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VK7AX > BCAST 19.01.25 06:09l 508 Lines 23533 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 19Jan25
Text edition:
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VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 19th January 2025
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News.
This was first broadcast on Sunday, January 19th, 2025 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 for the first time is Idris, VK7ZIR.
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 Gavin, VK7HGO.
On Medium and high frequency rebroadcasts thanks to our dedicated operators:
1.862 MHz by Any takers
3.670 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
7.140 MHz by Dale, VK7DG
14.130 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
28.525 MHz by Tony, VK7VKT and
UHF CB Channel 24 in the Hobart area, hosted by Mark, VK7FMAC
If you missed todayâ€Ös 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!
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Silent Key
Robert (Bob) Lambe VK7FRKL SK
It is with sadness to announce that Bob VK7FRKL (mostly known on air as "The Freckle") passed away last Saturday 11th of January 2025.
Bob was an active operator on HF - especially the Sewing Circle net and on the old VK7RCH 70cm repeater since it was first installed from his home on the main road in Cygnet.
Vale Bob.
73 Hayden VK7HH
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SSTV Nights
A busy net night that saw the following participants, VK7s –
TW, ZGK, HRS, ZAB, ZCF and ZBX all sharing nearly thirty photos.
The highlights were:
A reminder for the Summer VHF and above Field Day featuring a van with a pump-up mast and massive antenna array
Setting up new microwave equipment on a mesh dish ready for the VHF Field Day
An AR magazine front cover showing Reuben VK7FREU operating SOTA 11 years apart from Collins Cap
A baseball cap for “Making Ham Radio Great Again”
A snake in a tree
The marine environment at Busselton in West Australia
A different than usual hitchhiker on the Nullarbor Plains
Veteran cars from the 2024 Tassie tour, even one with a “dickie” seat
Marine theme wood carvings at Windmill Point on the Esplanade at George Town
A series of pet dogs
and 73 from “Pluto the Dog”
Note - Ken VK7KRJâ€Ös and Steve VK7OOâ€Ös fully automatic 24/7 monitoring sites 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.
If you missed the net there are archives of these SSTV nights.
These photos can be seen on Kenâ€Ös and Steveâ€Ös SSTV websites or on NTARCâ€Ös website under blogs.
Please remember to use your own photos or those that are copyright free.
SSTV VK7OO Tasmania Australia (tasme.com)
VK7KRJ's 2m SSTV scrolling web gallery
Blog 3 â€ö NTARC Inc.
Have a Happy New Year from Andreâ€Ö VK7ZAB
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QSL Update
The updated list of QSL cards held as at 3 January 2025 is in the email version of the broadcast.
We appear to be in a generational change and/or issue of new Callsign ownership so if you have received a new callsign in recent years please email Herman with your QTH and/or Club details so cards can be forwarded on an opportunity basis. If you would like your cards mailed direct please send me some stamps.
Happy New Year and Good DX'ing
73, Herman, VK7HW, WIA Manager VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
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Sorted Cards held at 3 January 2025 ( Any errors in the listing are mine, I sometimes miss culling a call sign)
AAC, AAD, AAE, AAH, AAP, AAR, AB, AC, ACE, ACG, ACN, AD, ADE, AED, AG(2014), AGC, AHT, AIR, AJC, AKK, ALZ, AM, AN, ANC, AO, AP, APZ, AS, ATH, AXZ, AY
BA, BB, BBB, BO, BPV, BT, BU, BYE
C/GH, CA, CBK, CBR, CH/T, CJ, CMV, CTV, CV, CW, CWB, CX
DAN, DD, DG, DHT, DI, DIK, DN, DO, DQ, DT, DV, DW, DY, DZ
EA, EG, EI, ER
FADZ, FALX (alx), FAZZ, FCIA, FF, FG, FGGT, FKLW, FLAR, FMI, FPRN, FTAS, FTR
GA, GEL, GGZ, GH/C, GM(2020), GOP, GR, GS, GU
HBR, HCH, HCK, HH, HL, HOB, HRS, HSA, HSC, HSD, HSJ, HVK, HXT, HZ
IAN, IR, IS
JA, JAB, JAZ, JCR, JG, JGD, JOK, JON, JP, JS, JW, JX
KAC, KAM, KBA, KD, KDO, KJ, KKR, KL, KO, KQ, KRJ, KT
LA, LDH, LJ, LL, LLL, LM, LT, LVH
M, MA, MAG, MBD, MBP, MD, MEL, MET, MHZ, MI, MJ, MRS, MS, MV
NA, NB, NC, ND, NEC, NET, NIK, NRF, NRT, NSE, NTE, NVH
OB
PAF, PBD, PM, PRN, PSH, PSJ, PSZ, PW
QK
RA, RG, RJ, RN, ROY
SD, SG(vi7SG), SN, STO, SV, SW, SZ
