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VK7AX > BCAST 07.06.20 10:40z 400 Lines 24073 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 07Jun20
Text edition: VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR JUNE 07 2020
(Note.. please remove spaces in email addresses before using)
VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 7th June 2020
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 7th June 2020. This broadcast is brought to you by VK7WI, and read today by Rick, VK7RI
This broadcast utilises repeaters around VK7 and the following HF rebroadcast stations:
On 3.670 MHz by Justin, VK7TW
On 7.140 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
On 14.130 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE
On 28.525 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
On DMR Talk Group 5 and D-Star Reflector 091 by Clayton, VK7ZCR
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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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 23 May, is in the email version of the broadcast.
Herman will be sending more cards out next week. Thank you VK7KT, VK7AN and NTARC for assisting with distribution in your area.
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, AD, AL, AM, AO, AP, AS, ATH, AV
BA, BB, BBW, BM, BP
CH, CJ, CV, CX
DD, DG, DK, DO, DQ, 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, JP, JW
KBA, KD, KJ, KRJ, KL, KX
LAZ, LDH, LF, LM, LW
MAG, MBD, MBP, MC, ME, MHZ, MI, ML
NA, NC, NMH, NRF, NSB, NSE, NTE, NWQ
OK
PBD, PSJ, PW
RG
SM, SN, SV
TCE, TED, TK, TS, TU, TX
VAC, VAZ, VH, VKV, VR, VZ
WA, WC, WH, WT, WX
XDM
YAD
ZA, ZCK, ZE, ZJJ, ZM, ZMS, ZT, ZZ
Note - GW and YAD recently listed may have been an error from a previously edited list or may have been accidentally sent out - sometimes cards really stick together and not noticed. The stations who receive them have in the past returned them to me or mailed direct to the correct station.
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News from the North
SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP
The SOTA/WWFF parks group at Glebe Gardens is now meeting twice weekly - Mondays and Fridays 10.30-12.00 midday at Glebe Gardens Cafe , Henry Street, Launceston.
For more information contact Al on 0417354410.
73, Al, VK7AN
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Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
Well, June arrived and with it, the return to Stage 2 Corona Virus restrictions, with the Premier making the welcome announcement that these would commence on Friday, 5th June at 3.00 pm.
It was more than a welcome announcement. It was at least very, very welcome, as evidenced by the sudden increase in traffic on the Midland Highway. On my way back home from still essential supply shopping in Launceston on Friday afternoon, it was obvious that the message had gotten through, maybe a tad prematurely in some instances, as at 4.15pm, the Midland Highway was chock full of caravans, motorhomes, camper trailers and boats at our QTH, some 30 kms south of Launceston. It would appear many had packed their gear up as soon as the notice of stage 2 was announced, just in time for the long weekend. Given the sheer volume of traffic, I suspect many had been waiting, engines running, waiting for the 3.00 pm flagfall, or maybe they had a Le Mans-style start? Whatever, it was obvious that a great many had been suffering cabin fever and just needed to get away. Whatever, it was a very different scene to that observed over many recent weeks.
By the way, in case you were thinking it was merely the roll-back to stage 2 restrictions that is being celebrated this weekend, it is also and officially of course, the Queen's birthday long weekend. I noted during the week that she celebrated the easing of restrictions, at least in England, by riding one of her ponies around the grounds of one of the Royal Estates. Not bad for 94 years of age, by anybody's measure.
With the VK7 restrictions relaxing a tad earlier than we had anticipated, NTARC has decided to bring forward its planning and have a coffee morning session on Friday 12 June. The Club room will therefore open at 10.00 am and close at around noon that day. We will of course have to observe the limit of up to 20 people meeting indoors but I'm sure we will be able to manage that, even if it means members might have to rotate outdoors if that maximum is threatened. Maybe it could be a good time to inspect mobile installations, new bits of kit, new vehicles or whatever. The President has advised me that he will be sending out an email to all members this week, advising of our re-commencement of club activities, so please monitor your inbox for its arrival.
As for your scribe, once again I have nothing else newsworthy to report from the home front, so again we now turn to the weekly update from Nic VK7BEE, our Net Coordinator, with a run down on last Wednesday 3rd June Tech Net session: "This week we start off with a well-known saying "VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE" as this net had quite a variety of topics.
