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VK7AX > BCAST 30.05.21 13:07z 430 Lines 22385 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 30May21
Text edition:
VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 30TH MAY 2021
--------------------------------
Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 30th of May 2021. At the mike of VK7WI this week is Justin, VK7TW.
This broadcast goes out on repeaters all over VK7 and on digital radio - DMR Talk Group 5 and D-Star Reflector 91C by Clayton, VK7ZCR.
We also go out on medium and high frequency courtesy of the following rebroadcast stations:
On 1.865 MHz by Graham VK7GS
On 3.670 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
On 7.140 MHz by Dale, VK7DG
On 14.130 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE and
On 28.525 MHz by Tony, VK7VKT
You can hear this broadcast again on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RTC in Southern VK7.
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Broadcast News
Digital Thank You
A huge thank you to Roger VK3KYY and Phil VK3PG who broadcast the WIA and VK7 Amateur Radio News broadcasts on DMR and DSTAR last week.
Unfortunately Clayton VK7ZCR was a little under the weather and Roger and Phil stepped in.
73, Clayton, VK7ZCR
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Interest Group News
Portable Radio RXing
Portable Radio RXing is an awards program for anybody interested in the radio hobby, which encourages portable operation in parks and similar areas.
Portable Radio RXing has been designed to make participation possible for anybody interested in the radio hobby. The rules are very simple, and the awards have been designed to be achievable. The purpose is to encourage portable operation in parks and other similar locations, making the radio hobby more public and allow radio hobbyists to enjoy the great outdoors.
For more details on the program take a look at the website available on the email edition of this broadcast. https://groups.io/g/PortableRadioRXing
73, PortableRadioRXing groups.io Moderator
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Contest News
2021 WIA Winter VHF and Above Winter Field Day
Well, the weather has begun to chill off, so that means it must be getting close to time for the Winter VHF/UHF field day. This year the field day will be held from 01:00 UTC on June 26th through to 00:59 UTC on June 27th. Plenty of categories to participate in, no need to go portable although it's a great opportunity to get out and about and play radio, but you can still operate from your home station. The field day is aimed at VHF and up to the best places to listen for activity would be 52.525, 146.500, 439.000 and 1296.150 on FM, and of course the usual SSB frequencies of 50.150, 144.150, 432.150 are always worth a listen or a call. Knowing your current grid square is a requirement for logging, so perhaps do some google earthing or use one of the many apps that will let you know your 6 digit grid square.
There are a couple of logging programs, VKCL and RD Contest Logger. Both will talk to your radio making logging easier.
Why not introduce a new licence holder to the world of field days, you never know where it may take them.
Hear you on the bands
https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/
73 Richard VK7ZBX
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QSL NEWS
Report - from Herman VK7HW Manager of the WIA VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
The current list of Cards held as at 23 May 2021, is in the email version of the broadcast.
If you have any questions re QSL cards, please contact Herman by email vk7bureau(at)wia.org.au
REAST members can collect their cards from the Domain Club rooms if they let Herman know to deliver them there. He can drop them off most Wednesdays at lunch time.
Thank you to those amateurs who have been in touch.
73, Herman, VK7HW, WIA Manager VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
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VK7 Inwards QSL Cards held as at 23 May 2021
AAA, AB, ACN, AD, AG, AIR, AL, AM, AO, AP, APZ, AS, ATH, AV
BA, BB, BPV
CH, CJ, CL, CV, CX
DG, DN, DO, DQ, DT, DZ
EG
FALX, FAZZ, FCIA, FEDT, FG, FGGT, FJFJ, FLAR, FOTR, FTAS
GA, GC, GM, GZ
HCH, HDM, HRS, HRW, HSJ, HVK, HZ
IK, IS
JA, JB, JGD, JP, JW
KBA, KD, KI, KJ, KL, KO, KR, KRJ, KX
LAZ, LDH, LLL, LM, LVH
MAG, MAT, MBD, MBP, MC, ME, MHZ, MI, MK, ML, MS
NA, NC, NMH, NRF, NSB, NSE, NSS, NTE, NWQ
PBD, PRN, PSJ, PW
RR/4, RUM
SN, SV
TAS, TCE, TED, TK, TS
VAC, VAZ, VH, VKV, VR, VZ
WA, WC, WIA, WT
XDM
YN
ZA, ZM, ZT, ZZ
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NEWS FROM THE NORTH WEST
North West Tasmania Radio & TV Group Meeting
The next club meeting will be commencing at 2pm on the 5th June at our usual venue, the Scout hall, 73 Alexander Road, Ulverstone. Afternoon tea will also be held.
