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VK7AX > BCAST 11.08.19 12:20z 420 Lines 27189 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: VK7 Amateur Radio News 11Aug19
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To : BCAST@WW
Text edition: VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 11 August 2019
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Welcome to the Science Week Edition of the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 11th of August 2019. This broadcast is brought to you by VK7WI, and read today by Idris, VK7ZIR.
This broadcast utilises repeaters around VK7 and the following HF rebroadcast stations:
On 3.670 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD
On 7.140 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
On 14.130 MHz by Mike, VK7FB
On 28.525 MHz – Not known at time of writing.
On DMR Talk Group 5 by Clayton, VK7ZCR
On D-Star Reflector 091 by Roger VK7HRW
This broadcast is repeated on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RTC in the South and VK7RAA in the North.
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Silent Key
Barry Riseley formerly VK7RS
We have the sad privilege to inform you that Barry Riseley VK7RS fell Silent Key on 6th August 2019 at the age of 76.
Barry was well know to many in the telecommunication industry in Tasmania. He was the Secretary of the A.T.E.A., the union for technicians in Telecom from the 60s through to the 2000s. The ATEA office is still on the main road in New Town and for a time it was the meeting place for the WIA Tasmanian Division – Southern Branch.
Barry worked in the PMG with many including Max Loveless who was one of the Sparrow Force group in Timor who built Winnie-the-War winner that features in the Australian War memorial. Barry built a replica that is in the Anglesea barracks Military Museum.
Barry collected a heap of ex services and home brew radio equipment and had a museum at that address in Newtown.
VK7RS first appears in 1985/86 callbook and was still licenced in 2013.
Barry read the VK7 Divisional Broadcast for many years and even read it on ATV in the early studio on the Queens Domain.
He used to come up to the car boot sales on the Domain in his immaculate Austin Seven vintage motor car. Barry was also very involved in a number of historical societies around Hobart.
Vale Barry Riseley
(Justin VK7TW, Richard VK7RO and Mike VK7FB)
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Event News
Significant Birthday
We wish Cedric Lockley VK7CL a very happy 80th birthday that was celebrated at the SOTA WWFF group at the Glebe Gardens in the North of the State last Friday morning. Those in attendance were: VK7S ALH , BBB, XX, YUM, GW & XYL, PL & XYL, PR & XYL. Apparently Cedrics XYL - Janet had to show Cedric how to cut the cake!
(73, Ross, VK7ALH)
QSL NEWS
Report - from Herman VK7HW Manager of the WIA VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
Herman has been advised that a 2Kg Pack of cards is on the way to VK7. When received and sorted these will be added to the email version of the broadcast. Herman says that unless requested otherwise by those who have mail out arrangements, If there are only 1 or 2 cards for a station, Herman intends to hold those cards until there are enough to make a mail out more cost effective.
A number of cards were left at REAST last Wednesday on request for VK7's HDM and VH
Also when Herman took on the role of Inwards QSL Manager he was given a list of Callsigns of VK7 Amateurs who will only accept cards sent directly to them.
The callsigns are - VK7's GK, OK, KO, CH, LO, NGW and OC. Any updates would be appreciated and if there are any other Amateurs in the same position please advise me so I can amend my records.
If you have any questions about QSL Cards being held, Herman can be contacted by
email vk7bureau(at)wia.org.au
(73 from Herman)
-------------------EMAIL NEWS ONLY ------------------------
AB, ABY, AC, ACN(FOR RT0C), AD, AG, AN(9N), AP
BBB, BO
DD, DG, DW, DX (for E7/VK4DX), DZ
EE, EFA
FG, FLAR, FRJG
GM, GR, GZ
HAH, HCK, HRS
JB, JJ , JJJ
LC, LH, LLJ
MBD, MHZ
NC, NF, NRF, NSE, NWQ
PSJ
RN, ROY
TCE, TS (for VK9LS), TU
VIP, VR, VZ
WC, WLH
XDM, XX
YUM
ZA
VI7COW, VI70HI, VI7JIS, VI7KCD, VI7LER, VI70MI
-------------------EMAIL NEWS ONLY ------------------------
DIGITAL NEWS
Big news. We now have a new D-Star reflector located in Hobart, ref091
This is an Australia only working reflector at the time of this notice. The dashboard can be seen at
http://ref091.dstargateway.org
Clayton, VK7ZCR
Scott, VK7HSE says "I've linked VK7RAD (70cm) to it so those who have D-Star can access it via that.
