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VK7AX > BCAST 17.05.20 02:08z 437 Lines 25104 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 17May20
Text edition: VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR MAY 17 2020
(Note.. please remove spaces in email addresses before using)
VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 17th MAY 2020
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Welcome to the AX7 Amateur Radio News for the 10th May 2020, Today is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. This in one of three days whereby amateurs in VK get to use the AX prefix.
This broadcast is brought to you by AX7WI, and read today by Peter, AX7PD.
This broadcast utilises repeaters around VK7 and the following HF rebroadcast stations:
On 3.670 MHz by Garry, AX7JGD
On 7.140 MHz by Ross, AX7ALH
On 14.130 MHz by Mike, AX7FB
On 28.525 MHz by Tony, AX7VKT
On DMR Talk Group 5 and D-Star Reflector 091 by Clayton, AX7ZCR
This broadcast is repeated on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on
repeaters VK7RAA in the North and VK7RTC in the South.
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23 Take Part in 23 cm QSO Party
Last Sunday 23 operators participated - to reach the goal of 23 on 23 cm. 21 in the Hobart area and 2 from up North. Welcome to Brian VK7BW, Dave VK7KDV and Andrew VK7AL who joined the group for the first time. We will now change the goal posts and aim for 23 on 23 in the Hobart area.
The FM session starts immediately after the Broadcast at about 10:00 am on 1296.150. With the increased numbers in Hobart the Digital session has been moved to 10:45 am on 1292.2 QRA64-D.
73 Rex VK7MO
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WIA/ACMA NEWS
Is 60m Within Our Grasp?
Recently released on the ACMA website for public comment, the ACMA is currently seeking feedback on amateur access to the 5 MHz band in Australia. This is excellent news from our friends at ACMA given the amount of hams globally who will be chasing Australia for confirmation on 60m but with 15W EIRP, the DX will be challenging.
It is also an excellent band choice for general low power experimentation with even new digital modes like WSPR, FT8 etc and for inter continental communications around Australia and our close neighbours when 80m and 40m may be unsuitable that 60m is the better solution, especially for outback and remote emergency communications.
Currently WIA and WICEN have allocations within the 60m band which are designated for emergency communications and WIA news broadcasting. Comments on options for the possible use of the band 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz by the amateur service on a secondary basis are invited.
Four options are identified, which explore differing degrees of segmented use, on a geographical and/or frequency block use:
Option 1: Australia-wide access to the whole band (5351.5-5366.5 kHz) but excluding Queensland and zones around existing transmitters.
Option 2: Australia-wide access to 5351.5-5365 kHz, that is, exclude the top 1.5 kHz to mitigate against most known sharing issues.
Option 3: Segmented and/or channelised use to mitigate against interference to existing services.
Option 4: No amateur use.
ACMA want to hear from all spectrum users as to which option they prefer.
The first three options provide for amateur access whereas the last option does not.
Any of the first three options are good but the WIA preferred option is Option 2 - optimum choice for flexibility, maximizing band utilization with other international amateur radio allocations and minimizing any potential interference (if any) to only a select few licenced users.
The WIA will be releasing a 60m consultation poll to the general Amateur radio community shortly for you to choose and record your preferred option which on completion will be submitted to ACMA for their perusal. The WIA poll, as always is open to all Radio Amateurs Australia wide, whether a WIA member or not as we all need the opportunity to collectively have our choices tabled to ACMA for their ultimate decision on the 60M Band usage for us.
Remember your single contribution, collectively with all the others, will make the difference. Read more at WIA website wia.org.au and make your submission - which can be as simple as a line saying which option you prefer.
It is important that you do send a submission whether via the WIA poll or directly to ACMA.
The Email Address to send to is: freqplan @ acma.gov.au or click this Link
The full details of the ACMA submission request are available in the story that can be found at the link on the email edition of this Broadcast.
https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2020/20200514-1/index.php
(Sourced from the WIA Website)
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VK7 QSL NEWS
Report - from Herman VK7HW Manager of the WIA VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
The WIA Head Office Bureau is now planning to forward QSL Cards to State managers on a quarterly basis.