At this meeting, the club members will decide on the new Club name, as well as vote on the final draft for the clubs incorporation rules. So, please attend and contribute. If you are unable to attend, please contact the Secretary Anne VK7BYL, before the Club Meeting, if you want to comment or make recommendations re the notices sent to all Club Members in regard to incorporation rules and name change.
A small plate of afternoon tea that has been commercially produced would be appreciated, this being a government suggested COVID requirement. We have single packaged Tea, Coffee and Sugar and disposable cups for members and guests. Members are encouraged to bring items for show & tell. Club rooms are open till 6pm for members to socialise. Visitors are most welcome to attend.
If you have any cold or flu symptoms, or are unwell, or in the last 14 days have been in contact with anyone that has been overseas, or been in contact with a confirmed COVID case, then please do not attend the meeting.
73, Eric VK7EV, News Officer
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NEWS FROM THE NORTH
SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP
The Summits On The Air/World Wide Flora and Fauna parks group is now meeting twice weekly – Mondays and Fridays 10.30AM till 12.00 at the Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry Street, Launceston.
For more information contact Al on 0417 354 410.
73, Al, VK7AN
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Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
Well only 2 more sleeps till winter begins on 1 June, or a bit longer to wait if you prefer to work off the solstice calendar. Mind you, the weather itself might not wait, as the temperature the last few days has dropped dramatically. Last Friday saw a heavy frost on the ground and the car for the first time required deicing with luke warm water. The joys of cold and short days are rapidly approaching.
News this week will be very brief, mainly a rehash of coming events. What I can advise is we had a good roll up for morning coffee last Friday and many members visited the main hall to once again pick over the many items still available and make some purchases. Some dollars were made but got tossed in amongst the morning coffee money so the poor Treasurer will need to work out the split. Must set up another container for donations for items purchased next week.
For those NTARC members that were involved in the Equine event on Saturday 29th May hopefully all went well, we look forward to receiving an update for inclusion in next weeks news.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TECH NIGHT – Wednesday 2nd June at the NTARC Club rooms, 19:30 hours until whenever. Continuous tea and coffee will be available, although a gold coin donation for the evening would be appreciated.
SLOW MORSE COURSE – Wednesday 2nd June. Your host and teacher is Nic VK7WW. Frequencies and times are the same as were used by Nic for the previous TestNet and TechNet. And if you have forgotten what they were, here they are, 1900 hrs to 1930 hrs on 3.580 MHz and then at 1930hours through to about 2030 on 3.567MHz.
So why not tune in and give it a try. By the end of each week, between Morse Course Sessions, participants may have learned 12 characters. Then its time to practice them on air.
Nic will be explaining “how to have a contact” and the procedures and protocols. For those who may want some extra help, this website is reported as being very good. www.morsecodeclassnet.com/
JUNE GENERAL MEETING - Saturday 12th June commencing at 14:00 (2:00 pm). At this point it will be the standard agenda. If you have any item you would like added to the agenda please email the secretary at: ntarc.emails(at)gmail.com no later than Wednesday 9th June. The meeting will be followed by afternoon tea and donations of cakes, slices etc would be appreciated.
COFFEE MORNINGS – currently held 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.
These coffee events in the past have been normally a good opportunity to collect your QSL cards. We have a large quantity of QSL cards at the Clubrooms for several members, notably VK7BO.
Andrew VK7DW, our QSL manager will arrange to have them delivered if not collected soon. He can be contacted at qsl(at)ntarc.net for any queries.
Please demonstrate your appreciation of all the effort that goes into operating the club and its facilities and other services we provide by joining us at these sessions, enjoying the company, coffee and the cake and leaving a gold coin or two, or even a small bank note, in the jar to assist in our on-going operations. I dont know of any other venue in Launceston where you can get endless coffee, tea and eats for a donation of this miniscule amount.
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 me at the following address ntarc.emails(at)gmail.com, all items to be received no later than 17:00 on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
Your continued cooperation in this regard will be greatly appreciated.
We will bring you all such contributions next Sunday morning.
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/
https://www.youtube.com/reasthobart/
June Presentation Night
https://www.facebook.com/events/3709318659180091
Our June presentation night is next Wednesday the 2nd June and will be given by Mike VK7DMH who will be describing his experiences receiving & decoding Weather, Commercial & Amateur satellite signals.
This will include the hardware, software & antennas that he used for this project will be discussed and used in this presentation.
This should be another fascinating presentation not to be missed. Starts 7:30pm in the Queens Domain clubrooms and will be streamed via the REAST YouTube channel.
See you there
73, REAST Committee
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Training and Assessments
REASTs next Foundation Licence course and all licence assessment day is on Saturday the 31st July 2021 from 9am to 3pm.
If you are thinking of coming along then please let Reg Emmett VK7KK REAST Learning Organiser know ASAP that you will be coming along by phoning 0417 391 607 or email assessor(at)reast.asn.au.
