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VK7AX > BCAST 07.05.23 04:04l 389 Lines 20019 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 07May23
Text edition:
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VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 7th May 2023
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News and this was first broadcast on Sunday the 7th May 2023. At the mike of VK7WI this week is Mike, VK7FB.
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 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 Dale, VK7DG
On 7.140 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE,
On 14.130 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH and
On 28.525 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD.
We also go out on UHF CB Channel 15 thanks to Mark VK7FMAC in the Hobart area.
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
Michael Farley, VK7ZAU SK
Michaelâ€Ös interest in amateur radio was most likely kindled when he worked for Nichols Radio, Launceston in the 1960s influenced no doubt by colleagues Trevor, VK7TB and John, VK7ZJV (SK).
In the 1970s Michael moved to Devonport where he worked for the Plessey company as their technical representative for items including PA systems, answering machines and FAX machines. When Plessey closed, he served as their NW Coast agent as Farley Electronics until he retired.
During all that time Michael worked in cooperation with Graeme VK7AQ who still sees to the remnant of Michaelâ€Ös customers.
When Eric VK7EV visited Michael, he learned that he intended ‘playing radioâ€Ö again and using his campervan on his retirement. Unfortunately, it was not to be.
Vale, Michael, VK7ZAU
Peter, VK7PD
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EME News
VK7 Activity
Richard VK7ZBX provides an update on recent EME activity in VK7.
Thought I would provide a few updates to what has been happening in VK7 over the last month or 2 on EME or Earth Moon Earth on 10GHz.
After a long period the moon beacon DL0SHF is back to full time operations. It transmits on 10,368.024 MHz from Germany, running approx. 30W to a 7.2M Diameter dish. This incredibly valuable resource is provided and maintained by Per DK7LJ and the team. It transmits CW on the odd minute, and Q65 Sub mode E on the even minute.
There have been a few very interesting contacts made, some with significant works being performed by some stations to allow the contact with VK7.
One of the last contacts was with the G4RFR, the club station of the Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society in Dorset in the UK. The club members there went to a huge amount of work to install a 1.8M dish and associated bits on the back of their existing 3.7M dish allowing the ability to see over the top of the club rooms and see the moon at the same time as us here in VK7.
On Sunday the 23d of April at 07:14 UTC contact was made with VK7ZBX using Q65-60D. A few minutes after that they worked Rex VK7MO as well. They were quite strong and audible in the speaker which is incredible when you think about it. Thanks to John M5AHQ, John G0API, Julian G3YGF for their efforts.
Earlier in the month the following stations were worked:
Paulo CT2GUR, Joe DJ7FJ, Angelo I4TTZ. Michael SA6BUN, Denis G0OLX, Sasho LZ4OC, Peter OZ1LPR and Rudi OE5VRL.
See you off the moon!
73 Richard VK7ZBX
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WIA VK7 Centenary
Early newsletters please
In a recent issue of Amateur Radio you may have seen that Peter VK3RV is looking for early copies of Tasmanian newsletters. Linda VK7QP has many of these in the REAST VK7 archive and has been in touch with Peter to let him know.
If you have any early newsletters Linda would be pleased to receive them and scan them. She would then send selected scanned copies to Peter and also record them in the historical database we are creating as part of the VK7 Centenary project.
Linda has many copies of QRM, but not all. She has some parts of newsletters from the 1960s and would like to get more of them, and in better condition.
If you have any newsletters, please contact Linda VK7QP or your local VK7 Centenary rep - Peter VK7PD in the North, in the North West - Eric VK7EV or in the South - Rod VK7TRF
73 Linda VK7QP
VK7QP(at)wia.org.au
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Event News
VK7 Centenary
The centenary of organised amateur radio in VK7 happens in June 2023. We thank the WIA Board for their support of this event.
The VK7 Centenary committee is planning a host of events that will include:
For the month we will be operating special callsign - VK7WIA.
We are finalising the arrangements for callsign booking and logging system so VK7 amateurs will be able to book, operate and log contacts for their roster period.
AR Magazine for May-June will have a focus on VK7 history with a great article by Richard VK7RO on over a century of VK7 radio history. There will be a number of historical articles over the rest of 2023 AR Magazines.
There will be a special QSL card and award certificate for contacting VK7WIA during June.
There will be a WIA National News Broadcast run by VK7 on 18th June.
There will be Open Days around VK7 during June incorporating media opportunities, historical displays and special operating days;
In the North West there will be an Open Day on Saturday 24th June, in the North their Open Day will be on Saturday the 18th June and,
There will be a focus on 100 years of VK7 Amateur Radio history and the standing up of a VK7 Amateur Radio News history web-based repository.