TA, TCE, TED, TK, TL, TM, TO, TPE, TR, TS, TUX, TX, TZ
UK, UT
VA, VAC, VAO, VAZ, VDC, VEK, VH, VK7/AG9A9Mark), VM, VR, VTM, VZ
WA, WC, WIA, WL, WN, WO, WT, WUU, WX
XV, XX
Y, YN, YUM
ZA, ZBX, ZE, ZGK, ZJJ, ZK, ZM, ZMS, ZR, ZT, ZTA
Special Callsign Cards delivered to VK7 Bureau - VI7POL, VI75G, VI90IARU, VK75FAA
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News from the North West
North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Club
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of NWTARC will take place at 1.30pm on Saturday 1st February 2025 at our usual venue, the Scout Hall, 73 Alexandra Road, Ulverstone.
The ordinary business of an annual general meeting will be to confirm the minutes of the last preceding annual general meeting.
To receive from the committee, auditor, employees and other persons acting on behalf of the Association, reports on the transactions of the Association during the last preceding financial year of the Association.
To elect the officers of the Association and the ordinary committee members.
To appoint the auditor and determine his or her remuneration.
To determine the remuneration of employees and other persons acting on behalf of the Association.
To appoint the Public Officer either from the committee or general membership.
All current office holder, committee, auditor and the Public Officer positions fall vacant at the AGM.
Nominations for each office bearer and the Committee members are invited, and should be made in writing to the Secretary, and delivered to the Secretary, at least 10 days before the day on which the annual general meeting is to be held.
The nomination is to be on the NWTARC nomination form, along with the signatures of the Nominator, Seconder and that of the member nominated.
Appointments will also be required for the positions of Auditor and Public Officer.
Members will need to have paid their 2025 membership subscription to be able to vote at the Annual General meeting. And they will need to have paid their 2025 membership before they can be nominated or nominate or second someone for office, as only financial members can nominate or be nominated
The AGM will be followed by the February General meeting, after which afternoon tea will also be held, and members are encouraged to bring items for show & tell, and club rooms are open until 6pm for members to socialise.
A small plate of afternoon tea would be appreciated, and we have single packaged Tea, Coffee and Sugar and disposable cups 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
NWTARC
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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
With the changing of the calendar from 2024 into 2025 came quite a surprise with the dawning of the first day of the New Year! Let me explain:
Prior to Christmas and the New Year, Nic VK7WW and Andreâ€Ö VK7ZAB, had been intermittently testing various setups and antenna types on the 915 to 928MHz part of the spectrum for a usable transmission path link between their two sites. This is the LIPID or Low Interference Potential Devices Class of Licence area used for such things as LoRa and LoRa Wan for the internet of things etc.
On New Yearâ€Ös Eve they were using Yagis and were very much QRP.
They were experimenting with some Meshtastic Nodes, specifically the Heltastic V3 modules. All went well with Nicâ€Ös node meshing in well with the Launceston nodes, with text messages being sent and received reliably. They were called back to family activities and didnâ€Öt return.
However after the clock ticked over midnight and the year flipped over to 2025 thatâ€Ös when the fun started. Well actually the fun started around 4 am and continued until about 5.30 am. Progressively twenty four new Meshtastic Nodes in the Adelaide area started to appear in the Node list as the number of “Hops” increased.
Wasnâ€Öt there a lot of Aurora activity around that day?
Unfortunately it had happened when all of the Launceston mesh fraternity were asleep and by the time I awoke at 7 am the propagation link had disappeared. Well we “Missed it by THAT Much” …… as a Smart Secret Agent used to say.
It was quite a shock to see the number of nodes had skyrocketed overnight. Checking the transmission “Hop” information on Andreâ€Ös Meshtastic the most likely scenario was his “Nor-Nor-West” facing Yagi was connecting to a possible Node on Mt. Barker or Mount Bonython in South Australia.