Advice has also been received that due to the current situation with the Corona Virus, the office is not fully staffed and it may be some time before we receive any further deliveries.
The current list of Cards held as at 3 April, including the latest delivery on 12 March, is in the email version of the broadcast.
Please contact Herman if you can assist in delivery of any of the cards in your area.
Thank you those who have already advised him. He hopes to send a few more cards out in the next week or so.
If you have any questions re QSL cards, please contact Herman by email vk7bureau@wia.org.au
73, Herman, VK7HW, WIA Manager VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
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AA, AAA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AL, AM, AN, AO, AP, AS, ATH, AV
BA, BB, BBB, BBW, BM, BO, BP
CC, CH, CJ, CV, CX
DD, DG, DK, DO, DQ, DW, DX, DZ
FALX, FAZZ, FG, FGGT, FJFJ, FLAR, FOTR, FRJG, FTAS
GA, GC, GH, GL, GM, GW, GZ
HCH, HDX, HPD, HRS, HRW, HVK, HZ
IK, IS
JA, JB, JJ, JJJ, JON, JP, JW
KBA, KD, KJ, KRJ, KL, KR, KT, KX
LAZ, LCW, LDH, LF, LH, LM, LW
MAG, MBD, MBP, MC, MD(dm), ME, MHZ, MI, ML
NA, NC, NET, NMH, NRF, NSB, NSE, NTE, NWQ, NWT
OK, OR, OT
PAL, PBD, PSJ, PW
RG, ROY
SM, SN, SV
TCE, TED, TK, TR, TS, TU, TX
VAC, VAZ, VH, VKV, VR, VZ
WA, WC, WH, WT, WX
XDM, XX
YAD, YUM
ZA, ZCK, ZE, ZJJ, ZM, ZMS, ZT, ZX, ZZ
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News from the North
SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP
The SOTA/WWFF parks group at Glebe Gardens shall be back on track with plans for future events as soon as government regulations change from the current situation.
Time to think and plan for future events.
73, Al, VK7AN
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Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
Well, it's that time of the week again and my goodness, here we are already half way through the month of May. Hopefully all are still coping in isolation, but it seems we still have a long way to go. Still, the welcome news during the week was that the Government set out a staged approach of lifting restrictions, with Stage one having commenced on 11 May, Stage 2 to commence on 15 June and Stage 3 subject to Public Health advice.
The Club is looking forward to the Stage 2 coming into effect as that is touted to allow gatherings of up to 20 people to meet indoors, so hopefully after 15 June we may be able to reopen the clubrooms for coffee mornings. If that happens then we must ask that you abide by the established rules, with washing hands on arrival or using the hand sanitizer that will be provided. Also, it means that we will need to monitor the numbers to make sure we comply with the 20 person rule. So we will keep you informed over the weekly news. If you would like to review the Governments plan then please visit the following website on the email edition of this broadcast and click on the link Roadmap to Recovery where they have nicely listed everything out in simple English.
www.conronavirus.tas.gov.au
As for me, life continues on the farm with mowing and slashing in full swing. What with rain and relatively warm days, the grass keeps growing and that is quite amazing for this time of the year. The poor Kubota ride-on mower is waiting for its three new slasher blades to arrive, also held-up presumably on the wharf due to Covid-19. Then one hopes to be able to convince eldest son and qualified fitter to come and do the change-over. That will have me back in action. It currently takes me much longer to get done with dull if not outright blunt blades.
That said I did manage to mow the air strip just in time for a further request to use it last Friday. Yes, another drop of Urea (fertilizer) and very close to this QTH, a property just down the road. For that the Air Tractor was brought back in. Those poor sheep are really getting use to aircraft coming and going in their paddocks. Sadly though, they donâÖt seem overly happy about the competition. I was unable to watch all the comings and goings this time around as I was booked in for my flu shot but one needs to take care of oneself and keep up to date with medical appointments, despite the continuing restrictions.
So enough of the trivia of life on a farm. We will now hand over to Nic VK7BEE our Net Coordinator to give you a run down on last Wednesday13th May Tech Net session:
âBefore the net started Nic VK7BEE located near Legana, monitored the QRP frequency of 3.580 MHz, and sent test transmissions from his DSB transceiver, running 3.8 watts. Several local stations heard him with some reports coming in on Discord, but their local QRN seemed to be higher than normal, making reception difficult.
