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VK7AX > BCAST 11.06.21 02:05z 410 Lines 23041 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 06Jun21
Text edition:
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VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 6TH JUNE 2021
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 6th of June 2021. At the mike of VK7WI this week is Idris, VK7ZIR.
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 Dale, VK7DG
On 7.140 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE
On 14.130 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH and
On 28.525 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
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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RAOTC News
Broadcast for June
This is a reminder about the RAOTC broadcast for the 7th of June 2021 at 8pm local time; thatâÖs tomorrow night for those listening on Sunday.
The RAOTC AGM, scheduled for September, will again be held virtually. Details to be circulated later.
Further to the item last month regarding Joan Eleanor, information has come to light that not only VHF was used for ground-to-air telephony during World War 2. The so-called âS PhoneâÖ was also developed for the US Army using UHF to further prevent German espionage.
The second item is taken from Cosmos Magazine describing research on the exposure to lead from car exhaust in early life and its mental health effects in later life.
The final article called âCalling Mrs BoyeâÖ tells of Sydney born Ruby Boye (nee Jones) and her experience as a radio operator in the Solomon Islands in the 1940s, a position she inherited by default. She taught herself Morse Code and despite intimidation from advancing Japanese forces remained at her post until warâÖs end.
In addition to the RAOTC Broadcast more can be seen about Ruby Boye on a link in the text edition of this broadcast:
https://www.navy.gov.au/biography/third-officer-ruby-boye
Listen at 8 pm Monday local time over the VK7RAA/RTC state-wide network or at about 8:30pm as a telecast on VK7AX âSpectrum TasmaniaâÖ via the BATC membersâÖ stream or in the Ulverstone area on 445.50MHz DATV.
The date is June 7th. Call backs will follow on both networks. Please call in if you are able.Callback statistics are sent to the RAOTC broadcast committee.
If you miss the off-air broadcasts you can listen to the audio file on the RAOTC website.
https://www.raotc.org.au/
73, Peter VK7PD
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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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NEWS FROM THE NORTH WEST
CHAT & SHOW GROUP.
The group will be meeting on the 3rd of July at 2pm at the Ulverstone Sports Complex in Flora St. West Ulverstone. Come to the door marked Show Society Office and ring the phone number listed to cooperate with new regulations of the premises.
Tea and Coffee will be available all the afternoon, and a small snack to put on the table is appreciated.
Would you please use commercially produced items for afternoon tea to work with COVID issues, and make it a small package and take home your leftovers.
All COVID regulations still apply, and it would be very pleasing if you could carry out the regulations set out by the authorities. I'm sure you know by now all that there is to consider.
Sanitizer will be available and an attendance page to fill in as well.
Bring along new and old toys to show, discuss, or talk to us about, and projects under way as well.
Anybody visiting in the area at the time is welcome to drop in for a radio rag chew and a drink.
Hope some have time to join us
73 Shirl VK7HSC
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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 â 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
We begin this week with a report on how things went last Saturday at Wattlewood Park, Sassafras, in regards to the Equine Endurance event, so it is over to Norm VK7KTN, NTARCâÖs Safety Comms Coordinator.
âThis is our second ride held at Wattlewood Park, Sassafras, recognisable by the tractor on the pole. The Perry property was the site of past tractor-pulls, vintage machinery rallies, military vehicle outings and a miniature railway track.
The advance party arrived Friday morning and set up the Communication trailer next to the only permanent structure, a big green shed. Again there was no mains power infrastructure, so the trailer ran on the 12V battery system, recharged by our trusty Honda generator.
There were 3 rides held, an 80km event which started at 07:00 hours with 32 riders, a 40Km event followed at 07:30 hours with 22 riders and finally a 20Km event starting at civilised 09:00 hours with 6 riders.
Saturday was a cold start, minus 2 degrees. When we arrived, the canteen was in darkness, the volunteers initially being unable to start the generator.
Stefan was on the first checkpoint and had to head out without any breakfast. After testing his equipment Roger VK7ARN headed out to his checkpoint. Idris and Bernie VK7BR were on a checkpoint on the leg 2 of the 80 km ride. They weren't needed for a while and took pity on Stefan so they did an âUber eatsâ breakfast delivery to him which was much appreciated.
After all the 20 Km riders had passed by Stefan, he relocated to RogerâÖs checkpoint. This allowed Roger to concentrate on his photography. Roger was well organized with a 2nd camera on a tripod which was remotely controlled from the communication table.
The last pair of rider finished the day at 16:02 hours and as it was approaching sunset, we decided to collect the trailer and repeaters on Sunday.
