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VK7 Amateur Radio News 26Jul20
Text edition: VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR JULY 26 2020
(Note.. please remove spaces in email addresses before using)
VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 26th JUly 2020
---------------------------------
Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 26th July 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, VKFB
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.
---------------------------------
VK7 Microwave News
23cm North-South Happenings
Sunday July 19 saw participants in the northern "QSO Club" VK7ZPD, VK7DW, VK7PL and VK7PD all exchanging signal reports with each other on 1296.15 FM from about 10:15am. VK7KWB was missing on this occasion but is expected to re-join in the near future.
It should be recognised that VK7HDX intended listening on a scanning receiver and SWL, Lewis Snare often listens on SDR receiver as does Andreā VK7ZAB on his scanning receiver. During the previous week VK7KMA successfully tested his scanning receiver in conjunction with a 9 element Yagi loaned by VK7ZPD. Mark was able to receive signal from VK7ZPD and VK7PD on separate occasions.
Following the local FM contacts VK7MO had the usual QRA64 contact on 1296.2MHz with VK7PD then VK7ZPD called Rex using just 10 watts with his 9 element Yagi still in its temporary position. Rex responded with a signal report. Just to prove it was no fluke there ensued several exchanges with successful decodes. Lookout when Phil upgrades his 23cm capability!
It is hoped that 2 or 3 other northern stations might soon be able to, not just contact each other but also, join the north/south digital activity.
Earlier in the week VK7MO and VK7PD ran tests on 1296.2MHz for several hours across 3 days comparing QRA64 with one of the new modes using just 2 watts!
Meanwhile VK7MO and VK7ZBX continued their experiments with forward scatter light transmission using one of the new digital modes, extending the distance from 22 to 43km.
(73, Peter VK7PD)
---------------------------------
VK7 News
VK7 Broadcast Year 19-20 Callback Statistics
With the COVID-19 cancellation of the WIA AGM Weekend in Hobart in early May there was a broadcast milestone that was missed and not reported.
The WIA and VK7 Amateur Radio broadcast years end on the weekend of the WIA AGM being held.
Therefore we are reporting the callback statistics for the 2019-20 broadcast year for WIA and VK7.
The total VK callbacks for the year were 119,217 and for VK7 was 4,944 which is 4.1% of the total and given there are about 500 VK7 amateurs of 15,000 total VK amateurs licences and this is 3.3%. Which means VK7 is contributing above its licence ratio!
Within VK7 the callback split from largest to smallest was:
With 2,181 calbacks - 2m repeaters,
Next on Digital with DMR & DSTAR with 818 callbacks,
Rebroadcasts came next with 514 callbacks,
80m came in next with 388 callback,
With 287 callbacks was 70cm repeaters,
Next was the DATV rebroadcast with 232 callbacks,
Then the 10m rebroadcast was next with 205 callbacks,
With 193 callbacks was 40m and
20m was last with 126 callbacks.
If you listen to the broadcast please consider calling back to the station you are listening to. This means a lot to the rebroadcast stations who voluntarily do this each week and they get a buzz from people calling back with comments!
A huge thank you to all our broadcast reader, compilers and rebroadcasters.
(73, VK7 Broadcast Team)
---------------------------------
VK7 QSL NEWS
Report - from Herman VK7HW Manager of the WIA VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
The current list of Cards held as at 24 July, is in the email version of the broadcast.
The list includes a listing of callsigns for cards received 16 July. Some of these cards have already been mailed out and/or delivered on an opportunity basis.
If you received your callsign in recent years and see it 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 Herman is finding some of those operators are new as the original owner is no longer active or Silent Key.
If you have any questions re QSL cards, please contact Herman by email vk7bureau(at)wia.org.au
73, Herman, VK7HW, WIA Manager VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
---------------------------------
All Cards held as at 24 July 2020
AA, AAA, AB, ACN, AD, AIR, AL, AM, AO, AP, AS, ATH, AU, AV
BA, BB, BBW, BM, BO, BP, BPV
CEJ, CH, CJ, CV, CX
DD, DG, DK, DO, DQ, DX, DZ
EG
FALX, FAZZ, FG, FGGT, FJFJ, FLAR, FOTR, FRJG, FTAS
GA, GC, GG, GH, GL, GM, GZ
HCH, HPD, HRS, HRW, HSJ, HVK, HZ
IK, IS
JA, JB, JP, JW
KBA, KD, KI, KJ, KL, KO, KRJ, KT, KX
LAZ, LCW, LDH, LM, LW
MAG, MBD, MBP, MC, ME, MHZ, MI, ML, MO
NA, NC, NMH, NRF, NSB, NSE, NTE, NWQ
OK, OR
PBD, PSJ, PW
RG, ROY
SN, SV
TCE, TED, TK, TS, TX
VAC, VAZ, VH, VKV, VR, VZ
WA, WC, WT, WX
XDM
YN
ZA, ZJJ, ZM, ZT
---------------------------------
News from the North
SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP
The Summits On The Air /World Wide Flora and Fauna 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 0417 354 410.