DMR
The Tasmanian Sunday morning broadcast has moved to the new talk group set for nets and broadcasts, Talk Group 5.
If anyone needs a hand with a code plug, you can get hold of clayton on 0466 588 193 or
email clayton7008 @ gmail.com
Here is a link for code plugs for the GD77 and software for the MD380
http://vinaka.com.au/index_files/Page1343.htm
73 Clayton, VK7ZCR
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RD contest 2019
Hello all. This is Vince Henderson, VK7VH. During the last few years, I have banged on about the RD Contest. And yes, I am about to do it again. Make sure you have pencil and paper to hand as this article contains vital information that may assist your participation in the 2019 RD Contest.
Every VK7 ham should be proud of the fact that we have taken out the RD Contest State Trophy for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Can we do it for 2019? You bet we can, provided we continue as the front running State with the highest aggregate score and participation rate. Put simply, the more VK7 hams that participate and submit a log, the better our chances of taking out the State Trophy.
It is time to put a pencil in your hand.
The contest date and time is set to start at 0300 UTC (our local time is 1.00pm EST) Saturday 17 August 2019 until 0300 UTC (our local time is 1.00pm) Sunday 18 August 2019. Full contest rules are available on the WIA website wia.org.au
I encourage every Amateur Radio operator in Tasmania to give the 2019 RD contest a go. Some operators make a concerted effort to make as many contacts as possible. I ask that you make the effort to do this. Let me repeat, make as many contacts you can.
The most important thing is to submit a log. Even if you only make 10 contacts, please submit a log. Every log submission helps.
If you make more than 100 contacts, your log submission must be in electronic format. If you make less than 100 contacts, you are able to submit a hand written log. However, why would you bother submitting a hand written log? There are a few, excellent, pieces of software that make logging a breeze and produce a text file for emailing your log to the Contest Manager.
One such piece of software is called VKCL log. It is one of the best and preferred, windows based, RD logging software programs; used by many operators. This is due to ease of operation, log file generation and best of all, it is free. I would encourage you to download and use this great piece of software. Many thanks to Mike Subocz VK3AVV for his continued commitment in providing the software and keeping it up to date. Just search VKCL version 4 and download it. As a bonus, VKCL software is capable of running alongside another piece of software called Omnirig. Omnirig allows for VKCL to automatically recognise band changes you make with your radio, providing you have comport or USB output from your radio to your PC. Google Omnirig for details.
If you have HF capability, just use the frequencies on the bands you have available. For those that have VHF and UHF capabilities, there are some simplex calling frequencies that will make life easy. These are 6M, 52.525MHz, 2M 146.500MHz, 70CM 439.000MHz and 23CM 1296.1MHz; the normal mode for these frequencies is FM. Using these frequencies keep the contacts in Tasmania. Good for us and completely within the rules. So, if you just want to use VHF and UHF, this is the way to go.
Let me tell you about a simple way of making many contacts within a few minutes. We, that use it, call it the band dance. What is the band dance? Hook up with a few other operators in your area and dance the bands from 23cm down to 160M, every 3 hours. During the band dance, you will accumulate many points. This is especially so between 1.00am and 6.00am Sunday morning as all points scored are tripled. For example, make a contact on 23CM and score 2 points multiplied by the triple effect and score 6 points per contact. Just 10 contacts over the triple period of 5 hours will amass 60 points.
Will you commit to making at least 10 contacts for the 2019 RD contest? I do hope so. Besides, you will make a valuable contribution to ensuring Tasmania takes out the state trophy; providing you submit your log. If you are an old hand that has not operated in the RD contest for some time, then blow out the cob webs and give it a go.
I have just moved house and only have VHF and UHF capabilities. Even so, I will give it a good go. I am sure that there will be others that will step up to the plate and smash out a good score.
To those that made a concerted effort during the 2018 RD Contest, thank you. Your contribution earned us the State trophy. We have many Amateur Radio operators that listen to this broadcast. So, if you have taken in all I have talked about, will you make an effort to put in a log for the RD contest 2019? I do hope you will and try and smash out a good score.
Most importantly, the RD contest remembers those that have served and those that have fallen. We must never forget them.
