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VK7AX > BCAST 14.06.20 02:05z 421 Lines 23435 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 14Jun20
Text edition: VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR JUNE 14 2020
(Note.. please remove spaces in email addresses before using)
VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 14th June 2020
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 14th June 2020. This broadcast is brought to you by VK7WI, and read today by Peter, VK7PD
This broadcast utilises repeaters around VK7 and the following HF rebroadcast stations:
On 3.670 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
On 7.140 MHz by Mike, VK7FB
On 14.130 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
On 28.525 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE
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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ACMA News
Small Apparatus Licence Fee Reduction
Thanks to eagle eyed Roger VK7ARN who sent through the following message in relation to an apparatus licence renewal for WICEN Tas (Sth). The ACMA informed Roger".
"Dear Licensee,
We are writing to inform you that the ACMA is in the process of implementing some general tax changes. The changes will include reducing most apparatus licence taxes by 0.8 per cent effective 1 July 2020.
To ensure that all licensees are charged the lower taxes, we have delayed sending out renewal notices until after 1 July 2020."ť
ACMA Customer Service Centre
[Ed] No one said ever...our licence fees never go down".HIHI!
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Contest News
WINTER VHF-UHF FIELD DAY
Richard VK7ZBX hopes everybody is just about ready for the Winter Field Day NEXT weekend 20th June 2020 01:00 UTC - 21st June 00:59 UTC.
There is still time to get your portable VHF / UHF station all polished and ready to make many contacts. Maybe it's time to do the final checkout of your portable spot, to do a final checklist of all the gear you need to take so as not to be remembering the field day badly.
If you're not going portable, then perhaps today or this week is the time to check all the bands and make sure everything is working.
It's been a long year and our weather can be hard on coax and antennas so get those meters out and make sure everything is tip top.
Frequencies are not set in stone but a good start would be 6M, 50.150 USB or 52.525 FM, 2M 144.150 USB or 146.500 FM, 70cm 432.150 USB or 439.000 FM, 23cm 1296.150 USB or FM.
Hope to hear you on the bands!
73 Richard VK7ZBX
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MF Communications
630M Distances Extended
Justin VK7TW is continuously monitoring the WSPR signals on 630m from Hobart Tasmania.
As the sun sets the signals appear out of the spectrum display and they start decoding. The regulars appear - VK4YB, VK3HP, VK5FQ, VK2COW and VK3WRE. Recently they have been joined by VK3CYD, VK6HP, VK6AKT and VK3QD.
About six months ago the distance was suddenly extended by the reception of K9FD at 9107km and Merv is on Molokai island in the Hawaiian group.
He uses an updated Elecraft K3 that outputs 1MW to drive a home-made single MOSFET amp. The amp runs around 60W into a 160M Inverted-L, 65ft tall, 70 ft sloping down to about 20ft level. Ground system is from the AM broadcast station that was located here with 120 radials 330 ft long, and 120 radials 60 ft long. There is another ground system that is bonded together in the direction of VK. Merv uses a Non-Directional Beacon Antenna Tuning Unit which gets about 1 watt ERP at the antenna.
The signal levels have been at best about -24dB on the WSPR scale.
Just when Justin thought 9107km was about as far as he could receive in the last few days W6GJB has been decoding at 12,739km. The signal levels are low at -30 and -31dB on the WSPR scale and W6GJB is reporting to be transmitting at 5W ERP.
There are plenty of longer distances being reported on the WSPR database with the current maximum 630m distance being 18,814km between HZ3MDY and VA3ROM and there are many between these distances.
Long distances using narrow bandwidth weak signal modes are certainly possible on 630m.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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VK7 QSL NEWS
Report - from Herman VK7HW Manager of the WIA VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
The current list of Cards held as at 12 Jun, is in the email version of the broadcast.
Herman has sent more cards during the last week.
If you see your callsign in the list would you please email Herman advising him of the date you acquired the Call as I do have some cards from years back and I am finding that some of those operators are new and the original owner is no longer active and/or Silent Key.
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, BPV
CH, CJ, CV, CX
DD, DG, DK, DO, DQ, DX, DZ
FALX, FAZZ, FG, FGGT, FJFJ, FLAR, FOTR, FTAS
GA, GC, GH, GL, GM, GN, GZ
HCH, HDX, HPD, HRS, HRW, HVK, HZ
IK, IS
JA, JB, JJ, JJJ, JP, JW
KBA, KD, KJ, KL, KRJ, KX
LAZ, LDH, LF, LM, LW
MAG, MBD, MBP, MC, ME, MHZ, MI, ML, MS
NA, NC, NMH, NRF, NSB, NSE, NTE, NWQ
OK
PBD, PSJ, PW
RG
SN, SV
TCE, TED, TK, TS, TU, TX
VAC, VAZ, VH, VKV, VR, VZ
WA, WC, WH, WT
XDM
ZA, ZJJ, ZM, ZT, ZZ
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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
As listeners to last week's Broadcast will be aware, this past Friday the 12th June we re-opened the Club room for our first morning coffee session, as permitted under Stage 2 restrictions.
