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VK7AX > BCAST 01.02.25 07:08l 499 Lines 26380 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 01Feb25
Text edition:
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VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 2nd February 2025
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News.
This was first broadcast on Sunday, February 2nd, 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 Peter, VK7PD.
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 Any takers
7.140 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
14.130 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
28.525 MHz by Tony, VK7VKT 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!
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Silent Key
VK7KEV Kevin Satterly Silent Key
5th July 1946 till 28th January 2025
Kevin passed away last Tuesday at the Wynyard Nursing Home.
Kevin had a varied employment life. At one stage he was the General Store keeper, in Mt Hagen, the capital of the Western Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea.
For a while he worked at St Vincent De Paul in Wynyard.
Towards the end of his working life, as carer for people in their own homes.
Kevin obtained his amateur licence in August 2012, and became VK7FKEV, he later upgrade to standard licence with the callsign VK7VEK, and eventually VK7KEV
Kevin was a regular attendee at club meetings, always up for a chat, a smile and afternoon tea, he will be greatly missed by club members.
Kevin loved HF operations, a regular on many nets and chatting to people out activating parks etc. His son had purchased a Yaesu FT DX10 for Kevin to operate on HF. Kevin was a regular on the Sewing Circle Net, until he moved into the nursing home. Kevin put out a great signal even on 80 metres, on a visit to his QTH he showed me his Hustler BTV-5 vertical, which Kevin and his son, had laid at least 35 ground radials around the antenna base.
When Kevin moved into the Nursing home, we setup a radio scanner with the local Table Cape amateur repeaters and the local aircraft frequencies. Kev loved listening to aircraft comms. Loretta rang me one day, saying Kevin said he heard Shirley VK7HSC at Sulphur Creek, on his scanner, was he imagining this. I advised that the repeater he listened to, was rebroadcasting the repeaters linked on the state-wide system, and thats how he could hear Shirley.
Bob VK7BY now Silent Key and Kevin who both lived in Wynyard were great mates, and for awhile they both lived at the Wynyard Nursing home, till Bobs passing in October 2023
Kevin was a regular visitor at the Wynyard Aero Club. Eric VK7EK was a member of the club, and often took Kevin flying around, which Kevin absolutely enjoyed. Eric recalled, he was landing at Wynyard and was about 100 feet above the runway, and Kevin kept telling Eric to check the cows out on the adjoining paddock, while Eric was trying to concentrate on a successful landing.
Apparently one night at the Aero Club, Kevin had his fair share of port, and was telling everyone what a great red wine it was. This ended up now, with anyone wanting a glass of Port, they would go up to the bar and ask for a Kevs red.
Whenever I visited Kevin to assist with radio issues, he was always smiling, a happy content gentleman who will be sadly missed.
Loretta, Kevins wife, thanks the club for there on going kindness, and assistance to Kevin in his latter years
It was Kevins wish that there be no funeral service, and he was privately farewelled
Kevin is survived by his wife Loretta, and children Shaun and Patricia
Vale Kevin
Eric, VK7EV
News Officer, NWTARC
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RAOTC News
February 2025 Broadcast
Further to that mentioned on the WIA National News, this is another reminder about the RAOTC broadcast for Monday the 3rd of February 2025 at 8 pm local time; thats tomorrow night for those listening on Sunday.
The main feature this month is taken from a recent article dealing with radio anomalies on deep space probe Voyager 1. This probe is now outside our solar system; it takes some 23 hours for radio signals to reach it. Scientists were still able to respond to weak signals from the crafts backup transmitter.
The second article entitled “Thank you Mr Jones” tells of a group of boys in a remote mining town attempting some outlandish experiments that led to discovering radio with the help of Mr Jones. One of them became licensed as VK6ZER.
An article from OTN 2019 by VK3KE tells of early crystal set experiments including an improvised detector that developed into what was possibly Australias first bicycle radio.
Steve Green, VK2TSG relates some sobering thoughts on preparation for dealing with property of amateurs who become SK.
Listen at 8 pm Monday, local time, over the VK7RAA/VK7RHT 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 February 3rd. 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
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Broadcast News
2025 Broadcast Roster UPDATED
Please note that the 2025 VK7 Amateur Radio News broadcast roster has been updated following feedback from a number of people.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dav7erKzXd5A_1SfpJEIsSLcuFc51dUr/view?usp=drive_link
Please note we still have a number of holes in the roster that need filling and these are highlighted in the roster.
