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VK7AX > BCAST 21.06.20 02:04z 460 Lines 26464 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 21Jun20
Text edition: VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR JUNE 21 2020
(Note.. please remove spaces in email addresses before using)
VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 21st June 2020
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 21st June 2020, and the Winter Field Day Weekend. As this broadcast ends, so does the contest. This broadcast is brought to you by VK7WI, and read today by Mike, VK7FB.
This broadcast utilises repeaters around VK7 and the following HF rebroadcast stations:
On 3.670 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
On 7.140 MHz by Justin, VK7TW
On 14.130 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
On 28.525 MHz by Tony, VK7VKT
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 current list of Cards held as at the 19th June is listed below.
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the Call as I do have some cards from years back and I am finding some of those operators are new the original owner no longer active and/or Silent Key.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, 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, WT
XDM
ZA, ZJJ, ZM, ZT, ZZ
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NEWS ITEM
9 ham radio operators come to the aid of district officials during Cyclone Nisarga
By Badri Chatterjee
(Edited version)
The less than half-an-hour severe cyclone Nisarga led to the collapse of all modes of communication.
As all modes of communication collapsed in less than half-an-hour after severe cyclone Nisarga made landfall over Raigad district last Wednesday, a group of nine independent ham radio operators using wireless communication became the eyes and ears for the district administration. Their centres? A station without a roof in Shrivardhan, the district headquarters in Alibag and vehicles in Mahabaleshwar.
The entire exercise from the afternoon of June 2 to June 5 evening (when mobile network availability returned in some areas) saw continuous relay of information about deaths, injuries, evacuations, scale of damage (trees loss, falling power lines, and network towers), relief and rehabilitation requirements, across many low-lying areas in Raigad from the police, local authorities and citizens to radio operators and in turn to the authorities across different parts.
Amateur radios are used to establish an emergency communication network during natural calamities. The technology developed in the early 1890s in Italy, and was extensively used for the first time before and during World War One (1914-1918).
Pre-empting a collapse in communication lines due to the cyclone, the Raigad disaster management officials on June 1 reached out to Nitin Ainapure, a ham radio operator for the past 30 years. "When we were alerted about an impending cyclone, our biggest worry was what if we are cut off from all network connectivity? Ham radio came as an answer to this. We requested ham radio operators and they were more than willing to activate their network of volunteers. Their sets were set up in my office and all coastal tehsils. When the Nisarga hit Raigad, the telecom network was off in Shrivardhan, Murud, Mhasla and Tala. Ham radio volunteers played a pivotal role in ensuring constant information flow from the affected tehsils," said Nidhi Choudhari, Raigad collector and district magistrate.
Based out of Kolhapur, Ainapure was directed to assemble a team to keep wireless systems going before and after the storm. Ainapure was part of a communications network during the Kolhapur-Sangli floods last year, 2005 floods in Mumbai, and during cyclone Phyan in November 2009.
Read the whole story with some great photographs at the following link.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/9-ham-radio-operators-come-to-the-aid-of-district-officials-during-cyclone-nisarga/story-WUM4gMzAjaLJoSxcJ7URZJ.html
Sourced from Hindustantimes
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TASMANIAN REPEATER MAP
With input from, and thanks to, many contributors, the graphic representation of the Tasmanian repeater network, known as the Tasmania Repeater Map, has been updated.
The increasing cover, complexity and multi-modes of the network have been represented differently, in an attempt to make it clearer.
It's available on screen, or as a downloadable pdf file from a link on the screen at https://wicentas.org/SOPs/Rpt_Map.htm
Any queries or further amendments should be advised to vk7arn @ wia.org.au
Roger, VK7ARN
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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
We will begin this week with a quick round up of our second coffee morning post-resumption, held last Friday. The morning was very crisp and that certainly put a lively spring into our step to get inside the club room very quickly. Ros had once again arrived early to light Skywarmer, turn on the urn and lay out the biscuits and cake, the latter being chocolate this week, made by Ros the night before. She really does spoil us.
Our resident gardener Lorraine rocked up with a sprayer full of weed killer to knock off the huge thistles, and by huge, I mean really huge. Not the hand pull out-able variety. Whilst at that task, she also gave a general spray on other resident weeds to knock them down. Many thanks Lorraine.
In all, it was another good roll up and once again, many lingered on till well after the advertised closure time, catching up. Even after the doors shut many stayed on in the carpark, chatting further.
Our tables and chairs are still spaced out as per the 1.5m requirement and we appear to be meeting members' needs with this layout, at least for the moment. Hand sanitiser is still available next to the sign-in book and we really appreciated seeing the members utilising this on arrival. A reminder though that social distancing is also a requirement in our kitchen, where the maximum number there is 2 at any one time. Thankfully we have a glass window in the kitchen door which makes it easy for everyone to check current occupancy out before barging in and putting us in breach of the current regulations.
As mentioned last week, we will still need to limit catering options to ensure there is no multi-handling, sauce double-dipping etc, so 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.
Again, as reported last week, we plan on 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.