Before the TechNet, Nic VK7BEE hosted a "TestNet" on 3.580 MHz at 7pm. He presented a short introduction to CW. VK7HKN, VK7ZPD, VK7KPC and VK7PAK took part. Next week they hope to send their call signs in CW.
The NTARC Tech Net commenced on 3.567 MHz LSB 7:30pm local time, 19:30 AEST,05:30 Zulu.
Nic VK7BEE as Net Control VK7TAZ spoke about CW, giving tips on how to learn the code.
The letter L (DI DAH DI DIT) can be remembered by the cadence of "To L with you" (DI DAH DI DIT). The letter V (DI DI DI DAH) is Beethoven's 5th, or the start of ELO's "Roll Over Beethoven"!
And for all the Land Rover fanatics out there, Nic also mentioned how he has an "almost naked" 1960 Land Rover which he has stripped for restoration. No doubt we will hear more of this as it progresses.
The net had 10 stations. Conditions were GOOD at the start and just got better! Over the course of the evening signals increased by about 10db.
Discord had 14 stations exchanging info and answering questions, not only for those on Discord, but also on the 80m TechNet at the same time. There are 26 Net members registered for Discord.
Our usual Discord host Paul VK7KPA is having a birthday so we wish him Many Happy Returns.
Kevin VK7HKN increased his power to 50w using an automatic linear amp with his FT817 driving it with 4.7watts. Where does he get this raw untamed power from? This huge power increase, for someone who usually runs QRP, makes us grab sunnies, welding goggles or whatever HI HI! - just kidding Kevin! " a really good effort, enabling stations with limitations on their antennas able to hear you.
Phil VK7ZPD is interested in 1296 MHz and the development of a local net as suggested by VK7PD.
Peter VK7KPC is gearing up to be the guest on the REAST "Virtual Visit" so he gave his apologies for next week. He also started testing a couple of Morse Readers to see how effective they are. FL-DIGI and CW Skimmer.
Andrew VK7DW (Mr Satellite!) is now at the stage of mounting three Yagi antennas on a fibreglass boom and getting the azimuth elevation rotators calibrated. He also mentionedan application for the Mac called MAC MultiMode, which contains a suite of programs including a CW reader which he has used to decode satellite beacons.
Rosco VK7RC, now known as Mr DMR, told us how he learnt CW from his father-in-law. His father-in-law was able to listen to short wave radio stations in his VW, but would often listen to CW whilst driving! He also mentioned about cleaning up a CW signal so there was no interference. Learning the Code in five-letter groups prevents "Journalising" - guessing what word comes next. He also mentioned how his father-in-law could tell who the operator was by recognising the operators “fist” before a callsign was sent. This is well known from WW2.
Peter VK7PD is keen to get a local FM net going on 1296 MHz after the WIA and local news on a Sunday. He told us of his net with stations in the South, but he wants to get the North going!
It seems there a few 1296 antennas at the NTARC Clubrooms waiting to be completed! It will have to wait until after the lockdown ends.
Ross VK7ALH grabbed a restored Drake TR4C this week, running up to 300w. Sore from his walking up a mountain to a proposed SOTA site, he says he needs a "Bex and a lie down"!
Alvin VK7ADQ/P2 called in from Como Heights in VK2. He had been able to raise his antenna from 5 to 10m and the results were excellent, although he is on a rural property with electric fence QRM. He mentioned how he had taken lots of photos and videos uploaded to YouTube and Instagram. Another Land Rover man. Good to hear from you Alvin, everybody at the Club says Hi.
Kerry VK7PAK has built a QRP CW transmitter, which he will test on-air next week on 3.580 MHz He also enquired about a coating to preserve the polished brass of a CW key he has restored. Answers appeared on Discord and on-air. He hopes to try an off-centre fed dipole, soon perhaps, to replace his long wire antenna.
That's all for this week. More CW capers next week so get that brass pounding, or those paddles paddling!!
73 Nic VK7BEE
Many thanks Nic. Once again, this must be all from NTARC for this week. As we start to resume normal activity it would still seem advisable to advocate caution and while otherwise making the occasional permitted outing, generally stay home, 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 continue to keep as watchful an eye on the wellbeing of your immediate circle of relatives and friends 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, with the exception of the occasional club emailed newsletter, the weekly broadcast news segment will continue as 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/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
Club News - COVID-19 Stage Two Restrictions Lifted
The REAST Committee met last week and discussed the lifting of stage two restrictions and what that may meant for face to face REAST club meetings.
