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VK7AX > BCAST 30.12.23 12:19l 414 Lines 21034 Bytes #167 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 31Dec23
Text edition:
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VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 31st December 2023
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Welcome and Seasons Greetings from the VK7 Amateur Radio News Team for the Happy New Years Eve edition of the VK7 Amateur Radio News and this was first broadcast on Sunday the 31st December 2023. At the mike of VK7WI this week is Idris, VK7ZIR.
On Sunday this broadcast goes out on repeaters all over VK7 and on digital radio - DMR Talk Group 5 and D-Star Reflector 91C by Clayton, VK7ZCR.
We go out on medium and high frequency courtesy of the following rebroadcast stations:
On 1.862 MHz by Graham, VK7GS,
On 3.670 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE,
On 7.140 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH,
On 14.130 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD,
On 28.525 MHz by Dale, VK7DG.
UHF CB Channel 24 in the Hobart area - Any Takers.
You can hear this broadcast again on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RHT in Southern VK7.
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Silent Key
Ron Mather VK7HRM
21.02.1946 to 15.12.2023
It is with great sadness, we advised the passing of Ron Mather VK7HRM, affectionately known as VK7 His Royal Majesty.
Ron passed away on Friday 15th December, as a result of a motorbike accident.
Ron was a Country music and Sydney Swans fan.
He was a much-loved Amateur, and a great friend to many in the North West, he was one of the few that climbed Mount Duncan for maintenance, and I last spoke to him on Mt Duncan I think in Dec 2020, while they were up there doing maintenance.
Ron loved touring Australia, and for 9 months of the year, his HF APRS beacon, would be spotted all around Australia.
I can recall in late 2020 Ron and Dale VK7DSH, did me a favour erecting a 70cm beam on VK7EQ Steveâ€Ös house, for better 70cm coverage.
He was a long-time member of the West Coast Radio Group. Joining in the late 80's.
For a while, a loved and dedicated member, of the local SES unit.
He worked at the EZ mine in Rosebery as an Explosives expert.
When not at the mine, He also ran a Suzuki Motorcycle, Victa mower and Poulman chainsaw and small engines services shop, which was also the Redline Bus depot in Rosebery, as well as another shop selling electrical products.
He was a founding member, and Life member of the Lake Rosebery Ski Club. The Ski Club had a predicament, 40 years ago, a large rock/island depending on who you believe, was impeding Skiing activities on Lake Rosebery. Ron arrived one day, with compressors, drilling equipment and explosives, apparently donated by a local firm. The story goes, after many hours of work, a massive explosion was heard in Tullah nearby. The rock no longer would cause any issues. Unfortunately, the Ski club couldnâ€Öt send a thankyou letter to the donor, as they may not have been aware of their donation.
Ron built a shack at Bruny Island, which the large family regularly spent time. In 1988 he won the Bruny Island Wood chopping competition. The locals loved Ronâ€Ös can-do attitude and community support, so they gave him the honorary title Mayor of Bruny Island.
Somehow in his spare time he was an avid prospector, four-wheel drive enthusiastic, into boating, fishing, and participating in Speedway dirt bikes, Circuit racing at Symons plains and motocross racing, and one year had a lap record of 65 seconds at Symonds plains on his favourite motorbike, a Suzuki.
Winston VK7EM remembers a bush-walk to the Mount Stewart mine, south of Waratah with a group of friends, and Ron came along with his CanAm 650 all-terrain vehicle. ‘He went ahead up the narrow, scrubby track and when I arrived at the Whyte River here was Ron. ‘Iâ€Öve been across and backâ€Ö he told me with a grin. This river had stopped us on an earlier trip because of its deep, violent flow. This time we all carefully waded across while Ron bounced his way across as I filmed.
A little later we arrived at the Castray River and found Ron parked just short of the river. There was a single sapling across the river and I saw something quite remarkable happen. Ron, wearing his waders assisted Lyndsey with a steady hand to cross the log, he being in quite deep fast flowing water. Then he called for me and did the same...holding my hand as he struggled for a firm footing. We all crossed the river dry-footed. What a special gentleman.
At the Mount Stewart mine, amongst the relics, Ron found an old adit, a tunnel leading underground. Without hesitation he, followed by Paul squeezed their way into the opening in the ground, Paul going out of sight. A while later they scrambled out, Ron with a beaming smile.
