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VK7AX > BCAST 10.08.22 06:00z 456 Lines 24635 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 07Aug22
Text edition:
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VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 7 August 2022
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News and this was first broadcast on Sunday the 7th August 2022. At the mike of VK7WI this week is Justin, VK7TW.
On Sunday 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 go out on medium and high frequency courtesy of the following rebroadcast stations:
On 1.862 MHz by Graham, VK7GS
On 3.670 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE
On 7.140 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
On 14.130 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD and
On 28.525 MHz by Dale, VK7DG
We also go out on UHF CB Channel 15 thanks to Mark VK7FMAC in the Hobart area.
You can hear this broadcast again on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RAD in Southern VK7.
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Contest News
Remembrance Day Contest
The 2022 RD Contest is next weekend! Yes, the contest that nearly stops the nation is on again on August 13th and 14th, from 03:00 (1PM) – 03:00 (1PM) UTC.
This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died during World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and help improve the operating skills of participants. It is held on the weekend closest to the 15th August, the date on which hostilities ceased in the southwest Pacific area. It is preceded by a short opening address by a Guest Speaker transmitted on various repeater for the 15 minutes preceding the start time.
During this ceremony, a roll call of amateurs who paid the supreme sacrifice during WWII is read. The perpetual trophy is ordinarily held by the WIA at its national office and is inscribed annually with the name of the winning State or Territory
This is one of the favourite, friendly contests on the calendar and as such attracts many people that “don’t do contestsö and with very good reason, as it is great fun!
The RD Contest occurs on all bands from 160M right up into the millimeter bands except for the WARC bands 12, 18 and 24 Mhz.
Here in VK7 we have an excellent opportunity to score well as we have a fantastic group of dedicated HF operators to cover the HF bands, and a growing band of people to take advantage of our ever growing band of devotees to the higher bands. We have a very active group of over 23 active amateurs on 23cm and a growing bunch of 13cm, 9cm and 3cm operators. On the higher bands and 160m the points are double and then triple between 01:00 – 06:00 local time.
Categories are Single Operator, Single operator – QRP, Multi Operator – Single Transmitter and Multi Operator – Multi Transmitter.
There are 3 sub categories in each too, Phone (AM,FM & SSB), CW (CW & RTTY) and Mixed that consists of both Phone and CW
Logging can be carried out with many options. VKCL (VK Contest Logger) has always been a popular choice, along with RDLOG from John VK5DJ, N1MM with data file from Alan VK4SN and checkout the new player YACL (Yet Another Contest Logger) from Doug VK4ADC. With so many great options why not consider giving one a try. If your rig does CAT control with Omnirig it can help reduces some of the common logging errors of mode and band. Please take care to enter data carefully and accurately into the log or contacts will not be counted.
Consider getting a team together and having some team fun. This is a great opportunity for newly licenced operators to dip the toe as it were into contesting.
There are the usual places to look for activity on VHF such as 52.525MHz, 146.500 MHz, 439.000MHz, 1296.150MHz and well whereever you can find a spot on HF.
The rules are posted on the WIA site. https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/rdcontest/documents/RDContestRules.pdf
If anyone would like to know more about operating, setting up logging software please reach out to either myself or any of the committee at REAST and they will be only too happy to assist.
For those coming up to the REAST DATV Experimenters Night this Wednesday night we will be focusing on preparations for the RD contest.
Good Luck in the contest!
73 Richard VK7ZBX
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Conference News
Tassie Ham Radio Conference & Expo
5th and 6th November 2022
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/
The Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo is in full steam planning phase and registrations will be open in the next few days.
We already have a full day of presentations on the Saturday and a huge number of vendors coming down in person on the Sunday. We have many people from many VK states and ZL who have already booked plane fares and are looking forward to making the trip.
This week we focus on the Tassie Ham Radio Expo on Sunday November the 6th and we're looking for those who want a preloved equipment table or two to let us know ASAP so we can start planning this area of the Expo.
Why not give that shack a good spring clean and sell some of that preloved equipment so you can save for that new transceiver you've always been wanting.