If you listen to the broadcast each week - have you considered becoming involved in the rebroadcast on one of our rebroadcast frequencies and then taking callbacks at the end?
If so, then please contact Justin, VK7TW at vk7tw(at)wia.org.au.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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SSTV Nights
A quiet net night that saw the following participants, VK7s –
ZGK and EV sharing seven photos.
The highlights were:
The very slow service at the Nullarbor Roadhouse
A reminder that you are half way across Australia
A series of murals on wheat silos
A memorial for the 1902 ship wrecking of the barque Inverlochy, at Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria.
Note - Ken VK7KRJs and Steve VK7OOs 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 Kens and Steves SSTV websites or on NTARCs 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 NTARC Inc.
73 from Andre VK7ZAB
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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 next 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
It has been a quiet week but at least three items are worth noting.
Firstly its nice to see that everything isnt e-mail and downloadable only, recently Peter VK7KPC, received a physical certificate delivered by Australia Post. It was even printed on substantial “cover weight” certificate stock with “The St. George Amateur Radio Society Inc” emblem emblazoned in red across the top. It was for his participation in the Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest back in May last year. The Slow Morse contest has a speed limit of 10 words per minute, no keyboards or screens are allowed and all messages must be sent by hand and received by ear.
Yet another certificate to add to your achievements Peter.
Also this week it was nice to see our very own Nic VK7WW with a mention in December issue of Lo-Key, “The Journal of the VK QRP Club”. It was for “The Max Brunger Award for Best Technical Articles for 2024”.
Nic was in the running for an article published in Issue #161, detailing additional features he added to his “Cent” transmitter. To jog your memory, Nic was the 2023 recipient of this award for his original article on the “Cent” 1 Watt, 80 Metre, CW transmitter that he designed to celebrate 100 years of Amateur radio in Tasmania. Being the Editor of Lo-Key Terry Dawson VK2KTJ had the unenviable task of making the difficult decision of which article in 2024 best fitted the awards rules.
Congratulations to John Faulkner VK2DVW for his winning Magnetic Loop article!
Thank you Nic for your article contributed to Lo-Key, this along with other worthy articles from amateurs certainly increased the difficulty for Terry to arrive at a suitable recipient for 2024.
Also Nic…… in the same Lo-Key edition your participation in the QRP Hours 40 meters contest in the Morse / Digital section did not go unnoticed, well done.
Pictures 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 next session will be on Wednesday the 5th February, 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).
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.
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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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REAST February Forum
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2675
Join us for an engaging and interactive REAST Forum Night on February 12, 2025, at 7:30 PM, held at the Queens Domain Clubrooms and streamed live via the REAST YouTube Streaming Channel.
The topic, "How do you get friends and family involved / interested in Amateur Radio?", invites all members and visitors to explore practical ideas and share experiences about introducing the joy of amateur radio to those closest to us.
Whether you're looking for tips to spark interest in the hobby or want to share your success stories, this forum provides the perfect platform. With a mix of practical discussions, and real-world insights, you'll leave inspired and equipped to grow the amateur radio community through your friends and family.
Dont miss this exciting opportunity to connect and contribute!
See you there.
REAST Committee
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Annual General Meeting 2025
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2670
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 as defined in the rules is 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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Wednesday Experimenters Nights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro_mExTd7Gw
Last Wednesday night we started with Steve VK7OO who runs one of the SSTV Cams sites in Hobart and he has received a couple of interesting SSTV awards from two clubs in Mexico. Thanks Steve.
https://www.qsl.net/xe2rcs/
https://crecj.org/
Justin VK7TW then moved to his experiences with N1MM during the VHF & Above Field Day. There were band plan challenges, some nice features of N1MM - the space bar is your friend and things to watch then entering your log and when exporting the file to the Cabrillo formatted file. Finally a reminder to put log in to VKLogChecker by 6/2/25
https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/
We then went through a 1980s Electronics and Mechanical Kit -
150 in1 electro-mechanical kits from Israel courtesy of Roger VK7HRW. Thanks Roger.
