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VK7AX > BCAST 04.10.20 06:43z 362 Lines 20587 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 04Oct20
Text edition: VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR OCTOBER 04 2020
(Note.. please remove spaces in email addresses before using)
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VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 4th October 2020
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 4th October 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 Ross, VK7ALH
On 7.140 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE
On 14.130 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
On 28.525 MHz by Tony, VK7VKT
On DMR Talk Group 5 and D-Star Reflector 91C by Clayton, VK7ZCR
This broadcast is repeated on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on
repeaters VK7RAA in the North and VK7RTC in the South.
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RAOTC News
RAOTC Broadcast for October
As mentioned in the national bulletin the RAOTC broadcast is on the 5th of October 2020; that’s tomorrow night for those listening on Sunday.
The first article is taken from OTN Journal number one of 1985; it is entitled: Two Sparks; it details the experiences of VK3IQ – later VK3CV first becoming licensed, then later employed as a ship’s radio operator to find the only transmitter aboard used spark.
The second article is entitled: The uncertain Future of Ham Radio. It is the first of a 2-part series taken from the IEEE journal ‘Spectrum’. Points examined include: effects of SDR and availability of cheap hardware and also the perception of amateur radio by millennials.
As usual this will all go to air in VK7 on the first Monday of the month at 7:30pm local time over the VK7RAA/RTC state-wide network and again at about 8:30pm as a telecast on VK7AX ‘Spectrum Tasmania’ via the BATC members’ stream and in the Ulverstone area on 445.50MHz DATV.
The date this month is October 5th. Call backs will follow on both networks. Please call in if you are able. Callback statistics are sent to RAOTC broadcast committee.
73, Peter VK7PD
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SPECIAL EVENT CALLSIGN VI75WW2
This callsign is to commemorate 75 years of peace in the Pacific since the end of WW2.
Nic VK7WW will be operating the Special Event Callsign VI75WW2 on as many bands and modes as possible, day and night throughout the period.
Commencing Monday 28th September 0001 local time until Monday 5th October 2359 local time.
eQSLs will be available, so listen out for Nic VK7WW as VI75WW2.
73, Nick, VK7WW
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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
NTARC is very saddened to hear the news that member Peter VK7PL and xyl Lois’s only son Douglas passed away on Wednesday 30 September. Our sincere condolences are extended to Peter, Lois and other family members on their sad loss. They are very much in our thoughts at this time.
With October here, we are now well and truly into Spring and it seems the advent of slightly warmer temperatures, or maybe just the seasonal blossoming, has lured more folk out and about. I understand that the morning coffee session held last Friday 2 October saw a total of 25 attendees over the course of the morning, with many remaining to enjoy the company until finally departing the club room at around 1.00pm. From all accounts a good morning was had by all. It is great to see numbers slowly rising again as we both thaw and hopefully dry out and resume some semblance of normal life.
We hand over now to our Technet Coordinator Nic VK7WW to let us know how things progressed at the latest Technet and Discord Session held Wednesday 30th September 2020 – The TestNet at 7 pm (local time) on 3.580 MHz
Four stations called-in:
Roy VK7ROY, Peter VK7KPC/P, Paul VK7KPA and Ross VK7ALH.
The TechNet at 7:30 pm (local time) on 3.567 MHz
A total of 10 stations joined the TechNet. Nic VK7WW was Net Controller under the NTARC Club callsign VK7TAZ.
VK7ZPD Phil, demonstrating a Wi-Fi connected stepper motor, VK7KPA Paul, planning on how to reduce noise from his solar system, VK7KPC Peter, testing a new portable setup, VK2XIC Rob, 90w + Off Centre Fed Dipole (20m & 50m each side).
VK7ROY Roy, from Birralee, VK2TZZ Paul, from Sydney, VK3MKE Keith, in Melbourne and VK7KT Graham, from Burnie.
VK7ALH Ross performing resuscitation surgery on an FT1.
Discord hosted by Paul VK7KPA (thanks Paul) had 9 people logged-in which included the following “distant visitorsö: Bill VK7MX and Yvonne VK7FYMX from Victoria. Peter VK7PD said Al VK7AN (in Europe) connected from the Rhine but seemed to have got the timings not quite right; and Paul VK2TZZ in Sydney....also Welcome to Rick VK7HBR.
Paul also provided audio streaming of the TechNet, which could be heard through Discord.
Photos posted this week included:
• Nic’s miniSA (spectrum analyser), and, his partly built version of “The Pine Board Projectö, a high quality audio, valve AM QRP transmitter with 4 watts output.
• Burnishing on an aluminium panel; and also on the nose of “The Spirit of St Louisö aeroplane.
• Phil’s Wi-Fi driven stepper-motor, using a web browser; and,
• Peter VK7PD posted photos into the Discord “historical photosö section - including a classic from the 1960s!