Bruce ZL1BWG called in on CW, running 10w, but with severe QSB, though he could be heard by some local stations. VK7ALH, VK7HKN, VK7KPC and VK7AN also called in on 3.580 MHz.
The Tech Net started at the usual time of 7:30 pm local, 19:30 AEST or 05:30 Zulu on 3.567 MHz LSB.
The net had 15 stations. Conditions were good, but not all stations could hear each other because of the great variety of power levels. Some used SDRs via the internet to receive because of high local noise, using their rigs to transmit on.
"DISCORD" online communications was also used simultaneously with NTARC Tech Net Group host Paul VK7KPA conspicuous by his absence. We understand he has been working away, so he is excused! All went well though, and several operators joined the Discord; some also on the net monitoring at the same time, sharing pics and information whilst on-air.
Nic (VK7BEE) is Net Control as VK7TAZ, running 360 W (all power is pep).
Ross VK7ALH, who has had a busy week, repairing, upgrading and restoring many radios, came in on 60 watts. Kevin VK7HKN went power mad this week and quadrupled his power output from 1 to 4 watts using an improved L-Match! Graham VK7KT on an
IC-7300 putting out 60 to 100 watts using a ZS6DKW all band antenna which, is an upgraded G5RV and Alan VK7AN called in on his FT101Z to say hello.
Andrew VK7DW with 60 watts making great progress with his satellite communications setup and 1296! Phil VK7ZPD running 5 watts putting out a great signal due to improving his antenna. He has a QRM eliminator kit on the way! Peter VK7KPC with 2 to 3 watts and was cleaning up a square wave to a sine wave for his Larkspur transceiver. Bryan VK7KWB called in but most stations had difficulty hearing him. Kevin VK7KJL was running 100 watts from Dilston telling us that it is a very quiet RF location with his nearest neighbour a mile away! and Kerry VK7PAK called in from St. Leonards.
Peter VK7PD posted a circuit on Discord for a âstealthâ pulser he and Andrew VK7DW has used for the remote testing of 3.4 GHz panels. Peter was transmitting using his radio, but receiving using an internet SDR, due to local QRN and Kerry VK7FKEK called in on an FT707 for a signal report from Flinders Island. He is one of four amateurs over there.
Peter VK7ZPE was running his IC7300 into a AH4 matching unit and a long wire testing at various power levels. Keith VK3MKE in Melbourne was using a Uniden 2020 with 90 watts into an off-centre fed 80 metre dipole. He mentioned AM nets on 3.686 MHz on Friday nights from 8:30pm.
The net went for much longer than normal! This was due to the number of stations calling-in and the variety of topics discussed!
The simultaneous use of Discord was a great bonus to receive signal reports from those who couldnâÖt get on air to transmit such as VK7RH, VK7YBG and VK7JAM. There were others on Discord, who also joined the net on 3.567.
Before I sign off, here's something to think about. Maybe we should consider a Club Project building a receiving loop antenna. A magnetic loop will reduce local noise by nulling it out. You can transmit on your normal antenna, and receive on a loop.
73 until next week,
Nic VK7BEE
Thanks Nic for that update, once again another great night had by all. Thanks to all getting involved.
Once again, this must be all from NTARC for this week. As we have been saying for the past month or more, take care and if you don't need to go out, stay home and read, listen to music, get on the radio and talk to the world or warm up that soldering iron and get on with those projects.
Above all though, please keep well and keep as watchful an eye on the wellbeing of your immediate circle as is possible in the circumstances.
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 - it is always good to have something new with which to entertain the troops - then please email them to either of the following addresses
ntarc.emails @ gmail.com or ypmaxwell @ bigpond.com
For some time to come, the weekly news will become the medium for informing all about happenings, or lack thereof, in the local amateur radio world. It would be appreciated if any news, no matter how insignificant, could be sent no later than 17:00 hours on the Friday prior to broadcast, to allow its timely insertion into the NTARC segment.