Justin then went through his recent SOTA / IOTA activation of Mt Story VK7/EC-038 and IOTA OC-233 on Schouten Island.
https://vk7tw.wordpress.com/2025/01/31/sota-iota-vk7-ec-038-mount-story-schouten-island-oc-233-25-january-2025/
We then took a look at the Byonics MT-2001 - all in one
APRS TinyTrak 3, GPS module, 2m 2W Transmitter mounted into a box with 2 x 18650 batteries and balanced charger.
https://www.byonics.com/microtrak
A look at the latest Low Key Magazine with the article by Jordan VK3ACE and his 630m CW Transmitter.
https://vkqrpclub.org/
We finished with a look at the Eddystone Semi-Auto Key History
http://www.morsemad.com/eddy.htm
Finally there was a Space Weather report, training course and future events information shared.
This week due to the AGM we have a WEGs night with more hysteric items, magnetic loop anomolies, arduino keyers and much more.
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
Ancient 3D paper art used to make microwave antennas
Researchers at Drexel University and The University of British Columbia (UBC) have explored the use of kirigami, the Japanese art of cutting and folding paper, as a model for manufacturing next-generation antennas. By leveraging this technique, they transformed a single sheet of acetate coated with conductive MXene ink into a flexible 3D microwave antenna. This innovative design allows for frequency adjustments simply by pulling or squeezing the structure. Their proof of concept, published in Nature Communications, presents a cost-effective and efficient method for antenna fabrication by applying MXene ink to a clear polymer substrate.
The future of wireless technology depends on antennas that are versatile, durable, and easy to manufacture, particularly in fields like robotics and aerospace. Traditional microwave antennas can be reconfigured electronically, but this adds complexity, weight, and potential points of failure. The kirigami approach, however, enables reconfiguration through physical shape change, producing antennas that are lightweight, flexible, and resilientideal for use in dynamic environments. Professor Yury Gogotsi of Drexel University emphasized how kirigami simplifies the creation of intricate 3D structures from a single sheet of material.
To create the antennas, the researchers coated acetate sheets with a conductive ink made of titanium carbide MXene, forming frequency-selective patterns. MXenes are highly adaptable nanomaterials that can be fine-tuned by modifying their chemical composition. Using kirigami cutting techniques, the researchers introduced parallel cuts in the MXene-coated surface, which allowed square-shaped resonator antennas to pop up when tension was applied. Adjusting this tension altered the angle and frequency response of the antennas, offering a rapid way to reconfigure communication systems.
Testing of the kirigami antennas confirmed their ability to transmit signals in the 2–4 GHz, 4–8 GHz, and 8–12 GHz frequency bands. Additionally, the antennas could shift their signal direction based on substrate geometry changes. The researchers also demonstrated how the antennas could function as strain sensors, with frequency shifts of 400 MHz under deformation. These findings mark an important step toward integrating kirigami-based antennas into practical applications. The team now aims to optimize performance by exploring new materials, designs, and movement-based adjustments to further enhance wireless communication technology.
https://www.criticalcomms.com.au/content/radio-systems/article/ancient-3d-paper-art-used-to-make-microwave-antennas-1417406369
Sourced from the Critical Comms Web E-zine and summaried by Arthur Inglis
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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 5th February 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
REAST - Everyday @ 4:30pm - 6m AM Net on 53.1MHz
Events:
NWTARC - February 1 - Annual General Meeting from 1.30pm in the Scout Hall, 73 Alexandra Road, Ulverstone.
NTARC - February 12 - Annual General Meeting & General Meeting at the NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street Rocherlea commencing at 7.30pm.
REAST - February 12 - REAST February Forum night - How to interest Family and friends in amateur radio - 7:30pm Queens Domain clubrooms and streamed.
REAST - February 16 - Annual General Meeting and BBQ from 11am - Queens Domain Clubrooms
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A reminder to those people rostered for next weeks Australia Day broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7TW
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and in the NW thanks to NWTARC, WCRG, NWCRRA, VK7AX, VK7JH and VK7DC
160m: VK7GS
80m: VK7JGD
40m: Any takers
20m: Any takers
10m: VK7ALH
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 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 Peter, VK7PD wishing you 73, and good DX to all.
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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