Please email us at tassiehamexpo(at)gmail.com
Additionally if anyone would like to setup a stand showing off their favourite interest in the hobby, please let us know.
This conference and expo is all happening at the University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus in a spacious and contemporary Sir Stanley Burbury Lecture Theatre complex.
There is plenty of free car parking available directly outside the venue for those willing to travel.
Registrations open shortly for the event and are essential.
Look forward to seeing you all in Hobart!
Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo Organizing Committee
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QSL News
Report - from Herman VK7HW Manager of the WIA VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
The current list of QSL Cards held as at 29 July 2022 is in the email version of the broadcast.
If you do not want to receive cards via the Bureau please let me know and also let stations you work know.
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
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VK7 Inwards QSL Cards held as at 29 July 2022
A, AAA, AAB, AB, ACN, AD, AG(2014), AIR, AL, AM, AO, AP, APZ, AS, ATH, AV
BA, BB, BBB, BEN, BM, BPV, BT, BYE
C, CJ, CL, CV, CX
DG, DM, DN, DO, DQ, DX, DZ
EA, EE, EG, ER
FALX, FAZZ, FCIA, FG, FGGT, FJFJ, FLAR, FRJG(RG), FTAS
GA, GG, GH, GM, GR, GW, GZ
HCH, HDM, HOB, HL, HRS, HSA, HSJ, HVK, HZ
IAN,IK, IS
JA, JB, JCR, JJ, JJJ, JOK, JP, JW
KBA, KD, KDO, KJ, KKR, KL(KI ?), KO, KPB, KRJ
LAZ, LDH, LDK, LLL, LM, LT, LTD, LVH, LW
MAG, MAT, MBD, MC, MEL, MET, MHZ, MS
NA, NC, NFI, NIK, NRF, NSB, NSE, NTE, NWQ
OB, OO, OT
PAF, PBD, PRN, PSJ, PSZ, PW
QK
RG(FRJG)
SA, SN, STO, SV
TCE, TED, TK, TL, TU
UT
VA, VAC, VAZ, VDC, VH, VR, VTM, VZ
WA, WC, WIA, WN, WO, WT, WX
XDM, XTC
YN
ZA, ZJJ, ZK, ZM, ZT, ZX, ZZ
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Statewide News
Thursday Night SSTV Net
Thursday night saw 70 photos shared over two hours with the following participants VK7s FGGT, ZBX, ZMS, ZSB, ZGK, KRJ, KT, ZCF, EV, KPC, OO and TW.
There was a great theme of well known Tasmanian places throughout the images as well as a theme of British TV talent!
Ken VK7KRJ increased the number of images displayed on his SSTVCam website to showing the last 27 images which was quickly overtaken with more images! Thanks Ken.
https://sstv.vk7krj.com/2m.html
The images can also be viewed on the NTARC Blog page thanks to Andre VK7ZAB and the link can be found on the email edition of the broadcast.
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs/sstv-net-4-august-2022
A reminder in Southern Tasmania, VK7RAF (146.650 -600kHz) can be used both locally and linked to VK7RJG by using different CTCSS tones. 123Hz for local Southern operation and 141.3Hz for linking RAF to VK7RJG (438.55 -7Mhz). When using VK7RJG you need a 141.3Hz CTCSS tone to link with VK7RAF.
We will continue these nights so why not join in and share some pictures. It’s a great way to test your digital interfacing. We get underway from around 7:30pm.
73, Justin VK7TW
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NEWS FROM THE NORTH
SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP
The Summits On The Air/World Wide Flora and Fauna parks group meets 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
Saturday morning rolled around and a good number of hardy club members turned up in the cold for the working bee at the club rooms. Peter VK7KPC, turned up first and had the urn and hot water on in plenty of time for the arrival of the troops. We certainly did need the first drink to get warmed and motivated. It was good to see VK7s Peter KPC, Andre’ ZAB, Ian IG, Brendan VIP, Idris ZIR, Stuart FEAT, Lewis IT, Kevin KJL, Tony ZTT and Stefan ZSB all raring to go.