That gives all a chance to get the NTARC segment together and off to Hobart in time for collation into the VK7 Broadcast. Your continued cooperation in this regard will be gratefully appreciated.
73, Yvonne, VK7FYMX, Secretary NTARC Inc
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NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
https://www.reast.asn.au/
Club Virtual Gathering - DSTAR Feast
REAST Virtual Club Presentation - June 2020 - DSTAR
A huge thank you to Scott VK7HSE and Clayton VK7ZCR who are our DSTAR aficionados who have agreed to give us an online presentation on DSTAR for our whole of club Virtual Meeting on Wednesday 3rd June 2020 from 7:30pm.
This presentation idea has come from the many ICOM IC-9700 owners who have DSTAR built into their radios and an interest in using it with the two repeaters in Hobart.
A rough agenda of what will be covered is:
Introduction
Short history
Registering
Availability in Hobart - repeaters, etc
Equipment - handhelds, mobiles, base stations (inc 9700)
Traps for young (and not so young) players
Questions
The presentation is expected to run for about an hour.
Bring along your DSTAR questions and queries for Scott & Clayton.
Details of the zoom session address will be emailed to club members shortly.
We hope to see you on the Zoom session.
73, REAST Committee.
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DATV Experimenter's Night - Working from the Shack #6
Last Wednesday night we interviewed Warren VK7WN on our Working from the Shack series.
Warren took the audience through him growing up in America, Germany and Australia. Warren had relatives who were interested in amateur radio and this sparked hi interest in electronics and radio.
Warren did his electronics engineering training and got a job with Sydney University and worked on the Molongolo Radio Telescope. Warren then got a job with the Australian Antarctic Division as an electronics technician. Warren spent time down South at Davis, Mawson and Macquarie Island and was involved in many science voyages.
Warren's main amateur radio elmer was Alan VK7KAJ and he spent time on an outback trip with amateur radio on the traveller's net.
Warren then took us on a tour of his conversion of an AAD accommodation container that he actually stayed in twice at Davis Station into a Radio Shack and his project of using bakelite winder phones as an intercom between the shack and house.
Warren then took questions from R2, DMR 3807 and Youtube Chat.
A huge thank you to Warren for this interview.
This week we get back underway with our Working from the Shack interviews and shack tour with an interview with recent Foundation Licence holder Paul VK7FPCL.
Paul is a recent entrant into amateur radio however, what an entrance - in 2019 he took out the top F-Call in the RD Contest!!! I am sure this will be a fascinating interview and shack tour.
We get underway from 7:30pm and we will be taking questions via Repeater Two (146.700), DMR Talkgroup 3807 and the Youtube Chat channel.
And a reminder that we go out on RF on 445.5MHz DVB-T 7MHz Standard Definition. 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. We also stream the nights on the REAST YouTube channel and Facebook.
https://www.reast.asn.au/special-interest-groups/amateur-tv/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC64To_tq1E7PfK1pqtX_vRw/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
We get underway with the DATV Experimenter's "Working from the Shack" Night #7 from 7:30pm this Wednesday 20th.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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Satellite News
Huskysat-1 Transponder is Open
After a week of testing, the transponder on HuskySat-1 is enabled and open for use and testing. ItâÖs fairly sensitive, and 5-10 watts is plenty most of the time. There are some fades due to satellite orientation, and some passes are definitely better than others. The operations and engineering teams are also watching a few anomalies. Please keep an eye on the beacon during transponder ops, for those with spectrum scopes. Strong signals may impact the beacon strength.
HuskySat-1 is the Husky Satellite Lab at University of WashingtonâÖs first cubesat, and the first mission with AMSATâÖs linear transponder module (LTM-1), a V/u transponder and integrated telemetry beacon and command receiver. UW recently completed their Part 5 operations and have graciously let AMSATâÖs Part 97 transponder operations commence.
This transponder module is available for use in educational cubesat missions willing to enable the transponder for worldwide use. Contact myself or VP Engineering Jerry Buxton for additional details.
Reports and observations are welcome to the amsat-bb mailing list.
Congratulations to Husky Satellite Lab, and to the entire AMSAT Engineering team for keeping amateur radio in space. Thanks to Dr. Mark Hammond, N8MH for commissioning and operations support.