This is Vince Henderson, VK7VH. Thank you for listening and I look forward to working you during the 2019 RD contest.
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This is VK7WI and You are listening to the VK7 Amateur Radio Broadcast
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News from the North West
Chat And Show Group Gathering
The next gathering is on September 7th at the Penguin Sports Centre, Ironcliffe Road, Penguin. Starting at 2pm with drop in from 2 till 5pm. This is a non-club gathering open to all operators and their partners, and any visitors from other parts of the state or visitors to our state. So, if you hear a visitor in Penguin or going to be in Penguin on the day, let them know about it, and that they are welcome to join us.
I always ask for a small plate for afternoon tea and do appreciate the past contributions. It does help make the day. I supply Tea and Coffee
If you have anything to show us that is old or something new that you have built, we would like to see it, so bring it along and tell us about your effort or collection.
Everyone welcome
(Shirl VK7HSC)
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News from the North
SOTA and WWFF Parks and Reserves Group
Meeting times are from 10:30am on Monday and Friday At Glebe Gardens Cafe, 166 Henry St, Launceston.
For more details contact Al on Mobile: 0417 354 410.
73, Al, VK7AN
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Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
We had yet another great coffee session last Friday. As is usual at these twice-weekly events, lots of tea and coffee was had by all, the table was laden with goodies for all to enjoy and all that was consumed to the accompaniment of lots of lively banter and tall tales, along with the constant stream of jokes that has become the norm at these catch ups.
We welcome new member David Bailey VK7YY. Hopefully we didnt scare him off on Friday. As previously mentioned, it can get very noisy at our coffee sessions and some of the tall tales and jokes can be a bit naughty but I suspect David has a good sense of humour. If not, Im sure he will soon develop one now he is exposed to the NTARC crowd. Either way, a very warm welcome to David from all the NTARC Members and Committee.
As this news segment was penned on a Friday I will provide a quick round up in next weeks news in relation to the working bee held yesterday, Saturday.
We now hand over to NTARC President Idris VK7ZIR for his report on the clubs latest technical session, held at the clubrooms at Rocherlea this past Wednesday evening.
Round up of Wednesday 7 August technical session – “Peter VK7KPC has been busy again making antennas for receiving ADS-B, the aircraft tracking system on 1,090 MHz This time it is a high gain 7 element end fed coaxial collinear constructed from sections of LMR400 cable. Lengths where calculated from theory and when the finished unit was tested on a Rig Expert analyser, no further adjustments were required. The neat look housing was constructed from different diameter sections of white PVC pressure tubing, totalling about 1.5 metres.
Trevor VK7TB then held a master class on antenna matching using the measurements taken on a recently installed random length HF antenna. The antenna needed to be discreet and useful for all HF bands. There are no signal compromising balun transformers and the antenna extends through the brick wall into the radio room. There is a good low impedance earth using heavy braid conductors connected to an earth rod sunk to a depth of 1.4 metres. Trevor then used his portable vector network analyser or VNA on site to measure the Complex Impedance of the antenna, saving the plots for tonights exercise.
Trevor showed us one of the on-line “impedance matching calculators” and how to convert measurements to practical L and C components. Looking at all the values, a design was drawn up with only a single inductor and a single variable capacitor. Trevor then showed us parts that could be used that he has salvaged from old radio equipment. For changing bands a switch could be used to select different taps on the inductor. A military surplus variable capacitor completed the parts list. Apparently one of the members has volunteered to connect up the matcher parts and assemble it into an enclosure. A project to follow up on another night.
Peter VK2MPK had brought in a tiny video camera and recorder in a case which looked like an oversized dice! It incorporated a movement detector and recorded the footage on a micro SD card. A rechargeable battery was also included in the small package. Thanks Peter.
Thanks must also go to Bernie VK7BR for dishing up his famous sandwiches for all to enjoy.
A good night with much radio discussion around our presentations
Until next week,
73, Idris VK7ZIR”
Thank you Idris, great to see another good roll up. Technical session attendees please note next tech night 21 August.