Because we no longer had connection to South Australia we werenâ€Öt able to perform a “Trace Route”, which possibly would have given us the Node ID of Mt. Barker or Mount Bonython. From memory Mt. Bonython hosts a rather large Telecommunications complex and tower similar to Juliana St. in Launceston, would be a nice location for a node.
From the nodes with their location turned on there were: Seven Client nodes from suburbs around Adelaide including the CBD, two Clients at Mt. Barker and one at Mt. Bonython.
One without a location was Dave VK5DR, sounds like an amateur call-sign, does anyone know him and maybe have an e-mail address, just to let him know?
Needless to say every day for the next week, in the wee small hours of the morning, the Node list has been conscientiously checked for a re-occurrence, but alas it has not occurred…..
Regardless though this is still an approximately 1000 km hop from Launceston to Adelaide. Because of the mesh bi-directional data exchange this is as verification of the connections. I think this is pretty cool, considering the power of a Meshtastic module might only be 100mW or so, very definitely QRP.
Node information pictures of the Meshtastic event will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast. NTARC Blogs
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs
UPCOMING EVENTS
TestNet and TechNet session - Every Wednesday, TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7 pm, then a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30 pm till 8.30 pm. Your host for the evening is Nic VK7WW.
Club Room Technical night session - The first session will be Wednesday the 22nd January, at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
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.
Annual General Meeting & General Meeting - Wednesday the 12th February 2025 at the NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street Rocherlea commencing at 19:30 hours (7.30 pm). Information to be e-mailed to club members soon.
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.
Thatâ€Ös all folks,
73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC Inc.
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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/
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Annual General Meeting 2025
REAST will be holding its AGM on 16th February 2025 at 11am in the Queens Domain Clubrooms.
The AGM will be followed by a free BBQ for members.
All committee positions are open for nomination and the nomination form is available from the REAST Website at the link on the email edition of the broadcast.
https://www.reast.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Nomination-for-REAST-Committee-2025.pdf.
Nomination forms are due to the Secretary by 6th February 2025.
The ordinary business of the annual general meeting is to be as follows:
to confirm the minutes of the last preceding annual general meeting and of any general meeting held since that meeting;
to receive from the committee, auditor and servants of the Association reports on the transactions of the Association during the last preceding financial year;
to elect the officers of the Association and the ordinary committee members;
to appoint the auditor;
See you at the AGM.
REAST Committee.
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Forum Night - N1MM Wrap-Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wtAhZMyrfs
Last Wednesday night we took a look at N1MM Logger+.
We started with a quick look at the history and some of the advantages of N1MM - in VK, logging is becoming problematic with many no longer being supported.
There were about 4-5 who had used N1MM in some capacity and their input was appreciated.
We then went through the installation, configuration, rig control and including the use of User Defined Contest (UDCs). Most of the Australian contest are available as UDCs.
https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/
https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/mmfiles/categories/userdefinedcontests/
https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/manual-supported/supported-radios/
We demonstrated logging in the two different contexts - general DX logging and contest logging using the UDC for the WIA VHF & above Field Day that we installed earlier.
We finished with a questions and answer session.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the night.
73, REAST Committee
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HUMONGOUS Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2565
TODAY - REAST will be holding a huge amateur radio carboot sale in the Queens Domain compound from 11am on Sunday 19th January 2025.
Want to sell something - it will cost you $10 to setup your carboot then you can sell as much as you want - all profit goes to you.
There will be a Sausage Sizzle on the day with Snags and Bread at $3 and Burgers and Bread at $5 - Soft drinks available $1 per can.
The REAST club will be selling 5.4m at $30 and 8.1m at $40 portable Aluminium masts.
No need to book - just turn up and please note REAST prefers card payments for food and masts and there will be two Squares operating on the day for card payments.
See you there.
73, REAST Committee
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Wednesday Experimenterâ€Ös Nights
This Wednesday night we get back to our WEGs night and we will have some wonderful blasts from the past, some developments with keyers and a wrap-up from the Field Day and Car boot.
On a Wednesday night people start arriving at the night around 6pm and many bring their dinner to enjoy.