As an aside, we were relaxing on a river bank having lunch while Ron and I were discussing Amateur Radio matters. We were mentioning call-signs in our discussion and one of our party, Sally said, ‘Excuse me, are you talking about Radio?â€Ö She then proudly told us she was the daughter of Peter Frith, VK7PF, Silent Key.â€Ö
From Winston VK7EM
A link to a 2017 video of the event is in the text edition of the news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdrhzzHbSNQ
Ronâ€Ös, kindness, assisting other people, wanting to help others and the community groups he participated in, was evident, in the very large turnout to his funeral service last Thursday.
Ron was the loved Wife of Heather for 55yrs and loved by his children and many grandchildren.
Vale Ron, VK7HRM
From Eric, VK7EV
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VK7 Amateur Radio News
2024 Roster Available
Happy New Year Greetings from the VK7 Amateur Radio News Team and we hope you have a happy holiday season and a safe entry into 2024.
A huge thank you to all involved in putting the broadcast on each week, the readers, the rebroadcasters and the callback operators.
Please note the new 2024 VK7 AR News Broadcast Roster is available on the VK7ARNews Groups.IO files area or the broadcast audio file download area.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17a0OYFPnfEdqtYprjnqIPbOvEVsggFMH/view?usp=drive_link
73, Justin, VK7TW
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Contest news
Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest.
The contest was established in 1950 to honour the memory of the late Ross A. Hull and his pioneering achievements in the study of tropospheric propagation and the development of new equipment techniques for the higher bands.
It runs for the month of January and entrants may operate on every contest day, but the final score is based on the best seven days nominated by the entrant.
For amateurs with limited operating time, there is also a "Best 2 Days" section.
Each contact scores one point for each 100 km of distance worked. This score is then multiplied by the band multiplier. The total score is the sum of the scores on all bands.
The distance calculation is based on your maidenhead 6 digit locator.
VKCL 4.15 still works for logging this contest and logs are due in by 14th FEBRUARY 23:59 UTC. Logs can be emailed as an attachment to: rosshull(at)wia.org.au
I am sure we will have some logging sessions as part of the various 23cm QSO parties that go on after the broadcast.
https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/rosshull/
73, VK7 News Team
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Statewide News
Thursday Night SSTV Nets
Another busy net night that saw the following participants, VK7s – ZGK, ZAB, ZSB, FGGT and EV all sharing twenty photos.
The various subjects were:
The Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha, South Australia
The Big Axe at Longley, southern Tasmania
The Big Fish Hook in Launceston
The Big Spud at Sassafras
A big traffic jam, the local sequel to the movie “The Cars That Ate Parisâ€
A passenger ship at Devonport
A Mural in Hobart of a patron drinking from a beer keg
A red helicopter
A red parrot
Multiple Finches
A Love Bird
An Echidna
A decoded SSTV post card of a Soviet Cosmonaut from the ISS
And a classic Bedford 4x4 rural fire truck
Remember Ken VK7KRJâ€Ös and Steve VK7OOâ€Ös fully automatic 24/7 monitoring sites that allows 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 Kenâ€Ös and Steveâ€Ös SSTV websites or on NTARCâ€Ös website under blogs and arranged as weekly nets.
An idea for a theme for next weekâ€Ös net is “waterâ€
https://vk7oo.tasme.com/vhfsstv
https://sstv.vk7krj.com/scrolling%20web%20gallery.html
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs
73 from Andreâ€Ö VK7ZAB
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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
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VK7RUN Repeater Running
An update for users in the North of the State, VK7RUN-3 will be operating on extended hours over the Christmas and New Years period, from 22nd December to 3rd January.
An ideal opportunity to put the range of cover to the test, keep others informed of much sought after parking spots and look out for each other on New Years Eve.
Frequencies for those not programmed, 431.850MHz in and 438.850MHz out, no tones required.
Regards and best wishes to all Greg VK7YAD.
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Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
Firstly this week I must thank the listeners who took the time to e-mail or contact me with information about Lutwyche Radio. This was the business mentioned in last weekâ€Ös broadcast, and its part in the implementation of two-way radios in taxis 75 years ago, which was another Tasmanian first.