Coming events
August general meeting – Wednesday 14 August. Meeting to commence at 19:30 hours. Show and Tell to follow or general chat session. Meeting will be held in the small meeting room utilizing the warmth of Skywarmer. Donations of cakes slices etc would be appreciated to share with all and all we ask is a gold coin or small note donation to keep the bank account happy. Please note there will be no technical session on this night,
Technical sessions – The next session will be on Wednesday 21 August and will commence at the usual time of 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm Club room Archer Street, Rocherlea. Pop in catch up with fellow amateurs, bring along something that you are currently building or just ask questions? You might also be able to answer some from other attendees. That is what the evenings are all about, anything of a technical or near-technical nature is fair game. Endless tea and coffee along with biscuits is available for a small gold coin donation.
Equine event - NTARC has been invited to provide Safety Comms at the Jolly Lette Memorial ride to be held on Saturday 24 August. This event is a one day ride and will take place at Santarena Park, Scottsdale a venue well known to the NTARC comms crew.
Our Safety Communications Coordinator Norm VK7KTN tells us that the course has been set and there will be two checkpoints at a couple of our favourite spots, Rodeo Road and Rexs Race. Electronic timing will be used at this event which consists of an 80Km, 40Km and 20 Km rides. Thankfully not a crack of dawn start, the 80Km ride will commence at the respectful time of 07:00 hours. This will be followed by the 40Km event starting at 07:30 hours and the 20Km ride will commence at 08:15 hours. If you can assist at this event Norm would appreciate hearing from you by
email at safetycomms.ntarc @ gmail.com
or at coffee mornings.
Scottsdale is a pleasant drive from Launceston so why not pack a picnic lunch, chair, warm clothing and wet weather gear just in case and think about joining us. For those crew members who will be arriving on the Friday night please note the canteen will be open then and again throughout the Saturday.
Social non meeting dinner – Wednesday 28 August. Venue The Commercial Hotel, corner Cimitiere and George Street Launceston. Meet time 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm dinner. A la carte menu. If you are planning to attend could you please email me at either of the following addresses
ypmaxwell @ bigpond.com or ntarc.emails @ gmail.com
or let me know at coffee sessions. As of Friday we have 24 acceptances, the table has been booked under NTARCs name for 25 places but that can be extended if more wish to attend. A copy of the menu can be found at the club room. The menu is extensive and very good value. Meals are on the medium to large size so I can assure no one will go home hungry. For those that enjoy dessert they also have a very good selection.
Coffee mornings – A reminder that our twice-weekly coffee sessions are normally held every Monday and Friday commencing at 10.00 am and running through till about noon or longer if members want to linger longer.
Please remember that aside from the good company, freely offered philosophical views, maybe less than expert political analysis, tall tales and genuinely good fare on offer, these coffee events are normally a good opportunity to collect your QSL cards but currently we have no cards awaiting collection.
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, then please email the following address
ntarc.emails @ gmail.com
However, it would be appreciated if any news 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, including frantically arranging other connections when our NBN fails. Your continued co-operation in this regard will be gratefully appreciated and do much to lower my blood pressure.
As always, I look forward to seeing you at Rocherlea.
(73, Yvonne VK7FYMX, Secretary NTARC Inc)
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This is VK7WI and You are listening to the VK7 Amateur Radio Broadcast
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NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
www.reast.asn.au
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
Antenna Kits Available
Ben VK7BEN still have a number of End-Fed and Satellite Moxon kits available after the antenna field day for anyone who may be interested. $35 for end-fed kits and $25 for handheld Satellite Moxon kits. The people who bought and assembled these on the recent REAST antenna build day gave these a big thumbs up! Email vk7ben@wia.org.au if you would like to purchase one of these kits.
Ben Short ben @ vk7ben.id.au | http://www.vk7ben.id.au | Twitter: @bcshort
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REAST August Presentation
Virtual Reality Archeology
What a wonderful presentation!
It was standing room only and we had a visitor in VK2 Bob VK7BS who has moved down here and is about to become a member of REAST.
The room was setup in a theatre of the round configuration with a big table in the middle with three different Oculus Rift headsets (DK1, DK2 and CE1), computers, high power video cards, controllers and cameras.
Ian MacIntosh started with a presentation on Virtual Reality (VR) Archeology. Starting in 1965 with Ivan Sutherland and Ian took the audience through the development of computer graphics and specifically three dimensional computer graphics. The VR boom took off in 1970-80s with Atari with arcade games which overtook the military applications and development. The game that took Atari to another level was Star Wars with vector graphics and Ian bought along service manual for this game. The 1990 saw NASA put resource toward VR along with Nintendo Virtual Boy and SEGA cockpit arcade game. But unfortunately each manufacturer would custom build and develop the hardware and software. Most of these were commercial failures. Ian then went through the VR Recipe including 3D hardware, multi-thread multi core processors, six degrees of freedom, 3D audio, etc.