If you have an idea for the centenary month of June please let your club representative know - In the North - Peter VK7PD, in the North West - Eric VK7EV or in the South - Rod VK7TRF.
73, VK7 Centenary Committee
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ALARA News
ALARAMeet 2023
ALARAmeet 2023 is happening from 3 – 6 November in Hobart Tasmania. Registrations are now open, and will close at the end of July. I have attached the registration form for your information.
PDF FORM
From expressions of interest (EOI) last year we are expecting about 40 people, including about 20 OMs. However, since the EOI went out I have had contact with several additional people who are planning to come.
https://www.alara.org.au/
73, Linda, VK7QP
ALARAMeet Organiser
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Statewide News
Thursday Night SSTV Nets
Another great net night that saw the following participants, VK7s – ZAB, PD, FGGT, OO, PAK, ZSB and KT all sharing twenty six photos.
There were various subjects like:
VKFF-3394 activation at Skemps Forest Reserve at Myrtle Bank
Another Ornithologists special
More from the 1/5th scale village and Embassy Gardens at Tasmazia near Sheffield – this time the “upside down houseâ€, the Embassy of Chile with its thermometer, the Embassy of Denmark with a Lego Man and the Launceston General Hospital
A Gremlin,
Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Top Cat and choir
Mickey Mouse
Yogi Bear and Friends
A supercharged V8 panel van
And a lonely transceiver
Remember Ken VK7KRJâ€Ös and Steve VK7OOâ€Ös 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 Kenâ€Ös 2m SSTV website as an infinitely-scrolling web page or on NTARCâ€Ös website under blogs and arranged as weekly nets.
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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Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
Even though winter is rapidly approaching, and Wednesday Club Technical nights are getting colder, it is having no adverse effect on the attendance of members to get together and talk radio. This week was no exception with many technical offerings.
Andrew VK7DW, brought in his just arrived from Bulgaria, SG Lab, model PA1296 module. This unit switches a 50W Power Amplifier in for transmit mode and a Low Noise Amplifier when in receive mode, suitable for use on the 1296 MHz amateur band. Not a lot to describe, basically a small flat silver enclosure with one side completely taken up with a heatsink. On two of the narrow sides are three RF connectors, a DC power connector and a couple of LEDs to indicate the module status. As is usual with SG Lab you get a high standard of construction. I am assuming, if all goes well, it will be put through its paces during the next North South 1296 QSO after this Sunday broadcast.
Andrewâ€Ös other item was somewhat of an unknown curiosity, but eventually information was found. It used to operate on a much higher part of the frequency spectrum, visible light to be precise, and was manufactured over eighty years ago by the P.M.G. in Melbourne. It is a “Lamps Signaling Daylight, Short Range†unit. The purpose of the unit was to provide Morse communication by means of light flashes from a connected directional light bulb holder. Signals are readable during daylight at a distance of 3 km, with the naked eye, and 6 km by telescope. At night it may be read with the naked eye at 10 km and up to 20 km by telescope.
This is a self-contained portable unit and originally had a shoulder strap for carrying. The signaling lamp is unfortunately missing, and would have been transported within the wooden box. There are two lids at the top, one covering the lamp, and the second covering replacement bulbs, light filters and light stand and mounting spike. The lids are covered in canvas, probably there to prevent rain getting into the box. On the underside of one of the hinged lids is located a Morse key for controlling the lamp signaling. The unit also still has a battery made up of eight NiFe cells in series, which appear to be flat. These signaling lamps were in use from the Great War, through to the end of World War Two. It was the coming of reliable VHF radios that finally spelled the end for much of these visual signaling devices. A very interesting piece of history and we hope that Andrew can locate some of the missing parts.
The link is included in the text version and is well worth a look.
Equipment - Morse and day light set in timber box with accessories (victoriancollections.net.au)
Ross VK7ALH, had three items from the Ten-Tec stable of equipment, all manufactured in America. Firstly a model 546 Transceiver, an HF 100W plus SSB / CW rig with matching Variable Frequency Oscillator or VFO for short, which could be configured for receive or transmit use.
The real item of interest was the third Ten-Tec unit placed on the bench, a model 544. This one was last seen at the club rooms back in 2019 when Ross brought in a cardboard box containing the remains of a salvaged transceiver, most of the case and a only a couple of the board compliment remained which I think, quite literally was salvaged from a rubbish skip. This one has come a long way, after a couple of years of tracking down replacement boards, Ross has nearly completed its restoration. It is so nice to see equipment saved from the scrap heap and able to live on.