The “Hope to be able to doö job for the day was the installation of a Folded Multi Band HF Dipole. Which is on long term loan from Peter. Made by Marshal and covering 80 to 10 metres of HF bands. This is to replace the old G5RV which succumbed to storm damage. As this was external to the building, completion was in the lap of weather gods. It was a case of all hands on deck and under the guidance of Peter all went well. The fixings on the chimney and a convenient tree were installed and the antenna hoisted sky ward. No doubt this will be tested out by Peter during next Wednesday night’s Test-Net session held on HF, hosted by Nic, VK7WW, fingers crossed.
The security alarm system upgrade was started with some new field cables being run in and the preparation of the wall space for the main control equipment. A work in progress for Kevin and helpers.
A pile of wood was split and stacked in anticipation of Luke Sky Warmer’s appetite and what he will consume while keeping us all warm and cosy for the rest of the winter chills. Stuart sure is handy with an axe.
The hall fire place finally has its “Crowning Gloryö or should I say its “Mantelpiece Gloryö. It now looks complete. One of those “non-radioö type jobs that has niggled away for years but gets forgotten about. Thought to be an easy job, but like most mature buildings, it’s never as easy as it looks. Thank you Brendon for persevering with this one.
We eventually stopped for some refreshments and lunch as it was getting well into the afternoon. You know how it is, when you are on a roll and you can see progress you just want to keep going!
Luckily the rain held off for the remainder of the day. This allowed some of the guttering and down pipes to be repaired and replaced by Lewis and hampered by the many supervisors. The last of the outside jobs being, removal of broken bottles and pruning of some dangerous looking tree limbs.
Finally a well-earned finish, final drinks and a warmup next to Luke Sky Warmer. All in all it ended up being a very productive day. Great job by all who ventured out.
Pictures from the day are available on the NTARC website under “Blogsö.
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs/working-bee-30-july-2022
The "mystery item" that turned up in one of the donated boxes of equipment and parts mentioned last month has been formally identified by Lionel, VK7ZLB.
This item took the form of what looked like a vacuum tube with a valve type base at one end, the other end has a ceramic insulated electrode. Its casing is a lathed stainless steel cylinder about 100mm long and 38mm diameter with quite a hefty weight to go with it. The only visible marking was the word "Vibron" printed on the steel sleeve.
Well, it turns out not to have been a vacuum tube, but a "Vibrating Capacitor".
Internally, the top electrode is fixed to a 19mm diameter highly polished gold plated disc 1.5mm thick. There is an identical plate in the bottom of the cavity, and when assembled, there is a spacing of approximately 2mm between the plates. The lower plate is mechanically attached to a shaft which passes through the centre of a non-polarised solenoid coil assembly in the base. The entire unit is also filled with an inert gas to prevent any contamination of the capacitive plate surface.
Depending on the polarity of the applied current to the solenoid coil, the plates move closer together or further apart. Variation of the gap produces variations in capacitance which generate a sinusoidal alternating voltage of magnitude proportional to the input voltage.
This provides the Vibron with an extremely high input impedance, and the ability to measure resistances as high as 10 to the power of 9, Meg Ohms. Yes you did hear correctly! The solenoid can be energised from a normal valve AC heater supply.
A most unusual and I would say pretty rare device to find nowadays. Thanks to Lionel for his perseverance in solving this one.
A much more comprehensive description of this amazing device and a link to pictures is available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogsö Link included in text version.
Mystery Object - Vibron — NTARC Inc.
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs/jh3vv801ezsdd5lkhjzhoeqax7g3k1
SSTV - Thursday night was once again an enthusiastic night, no interference in either direction was experienced. This resulted in very clear images compared to last week. We had the added advantage of a new web site by Phil, VK7ZPD, for the automatic decoding and displaying of the last twelve received SSTV images.
The site is in the construction phase and more information will be passed on after Phil is happy with the testing. Between Phil in the North and Ken VK7KRJ in the South, amateurs will soon have the ability to see how their images are being received in various areas of the state.