Ian then took the audience through the video games that pioneered 3D and VR with Doom and Quake. We started to see standardised 3D gaming engines that most manufacturers adopted.
Pose estimation was then explained with cameras looking at the headset with infrared LEDs being picked up by the camera and the in headset sensors.
Ian then went into the Oculus development kits DK1 & DK2 and the Consumer Edition 1. There are sensors available for virtual rooms which enable free roaming. There are eye tracking headsets that track your eyes and know where you are looking.
We then went into questions and then into the demonstrations. Ian had compiled the same VR experience in all three Oculus Rift models and this gave an idea of the improvements over the development.
The audience then was able to run around through the VR world in each of the demonstrations.
What a fantastic presentation and a huge thank you to Ian for all the work that went into setting this demonstration and presentation. Linda VK7QP ALARA President was heard to say whilst she was in the virtual world that “she was sliding down the banister of life” HIHI!
The presentation and demonstration was recorded and will be on the REAST Channel on Youtube video very soon and is well worth a look.
(73, Justin, VK7TW)
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REAST September Visit
Save the Date - Behind the Scenes - ABC TV & Radio
A huge thank you to Damien VK7SD and Alan VK7KAD who have agreed to give us a Behind the Scenes tour into the ABC TV and Radio Studios in Hobart.
This is be a fascinating tour by the some of the Technical Staff who have been doing a huge program of work to improve the studios.
This will be happening on the 25th September 2019. Please note the first Wednesday night of September will be a DATV Experimenters night.
More details closer to the event.
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DATV Experimenter's Night Wrap-Up
This Wednesday night will see a focus on the Remembrance Day contest which occurs on the 17th and 18th August – next weekend.
We will be running through the contest rules, logging programs, strategies and contest procedure.
Vince VK7VH has done a great job to get VK7s involved in the contest and retain the trophy.
The name of the game is “you have to be in it (and put in a log) to win it”. Participation, participation, participation!
This Wednesday 14th August from 7:30pm in the Queens Domain Clubrooms.
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 to 445.5MHz and do a scan for a DVB-T signal, 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 and Facebook.
https://www.reast.asn.au/special-interest-groups/amateur-tv/
By the way did I mention – Participation in the RD.
See you there.
(73, Justin, VK7TW)
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REAST Training
The next Foundation Training day is scheduled for Saturday 14 September. Assessments will also take place on this day and other Amateur levels can also be accommodated.
Training days are scheduled every 2 months.
Contact Reg VK7KK at assessor@reast.asn.au, 0417 391 607 if you wish to register.
(73, Reg, VK7KK)
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
SOTA Group – Monday and Friday Coffee Sessions from 10:30am at Glebe Gardens Cafe 166 Henry St, Launceston
NTARC - Monday and Friday Coffee Sessions from 10am, Technical Sessions on Wednesdays from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm in the clubrooms Archer Street, Rocherlea, Launceston.
REAST – Wednesday Afternoon Group meets from Noon and the Experimenters Nights from 1930 in the Queens Domain clubrooms.
REAST – MICROWAVE QSO Party – following after the Sunday broadcast on 1296.15 MHz FM.
Events:
NTARC - Wednesday 14th August - General Meeting starts 19:30 in Clubrooms Archer St Rocherlea.
VK/ZL - RD Contest - 17th and 18th August
NTARC - Wednesday 28 August. Social Dinner at The Commercial Hotel, corner Cimitiere and George Street Launceston 18:30 for 19:00.
NW CHAT & SHOW – Saturday September 7th. Penguin Sports Centre, Ironcliffe Road, Penguin. >From 14:00
REAST – September 25 – Behind the scenes visit to the ABC Hobart TV and Radio Studios from 19:30
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A reminder there is no WIA or VK7 Amateur Radio Broadcast next week as it is the Remembrance Day Contest.
This is the one weekend in the year that the Broadcast Team gets to play radio and not have to worry about the broadcast!
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This broadcast is repeated on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RTC in the South and VK7RAA in the North.
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 just missed VK7WI.
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 Idris, VK7ZIR.
(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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