Bernie VK7BR, Allan VK7AT and Peter VK7PD to name a few, were veritable gold mines of information, not just on the local businesses, but the people who owned them and others who worked there.
Evidently at some point, AWA occupied the same address of 69 George Street Launceston, but thatâ€Ös another story.
There is a phenomenal wealth of information out there in the amateur community, itâ€Ös a pity it canâ€Öt all be collated into some form of repository of knowledge.
Over the last few months at club technical nights and morning teas, the subject of the ACMA changes to our licenses has repeatedly come up. Well now is the ideal opportunity during the New Year break to hopefully answer your questions. There was a very timely presentation last Wednesday night on the REAST DATV Experimenters Night by Justin VK7TW. He walked us through the new “Class License†structure and its impact on VK amateurs from “changeover day†on the 19th of February 2024.
If you missed it live, “Donâ€Öt Panicâ€, the YouTube video can be found on the REAST site, the segment is about 30 minutes and covers the actual effect on us of the ACMA changes. Well worth the watch and thank you Justin.
https://www.youtube.com/live/LknRbZ-miEo
Now back to the house keeping.
Annual General Meeting – of NTARC will take place on Wednesday the 14th February 2024 at the NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street Rocherlea commencing at 19:30 hours (7.30 pm). I know it is still only 2023…. well just! …… but please start thinking about who you would like nominated for the new 2024 committee. Club members are reminded that they will need to be 2024 financially current to be able to nominate or vote at the Annual General Meeting. Please note that for your convenience nomination forms will be available from the NTARC club room from Wednesday the 17th January 2024, our first day of opening for the coming year.
This of course brings us logically to…..
Club membership renewal - Itâ€Ös that time of the year again - All club members should have received an e-mail with instructions on renewing their membership for 2024. For those that have not received a renewal please e-mail the secretary(at)ntarc.net This will allow us to update your e-mail address as there has been a large number of changes this year due to some internet providers divesting themselves of the bother of hosting e-mail.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The TestNet and TechNet session – is officially in recess. But I certainly wonâ€Öt say it is taking a rest. As predicted the frequency and DISCORD channel has carried on regardless. The DISCORD channel with its ability to include pictures certainly gives things another dimension when it comes to visualising equipment and information. So have a listen as there certainly is activity on a Wednesday night on 3.567MHz.
The Club Technical night session - is in recess until Wednesday the 17th January.
The Friday Coffee Morning – is in recess until Friday the 19th January.
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 5pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
Thatâ€Ös all folks,
73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC Inc.
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NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
VK7RCR DMR Repeater OffAir
Clayton VK7ZCR lets us know that the DMR Repeater VK7RCR is off air until further notice and to use the alternative VK7RAD DMR repeater located at the Queens Domain. Please note that the DSTAR repeater is still on VK7RCR.
73, Clayton, VK7ZCR
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APRS News
Tell-tale APRS Beacons
A quick hello and shout out to Nigel Spears G4RWI who was seen on APRS and as a result made contact and you may hear him on the repeater.
Welcome Nigel.
The world-wide hobby of amateur radio through APRS is alive and well in VK7!
73, Justin, VK7TW
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Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
https://www.reast.asn.au/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
https://www.youtube.com/reasthobart/
DATV Experimenter's Night
https://www.youtube.com/live/LknRbZ-miEo
Last Wednesday night our main presentation was all about the new Class Licence that comes into effect on 19 February 2024.
We went through the legal documents and had a refresher on the licence types and then went through the five conditions or parameters of:
Qualifications held by a person operating an amateur station;
Use of call signs to enable identification of the person operating an amateur station;
Permitted frequency bands on which an amateur station may be operated;
Transmitter output power limits for the operation of amateur stations; and
Electromagnetic energy requirements for the operation of amateur stations.
We then went through some other conditions and the transitional arrangements.
https://www.acma.gov.au/amateur-radio-transition-class-licence-and-supporting-arrangements
We reminded everyone that from 19 February 2024 it is free, the ACMA will communicate with you in January 2024, all callsigns now have an "Assignment Period" and the RADCOM Database will no longer have amateur callsigns in it. This is replaced with a callsign register with limited information.