During the Net, Nic gave members the opportunity to log a contact with a special event callsign that he is hosting till next Monday night. “VI75WW2 - celebrating the 75th anniversary of peace in the Pacific since the end of WW2ö.
VI75WW2 can be found on one of the following frequencies 7150, 3650 and 1850 (+/- QRM) most evenings from 7 to 9 pm local time. See QSL details on QRZ.COM under the callsign VK7WW.
73 for now from Nic “Double Scotchö VK7 Whisky Whisky, and see you next fortnight!
Many thanks Nic.
Future events
Fortnightly Tech Night – Wednesday 7th October at the NTARC Club rooms 19:30 hours until whenever. Continuous tea and coffee, although a gold coin donation for the evening would be appreciated. The Discord on-line session that normally accompanies the TechNet 80 meter event will also be alive, Murphy permitting, to allow members who cannot be present in person to continue their participation via that medium.
Fortnightly TechNet – Wednesday 14th October. Nic VK7WW will once again be in the chair hosting a “TestNetö on 3.580 MHz at 19:00 local time, with the TechNet for NTARC following on 3.567 MHz at 19:30 local time. Paul VK7KPA will be hosting the accompanying Discord session on the net.
JOTA/JOTI 2020 - Scouts Tas JOTA/JOTI Coordinator, Peter VK7KPC advises the following in relation to planning at Rocherlea JOTA/JOTI on weekend 17-18 Oct.
Physical set-up will start following the coffee morning on the 16th of October, with a shuffle of seats and tables. HF radio etc will be placed on a table just outside its normal home and connected to the antenna system. This is because of scout safe requirements that youth members should be in open areas when interacting with adults. DMR and vhf and uhf transceivers will also be set up in the main room to access repeaters plus a dedicated 2m radio for echolink access to vk7kpc-l node at Rocherlea.
Tables in the large hall should have been set up for the JOTI activation by then taking into account physical distancing requirements. Northern Area Rover Crew are again providing staffing for this operation along with some Venturer scouts who are planning late night operation. The large screen Skype terminal will also be in operation.
2m fox hunting will also be run in the neighbouring bushland again with foxes being in cute stuffed animal finger puppets.
Billy carts will also be running, probably on opposite side of oval.
Room occupancy signs are being revisited for the weekend plus movement direction sign-age. More hand sanitising stations to be set-up along with sign-age.
Finishing touches will occur on Sat 17th from about 9am with first visitors already booked in at noon. Radio section will be operational until Sat evening and will restart Sun at 10am. Last groups will depart just after 3pm.
No BBQ this year but some soft drinks plus coffee of course being available.
Still waiting on info ref operation at Tamar Scout hall.
See you there, even if only for an hour or so.
73s Peter VK7KPC JOTA/JOTI coordinator.
Equine Endurance event - State Championships Santarena Park, Scottsdale November 20-21. Rides over the days will be a 160km, 95Km, 40km and 20km The 160Km ride is a 24 Hour ride.
We will need additional crew members to handle this event. Please advise if you are able to assist please email Norm VK7KTN: safetycomms.ntarc @ gmail.com or catch up 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 @ gmail.com
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
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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/
October REAST Presentation Night
Our REAST Presentation Night for October will see Steve, VK7OO taking us through his obsession with SSTV and SSTVCAMs and his experiences during his 13 year journey.
Covering the challenge of keeping a SSTVCAM operating, observations about propagation, receiving SSTV from space unattended and just what's involved in operating a SSTV CAM.
Steve will also discuss his success building a PEX-AL-PEX magnetic loop just for SSTV on 14.230. This presentation will feature actual images from the 120,000 plus images Steve has received over that 13 years.
We also will be broadcasting this presentation on 445.5 MHz DVB-T in the Hobart area and we will be streaming on the REAST YouTube Channel -
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/live-stream/
This Wednesday night 7th October 2020 from 7:30pm in the Queens Domain clubrooms.
This should be a fascinating presentation. Hope to see you there.
73, REAST Committee
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DATV Experimenter's Night
We started with an update on the VK7BEN End Fed Half Wave Antenna Kits. Justin VK7TW took the audience through his experiments with a counterpoise and the variable capacitor. Justin went through the findings and effect the variable capacitor on the higher frequency matching. Justin then showed some photos from the 2016 Miena Hamfest where he met John K1JD who showed his EFHW antenna that he uses for SOTA. This was a trapped end fed for four bands and John had a 64:1 Balun to feed the antenna. This was all wound onto a kite type reel. There is more to come on the experimentation in later DATV Experimenter’s Nights.
Justin then showed his converted LED recycled monitor panel. Ron Cullen gave Justin two 5mm wide LED strips which were installed and Justin showed the audience the resulting bright LED panel. The TVs and monitors come with a range of filters and lens plastic which assist the diffusion of the light and dispersal of the light. The interesting sheet is the lenticular or Fresnel lens sheet which is a series of microscopic arcs that disperse the light in a wide angle – this makes the light from the panel spread out wider than the panel instead of just perpendicular to the panel surface.
