We're thrilled to announce that our lineup is nearly complete, with fantastic
speakers from overseas, interstate, and locally, ready to share the latest
innovations in Amateur Radio. Check out the conference website for more details
and get ready for an unforgettable weekend!
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference/
We have locked in raffle prizes from ICOM, Yaesu, DigiRig, DX Commander,
ZachTech, Ham Radio DX and REAST and there are some VERY impressive raffle
prizes in there.
You get a complimentary raffle ticket if you attend the conference and you can
purchase extra raffle tickets on the conference days. You can only get raffle
tickets if you attend the conference!
Watch the Tassie HamECon web pages for more details as they come to hand.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference/
73, TassieHamECon Organising Committee
--------------------------------
NEWS FROM THE NORTH WEST
Senior Amateur Assisted
This week NWTARC club members, Andrew VK7XR and Mark VK7MAR, assisted one of
our senior amateurs, installing a new 2 metre base antenna, mast and coax, and
testing it.
They also ran two replacement coax cables for two existing antennas. The work
had a bonus, in that the day before, a local amateur whose circumstances had
changed, had donated sundry items, including coax etc to our club. We used that
coax to upgrade the coax going to the new base antenna.
The other items donated to the club and will be sold to raise funds.
73, Eric, VK7EV
--------------------------------
North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Club Meeting
The next club meeting will be commencing at 1.30pm on Saturday 3rd August 2024
at our usual venue, the Scout hall, 73 Alexandra Road, Ulverstone and afternoon
tea will also be held.
Members are encouraged to bring items for show & tell, and club rooms are open
till 6pm for members to socialise.
A small plate of afternoon tea would be appreciated, We have Tea, Coffee etc
available for members and guests,. Visitors are most welcome to attend.
If you have any cold or flu symptoms , or are unwell , or been in contact with
a confirmed COVID case, then please do not attend the meeting.
73, Eric VK7EV, News Officer
North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Club
--------------------------------
NEWS FROM THE NORTH
SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP
The Summits On The Air/World Wide Flora and Fauna parks group meets twice
weekly – Mondays and Fridays 10.30AM till 12.00 at the Glebe Gardens Cafe,
Henry Street, Launceston.
For more information contact Al on 0417 354 410.
73, Al, VK7AN
--------------------------------
Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
Club Technical Night happenings, considering the thermometer had dropped
drastically we had an excellent turn-out to soak up the club room warmth from
Luke Sky Warmer, our trusty wood heater, last Wednesday.
Ross VK7ALH brought us up to speed on his progress with the Ten-Tec Jupiter
that he has been working on for a few months when he can find the time. hihi.
With this visit it was obvious that it now had its Power Amplifier stage fitted
and everything else looked back together.
Ross did come up trumps in that he found an original manufacturing oversight.
The incoming 12 Volt DC socket with its potential for high currents was mounted
on the underside of a printed circuit board with the main power rails being
distributed by the copper on the top side of the board. The small
plate-throughs, while electrically conductive, just dont cut it under this
level of high current. Ross installed a couple of aglets through the board to
elegantly augment the plate-throughs. This had the effect of drastically
reducing voltage fluctuations when in use. Ross also replaced the incoming
power sockets pins with new gold-plated ones. This was the icing on the
cake. A couple of little paint touch ups on the case and it will be good to go.
As a memory jogger from previous broadcasts, the Jupiter Ten-Tec was the first
commercially released Software Defined Radio with local front panel controls,
that we are familiar with, as well as external computer access. It is probably
the first rig ushering in a new age of amateur transceivers.
Just for information, the aglets used by Ross might be more commonly known to
you by the name “bootlace ferrules”.
To compliment the Jupiter, Ross also brought in a Ten-Tec manual antenna
matcher & SWR meter. It was in matching black and in excellent condition. In
Ten-Tec tradition it was well-constructed both external and internally. It
would have been interesting to try this unit live as none of the manually
adjustable front panel controls were of a reduction or geared type to assist in
tuning. However, all were very smooth to the feel when being operated. At least
this matcher isnt in for repair.