The link to Phil’s SSTV Web site is available in the email edition of the broadcast.
http://vk7zpd.freeddns.org/
UPCOMING EVENTS
Club Technical night – Wednesday 10th August. Held at the NTARC Club rooms, 7.30pm until late.
SSTV Net - held every Thursday night on the 70cm repeater, VK7RJG and linked to the South via repeater VK7RAF. Conducted from 7.30pm till about 9.30pm, at the moment. These SSTV images will be available on the NTARC website under ‘Blogs’.
Club General Meeting – Saturday 13th August. Held at the NTARC Club Room, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street, Rocherlea. Meeting commences at 2pm.
TestNet and TechNet – Wednesday 17th August. TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7pm till 7.30pm….and a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30pm till about 8.30pm. Your host for the evening will again be Nic VK7WW.
Club Social Night - Wednesday evening the 14th of September. To be held at the family friendly Mowbray Hotel. Those who wish to attend please register the number of places required to the Secretary or on the registration sheet at the club rooms.
Coffee Morning – held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Get warm while you catch up, time is from 10am to noon and we look forward to seeing you all there. These coffee events represent a good opportunity to collect your QSL cards. We currently have cards awaiting collection, so why not pop in and check the QSL box and join us for a cuppa and chat.
The club is follow the Covid 19 recommendation to continue wearing face masks when gathering.
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 the Secretary at the following address news(at)ntarc.net all items to be received no later than 5pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
That’s all folks,
73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC.
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NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
WICEN Tas (South)
https://wicentas.org/
In mid October the WICEN resources are being called on again to provide comms for the annual endurance ride held in the Pyengana area.
There will be an 80, 40 and a twenty kilometre leg, so no need to work in the dark.
Any amateur or listener that can assist, please contact Rod VK7TRF via email on roja3kel(at)yahoo.com.au.
The ride is on Saturday 15 October, but we will be setting things up on the Friday. Our base will be at the Pyengana recreation ground.
See you there,
73 Rod VK7TRF
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Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
https://www.reast.asn.au/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
https://www.youtube.com/reasthobart/
Ham Radio Fox Hunt Morning
https://fb.me/e/2xwfHjZtu
Tomorrow - Saturday the 6th August is the Fox Hunt day, we meet at the Domain from 9:30am
Plenty of prizes on offer.
QRP Fox Hunt Sponsored by REAST and DX (Hobart-Wide) hunt sponsored by Ham Radio DX. You gotta be in it to win it!
Get your yagi antennas and attenuators ready for a fun morning of searching for our Foxes!
We'll start with a QRP powered trial Fox Hunt on the Domain so you can test your antennas and attenuators and then apply it to the city wide hunt where the Fox will be hidden somewhere within the Greater Hobart area on the 2 metre band.
Get your friends together and form a team to try and track down our elusive Fox.
We will be having a BBQ and you are welcome to BYO if you would like something special on the BBQ or you can grab a snag/sav on bread with onions on the day at lunch time!
Come up for a hunt, a snag and a chin wag this Saturday at the club rooms!
73, REAST Committee
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Training and Assessments
REAST’s next Foundation Licence training and all licence assessment day is Saturday the 24th September 2022.
If you are thinking of coming along then please let Reg Emmett VK7KK REAST Learning Organiser know 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
And checkout the REAST Facebook page events for further details.
https://fb.me/e/1YiYqV2wC
73, Reg, VK7KK
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REAST August Presentation
AccessibleGD77 Software
Last Thursday night Joe Stephen VK7JS and son Micah ventured down to Hobart for the REAST August presentation night and a huge thank you to Joe and Micah for making the journey.
It was an almost full-house with a huge number viewing the streamed presentation as well.
For those who don’t know, Joe is totally blind but instead of this holding him back he has developed a reputation developing software for the vision impaired.
Joe let us know he was lucky to have survived as he was a very sick baby born with only 2% of his vision and was not expected to have survived. However, he went on to grow into an adventurous young man who was the first blind person to complete his Maths 1 and 2 at year 12 in South Australia and went on to being the first blind person to complete his Computer Science degree in VK5.