Thanks to Ros arriving early, and lighting Skywarmer, and if my memory serves me correctly this was his first fire up for the year. He did his job admirably in getting the room warmed up in readiness. Definitely worth the money. Hot on Rosâ€Ö heels was President Idris. By the time I arrived at 9.25am there was much banter and catching up by these two early birds in the kitchen.
Tables and chairs had been spaced out as per the 1.5m requirement. Hand sanitizer was available next to the sign-in book and all were gently reminded on arrival to please use it. Our two toilets have been fitted out with hand wash, more hand sanitizer and paper towel pull-down dispensers to replace the fabric hand towels, again keeping in mind the recommended COVID 19 requirements.
As this was our first opening since the shut-down, we were uncertain as to the likely attendance. Suffice it to say it was a healthy roll-up but not such that strained our ability to comply with the Stage 2 restrictions. Thankfully therefore, no one was required to move outside nor relocate to the other hall. Having to ask anybody to move outside would have been particularly painful, as it was raining throughout most of the morning.
Most attendees stayed on until noon, although a few stragglers did linger longer. The fare on offer was a tad below the normal NTARC standard but that had been a deliberate choice to only have biscuits and a cake to limit too much handling of food. So, sad to advise that there will be no sausage rolls, party pies, cocktail frankfurts etc. at this point. Once things are back to normal, we will gradually extend the morning tea menu.
As mentioned last week, we will be having a staged return to normal club operations, so we will continue on with Friday-only openings for the present. So please note your diaries for Friday mornings only, from 10.00 am to noon. As restrictions ease, we will gradually work back to having our twice weekly sessions.
On that front, the Premier, Peter Gutwein, announced on Friday afternoon that Tasmania would be easing further coronavirus restrictions next week as there are no active cases in the State. He also commented that he would not set a date for when Tasmania's borders would re-open but did mention that the State's border controls would be reviewed again early next month.
As for your scribe, once again I have nothing else newsworthy to report from the home front. So, we now turn to the weekly update from Nic, VK7BEE, our Net Coordinator, with a run-down on last Wednesday 10th June Tech Net session:
"CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE"ť TONIGHT WELL OK - FAST QSB FOR A WHILE!
Before the TechNet, Nic VK7BEE hosted a "TestNet"ť on 3.580 MHz at 7pm. This week several stations had been practicing their ability to send their callsign in CW. An excellent effort from Kevin VK7HKN with 4.7 watts, Phil VK7ZPD with 20 watts and Alan VK7AT with 10w. Alan VK7AT was delighted to have sent CW, as it has been 38 years since he last used Morse code. He was using a TS120 into a 36m long wire with a homebrew matching unit. Their efforts were all easy to read Morse code between 6 and 7 words per minute.
Herman VK7HW called in, with 20 watts to give a quick report from South Arm in Southern Tasmania!
The NTARC Tech Net kicked off on 3.567 MHz LSB at 7:30pm.
The net had 11 stations. Band conditions were good, but at the start there was a fast flutter QSB on all signals. This lasted for about 20 minutes, and conditions then got better.
Discord continued as a simultaneous "parallel system"ť whilst the net was on. It had 10 members attending.
Nic VK7BEE as Net Control VK7TAZ, spoke about CW decoding software and having a cheat sheet for the basic contact. An example was posted on Discord. He is developing an active CW filter to improve the ability of Morse decoder programs to decode CW more effectively. Nic also reminded members that the club is opening this Friday for Morning Tea from 1000 to 1200 with Social Distance Limitations applying.
Kevin VK7HKN is continuing to use an automatic linear amp with his 817 driving it with 4.7watts.
Phil VK7ZPD shared information on remote software control of his TS590 radio, and details of a 1296 MHz antenna which he posted on Discord. He will use it for the 23cm local net on 1296.150 MHz.
Graham VK7KT in Burnie was using a vertical antenna, but was suffering from a local heterodyne, which caused him to leave the net and rely on Discord.
We welcomed back Paul VK7KPA who told us of a strange sight he saw looking North East from his QTH on Mt Arthur. It seems he saw a bright light in the sky low on the horizon, which turned out to be the jettisoned third-stage of a Russian military rocket. This was widely reported.
Andrew VK7DW (Mr Satellite!) is still working on the azimuth hardware for his Satellite Station.
Peter VK7PD called-in to make us aware of details for the Field Day which he posted on Discord.
As the Net was closing for the night, the following stations reported in:-
Dave VK2CQ from Newcastle was running an IC7300 with a multi band dipole and called in to give a signal report.
Kerry VK7PAK had built a QRP CW transmitter which he will test next week on 3.580 MHz.
Des ZL3AK called in from Christchurch, using a TS830S putting out 100watt into a G5RV to give a report.
Keep those projects and CW practice going.
“May the Morse be with you”
73, Nic VK7BEEť
Many thanks Nic.
The following is courtesy of Peter VK7KPC and he would like to thank Justin VK7TW for his invitation to participate in the REAST Virtual Shack visits.