Check out the REAST Foundation Licence Training Videos that can be found on the REAST YouTube Training and Assessment playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsnsP_zjw831mdC6sY4XqavRUY-53ZWUn
Checkout the REAST Facebook page events for further details.
https://www.facebook.com/events/718404075716863/
73, Reg, VK7KK
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DATV Experimenter's Night
We setup a camera outside pointed at the Blood Moon and transitioned to the moon throughout the presentation.
We started the night with a blast from the past - a Dick Smith Australia Amateur Radio Handbook from 1982 with a review of the contents and some of the pictures. We then compared it to Peter Parkers VK3YE Australian Ham Radio Handbook from 2019.
We stayed with Dick Smith and a 20 metre roll of Dick Smith 300 ohm ribbon bought from the Baretta Tip Shop.
Staying with Tip Shop purchases we then looked at a Spectra Precision AL24A Auto Level and the repair that Justin VK7TW did to bring the unit back to usable through a lathe repair.
There was then the recent announcement of the General Availability (GA) release of WSJT-X version 2.4.0, which includes the new digital mode Q65. Q65 is designed for two-way QSOs over especially difficult propagation paths including ionospheric scatter, troposcatter, rain scatter, TEP, EME, and other types of fast-fading signals.
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Q65_Quick_Start.pdf
https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.4.0.html
We then went into the GNU Radio Companion Session Workshop Three starting with a reminder of the Microwave Update MUD conference 2019 workshop book we are working through.
https://www.ntms.org/
We recapped the Core Concepts of Source (samples into your flowgraph) and Sink (removes samples from your flowgraph), Transformational blocks, Signal formats colour codes, wiring blocks together, searching for blocks, putting control elements with blocks, underlined elements and real-time control and when to use throttles.
Justin then attempted to demonstrate the advantages of converting to I&Q values representing frequency, amplitude and phase with two mathematical values using the GNC tool.
http://whiteboard.ping.se/SDR/IQ - show AM, FM, BPSK representation
We then revisited Exercise #2 and frequency control and then moved on to Exercise #3 and the configuration of the noise source and low pass filter blocks and the function of the low pass filter in and out of the flow graph.
Next time on 9th June we will be continuing with the GNU Radio Workshop with Exercise #4 and the Filter Designer.
We reminded the audience of our future presentation nights and finished up the night.
We take a break for a fortnight as this Wednesday is our presentation so, see you on June 9th.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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Local DX News
VK9 Christmas Island
Steve, VK6SJ, who is expected to be active as VK9XX from Christmas Island (OC-002) - he says….VK9XX will be active from the 28th May for between two and three weeks, but I'll be working on the island so not on 24/7. I will be taking a Yaesu FT-857D and a simple Sotabeams antennas plus an ATAS mobile vertical. I will also be barefoot. This will also be mostly outside working hours and focused on the night time bands and mainly FT8.
My first priority will be work and I doubt that I will have any time during the day so any requests for operation during the day are unlikely to be filled.
QSL for this operation will be via EB7DX. David did a sterling job on VK9CE and very happy to have him back on this operation.
The plan is to operate a separate band each night (I don't want to go out and change the antenna at night! :) Caveat here is that if I have a dead band, I will change band rather than call into nothing.
Expected hours of operation will be 1100-1500z and 2200-0000z each day. If I get ahead of schedule in my work, I may squeeze in a day off, in which I will see if I can tune up the dipole on 6m, 10m & 15m during
the day. I also hope to have an icon on this page (QRZ.com) that shows when and where I'm on air."
Steve provides the following schedule and suggested frequencies on QRZ.com and on the email edition of this broadcast.
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Schedule Bands Suggested Frequencies (kHz)/Modes
80m (May 31st/June 4th/June 8th) 3625/SSB and 3567/FT8
40m (May 29th/June 2nd/June 6th/June 10th) 7180/SSB and 7056/FT8
30m (May 30th/June 3rd/June 7th/June 11th) 10131/FT8
20m (May 28th/June 1st/June 5th/June 9th) 14280/SSB and 14090/FT8
---------------- ---------------------------------
All FT8 operation will be Fox & Hound mode.
Please read up on this mode - FT8_DXpedition_Mode:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FT8_DXpedition_Mode.pdf
so you don't call in my spot (around 350Hz) or you won't get answered (the software only recognizes calls above 1000Hz). I will only be doing a single stream as being barefoot, I think if I go more than 1 stream, I'll probably disappear into the noise, never to be heard again! :)
I will stop FT8 at the end of each hour and try SSB for 10 minutes minimum. If I get a run on SSB, I'll stay there until I don't, then return to FT8. SSB operation will be split frequency, listening 5kHz up and +/- QRM. Please please be gentle with me though. I'm using a simple mobile rig and low power so I need the pileup to be ordered or I'll just go back to FT8.