Unfortunately the restriction of 4square metres per person for indoor venues remains and therefore the clubrooms will remain closed until the next level of restrictions are lifted.
Given the stage two restrictions were bought forward this may suggest that the stage three restrictions will be lifted soon.
We will keep members posted on developments.
Remember that the Wednesday afternoon Zoom meetings are still in play and you are welcome to use these facilities - see details below.
Meeting URL: https://utas.zoom.us/j/99037548781?pwd=S0FJTlY2ZFFka2NxMlozbU1GejFZdz09
and the DATV Experimenter's Nights continue with details later in the broadcast.
73, REAST Committee
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Club Virtual Gathering - DSTAR Feast Wrap-up
The REAST club virtual gathering for June 2020 focused on Digital Smart Technology over Amateur Radio or DSTAR thanks to Clayton VK7ZCR and Scott VK7HSE.
Clayton and Scott covered a short history and we learnt that DSTAR is an ICOM proprietary system using the AMBI chip set that predates DMR.
If DSTAR users wish to use gateways then a user is required to register using the ICOM registration system, this enables a user to talk through repeaters and gateways.
There are four DSTAR repeaters around VK7 - VK7RCR, VK7RAD, VK7RRR and VK7RJG and access to all repeaters and gateways are available via these repeaters.
Scott covered DPRS which is the DSTAR equivalent of APRS or Automatic Position Reporting Service - most DSTAR radios have GPS within them and can automatically report position at a user defined interval.
The DSTAR equipment available is mainly ICOM equipment including: ID1, IC2200H(with DSTAR option), ID51, IC9700, IC7100, IC5100, IC4100 and Kenwood D74. All these transceivers will work with VK7RCR out of the box and they can be updated to include all the other DSTAR repeaters.
Some of the traps were - the GPS beaconing regularly and wiping out the voice channel and changing to CQ mode and the repeater telling you the repeater information every time following a transmission.
There were some great questions from the audience and a huge thank you to Clayton and Scott for the presentation.
VK DSTAR site - http://www.dstar.org.au/
Reflector 091C Dashboard - http://ref091.dstargateway.org/
DSTAR Registration - https://regist.dstargateway.org/instructions/
Reflector List - http://www.dstarinfo.com/reflectors.aspx
Icom IC-9700 advanced user manual is the third listed item -
https://www.icomamerica.com/en/downloads/default.aspx?Category=690
Early 2000's introduction video - https://youtu.be/ZMMt55Dtp5Q
73, REAST Committee.
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DATV Experimenter's Night - Working from the Shack #9
The idea behind these nights is not to come up to the clubrooms (they are currently closed) but to watch the DATV Experimenter's Night Stream from your shack and interact using Repeater 2, DMR 3807 or YouTube Chat channel.
This Wednesday night we have an interview with Peter VK7KPC from the North. Peter has recently retired from Air Services Australia as an RF Engineer and has a lifelong involvement with Scouts and JOTA along with being a avid collector of Military Radios. 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/news-events/live-stream/
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 #9 from 7:30pm this Wednesday 10th June.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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TECHNICAL ARTICLEs
THE GREAT GEOMAGNETIC STORM OF 1921 & WHY IT WOULD DISABLE COMMUNICATIONS IN TODAY'S WORLD.
On the 99 year anniversary of what could be considered the most catastrophic geomagnetic event in human history, we should consider our vulnerability.
Geomagnetic storms are caused by immense activity on the surface of the Sun. Events such as Sunspots, solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections of billions of tons of plasma into space at thousands of kilometers per hour can cause havoc with communications networks affecting our modern lives. In this age of satellite communications, where humans are more and more reliant on all forms of wireless communications, we are even more susceptible to damage from such events.
The worst example of this called the "Carrington Event" took place in September 1859 and is the most powerful geomagnetic storm on record. However an event called the "New York Railroad Storm" on May 16 1821 may well hold the record for the most damage caused. This storm began with a sunspot that was 105,000Km long and 34000 kilometers wide.