73, Al, VK7AN
---------------------------------
Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
How time flies, here we are at the last broadcast for the month of July. Here's hoping Spring rolls on quickly as I am sure getting tired of rugging up in layers.
One group that is not letting the colder months hinder its activities is the Huon District Scouts. As we mentioned last week, NTARC's Assistant Repeater Officer South, Michael VK7MRS has reported on its radio training effort and makes a special request for on-air training assistance from listeners to today's broadcast,
"Huon District Scout station VK7HSD is looking for some on air help. With six scouts studying hard for their "F"¯ Call licences, the next big step of training will be an "On Air Contact"¯.
We are seeking to make voice contacts on Tuesday the 18th of August between 1700 and 1830 hours local time. The preferred 80 meter frequency of 3610 kHZ is proposed to be used, along with the VK7RTC/VK7RAA repeater.
It would be greatly appreciated if YOU could answer "CQ"¯ calls from VK7HSD, while also remembering the need for a little patience for the training operators. After all, it can be a very nervous occasion. Can you remember your first HF contact?
A QSL card will most definitely be sent in appreciation of your support.
Please email your intentions to help out to vk7mrs@... or check out our QRZ page.
73 from Dale VK7FNED and Michael VK7MRS, VK7HSD co-ordinators"¯
I'm sure all listeners will again join with me in thanking Michael and Dale for their ongoing efforts to attract new members to our radio hobby. The future undoubtedly depends on such recruitment. Please assist on-air on August 18th if you are able to do so.
Meanwhile, back at the Rocherlea clubrooms, NTARC's Friday morning coffee mornings continue, with a good roll-up again this week, with more members returning to the fold as we all adjust to what I sincerely hope will prove a temporary norm.
In the absence of our weekly Tech Night sessions in the clubrooms, the focus very much continues to be on the NTARC 80 Meter net and its accompanying Discord on-line session. Let's hand over now to Nic VK7BEE, our NTARC Net Coordinator, to bring us all up to speed on happenings of last Wednesday night the 22nd.
"Before the TechNet, Nic VK7BEE hosted the usual "TestNet"¯ on 3.580 MHz at 19:00.
Five stations called in: VK7AT Alan, VK2FRBG Robert, VK7HKN Kevin, VK7ALH Ross and VK7AN Allan.
Nic reported on last week's CW recordings and was delighted to say that his CWReader program for the Micromite is working very well, but he continues to improve its capabilities. Robert VK2FRBG called in to give signal reports, 50km South of Cooma with 10 watts pep.
The NTARC Tech Net commenced at 19:30 on 3.567 MHz with Nic VK7BEE as Net Control VK7TAZ, running 350 watts pep this week. He reported on the success of his CW decoder program whilst listening to the VK2WI continuous CW Transmissions on 3.699 MHz at various speeds from 5wpm to 15wpm. It performed seamlessly adapting to various speeds! Nic also talked about the noise generated from Switch mode power supplies.
The net had 13 stations. Band conditions were GOOD but with QSB on some signals.
Paul VK7KPA hosted our virtual meeting on Discord. 16 members logged in to Discord, welcoming Lewis, currently a Short Wave Listener with an SDR receiver and a 40m dipole. Seems he has had a steep learning curve about antennas this week! Weā've all been there Lewis - sing-out if you need assistance!
Photos on Discord included a Chinese CW decoder module, labelling of VK7HKN's rigs, Spectrum Scope pics from an IC7300, showing the difference in noise levels between a switch-mode PSU and conventional DC supply at 13.8v, and, the hardware and circuits for a CW decoder.
Bill VK7MX and Yvonne VK7FYMX joined the online group, still suffering from wet feet in Gippsland - they had erected a makeshift antenna late in the day, which sadly didn't perform - but then there's always next week!
Ross VK7ALH appeared with a 15 year old restored TS950SDX and with yet ANOTHER FT101! Is there no end to Dr Boat Anchor's talents? By the end of the net he had neutralised the finals of the FT101 on 10m! He is so adaptable! Must be his Army Training!
Alan VK7AN, talked about his Chinese Morse Code Reader Module.