During the CQWPX CW contest on the 29th and 30th, Steve may answer a bunch of stations calling CQ Test, but I don't think my CW is up to managing a pileup. Happy to do the odd sked on CW. Email me if you want to try something. E-mail is on my home call QRZ page.
I know there are a bunch of JAs looking for VK9X on 6m. E-mail me if you think the band is open and I'll give it a shot. Not sure what I'll have on 6m yet but as a minimum it will be a mobile vertical on the balcony."
Updates will be given via QRZ.com.
Steve VK6SJ/VK9XX via SouthGate AR News
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Space News
A CubeSat that produces visible light on the ground to be launched in NASA initiative
NASA has selected a CubeSat that when in orbit can be commanded by anyone with an amateur radio license and a ham radio to set off a xenon flash from the spacecraft which will be visible from the ground.
Roughly the size of a toaster, the 1U CubeSat named LightCube, was designed, built, and tested by an interdisciplinary team of students, advisors, and engineers across multiple organisations at the Arizona State University.
It is scheduled to head to the International Space Station (ISS) as an auxiliary payload aboard a rocket launching between 2022 and 2025. Once deployed the CubeSat will respond with a flash using on-board xenon flashtubes that will be visible to the naked eye of the commander.
“The public will be able to track the LightCube satellite using an app, then transmit to the satellite with a ham radio. Once the signal has been received, they will see a flash from the satellite in the night sky,” said Principal Investigator Jaime Sanchez de la Vega, of Vega Space Systems,
According to the CubeSats website, its mission objective is “to produce a light visible to the naked eye of observers on Earth”, as well as “aiming to inspire and provide a learning experience to people across the planet Earth.”
“This is an education-based mission,” said Danny Jacobs, assistant professor at ASUs School of Earth and Space Exploration and the initiatives associate director. “Our goal in building and launching a spacecraft that can be commanded by the public is to inspire everyone to learn about telecommunications, spacecraft design, atmospheric and climate science, and orbital mechanics.”
The spacecraft will include a UHF antenna led by the CETYS Universidad team, in Baja California, Mexico, xenon flashtubes, solar panels, an onboard computer, transceiver and a deployable gravity gradient boom that orients the light toward Earth.
https://room.eu.com/news/a-cubesat-that-produces-visible-light-on-the-ground-to-be-launched-in-nasa-initiative
(Sourced from the SouthGate AR News)
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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.
NTARC – Friday coffee session – Rocherlea clubrooms Launceston from 10:00am
NTARC - Tech Night sessions Wednesday 2nd June - Rocherlea clubrooms Launceston
NTARC - Slow Morse Training Wednesday 2nd June on Tech Net Frequencies
NW VK7 – Wednesday from 2000 local – NW Tassie Amateur Repeater Group Net on VK7RMD - 146.625, 141.3 tone.
NW VK7 - Thursday commencing at 10:30 UTC (20:30 local) - N.W. Tassie 2m DX Net 144.190 USB (upper sideband).
REAST – MICROWAVE QSO Party – following after the Sunday broadcast on 1296.15 MHz FM.
REAST – WAGS – Wednesday Afternoon Group meet in the Queens Domain Clubrooms from 12 noon.
REAST – DATV Experimenters Nights from 7:30pm live in the club rooms also on DVBT RF and YouTube Streaming
Sewing Circle Net – Daily on 3.640 MHz commences at 5:00pm.
Events:
REAST - 2 June - Satellites & Satellite Antennas with Mike Hawkins VK7DMH from 7:30pm in Queens Domain clubrooms
NWTR&TVG - 5 June - Club meeting from 2pm at Scout Hall, 73 Alexander Road, Ulverstone.
NTARC - 12 June - Meeting from 2:00 pm
WIA - 26 June - WIA Virtual Annual General Meeting commencing at 11.00 am
WIA - 26-27 June - WIA VHF and above Field Day 0100-0059 UTC
REAST - 4 August - Contesting HF & VHF with VK7GN & VK7ZBX - Queens Domain clubrooms from 7:30pm
--------------------------------
A reminder to those people rostered for next weeks broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7ZIR
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and in the NW thanks to NWTR&TVG, West Coast Radio Group, Cradle Coast Radio Amateur Radio Club, VK7AX, and VK7DC
160m: VK7GS
80m: VK7DG
40m: VK7TPE
20m: VK7ALH
10m: VK7JGD
DMR: Talk Group 5 and D-Star: Reflector 91C VK7ZCR
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You can hear this broadcast again on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RTC in Southern VK7.
A huge thank you 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 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(at)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.
On behalf of the VK7 Amateur Radio News Team its 73 from Justin, VK7TW.
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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