My thanks to: checkpoint crews Idris VK7ZIR, Bernie VK7BR, Roger VK7ARN and Stefan VK7ZSB. At base, André VK7ZAB and Lorraine with software support from Peter VK7SP in far-off Switzerland. Also thanks to the Perry family for their hospitality.
The next endurance commitment is 28th of August at Santarena Park, Scottsdale.
Cheers, Norm Thorley VK7KTN, NTARC Safety Comms Coordinatorâ
We follow up on this event with a an update from Idris VK7ZIR on the happenings of last Wednesday Tech Night at the club rooms; âOnce again we arrived at the Clubrooms to find Peter VK7KPC already hard at work in the Radio Shack, copying Morse code from Nic VK7WWâÖs Slow Morse School. He had set the wood heater going and fired up the urns ready for the evening, so we quietly left him to his code practice. Good work Peter.
As people were coming in from the cold, the usual practice was a quick warm up by the heater, then start a discussion or head off to the big hall for another shopping expedition. I must say that things are looking rather sparse down there, which is very good as it means that items are being reused rather than going to e-waste or landfill.
Peter reappeared after completing his Morseing, and showed us an antenna from his military communications collection. This is a VHF Army Field Antenna, meant to be mounted on a telescopic mast at a radio field unit. Peter intends to use it with his Larkspur transceiver set, having added a non-military steel bracket enabling it to be mounted on his caravan. Ruggedly built with a steel main section, there are two telescopic vertical elements which are adjustable over the range 36 to 60 Mhz and marked in 1 MHz increments. The three supporting guy ropes also incorporate drooping counterpoise elements. A very interesting aspect of this antenna was the connector at the base. It was of a type we hadnâÖt seen before, and Peter informed us that it was a Burndept connector, common in military equipment from various Commonwealth countries. It resembled a reverse SO239 socket, but with a centre pin instead. Apparently they are still available as a part. Our resident âboat anchorâ Racal RA-17 receiver proved to have two of them on the rear panel with another having been converted to SO239. Thankyou Peter for an interesting display.
Speaking of interesting displays, next Tech Session on the 16th of June, there will be a presentation by an engine modeller of his build of a 9 cylinder rotary engine. Each piston is 25mm diameter, which gives an indication of scale. Not to be missed.
The rest of the evening was going gangbusters with technical discussions over coffee, and a few fruity stories from our entertainment officer Ebenezer VK7AT. All good fun.
73, Idris VK7ZIRâ
UPCOMING EVENTS
SLOW MORSE COURSE â Wednesday 9th 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 itâÖs time to practice them on air.
Nic will be explaining âhow to have a contactâ 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, this is your final reminder. I am aware that Monday the 14th is a public holiday for the QueenâÖs Birthday but hopefully many of you wonâÖt be escaping city life for the weekend, so why not pop in and catch up with what has been happening. Meeting commences 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. As always a gold coin or note donation is welcomed to assist in our ongoing costs of running the club.
TECH NIGHT â Wednesday 16th June at the NTARC Club rooms, 19:30 hours until whenever. Highlight of the evening will be a presentation by an engine modeller of his build of a 9 cylinder rotary engine. Each piston is 25mm diameter, which gives an indication of scale. Not to be missed.
Continuous tea and coffee will be available, although again, a gold coin donation for the evening would be appreciated.
FUTURE EVENTS â Saturday 28 August, Equine Endurance ride, Santarena Park, Scottsdale. Plenty of warning to help out on this ride. Further information as it comes to hand.
COFFEE MORNINGS â 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@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 donâÖt know of any other venue in Launceston where you can get endless coffee, tea and eats for a donation of this miniscule amount.
FINALLY â 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 Wrap-Up
Our June presentation night was given by Mike VK7DMH describing his experiences receiving & decoding Weather, Commercial & Amateur satellite signals.
This is a practical demonstration that includes a NOAA-15 pass with decodes.
Mike started his journey with decoding weather satellites with his ICOM transceiver then moved to an RTL-SDR
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/
https://secomms.com.au/product/rtl-sdr-blog-v3-r820t2-rtl2832u-1ppm-tcxo-sma-software-defined-radio-dongle/
The two programs that Mike is using are SDRConsole / SDRPlay and WXtoImg and Mike described these. Mike connects these programs with a Virtual Audio Cable program.
SDRConsole - https://www.sdr-radio.com/download
WXtoImg - https://www.wraase.de/wxtoimg/
VB-AudioCable - https://vb-audio.com/Cable/
Mike then talks about his antennas - turnstiles - crossed moxons - 2m / 70cm versions and goes into how he constructed them. There was a quadrafiliar helix he was using outside for this satellite.