Kevin VK7HKN discussed issues switching between rigs - LSB on his 817 and his QRP home-brew CW rig.
Alan VK7AT is looking for someone to practice his CW with! He was pleased to hear that Nic's CW Reader could copy his CW hand-key transmissions; and, is contemplating a Maximite Computer - seen in the latest copy of Silicon Chip.
Phil VK7ZPD, we have discovered is also into astronomy! And, after being in touch with Dave G7IYK, who is another hi-tech star gazer, is considering developing an antenna rotator using a stepper motor with a RaspberryĀ Pi, a spin-off from controlling the automatic focus and tracking of telescopes.
Peter VK7PD posted some exciting developments on the Discord Internet link, about what is happening on 23cms, that's 1296 MHz! So how do I get started on 23cms?
Graham VK7KT called-in to give signal reports.
Andrew VK7DW or VK7 "Damaging Winds", joined the net with a battered dipole due to high winds. Nice to see you rose to the occasion with a makeshift antenna Andrew! We need to adapt and maintain communications when we are "tested"¯!
Peter VK7ZPE conducted experiments using his loop antenna as an untuned counterpoise with his long-wire. Seems that signal reports suggest his long-wire is better without the counterpoise.
Robert VK2FRGB called in from the TestNet to give signal reports to others on the net. He is also a Land-Rover restorer, in the midst of getting a 1959 107 going!
Peter VK7KPC whilst busy with the Scouts, took a break to quickly call-in for a signal check, having found a problem from last week. Great signal Peter! You solved the problem!
Kerry VK7PAK also called in, with very nice audio, to give signal reports. Thanks Kerry!
Once again, a very warm thank you to all stations who joined in to another successful Technical Net for NTARC!
73 de Nic VK7BEE¯
Thanks once again for your report Nic. The continuing popularity of these nights certainly demonstrates the value of the effort you and Paul have put into their development. You have certainly made it easier for the club and the members involved to maintain a club focus and help us all through the present difficulties. To our other listeners, if you have not yet taken part why not give it a try, either on 3.567 MHz next Wednesday evening at 7.30pm or on the Discord session. In fact, why not try both, as they complement each other very well, with additional coverage of items discussed on air being offered on the Discord session. As you have heard from Nic, Discord content can include circuit schematics, illustrations, photos and the like ā€“ not to mention the humour. I assure you that you won't be disappointed.
Future events
NTARC Safety Comms Team has been asked to provide safety comms at a day ride to be held at Santarena Park, Scottsdale on Saturday 22nd of August. This will be our first event since the State Championships held on 23 November 2019. We will be providing Base Comms, checkpoint and RFID tracking at this event for the 80k and 40km ride. So if you can spare some time on that Saturday why not pop down to Scottsdale, a pleasant 1 hour or so drive from Launceston and utilise your radio skills. Our Safety Comms Coordinator Norm would appreciate hearing from you. Norm can be contacted by email at safetycomms.ntarc@... or you can catch up with him at coffee session.
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.
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.
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, especially in these abnormal and very trying times, 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 though, this must be all from NTARC for this week. Please bear with us as we attempt to bring club life back to normal, while balancing the need for continuing caution and with all complying 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 then please email them to either of the following addresses
ntarc.emails@... or ypmaxwell@...
Please note that it would be appreciated if any items for the weekly news could be sent in Times New Roman, 12 pt Font format.
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.
We will bring you all such contributions next Sunday morning.
73, Yvonne VK7FYMX, Secretary NTARC Inc
---------------------------------
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
https://www.reast.asn.au/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
A big thank you!
The members of REAST truly appreciate the efforts that Paul VK7FPCL has put into keeping the rooms at the Domain sanitised between gatherings. Many Thanks Paul!
----------------
REAST August Antenna Forum Night
Following on from our successful forum night we are running and antenna forum night for our August presentation night.
The format of the night will be an open forum for anyone to bring along their experience of the antennas they are using, building and testing.
It doesn't have to be a huge in-depth analysis presentation just come along and share your experience with the antennas you are using. If you have some analysis data then certainly being it along.
They can be permanent installations, mobile, satellite, microwave, LF, MF, HF, portable or handheld, in fact anything and everything is encouraged. Just come along and share your experience.
We will compile on the night a list of antennas and users and make it available so, if you are interested in a particular antenna you will know who to contact.
The night will be streamed and we will take questions and comments via R2, DM 3807 and the YouTube Chat Channel. We will also broadcast the night on RF 445.5MHz DVB-T around Hobart.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/live-stream/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
It happens on Wednesday 5thĀ August 2020 from 7:30pm in the Queenā€Ös Domain Clubrooms.