Paul VK7FPCL bought in some great large valves that he was given from an friendly antique dealer. These are large high power valves used in broadcasting and high power induction heating units. These can be seen on the video of the night and also in the picture that accompanies the video. Thanks Paul.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTXg95fkcJk
We then showed an Indonesian Stamp received recently that celebrated the Indonesian National Amateur Radio group - ORARI's 50th Anniversary.
There was then a review of a great article presented to the US VHF Super Conference in 2019 on 3D printed horns from 2-40GHz - K-band to S-Band. The paper covered the printing, smoothing and metalisation processes using conductive Silver/Copper paints following a smoothing epoxy coating. The results are comparable with commercial horns - about 0.5dB less gain S-Band and up to 5dB at 10GHz. This process provides an alternative to fabricating the horns in metal or spending large amounts of money for commercial horns.
We finished off with a review of the latest Low-Key magazine from the VK QRP Club.
We go into recess for a fortnight as this week is the Presentation night. However, our next Working from the Shack Interview we are hoping to have Richard Rogers VK7RO on the 14th of October 2020 from 7:30pm.
This should be a fascinating interview about Richard’s life and times with radio both professionally and as an amateur radio operator. One not to be missed!
Until next time.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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TECHNICAL ARTICLE
New Release Candidate Version WSJT-X – LF/MF and Optical Focus
Recently Joe Taylor K1JT one of the creators of the digital mode WSJT-X congratulated Roger VK4YB and Rudy N6LF on a world record breaking contact using the recently released Version 2.3.0-rc1 of WSJT-X.
Roger and Rudy completed a 2200m contact using the new mode FST4 which has the ability to set the cycle period from 120-1800 seconds. This enables the decoding of signals to more than -40dB below the noise floor.
This contact demonstrated some interesting phenomenon in relation to the Noise Blanker setting, so much so, that Joe has implemented another noise blanker setting into the software to cover these circumstances.
Joe commented “close to threshold strange things can happen, and this one does just thatö.
This new WSJT-X 2.3.0-rc1 has two new modes FST4 and FST4W – FST4 is a keyboard to keyboard mode and FST4W is a WSPR replacement with settable period from 120-1800seconds.
Joe also commented to please do what you can to spread the word to the LF/MF crowd on the potential importance these WSJT-X features!
For more information take a look at the link on the email edition of this broadcast - https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx.html
73, Rex Moncur, VK7MO
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ACMA NEWS
Consultation launched on use of the 3.4 GHz band
A consultation has been opened into the way 3.4 GHz band is licensed, with the aim of optimising arrangements to free up spectrum for 5G and improve regional connectivity while retaining current uses of the band.
The 3.4 GHz band is currently used for a mix of purposes such as fixed wireless and 5G.
The consultation is being run by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
Specifically, the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts is considering making a designation notice under section 36 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 to designate parts of the band from 3400 to 3575 MHz “for allocation by spectrum licences with respect to specified areasö.
The Department is seeking stakeholder views on this possible designation.
The consultation paper and the exposure draft can be found at the link on the email edition of the broadcast.
https://www.communications.gov.au/file/50670/download?token=w4Aaa4dq
https://www.communications.gov.au/file/50665/download?token=b3am9H9V
Submissions are due by 20 October 2020 via the official webpage.
Read more: http://criticalcomms.com.au/content/industry/news/consultation-launched-on-use-of-the-3-4-ghz-band-1201088779
(Sourced from the Critical Comms Web E-zine)
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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.
NWTR&TVG - Club meetings cancelled till further notice.
NTARC - Coffee mornings - Fridays 1000 to 1200 NTARC Club Rooms.
NTARC – Technical Sessions and Tech Net on alternate Wednesdays - Technical Sessions will be 7th & 21st October and On Air TechNet 14th & 28th October.
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 on DVBT RF and YouTube Streaming
Sewing Circle Net – Daily commences at 17:00 on 3.640 MHz.
Events:
REAST – 7 October – SSTV Webcams and Magnetic Loop Antennas with VK7OO and VK7MAG – Queens Domain Clubrooms from 7:30pm
WICEN TAS (South) – 9-10 October – Johnny Green Memorial Equine Endurance Ride - Pyengana
VK7 – 17-18 October JOTA/JOTI at locations around VK7
Miena QSO Muster – Saturday 24 October 10am to 3pm - Great Lake Community Hall.
NTARC – 20-21 November – Equine Endurance - State Championships Santarena Park Scottdale
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A reminder to those people rostered for next week’s broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7RI
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and Spectrum Tasmania
80m: Any Takers
40m: VK7ALH
20m: VK7TPE
10m: VK7JGD
DMR: Talk Group 5 and
D-Star: Reflector 91C VK7ZCR
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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.
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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 @ 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.
From the VK7 Amateur Radio News, it is 73 from Peter, VK7PD
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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