The decode started to decode on the screen and data was being received and appeared in the WXtoImag program and decoded.
Mike then showed the result of a good pass during the day.
Mike showed a number of images he had decoded including some showing the NSW bushfires last Christmas.
Mike showed some data from AO-73 Funcube and the data decoded by Funcube Dashboard program.
https://www.amsat.org/two-way-satellites/ao-73-funcube-1/
https://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/
Mike finished up and took questions.
A huge thank you to Mike and all who came along. The presentation is available on the REAST YouTube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoqeXEwKJOo&feature=youtu.be
73, REAST Committee
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July Presentation Night
Tasmanian Maritime Radio
Our July presentation night will be on the second Wednesday night - the 14th July from 7:30pm.
Barry McCann will be doing a presentation on the Tas Maritime Radio Network that now covers all of Tasmania.
Barry will then do a tour of the operations room and the museum which is in the building next to our clubrooms.
This will be a fascinating presentation and tour and demystify our close neighbours and show the vast radio network that Tas Maritime is responsible for monitoring.
73, REAST Committee
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Training and Assessments
REASTâÖs 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
This Wednesday night we continue our GNU Radio Companion workshops, battery powered soldering irons, and a review of the latest DUBUS and AR magazines.
We get underway from 7:30pm in the QueenâÖs Domain clubrooms.
Keep an eye on the REAST Facebook Events for more details. Why not come up to the Queens Domain COVID-safe clubrooms and see what we get up to.
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/
73, Justin, VK7TW
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Very Low Frequency News
SAQ Grimeton Transmission
The annual transmission event on the Alexanderson Day with the Alexanderson Alternator from 1924, on VLF 17.2 kHz CW with the call sign SAQ, is scheduled for Sunday, July 4th, 2021.
The Alexander Grimeton Association are planning to carry out two broadcasts to the world from the old Alexanderson alternator SAQ.
The transmission schedule is startup and tuning at 10:30 CET (08:30 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 11:00 CET (09:00 UTC)
Startup and tuning at 13:30 CET (11:30 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 14:00 CET (12:00 UTC)
There will be Live Video from World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station. Both transmission events can be seen live on our YouTube Channel.
The live video starts 5 minutes before the startup and tuning.
QSL Reports for the 17.2kHz signal can be sent to SAQ via their online QSL form.
Please only send ONE report covering both transmissions.
The online form will be open from July 4th until August 3rd.
There is also an amateur radio station SK6SAQ operating and will be QRV on 3.535 kHz CW or 7.140 kHz SSB.
QSL-reports for SK6SAQ (NOT SAQ) are kindly received via Email to info(at)alexander.n.se or via: SM bureau or direct by postal mail.
https://alexander.n.se/the-radio-station-saq-grimeton/the-alexanderson-transmitter/?lang=en
Sourced from the SAQ Mailing List.
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
SOTA/WWFF Group â Meeting Mondays and Fridays 10.30-12.00 midday at Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry St, Launceston.
NTARC â Friday coffee session â Rocherlea clubrooms Launceston from 10:00am
NTARC - Tech Night sessions Wednesday 16th June - Rocherlea clubrooms Launceston
NTARC - Slow Morse Training Wednesday 9nd June on Tech Net Frequencies
NW VK7 â Wednesday from 2000 local â 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 â MICROWAVE QSO Party â following after the Sunday broadcast on 1296.15 MHz FM.
REAST â WAGS â Wednesday Afternoon Group meet in the Queens Domain Clubrooms from 12 noon.
REAST â DATV ExperimenterâÖs Nights from 7:30pm live in the club rooms also on DVBT RF and YouTube Streaming
Sewing Circle Net â Daily on 3.640 MHz commences at 5:00pm.
Events:
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
NW VK7 - 3 July - Chat and Show Gathering from 2pm at the Ulverstone Sports Complex in Flora St. West Ulverstone.
REAST - 14 July - Tas Maritime Radio Presentation and Tour of Facilities with Barry McCann from 7:30pm in Queens Domain clubrooms
REAST - 4 August - Contesting HF & VHF with VK7GN & VK7ZBX - Queens Domain clubrooms from 7:30pm
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A reminder to those people rostered for next weekâÖs broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7FB
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: VK7TPE
40m: VK7ALH
20m: VK7JGD
10m: VK7DG
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.
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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(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 itâÖs 73 from Idris, VK7ZIR.
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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