There is always much discussion, experimenting, playing, talking, drinking coffee and tea, serious cunning plan development and general amateur radio shenanigans and world problem solving in the clubrooms as well!!
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 stream the nights on the REAST YouTube streaming channel and 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.
See you there or on the stream.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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REAST Training and Assessment Update
Looking to join the world of amateur radio or upgrade your license? REAST has you covered with regular Training and Assessment Days for all license levels!
Key Dates:
Foundation Training and Assessment Days: Held every two months, starting 22nd February 2025.
Standard, Advanced, and Regulations Assessments: Held on alternate months, starting 29th March 2025.
Stay updated with the full schedule on the REAST Events Page.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/
Do you need to secure your spot or ask a question - email: reast.assessor(at)gmail.com and your inquiry will go directly to the Learning Organiser, who be in contact.
We have learning resources available including our Foundation Licence Training Videos that are a must-watch for beginners. Find them on the REAST YouTube Training and Assessment Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsnsP_zjw831mdC6sY4XqavRUY-53ZWUn
Practice Makes Perfect so, prepare with the WIA Foundation Trial Exams and the link can be found on the email edition of the broadcast.
https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/onlineexams/foundation.php
Whether you're starting your journey or leveling up, REAST is here to guide you every step of the way.
73, Reg, VK7KK
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Technology News
Cold War Mystery Solved!
In the late 1970s, NASA's space shuttle program faced significant financial challenges due to insufficient funding during its development phase. This led to delays in critical components, such as the thermal protective tiles, and forced NASA to allocate future budgets to cover past expenses. By 1978, the situation had become untenable, prompting a crucial meeting at the Johnson Space Center. During this gathering, Chris Kraft, the center's director, and other senior leaders discussed two potential solutions: securing a substantial funding supplement or relegating the shuttle to a research-only vehicle, similar to the earlier X-15 program.
NASA Administrator Robert Frosch presented these options to President Jimmy Carter, anticipating resistance due to Carter's lukewarm stance on space exploration. However, Carter had recently engaged in Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, during which he highlighted the shuttle's capabilities for monitoring treaty compliance. Recognizing the shuttle's strategic importance, Carter inquired about the necessary funding to ensure its completion. This unexpected support led to the approval of supplemental budgets for fiscal years 1979 and 1980, effectively rescuing the shuttle program from potential cancellation.
Despite his earlier skepticism, President Carter's decision to fund the shuttle program was influenced by geopolitical considerations during the Cold War. His administration's supplemental funding allowed the shuttle to evolve into an iconic vehicle that would eventually fly 135 missions and carry 355 individuals into space. This pivotal moment underscored the interplay between technological advancement and international diplomacy, demonstrating how strategic imperatives can shape the trajectory of national programs.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/12/a-cold-war-mystery-why-did-jimmy-carter-save-the-space-shuttle/
Sourced from ars technica web e-zine and summarised by artificialis intelligentia
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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 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 - Club Room Technical night session - Wednesday the 22nd January 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 are 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 70cm VK7RMD
NW VK7 - Thursday commencing at 8:30pm local - N.W. Tassie 2m DX Net 144.190 USB
Events:
REAST - January 19, 2025 - TODAY - the Car Boot Sale of the Century and Sausage Sizzle - Queens Domain Compound from 11am.
NWTARC - February 1, 2025 - Annual General Meeting from 1.30pm in the Scout Hall, 73 Alexandra Road, Ulverstone.
NTARC - February 12, 2025 - Annual General Meeting & General Meeting at the NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street Rocherlea commencing at 7.30pm.
REAST - February 16, 2025 - Annual General Meeting and BBQ from 11am - Queens Domain Clubrooms
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A reminder to those people rostered for next weekâ€Ös Australia Day broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7WW
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and in the NW thanks to NWTARC, WCRG, NWCRRA, VK7AX, VK7JH and VK7DC
160m: Any Takers
80m: VK7ALH
40m: VK7JGD
20m: Any Takers
10m: VK7DG
UHFCB24: VK7FMAC
DMR: Talk Group 5 and D-Star: Reflector 91C VK7HGO
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A huge thank you to all people and organisations that assisted with this broadcast.
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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 youâ€Öve just tuned in, you've just missed our live broadcast. But donâ€Öt 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 youâ€Öre 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 Idris, VK7ZIR wishing you 73, and good DX to all.
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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