Once again, your scribe has nothing 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 17th June Tech Net session:-
"Did you say "SEND REINFORCEMENTS WE'RE GOING TO ADVANCE!" or "SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE, WE'RE GOING TO A DANCE!"??
Hmmmm......You don't get this problem with CW!
Before the TechNet, Nic VK7BEE hosted a "TestNet" on 3.580MHz at 7pm. Several stations called-in and sent CW. Phil VK7ZPD, Alan VK7AT, Peter VK7KPC and Kerry VK7PAK using BRASS POUNDERS - Excellent!
But Kerry VK7PAK surprised us, and himself with a Clipsal brass Hand-Key and a home-brew 50 milliwatt single transistor CW transmitter!
Several tests were made, noting the changes in frequency, switching from CW to LSB and USB. This will be revisited next week! Some could not hear CW signals because their radios changed to USB for receiving CW!
On LSB on 3.580 MHz, my 751A moves to 3.579.4 MHz when I switch to CW - giving the 600 Hz offset to produce the audio tone of 600 Hz. But, if I switch from 3.580 MHz, LSB to USB it becomes 3.577.0.
Kevin VK7HKN was conspicuous by his absence, but he did send his apologies.
Tech Net for NTARC commenced on 3.567 MHz 19:30.
The net had 13 stations. Band conditions were GOOD and a great night was had by all!
Discord was again hosted by Paul VK7KPA, at the same time. Thanks again. It had 10 members attending with Peter VK7SP attending from Switzerland for the first time - welcome Peter.
Nic VK7BEE, who is Net Control as VK7TAZ, spoke about CW and decoding software, and in an effort to subdue suburban noise, is looking at screened loop antennas for receiving.
Alan VK7AT sees CW decoding software as a learning aid! Though he did speak of the postmaster who would be listening to and noting telegraphic CW, whilst serving customers at the same time!
Kerry VK7PAK had antenna problems, but ended up using his mobile station with the vertical whip antenna, which worked very well. We should all have a backup system!
Phil VK7ZPD posted a picture of his 1296 MHz Yagi on Discord, which he had successfully tested on the new Northern 23cm Net at the weekend.
Mark VK7KMA called in for the first time with 15watts, making preparations for the Field Day Weekend this weekend. Welcome Mark.
Peter VK7KPC with 40watts and his End-fed antenna with an East/West aspect, seemed to be low down in signal strength with most stations - propagation conditions maybe?
Andrew VK7DW, (Mr Satellite!) is still working on the boom and Yagi antennas. He also mentioned using WSPR (whisper) and FT8.
Alvin VK7ADQ/P2 called in for a quick hello but was having a difficult time due to QRM from local stations in VK2.
Peter VK7PD posted a lot of information on Discord about the success of the new Northern Net on 1296.150 MHz mentioning VK7DW and VK7ZPD.
Ross VK7RC, Mr DMR, suggested the use of headphones when copying CW, much less distractions! He has also put a digital repeater together, which some may use - thanks Ross!
Idris VK7ZIR tried out a new microphone and a lot of compression! A very punchy signal! Rather like a military Comms station!
Peter VK7ZPE has "too many projects to mention" - just like the rest of us! Hi!
Richard VK2XRC/P3 called-in from Mildura with an IC7100, a Squid-pole antenna, and a glass of red wine.
As mentioned before, a great night was had by all.
Until next week, 73 Nic VK7BEE
Thanks Nic. It is really great to see our members being so involved on these nights. I may surprise all and pop up to chat.
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 Covid-19 virus restrictions.
Please remember that aside from the good company, freely offered philosophical views, maybe less than expert political analysis, tall tales, 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 from past deliveries. I can also advise that the VK7 State QSL Manager Herman VK7HW has recently forwarded QSL cards direct to some NTARC members so they hopefully will have received them by now.
As I remind all each week, please demonstrate your appreciation of all the effort that goes into operating the club, 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 are either enjoying the recommencement of some club face-too-face activity or are at least pleased to see it eventuate, even if they have not as yet been able to attend Friday coffee. That said, we do need to all be aware of the continuing need for caution and all 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 mean 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 Tony Bedelph VK7AX from Ulverstone NW Tasmania.
We were lucky to have Tony's grandson, Reece VK7FORD, in the shack as well. Tony grew up in many places in Tasmania, being the son of a policeman, who moved around the state regularly. Tony started his working life with the PMG as a Technician in Training in 1959. He moved around as a PMG Technician and settled in Ulverstone in 1967 and has lived there since.
Tony's interest in electronics and amateur radio started in Queenstown with building a 5inch black and white TV from Radio and Hobbies Magazine. This project really impressed his father! Tony got his amateur licence in 1965 as VK7ZXT and then went on to his full call (VK7AX) a few years later.
Tony's amateur radio inspirations included Barry VK7FR, Max Ives VK7MX, Harold Hancock, Ken Hancock VK7KH, Graham VK4BB, Ron Harrison and Winston Nickols VK7EM. Barry built HF transmitters and receivers at this time that he still has and showed in the shack. He was involved in getting the first VK7 solar powered ATV repeater up and going on Mt Duncan in the 1970s. Tony was also involved in getting the first 2m repeater up and going at Lonah, with help from Peter Frith VK7PF. Tony and Reece then showed the analogue repeaters that were installed on Mt Duncan and later Kelcey Tiers.