Hope to see you there.
(VK7TW on behalf of the REAST Committee)
----------------
DATV Experimenter's Night
Our DATV Experimenter's Night started with a description of the newly renovated clubrooms. We have fully repainted the main clubrooms and toilet areas which have improved the overall look and feel of the clubrooms. There were many great comments from the Wednesday Afternoon Group (WAGs) and the evening group. Richard VK7ZBX and Murray VK7ZMS were installing the smartboard projector and wifi access point. A huge thank you to all involved especially Tony VK7VKT who organised and did most of the painting.
Justin VK7TW took the audience through the new camera control he created to control the zoom and focus on the new studio camera. Justin went through the circuit and how he overcame the use of a twin coil latching relay with the use of a few switching diodes. This camera makes a great addition to the studio as we can now switch between the presenters in a professional manner.
Richard VK7ZBX joined Justin VK7TW in the DATV Studio for a review of the provisional results of the VHF/UHF Winter Field Day results. This involved congratulating Richard who took out first place in the 8 hour portable section and Justin VK7TW came third in the same section. It was great to see so many VK7s in the portable section. We had Tim VK5ZT and Iain VK7ZD on the Youtube chat channel who added a VK5 perspective. We then reviewed the great check sheet that is provided by Mike VK3AVV. This sheet checks all the categories where things can go wrong with the logging and provides a great reminder for the next contest.
Richard and Justin then moved to last weekends Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest. This contest runs for six hours and covers 160/80/40m and scoring is based on region so the more VK/ZL contacts the higher the score. Both Richard and Justin had the same number of contacts however Richard made more ZL contacts and ended up with a slightly higher score. The noise and and interference on these bands made for challenging conditions for contacts however there were certainly some high scores being handed out during the contest.
We then did a review of the Latest Low-Key Magazine featuring the VK3YE/NTARC 80m AM/DSB transceiver design and took the audience through what was in the rest of the magazine. We then moved to the latest DUBUS magazine and went through the articles in the rest of the magazine following on from last week's article by David VK5KK on the VK5 version of the 122GHz transverter.
Justin then took the audience through his latest resource tip shop purchase a Weston Standard Cell model D-550-A that was made in 1954. This cell still puts out a voltage of 1.013V although Justin commented that his multimeter didn't have enough digits to measure more accurately! The cell has gone home with Alan VK7KAJ who is measuring the voltage a lot more accurately - thanks Alan. These cells are used in test labs to very accurately measure different electrical measurements. More on these cells this week.
We finished with some interesting IC-705 videos for our RF viewers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb5RZLABCDk
Please note we will be continuing the Working from the Shack interviews with well known VK7 amateurs on a monthly basis and our next one will be on 12 August 2020 with Cedric VK7CL.
Our DATV Night this Wednesday night will return to our usual format of reviews, projects, interviews, news and views. So, come up to the Queens Domain clubrooms on a Wednesday night from 7:30pm and see what we get up to. If it is too cold to make it up to the Domain why not take a look on RF or the YouTube Streaming channel and we will be taking questions via Repeater Two (146.700), DMR Talk Group 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.
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 29th July 2020.
73, Justin, VK7TW
---------------------------------
International HAMFEST News
TOKYO Ham Fair Cancelled
News just through from the JARL via Ken Yamamoto JA1CJP.
JARL reluctantly announce the cancellation of Tokyo Ham Fair 2020 scheduled on October 31st and November 1st, as JARL cannot guarantee the safety and perfect prevention from COVID-19 infection, even if we take all possible preventive measures.
The schedule of Tokyo Ham Fair 2021 is yet to be fixed, but we will announce it when we fix the venue and dates.
73 de JARL International
(Sourced from the IARU News Mailing List)
---------------------------------
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 - MICROWAVE QSO Party - following after the Sunday broadcast on 1296.15 MHz FM.
REAST - DATV Experimenter's Nights from 7:30pm live in the club rooms on DVBT RF and YouTube Streaming
Events:
Sewing Circle Net - commences at 17:00 on 3.640 MHz.
REAST - 5 August - Antenna Sharing Forum - 7:30pm Queens Domain Clubrooms.
NTARC - 22 August - Equine Endurance Event - Santerena Park Scottdale.
---------------------------------
A reminder to those people rostered for next week's broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7RI
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and NWTR&TVG
80m: VK7ALH
40m: VK7TW
20m: Any Takers?
10m: VK7VKT
DMR: Talk Group 5 and
D-Star: Reflector 091 VK7ZCR
---------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------
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@...
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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