It was an interesting experience including the intricacies of sharing photos on a PC in Evandale with one in Hobart.
He copied photos into appropriate directories, then discovered the forward and backward buttons on photoviewer use the file numbers from the camera and they popped up in an unexpected order.
Hence photos of Larkspur radios were interspaced with Clansman pictures causing the commentary flow to be a bit disjointed.
Overall though he enjoyed the evening.
Cheers from Peter.
Coffee mornings - currently every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Catch up time is from 10.00 am to noon and we look forward to seeing you all but please remember, we are still required to comply with the current corona virus restrictions.
Please remember that aside from the good company, freely offered philosophical views, maybe less than expert political analysis, tall tales and funny stories and genuinely good fare on offer, these coffee events in the past have been normally a good opportunity to collect your QSL cards. Currently we have a few cards awaiting collection but as advised by the VK7State QSL Manager Herman VK7HW earlier in this broadcast, with the WIA moving to a quarterly distribution to the states, incoming deliveries are likely to slow further in the future. Rest assured though, NTARC will continue to provide this service as and when cards are received.
As I remind all each week, please demonstrate your appreciation of all the effort that goes into operating the club and its facilities and the other services we provide, by joining us on Fridays, enjoying the company, coffee, biscuits and cake and leaving a gold coin or two, or even a small bank note, in the jar to assist in our on-going operations.
Once again, this must be all from NTARC for this week. I trust all members were delighted to see the recommencement of some club face-too-face activity but we do need to all be aware of the continuing need for caution and comply with the social distancing requirements.
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 recently and discussed the lifting of stage two restrictions and what that may meant for face to face REAST club meetings.
Unfortunately the restriction of 4 square 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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DATV Experimenter's Night - Working from the Shack #10
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.
Last Wednesday night we interviewed Peter Dodd VK7KPC from Northern Tasmania.
Peter started his working life as a Radio Technician with the Department of Civil Aviation that became Air Services Australia in South Australia.
Peter took up a position in Darwin and took the audience through the radio systems that he looked after at the Darwin airport. This is an RAAF airport and so this presented some interesting challenges. Peter joined the Army Reserves Signals in Darwin and this his CO was a radio amateur so, he sat his regulations exam and got RPL for the theory.
Peter then moved back to Adelaide and continued working with Air Services. Sometime later a position in Tasmania came up and saw Peter involved with the implementation of the new multi-lateration navigation system in Tasmania. Peter retired with 43 years of service for Air Services - WOW!
Peter has a serious interest in Military radios and showed the audience the details on a range of the radios he has collected. Peter uses these radios on the amateur VHF and HF bands. Peter then showed us around his very impressive shack and some of the projects he has been working on.
A huge thank you to Peter and Peter let us know that his grandkids were watching Poppy on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8YRbJ1abs4
This Wednesday night we have an interview with Tony VK7AX from Ulverstone. Tony is well known in VK7 and is very involved with ATV and regular broadcasts of both audio and ATV news content. This should 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 #10 from 7:30pm this Wednesday 17th June.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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TECHNICAL ARTICLEs
High-altitude balloon carries sensors, comms
The first of a series of Department of Defence high-altitude balloon launch trials has commenced, with the first balloon being successfully launched from West Wyalong in NSW.
The trials aim to test Defence's ability to quickly send sensors and communications equipment into the stratosphere, the under-utilised altitudes between where aircraft generally fly and where spacecraft orbit.
"The trial aims to demonstrate Australian designed and developed launch capabilities that can deliver and maintain sensor payloads to an altitude that significantly improves situational awareness over a wide area,"ť said Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds.
"Having these high-altitude balloons as part of Australia's sovereign capability means that we could deploy advanced sensors into the atmosphere quickly and cost-effectively, giving our forces comprehensive data in the air, on the ground or at sea."ť
http://criticalcomms.com.au/content/industry/news/high-altitude-balloon-carries-sensors-comms-1196643254#ixzz6P97hhdwB
(sourced from the Critical Comms Web-e-zine)
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Satellite News
New Getting Started with Amateur Satellites
The 2020 edition of AMSAT's "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" is now available on the AMSAT store. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation.
This definitive reference is written for the new satellite operator, but includes discussions for the experienced operator who wishes to review the features of amateur satellite communications. The new operator will be introduced to the basic concepts and terminology unique to this mode. Additionally, there are many practical tips and tricks to ensure making contacts, and to sound like an experienced satellite operator in the process. The book is presented in DRM-free PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite.
Joining the cover art for the first time this year is a depiction of
the next generation of AMSAT satellites - AMSAT's GOLF series of 3U CubeSats.
The digital download is available for $15 at the URL on the email edition of this broadcast
https://tinyurl.com/2020GettingStarted
Sourced from the AMSAT News Service
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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 - Coffee mornings - Fridays 1000 to 1200 NTARC Club Rooms.
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: VK7ALH
40m: VK7TW
20m: VK7JGD
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 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 Peter, VK7PD
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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