This event caused three major fires in the US, Canada, and Sweden. The fire in Brewster NY, was caused by strong induced currents in telegraph wires at a railway station which burned to the ground. The second fire destroyed a telephone exchange in Sweden and the third occurred in Ontario. Scientific observations at the time, including one taken at Watheroo WA, show reports of large earth currents flowing in telegraph and telephone systems, 15mA in South Australia, 50mA in Western Australia, and 200mA in Sweden. In New York and Chicago, these currents induced voltages of over 1000 volts.
More recently, on March 13 1989, a solar storm disrupted power in Canada. Ground induced currents caused by solar activity entered the power grid of the Hydro-Quebec Power Authority and caused the entire grid to collapse for 9 hours. Six million people were affected. The event also caused a loss of communications with several geostationary satellites and interfered with Radio Free Europe shortwave radio broadcasts.
Now almost 100 years since the 1921 event, we have developed a larger electrical and communications network which is even more susceptible to geomagnetic interference. If an event such as the "New York Railroad Storm” were to occur today, the damage would undoubtedly disable parts of the global power grid and consumer electronics at an unprecedented level.
Would you be prepared if power was lost during a storm? As we have seen during recent weather events communication is vital and having a backup plan is imperative.
https://www.tecsunradios.com.au/store/the-great-geomagnetic-storm-of-1921-why-it-would-disable-communications-in-todays-world/
(Written by Michael and sourced from the Tecsun Radios Australia Website)
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Spectrum News
New Zealand cancels 3.5 GHz 5G auction
An auction for short-term, early access rights in the 3.5 GHz band for 5G services (known as Auction 20) in New Zealand, has been cancelled.
According to an announcement from Radio Spectrum Management, the cancellation was "due to the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic".
"Instead, a direct allocation process will be undertaken. Offers of spectrum will be made to Dense Air (40 MHz), Spark (60 MHz) and 2degrees (60 MHz)," the announcement said.
In December 2019, the New Zealand Government kick-started the further development of 5G networks by making appropriate spectrum available when Cabinet approved the allocation of short-term rights to an unused portion of 3.5 GHz spectrum.
Those short-term rights were scheduled to run from mid-2020 to 31 October 2022.
Long-term rights to 3.5 GHz spectrum are on track to begin in November 2022, with details of that allocation still to be determined.
http://criticalcomms.com.au/content/industry/news/new-zealand-cancels-3-5-ghz-5g-auction-1107024758
(Sourced from the Critical Comms Web E-zine)
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Technical News
Nokia achieves fast 5G with 800 MHz of spectrum
Nokia has announced that it has achieved what it is calling the world's fastest 5G speeds in its over-the-air (OTA) network in Dallas, Texas.
Using 800 MHz of commercial millimetre-wave 5G spectrum and E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) functionality, the company achieved 5G speeds of up to 4.7 Gbps in tests performed on base station equipment being deployed in major US carriers" commercial networks.
Nokia said this solution would enable carriers to sell various latency-sensitive enterprise services, such as network slicing for mission-critical applications.
The high speed was achieved by combining eight 100 MHz channels of millimetre-wave spectrum on the 28 and 39 GHz bands, and 40 MHz of LTE spectrum using the EN-DC functionality available on Nokia's AirScale solution.
EN-DC enables devices to connect simultaneously to 5G and LTE networks, transmitting and receiving data across both air-interface technologies, meaning devices can achieve a higher throughput than when connecting to 5G or LTE alone.
The speeds were achieved on both 5G cloud-based (vRAN) and classic baseband configurations.
Stéphane Téral, Chief Analyst at LightCounting Market Research, said, "Eight-component carrier aggregation in the millimetre-wave domain shows the world that there is more than massive MIMO and open RAN to not only truly deliver the promise of commercial 5G, but also pave the way for future terahertz system."
http://criticalcomms.com.au/content/industry/news/nokia-achieves-fast-5g-with-800-mhz-of-spectrum-815614302
(Sourced from the Critical Comms Web E-zine)
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
SOTA/WWFF Group - Meeting Mondays and Fridays 10.30-12.00 midday at Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry St, Launceston.
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:
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: VK7FB
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and NWTR&TVG
80m: VK7JGD
40m: VK7FB
20m: VK7ALH
10m: VK7TPE
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 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 @ 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 Rick, VK7RI
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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