Now good things come in threes, even if the third item was somewhat a little
bit left field. Just for interest, Ross brought in a retail sales box
containing a pair of matched EL34 pentode valves. These are individually rated
at 25 Watt dissipation and not intended for RF transmission. It is quite common
as push-pull finals in audio amplifiers. This matched pair was sold under the
brand name of Messa/Boogie, an American company famous for its range of guitar
amplifiers since 1969. As this box of matched valve pairs stated, they were
“Hand tested in amplifiers, computer analysed & matched”. At only $400
dollars the pair these must be the cheap ones that do not use oxygen-free
conductors, or does being in a vacuum count? Either way thanks Ross for
something completely different and interesting.
Now just for interest - tomorrow, Monday the 5th August is the 75th anniversary
of the first use of two-way radios in a taxi fleet for vehicle communications
in Australia…… and guess what, it happened in Tasmania. This superseded the
“Radio-Taxi” testing of one vehicle in London England by four months, as it
didnt commence until December 1949. Yet another first for Tasmania!
The link to the full article can be found in the text version of this broadcast.
NTARC_Blogs_for_the_24th_December_2023
Club General Meeting – next Saturday the 10th. August at 2.00pm. Held at the
NTARC Club Room, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street, Rocherlea. If you have
items you would like added to the agenda please email the secretary at:
secretary(at)ntarc.net no later than Friday the 9th August.
As always, pictures will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs”
for this broadcast.
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs
UPCOMING EVENTS
TestNet and TechNet session - Every Wednesday, TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz
from 7 pm till 7.30 pm, then a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30 pm till about 8.30
pm. Your host for the evening will be Nic VK7WW.
Special Club Room presentation - An interactive streaming of the REAST
presentation on “My Life in the Lighthouse Service” with Mike VK7FB on
Wednesday 7th of August. Doors open by 7:00 pm for a 7:30 live presentation. So
rather than sit at home watching, feel free to come along and watch it on a
large screen TV, in a distraction and stress free environment. See you there.
Coffee Morning - held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10 am
to noon and we look forward to seeing you all there. So why not pop in check
the QSL cards and join us for a cuppa, there is endless tea and coffee along
with biscuits available for a donation.
Club Room Technical night session - The next session will be on Wednesday the
14th August and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room
Archer Street, Rocherlea.
Finally - A reminder to all members that if you have any items of news you
would like added to our weekly roundup, no matter how trivial, then please
email them to the Secretary at the following address news(at)ntarc.net all
items to be received no later than 5 pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
Thats all folks,
73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC Inc.
--------------------------------
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
https://www.reast.asn.au/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
https://www.youtube.com/reasthobart/
August Presentation
My Life in the Lighthouse Service with Mike VK7FB
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2204
It is finally here!
Join us for an engaging evening at REAST's August Presentation Night this
Wednesday! We'll take a delightful journey through the life of Mike Jenner
VK7FB, highlighting his memorable time with the Lighthouse Service. Mike served
as a lighthouse keeper at four of Tasmania's iconic lighthouses, and he'll be
sharing his unique experiences through words, pictures, and video.
A heartfelt thank you to Mike for offering us this fascinating glimpse into the
era when lighthouse keepers lived and worked on-site, ensuring the lights were
always shining bright.
Don't miss this captivating presentation on 7th August 2024, starting at 7:30pm
in the Queen's Domain clubrooms. For those who can't make it in person, we'll
be streaming the event live on the REAST YouTube channel.
See you there!
73, REAST Committee
--------------------------------
August Forum Night - DX Chasing
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2337
This forum night will focus on chasing that DX contact - rare, not-rare or just
extending your signals distance.
Did you know DX literally means “Long Distance” and so bring your
experiences, skills and equipment that you use to get your signal even further
around the globe.
It will be held in the Queen's Domain clubrooms from 7:30pm and will be
streamed.
Come along with your stories of “that” DX contact, bring along your award
certificates, special DX hardware and software and show them to the eager forum
crowd.
Be prepared to share your experiences, special tricks of the trade and DX
mythology.
7:30pm, Wednesday 14th August, 2024 in the Queen's Domain Clubrooms and
Streamed.
See you there.
73, REAST Committee
--------------------------------
September Presentation Night - Visit to CMS
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2341
REAST members have been invited to visit the Channel Men's Shed (CMS) at.
The CMS is a huge facility filled with metal, wood, plastics, electronics and
amateur radio tools. They even have a huge commercial kitchen where they
prepare meals for Kingston Helping Hands.
https://www.channelmenshed.org.au/
We have been invited for a guided tour of the shed and a sausage sizzle ($2 a
snag).
