Category: General

I would like to congratulate all those members that worked so hard to make our 40th Anniversary Celebration a great success.

The weather was just right, the venue was great and the company was first class. It was good to meet so many “old” acquaintances, some of them had travelled quite a distance. Roger Harrison VK2ZRH was the WIA representative and he travelled down by train. Fortunately  Bob VK2TG was able to take him back to Sydney.

Our thanks must go to Jenny and her helper for the splendid meal.

Also to Gerald VK2HBG for all his work in organising the VI2HQ40 roster, and to everyone else who worked so hard in their own way to make things go so smoothly.

Let us hope that we can all stick around for the club’s 50th

Gerald VK2HBG took part in the Remembrance Day Contest 2016 earning himself 616 points.   This was enough to gain sixth place overall and second place in VK2

 

Gerald, VK2HBG
pictured with the certificate he was awarded

Congratulations and well done Gerald

Congratulations to VK2LDW for getting assigned his new standard callsign!

I believe Leroy, VK2FLVL is also studying for his, and I (VK2FVBW) need to do so!

– VK2FVBW

 

David, VK2FLDW as part of the VK1 Winter SOTA QSO Party activated Mt Alexandra near Mittagong.  Contacts were made to to Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.  Local contacts to New South Wales and Canberra were almost non existent on the day.  Maybe a NVIS antenna for the next expedition.  David found a comfortable operating position at a lookout near the summit.

Operating position with a view to the Blue Mountains

 

Logging QSO’s

 

     Station gear

Interesting contact today with Ade Larsen, VK4SOE/P operating from a hilltop on his family farm near Stanthorpe  Queensland
He is operating a Codan 7727-C crystal locked radio on 7.1128MHz. Yes that is right 7.1128 MHz, that is the frequency the crystal is cut for.
Currently he is operating most afternoons from 14:00 to about 17:00 hrs
See the YouTube video to see his portable setup
Listen out and see if you can contact him

David, VK2FLDW

Ron Bertrand from the Radio and Electronics School has just published a book
Radio Theory Handbook.  Beginner to Advanced

This book starts at beginner level, building the foundations of Electricity, AC Theory and Radio Theory. These foundations are progressively and slowly built upon and culminate at a solid Advanced Level. This is an ideal study program for those wanting an understanding electrical and radio theory. This study is suitable for Radio Technicians, Electrical Technicians, Technical Officers. Also suitable for those seeking to gain a qualification from Beginner to ‘Advanced’ Radio (Amateur) Experimenter; in any country. The book aims to provide a clear understanding of concepts.
The goal is learning rather than memorizing.

The book is available at Amazon. link below
https://www.amazon.com/Radio-Theory-Handbook-Beginner-Advanced/dp/1534696121

David, VK2FLDW will be taking part in the VK1 Winter SOTA QSO Party on Sunday 7 August 2016.  He will be operating from Mt Alexandra, VK2/IL-005 from 09:00 to 11:00 hours weather permitting. Listen out for him on 40 metres 7.100MHz LSB

The publication date of June 20, 2016 is for “MF Down Under”: An edited VK-compendium of articles and projects for the 630m & 160m bands which is the first ever Oceania-based one-stop-reference for embarking upon MF operating, and is all-mode inclusive.

The book contains
345 x A4 pages

• ISBN registration 978-0-9873638-6-2
• Wire spiral binding so it will lay flat on a desk for convenience
• 44 articles and projects for 630m and 160m
• Material contributed by 15 VK authors
• Contents and Index pages to facilitate finding topics of specific interest
• Nine chapters

It is intended to be a limited-run, cost-recovery legacy to amateur radio in Oceania and the retail price will be AUD$48 plus postage satchel cost if required. Orders are currently being taken via d.wd@bigpond.com

 

Pictures from the Club Picnic held at Killalea State Park 21 May 2016

 

Margaret and I enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon at the Killalea  State Park on the 21st of May. This was a MSCARC event and we were joined by members of the Illawarra Radio Club. The weather was fine but cloudy and not too hot. The location is fantastic and we should visit there again.

There were lots of other activities taking place, mainly with the Scouts. We got in early, otherwise parking may have been a problem.

Gerald VK2HBG and David VK2FLDW set up tables with radio equipment on them. Gerald using HF and David monitoring VHF. Gerald was using his new Software Defined Radio the Icom  IC-7300. A very impressive piece of radio equipment. David was using his Yaesu FT 991 also the latest generation radio. They were later joined by Rob VK2XIC who showed what could be worked from a Yaesu FT817 using 5 watt and a quickly erected G5RV.

Gerald provided the BBQ and there were sausages and steaks for lunch plus salad and desserts. David brought along a portable stove for brewing tea but forgot the tea bags. There is a cafe on the site so thirsts could be quenched anyway.

Comments on the day were all favourable and it was agreed that we should repeat it some day.

73s John VK2JG