Tony has been, and is still, very involved with broadcasting ATV and audio most nights of the week with news sources from all over the world. Tony has also been involved in setting up clubs on the North West Coast and regular involvement with JOTA at Paton Park.
Tony and Barry Fraser, VK7FR, put together the professional program - "Spectrum Tasmania" for many years. Tony related the learning that Barry taught him about getting your news story across without unnecessary words in the script - great ABC training!
Tony outlined that he ran IRLP and Echolink nodes as well as Packet Radio bulletin board systems and VKLinking and AllStar nodes over the years and is still running some of these systems for amateurs to use.
Tony has been a Learning Facilitator for the WIA and a Elmer for the Radio and Electronics School and proudly tells the story of recently training and assessing 12 scouts of which Reece was one.
Tony then gave a tour of his shack showing the equipment old and new. Tony then took questions from Repeater 2 and the YouTube Chat channel.
A huge thank you to Tony (and Reece) for the interview, and sharing his amateur radio journey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYlKjDwVjtc
This Wednesday night is a special one with an interview with Sisters Akousmatica (Pip & Julia) who will talk about their recent and future radio projects and one past project by Dominique Bala that Julia was part of: Meanwhile in Fukushima.
http://www.sistersakousmatica.org/
http://fukushima-open-sounds.net/carte/julia-drouhin/
This should be a fascinating interview.
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 Night from 7:30pm this Wednesday 24th June 2020.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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TECHNICAL ARTICLES
Mini satellite tests Australia's communication tech capabilities
By Amy Sarcevic
The strength of Australia's radio communication technology and defence space capabilities will soon be better known, thanks to the launching of a mini satellite into space this week.
The M2 Pathfinder, a CubeSat developed by UNSW Canberra and the RAAF, is around the size of a loaf of bread and will allow the technology to be tested in its intended environment - far more cost-effectively than a larger satellite.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the initiative will help guide future capability designs of larger satellites for the Australian Defence Force.
"The collaboration - allows small satellites to be used for evaluating technologies on more complex space systems, such as communications or Earth observation satellites," she said.
"The experience gained in the development and operation of these spacecraft also offers educational benefits for Defence personnel studying space programs at UNSW Canberra. This further enhances the future Defence space workforce."
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the initiative was also a reflection of Australia's existing capability.
"[It showcases] the breadth of skills, talent and ingenuity in bringing Australian manufacturing into the future," she said.
The M2 Pathfinder will undergo a series of communications tests over the coming months, aimed at improving future satellite design and serving as valuable experience for engineering and operational teams.
Multiple Australian suppliers and industry partners have also contributed, including the Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre operated by the Australian National University.
Read more: http://criticalcomms.com.au/content/radio-systems/news/mini-satellite-tests-australia-s-communication-tech-capabilities-1582626754#ixzz6Po0gAcNu
Sourced from CriticalComms webezine
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Melbourne Uni scores $4m to launch space capability -Will host Italian Space Agency tech.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne have received $3.95 million from the Australian government to help develop the nation's space capability.
Science and engineering researchers at the university will develop a miniature satellite - about the size of a shoebox - due to be launched into space by 2022 in collaboration with local space industry companies and the Italian Space Agency.
Lead investigator of the project, Associate Professor Michele Trenti from the University's School of Physics, said that despite the Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal (SpIRIT) satellite's small size, it will be quite powerful.
"It will carry innovative X-ray sensors, sophisticated on-board computers and radios, and even a miniaturised electric propulsion engine, so we could well say that we will be building a tiny robotic spaceship."
"It will be the first Australian-made spacecraft to host a foreign space agency payload, with an X-ray detector provided by the Italian Space Agency."
X-ray observations from the craft will be combined with data from a constellation of six other European satellites to spot "cosmic fireworks" produced when stars die or collide with each other.
SpIRIT could also demonstrate that locally made spacecraft can be internationally competitive and open new market opportunities, Trenti added, demonstrating innovative technological elements in the areas of thermal management, real-time communications and on-board autonomous decision capabilities.
Dr Airlie Chapman, co-investigator on the project and senior lecturer in mechatronics from the Melbourne School of Engineering, said building the nanosatellite comes with its own unique challenges.
"This project will help us apply engineering research to break new ground in nanosatellite design, manufacturing and operations, hopefully acting as a guide for Australian aerospace research in the future."
The funding comes from the government's International Space Investment - Expand Capability grants, with the UNSW also receiving $700,000 and the University of Canberra scoring $430,000 for their own projects.
SpIRIT is a partnership between the University of Melbourne's Physics and Engineering Schools, Sitael Australia, Inovor Technologies, Neumann Space, and Nova Systems, with support from the Italian and United Kingdom Space Agencies.
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/melbourne-uni-scores-4m-to-launch-space-capability-549427
Sourced from itnews.com
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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.
NTARC - Technical Net - Wednesdays 3.567 MHz LSB at 7:30pm local time
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
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: VK7ALH
20m: VK7FB
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 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 Mike, VK7FB.
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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