There are many of their members who are also a member of REAST and they are
keen to show off their impressive facilities.
See you there from 6:30pm on Wednesday 4th September 2024 at 24 Van Morey Road
Margate.
If you need a ride let a committee member know and we will organise a lift down
to Margate.
73, REAST Committee.
--------------------------------
September Forum Night - Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2348
This forum night will focus on the role of amateur radio when the apocalypse
hits!
How prepared are we as amateur radio operators for when that Extreme Space
Weather event - like the 1859 Carrington Event hits, power off for extended
periods, HF propagation is poor, EFTPOS doesn't work, internet not available,
mobile phones and communications systems fail.
It will be held in the Queen's Domain clubrooms from 7:30pm and will be
streamed.
Come along with your show and tell, batteries, solar panels/charging systems,
generators, emergency radios, emergency power solutions. Bring your stories of
fighting off the zombie apocalypse - Cargo Style!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3860916/
Be prepared to share your experiences, special tricks of the trade and zombie
folklore.
7:30pm, Wednesday 11th September, 2024 in the Queen's Domain Clubrooms and
Streamed.
See you there.
73, REAST Committee
--------------------------------
Wednesday Experimenter's Group
Last Wednesday night we had MicroOhms, Morse Bugs, Raffle Prizes and Space
Weather just to name a few things we covered!
We started the night with a look at a MicroOhm Measurement Meter - Ex-Aurora -
Substation earthing systems from a local resource tip shop. Justin went through
the 4 Wire measurement technique using and external supply to show the 10A draw
on the on the MilliOhm ranges. Justin showed the original 2V - 12AH x 4
batteries.
We then took a look at the 40m Band Plan Harmonisation consultation paper from
the WIA TAC
https://www.wia.org.au/members/tac/consultation/documents/IARU%20Region%203%20-0
%2HF%2040m%20Band%20Plan%20Challenges%20&%20Proposals%202024_3.1.pdf
This is the start of a long road of consultation and discussion in Region 3
IARU meeting in November and then IARU Meeting of all regions and it will be
difficult to reach consensus.
I encourage everyone to read it and if you feel strongly about some aspect of
the 40m Band Plan please make a comment to
tac@wia.org.au by 6th of September 2024.
This is the first step to attempt to gain international consensus on 40m band
plan across Regions 1, 2 & 3.
The main problems include:
A). inconsistent IARU member society band plans.
B). specific national regulatory conditions/constraints (e.g. the FCC in the
USA)
C). legacy band plan allocations that havent been revised following the band
expansion granted at WRC2003 (prior to which the 40m band was only 100 kHz wide)
Justin then took the audience through each of the different morse keys and
keyer types including straight keys, cooties, bugs, semi-automatics, paddles
(single and dual), keyers and Iambic Modes.
https://ag6qr.net/index.php/keys-bugs-paddles-and-keyers-a-terminology-introduco
tin/
We had an update on the Tassie HamECon Update sponsors and raffle prizes.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference/
We finished with a Australian Space Weather Report and future events.
We go into recess for three weeks due to the presentation and forum nights.
73, Justin, VK7TW
--------------------------------
REAST Training and Assessments Update
Foundation Training and Assessment Days are held every two months.
Standard, Advanced, and Regulations licence assessments held on the alternate
months. Dates can be found on the REAST Events Page.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/
The upcoming assessment dates for Foundation Training and Assessment Days
(Saturdays):
24 August 2024
26 October 2024
Standard, Advanced, and Regulations Licence Assessment Days (Saturdays):
28 September 2024
30 November 2024
For Bookings, Queries, and Questions:
Email: reast.assessor(at)gmail.com
This email is forwarded to the Learning Organiser, who will respond to all
requests.
Next Foundation Training and Assessment Day:
Saturday, 24 August 2024, from 9 am.
Please inform the team ASAP via email at reast.assessor(at)gmail.com or by
calling Reg Emmett (VK7KK), REAST Learning Organiser, at 0417 391 607.
Foundation Licence Training Videos:
These have been updated to reflect the new Class Licence arrangements.