HuskySat-1 V/u inverting transponder, 145.910 to 145.940 uplink, 435.810 to 435.840 downlink, telemetry beacon 1200 baud BPSK at 435.800
73, Drew KO4MA, AMSAT VP Operations
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HuskySat-1 Designated HuskySat-OSCAR 107 (HO-107)
On November 2, 2019, the HuskySat-1 cubesat launched on the Cygnus NG-12 mission from Wallops Island, Virginia, USA. The satellite was constructed by the Husky Satellite Lab at the University of Washington, and utilizes an AMSAT-constructed radio system for primary communications. Deployed from the Cygnus vehicle on January 31, 2020 after departing the ISS, HuskySat-1 began a 3-month educational mission. Upon
completion of that mission, the satellite began operation of a V/u linear transponder in amateur service.
At the request of the Husky Satellite Lab and AMSAT teams, AMSAT hereby designates HuskySat-1 as HuskySat-OSCAR 107 (HO-107). We congratulate the Husky Satellite Lab, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.
73, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
AMSAT VP Operations / OSCAR Number Administrator
(Sourced from the AMSAT News Service)
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TECHNICAL Article
Power loss the main culprit for bushfire comms problems
Mobile network outages during the 2019â20 bushfires were overwhelmingly due to loss of power rather than fire damage, according to a report prepared by the ACMA with assistance from the Communications Alliance and the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association.
Preparation and publication of the report was an item agreed upon at a telecommunication industry roundtable convened by the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, in January following the devastating summer bushfires.
The roundtable was attended by the chief executives of Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and NBN Co along with other industry representatives.
"Telecommunications services are crucial in emergency situations. This summer's bushfires led to significant telecommunications network outages," Minister Fletcher said.
At one point 150 mobile base stations across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia were off the air, and more than 20,000 nbn services were disrupted.
The report shows that the average length of an outage incident was 3.5 days. Temporary facilities such as generators, cells on wheels and satellite cells on wheels were deployed to restore services in more than a third of cases.
"We know that more can and will be done to bolster network resilience and preparedness for natural disasters," the Minister said.
"No telecommunications network is 100% impervious to damage or destruction, be it from bushfire or other natural disasters".
"While the combination of mobile, fixed-line, satellite connectivity and temporary facilities means we are better placed to keep communities connected than 20 or 30 years ago, it is important that we maintain focus on improving the resilience and redundancy of networks to support continuity of service for Australians during emergencies," Minister Fletcher said.
On 12 May, the federal government announced $37.1 million in funding to bolster mobile network resilience, including through provision of more backup power, backhaul redundancy and satellite communications.
http://criticalcomms.com.au/content/public-safety/news/power-loss-the-main-culprit-for-bushfire-comms-problems-1148325682
Sourced from CriticalComms Web-ezine
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
NWTR&TVG - Club meetings cancelled till further notice.
NTARC - Club meetings cancelled till further notice.
REAST - Clubrooms are closed until further notice.
REAST - MICROWAVE QSO Party - following after the Sunday broadcast on 1296.15 MHz FM.
REAST - DATV Experimenter's Nights - Working from the Shack Series from 7:30pm on RF and Streaming
NTARC - Technical Net - Wednesdays 3.567 MHz LSB at 7:30pm local time
Events:
REAST - 3 June - DSTAR Club Virtual (ZOOM) Gathering from 7:30pm
Sewing Circle Net - commences at 17:00 on 3.640 MHz.
VK7HH - "Ham Radio DX" YouTube channel any time
REAST - YouTube channel for heaps of great videos
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A reminder to those people rostered for next week's broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7RI
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and NWTR&TVG
80m: VK7TPE
40m: VK7JGD
20m: VK7ALH
10m: VK7VKT
DMR: Talk Group 5 and
D-Star: Reflector 091 VK7ZCR
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This broadcast is repeated on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in the North and VK7RTC in the South.
Thanks 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 AX7WI. 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 @ 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. Callbacks will be taken on the frequency to which you are listening. Relay stations will use their own callsigns during the callback.
From the VK7 Amateur Radio News, it is 73 from Peter, VK7PD
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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