Joe went on to develop many pieces of software including the very popular JAWS screen reader software that enables blind people around the world to access computers, including reading webpages, interacting with spread sheets and much more, using speech and Braille feedback.
Joe took the audience through his development of the AccessibleGD77 firmware to replace the standard GD77 firmware to make the handheld much more friendly to visually impaired with lots of benefits for non-visually impaired people as well.
Joe demonstrated many of the interesting features that he has built into the firmware to provide full access to all functions in the radio and has added many new functions making the radio even better!
Joe has even made a virtual keypad function on the GD77 Radio that does not have a screen or keypad. Providing even more functionality without needing a computer to program anything.
Joe also took the audience through the roadmap of future handhelds that he is working on firmware for including an interesting project called OpenRTX.
This was a fascinating presentation from Joe and we look forward to hearing from Joe about future development.
The presentation is available from the REAST Youtube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngHLOCAmPJQ
Thanks to Joe for this Presentation.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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DATV Experimenter's Night
https://fb.me/e/3oJDUBwuY
This week’s DATV Experimenter’s Night will be focusing on two areas.
The first is RD contest preparations with experienced amateurs available to help and provide advice on contesting, contest software, configuration, and many other aspects that will hopefully help amateurs enjoy the RD. If you have any questions or would like to see contesting software in action then why not come up the clubrooms and have a cuppa and a chat.
The second are for the night will be discussing volunteering at the Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo so, if you are interested in getting involved with helping with the conference then come along and ask any questions you have.
Please note we will not be broadcasting any RF or Streaming this coming Wednesday night.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
Sewing Circle Net – Daily on 3.640 MHz commences at 5:00pm AEST.
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 - TestNet and TECHNET – Wednesday 3rd August - TestNet/CW course on 3580 from 7pm till 7.30pm and a TECHNET on 3567 from 7.30pm till about 8.30pm.
NTARC Technical Night - Wednesday 10th August from 7:30pm in NTARC clubrooms
NW VK7 – Wednesday from 8:00pm local – NW Tassie Amateur Repeater Group Net on VK7RMD
NW VK7 - Thursday commencing at 8:30pm 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 Experimenter’s Nights from 7:30pm live in the club rooms also on DVBT RF and YouTube Streaming
VK7 - SSTV Net - held every Thursday night via the North/South Link on VK7RAF/VK7RJG from 7:30pm. In the North and North West - VK7RJG on 438.55 -7MHz and in the South - VK7RAF (146.650 -600kHz) CTCSS tone 141.3Hz to link RAF North-South and on VK7RJG a 141.3Hz CTCSS tone to link with VK7RAF.
CCARC - 25 July - SSTV nights from 7:30pm using VK7RMD 2m repeater on Mt Duncan on the 4th Monday in the Month next one will be on 22nd August 2022.
Events:
VK - 13/14 August - WIA Remembrance Day Contest from 0300 – 0300 UTC.
NTARC - 13 August - General club meeting at the NTARC Club Room, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street, Rocherlea from 2pm.
NTARC - 14 September - Social Night will be held at the family friendly Mowbray Hotel.
VK7 - 5-6 November - Tassie Ham Radio Conference and Expo - Sir Stanley Burbury Theatre - UTAS Sandy Bay Campus
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Next week there will only be a WIA National News broadcast on the various repeaters around Tasmania - REAST, NTARC and in the NW thanks to N W T A R C, West Coast Radio Group, Cradle Coast Radio Amateur Radio Club, VK7AX, and VK7DC.
Please note there will not be a callback taken on VK7RAD.
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You can hear this broadcast again on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RAD 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 only the National WIA news can be heard at 0900.
Further information about the broadcast can be found at the VK7 Amateur Radio News Groups.IO Group.
https://groups.io/g/vk7arnews
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 we hope you have a great day, stay safe and we will see you in two weeks. 73, Justin, VK7TW.
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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