Available on the REAST YouTube Training and Assessment Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiSE6GEhcXU&list=PLsnsP_zjw831mdC6sY4XqavRUY-53U
ZWn
Additional Resources:
Check out the WIA Foundation Trial Exams.
https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/onlineexams/foundation.php
73, Reg, VK7KK
--------------------------------
Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
Sewing Circle Net – Daily on 3.640MHz commences at 6:30pm AEST.
Statewide SSTV Net - held every Thursday night via the North/South Link on
VK7RAF/VK7RJG from 7:30pm. In the North and North West - VK7RJG on 438.55 -7MHz
and in the South - VK7RAF (146.650 -600kHz) CTCSS tone 141.3Hz to link RAF
North-South.
State-wide – MICROWAVE QSO Party – following the Sunday broadcast call-back
on 1296.15 MHz FM. One group in the greater Hobart area and another in the
greater Launceston area.
Then North-south digital contacts on 1296.2MHz using Q65-60B.
Stations in the Launceston area transmitting on the odd minute. Southern
stations on the even minute.
REAST - WAGs - Wednesday Afternoon Group from 12 noon in the REAST Clubrooms
Queens Domain.
REAST - WEGs - Wednesday Experimenters Group from around 6pm in the REAST
Clubrooms Queens Domain.
SOTA/WWFF Group – Meeting Mondays and Fridays 10.30-12.00 midday at Glebe
Gardens Cafe, Henry St, Launceston.
NTARC - Club Room Technical night session - Wednesday the 14th August from 6.30
pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
NTARC - TestNet and TechNet sessions every Wednesday night. TestNet/CW course
on 3.580MHz from 7pm till 7.30pm and a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30pm till
about 8.30pm
NTARC Coffee Mornings held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from
10am to noon in the Rocherlea Clubrooms.
NW VK7 – Wednesday from 8:00pm local – NW Tassie Amateur Repeater Group Net
on 2m VK7RMD and Node 56780
NW VK7 - Thursday commencing at 8:30pm local - N.W. Tassie 2m DX Net 144.190 USB
Events:
NWTARC - August 3 - Club meeting from 1.30pm at the Scout Hall, 73 Alexandra
Road, Ulverstone.
REAST & NTARC - August 7 - My life as a Lighthouse Keeper with Mike VK7FB from
7:30pm in the Queen's Domain clubrooms and via the REAST YouTube streaming
channel.
REAST - August 14 - DX Chasing Forum from 7:30pm - Queens Domain clubrooms
and streamed.
REAST - September 4 - REAST visits the Channel Mens Shed and Sausage Sizzle
- 24 Van Morey Road Margate from 6:30pm
REAST - September 11 - Surviving the Apocalypse - Radio Prepper / EmComm Forum
from 7:30pm - Queens Domain clubrooms and streamed
VK - November 2-3 - Tassie Ham Conference - Innovation in Amateur Radio - Sandy
Bay Campus UTAS
--------------------------------
A reminder to those people rostered for next weeks broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7TW
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and in the NW thanks to N W T A R C, West Coast Radio
Group, Cradle Coast Radio Amateur Radio Club, VK7AX, VK7JH and VK7DC
160m: VK7GS
80m: VK7TPE
40m: VK7ALH
20m: VK7JGD
10m: VK7DG
UHFCB24: VK7FMAC
DMR: Talk Group 5 and D-Star: Reflector 91C VK7ZCR
--------------------------------
A huge thank you to all people and organisations that assisted with this
broadcast.
--------------------------------
That wraps up this week's edition of the VK7 Amateur Radio News. We hope you
found it informative and enjoyable?
You've been listening to VK7WI, or if youve just tuned in, you've just
missed our live broadcast. But dont worry! You can catch the
rebroadcast on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and
VK7RHT and UHFCB24 in the South.
We encourage you to share your news, stories, and updates with us. Email your
contributions to vk7arnews(at)gmail.com.
For more information about the broadcast and to join the discussion, visit our
VK7 Amateur Radio News Groups.IO Group.
groups.io/g/vk7arnews.
Remember, the deadline for submissions is 21:00 on the Friday before the Sunday
broadcast.
Stay tuned for callbacks on the frequency youre currently listening to.
Relay stations will use their own callsigns during this time.
On behalf of the entire VK7 Amateur Radio News Team, this is Nic, VK7WW,
wishing you 73. Stay safe and have a fantastic week!
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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