We finished the presentation with an interesting statement that was included as part of the assessment of human right implications of the new legislation - “The instruments are compatible with human rights because they promote the right to freedom of expression by maintaining the ability of amateur licensees to exercise that right through the operation of amateur stations in authorised parts of the radiofrequency spectrumâ€.
If you are confused about the Class Licence then take a look at the video.
https://www.youtube.com/live/LknRbZ-miEo
We then took a look at a 6-15m Magnetic Loop Antenna and finished off with an article from the latest DUBUS magazine on calculating atmospheric absorption above 20GHz.
This week's show is our 2024 Happy New Year show and will have a feature on a Neolucida, VHF Magnetic Loop, DUBUS, Space Weather report and much more. See you there or on the stream.
We are holding the DATV Experimenterâ€Ös nights through the holiday period and therefore we will be streaming the nights on the REAST YouTube channel.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/live-stream/
https://www.reast.asn.au/special-interest-groups/amateur-tv/
https://www.youtube.com/c/ReastHobart/
We also go out on RF - DVB-T 7MHz Standard Definition on 445.5MHz. So, if you have a TV, Set-top box or USB DTV Dongle that you can tune and scan 445.5MHz and you can see the Queens Domain, then you have a good chance of receiving the DATV Experimenter's Night Signal. Look out for VK7OTC.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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Training and Assessments
Our next REAST training and assessment day will be on the 24th February 2024.
If you are thinking of booking for training or assessment next year please let Reg Emmett VK7KK REAST Learning Organiser know ASAP by phoning 0417 391 607 or via the REAST Website Contact Form.
https://www.reast.asn.au/contact/online-contact-form/
Check out the REAST Foundation Licence Training Videos that can be found on the REAST YouTube Training and Assessment playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsnsP_zjw831mdC6sY4XqavRUY-53ZWUn
73, Reg, VK7KK
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
Sewing Circle Net – Daily on 3.640MHz commences at 6:30pm ADST.
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.
SOTA/WWFF Group – Meeting Mondays and Fridays 10.30-12.00 midday at Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry St, Launceston.
NTARC - TestNet and TechNet session in recess until January 2024.
NTARC Coffee Morning - in recess until 19 January 2024.
NTARC - Club Technical nights - in recess until 17 January 2024.
NW VK7 – Wednesday from 8:00pm local – NW Tassie Amateur Repeater Group Net on VK7RMD
NW VK7 - Thursday commencing at 8:30pm local - N.W. Tassie 2m DX Net 144.190 USB
NW SSTV Nights - Monday 22nd of January 2024 - hosted by Eric VK7EV from 7:30pm using VK7RMD 70cm repeater on Mt Duncan on the 4th Monday in the Month.
Events:
WorldWide - Tomorrow - January 1st, 2024 - Once much coffee has been consumed and the sore heads subsided - there will be a realisation that we are in next year and all wonder where that last year went..HIHI
REAST - February 7, 2024 - Presentation on the Surf Life Saving Tasmania Radio Network with Greg Bird - 7:30pm Queens Domain Clubrooms
NTARC - February 14, 2024 - Annual General Meeting - NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street Rocherlea from 7.30 pm.
REAST - February 18, 2024 - Annual General and Special General Meeting followed by a free sausage sizzle - Starts 11am at Queens Domain Clubrooms
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A reminder to those people rostered for next weekâ€Ös broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7FB
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: Any takers
DMR: Talk Group 5 and D-Star: Reflector 91C VK7ZCR
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You can hear this broadcast again on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RHT in the South.
A huge thank you to all people and organisations that assisted with this broadcast.
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That concludes our VK7 Amateur Radio News Broadcast for this week.
You have been listening to or have just missed VK7WI. Next week the National WIA news can be heard at 0900 followed by the VK7 Amateur Radio News around 0930 hours.
Items for the broadcast can be emailed to vk7arnews(at)gmail.com
Further information about the broadcast can be found at the VK7 Amateur Radio News Groups.IO Group.
https://groups.io/g/vk7arnews
The deadline for items is 21:00 on Friday prior to the Sunday of the broadcast.
Callbacks will be taken on the frequency to which you are listening. Relay stations will use their own callsigns during the callback.
On behalf of the VK7 Amateur Radio News Team, 73, seasonâ€Ös greetings and stay safe from Idris, VK7ZIR.
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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