A quick update on Peter VK7KPCs, latest “built from scratch†project. This is his PIXIE transceiver mentioned last week, a 300 milliwatt QRP Transceiver, designed by W1FB (SK) and was brought along hopefully for some on air testing. Peter successfully managed to make a CW contact with Nic VK7WW, on 7028 KHz. Nic was also QRP at 2.5 Watts, the lowest his Icom would go in power. He received Peter at a very respectable 549. Although not quite across the Atlantic it did however make it across the Tamar River. To top off a successful evening they found out that their QRP QSO was received in Victoria by Josh VK3ZB in Mitcham, approximately 26 km East of Melbourne.
Equipment pictures are available on the NTARC website under “Blogs†for this broadcast. Now back to the house keeping.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The TestNet and TechNet session - Wednesday the 10th of May. TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7pm till 7.30pm…. and a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30pm till about 8.30pm. Your host for the evening will be Nic VK7WW.
Coffee Morning - held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10am to noon and we look forward to seeing you all there. Why not pop in and join us for a cuppa there is endless tea and coffee along with biscuits available for a donation.
The Club Technical night - The next session will be on Wednesday the 17th of May and will commence at the usual time of 7.30 pm, running through to about 10.30 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 5pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
Thatâ€Ös all folks,
73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC.
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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/
Special May Presentation
VK7RHT - Voting / Simulcasting and all things Repeaters
Thanks to Hayden VK7HH who took our online and physical audience through a modern repeater system with unprecedented coverage of Southern Tasmania.
Hayden went through receiver voting and simulcasting and what is required to build a repeater with this these two technologies.
Hayden then went through the Allstar network and VKLinking of repeaters. Next was the Radio Thin Client Module or RTCM and the underlying Asterisk Voice Over IP or VOIP system.
Hayden went through putting the system together and the need to lock everything with GPS for the simulcasting transmissions.
There was some slides on the live RSSI feed of signal levels and the AllMon2 monitoring system.
Hayden finished with challenges, the future of the system and took questions.
Thanks Hayden for this insight into the new Mt Wellington based VK7RHT.
If you missed the presentation it is well worth a look on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkPWOwexm3U
73, REAST Committee
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DATV Experimenter's Night
https://fb.me/e/2JoFedbKt
Our DATV Experimenterâ€Ös Night will be a little different over the month of May.
We are encouraging members to to bring along and share projects that they are currently designing, building, fixing, upgrading and they do not have to be amateur radio related.
We will not be having a DATV broadcast throughout May as we will be updating our DATV Studio with upgraded equipment.
We look forward to seeing you at the clubroms on a Wednesday night from around 6:30pm.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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Training and Assessments
The next REAST Foundation Licence training and all licence assessment day is next Saturday May 13th.
If you are thinking of coming along then 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
And checkout the REAST Facebook page events for further details.
https://fb.me/e/2lrgEJgfd
73, Reg, VK7KK
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
Sewing Circle Net – Daily on 3.640 MHz commences at 6:00pm 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.
SOTA/WWFF Group – Meeting Mondays and Fridays 10.30-12.00 midday at Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry St, Launceston.
NTARC - Fridays - Coffee mornings in the NTARC Club rooms from 10am to noon.
NTARC - Wednesday 17th May - Club Technical night - from 7.30 to 10.30 pm in the club room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
NTARC - Wednesday 10th May - TestNet and TechNet - TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7pm till 7.30pm and a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30pm till about 8.30pm.
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
REAST – WAGS – Wednesday Afternoon Group meet in the Queens Domain Clubrooms from 12 noon.
REAST – DATV Experimenterâ€Ös Nights from 7:30pm live in the club rooms also on DVBT RF and YouTube Streaming
NW SSTV Nights - 22 May 2023 - hosted by Eric VK7EV from 7:30pm using VK7RMD 2m repeater on Mt Duncan on the 4th Monday in the Month.
Events:
VK7 - June 2023 - VK7 Amateur Radio Centenary
NTARC - June 17 - Centenary Open Day - Scout Hall Archer St Rocherlea
NWTARC - June 24 - Centenary Open Day - Scout Hall Alexandra Rd Ulverstone
ALARA - November 2023 - ALARAMeet 2023 - Hobart Tasmania
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A reminder to those people rostered for next weekâ€Ös broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7PD
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, and VK7DC
160m: VK7GS
80m: VK7TPE
40m: VK7ALH
20m: VK7JGD
10m: Any Takers
UHFCB15: VK7FMAC
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.
VK7WI is now closing but will reopen shortly for callbacks and relay reports. PLEASE NOTE: given the number of potential statewide callbacks we will be taking and acknowledging callsign only. Once the callbacks are over, there will be plenty of time to chat statewide about other matters.
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, stay safe from Mike, VK7FB.
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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