Presidents Comments

Issue 9th June 2009

After some recent visits form Neil VK3KAL with a wealth of information about how to set up a repeater we might be

on the track to establish contact with our own VK3RYV from some far away places like Toolangi and Montrose .

With all this information Steve VK3TSR ,Tony VK3API and the ever growing band of helpers might soon

have VK3RYV back performing like it should.

Thanks Neil.

As most of you are aware the I.R.L.P. node 6414 has been suffering from a lack of use and some QRM in recent time .I think that Tony VK3API is working through some issues that have come up .

Please use it as we have a good setup now. 145.325MHz With a C.T.C.S.S. of 91.5 Hz give it a go you never know who you will be able to contact.

73's VK3TKQ

Ken

Y.V.A.R.G.

Issue 9th May 2009

President's report                                                                                                                                         

Looking back over the last twelve months the radio club has experienced many changes. First we have had to organize volunteers for the car park. All though this has been a challenge the financial reward has been well worth it. There have been changes in the committee during the year and even some new faces becoming regulars to our meetings. The postponement of our ham fest has had to make us think and make decisions on the run. The gathering with the Eastern and Mountain District Radio Club was a great success with talk of future meetings being discussed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all committee members for their hard work this past year. Thank you to all club members for their support. Good luck to the new committee for next year.

Ken Taylor VK3TKQ

President Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group

Issue 30th May 2007

PRESIDENT'S PONDERINGS

The recent Film & Pizza night featured radio pioneer's such as Marconi with his spark transmitters, Lee De Forest, the man who put a grid in a tube but couldn't figure how or why it worked, Fessenden who developed the idea further and made practical use of amplification, Armstrong the man who gave us the super-heterodyne principle and the father of FM transmissions, and finally Zarnoff who became the head of RCA and sold the radio to the masses. All seem to fail dismally in the matrimonial stakes probably due to their obsession with radio and its uses. Some tried to make money, went broke frequently, and litigate to the point of obsession. De forest was the high wire specialist, frequently climbing high radio masts to show off, well before “work cover” stipulated climbing harness's. Armstrong tried to defy gravity ,but failed due to terminal velocity from his 13th floor apartment, over FM's non acceptance by RCA's Zarnoff.

Let's fast forward to recent years and mention some interesting and famous persons. The Aussies aren't mentioned all that much on an international scale, but who remembers say Dick Smith VK2 DIK with his “dickheads” matches, long solo chopper flights and selling out to Woolworths being the ultimate disaster to the kit builder. We should also remember Alf Traegar the pedal wireless man, Harry Angel VK4HA ,SK at 106 years old, Ross Hull radio pioneer, broadcaster, Max Howden who made good quality rocks for out rigs, John Moyle editor Radio & Hobbies, designer of circuits, (radio and hobbies became RTV&H, and ultimately Electronics Australia). We remember these people usually through a contest named after them. They are OUR radio pioneers!

Now to the other famous people. There have been many leaders of nations, King's, Queens, Sultans, even Astronauts with each mission chock-o –block of radio amateurs ready to go into space for a QSO. Some of these people remain anonymous on the air to keep the dogpiles down and to keep a level playing field to which we all aspire to– no country boundaries, perhaps the odd language barrier, but the same desire to speak to others by radio and experiment..

How many people know that other famous people such as Walter Cronkite (CBS News), Chet Atkins (Guitar Player), Leo Fender (Fender Guitars), ToughGuy Marlon Brando Jr, (Actor), Gerry Shandling (Actor), Robert A Moog (Synthesizer), Donny Osmond (Singer/TV), Burl Ives (Singer/Actor), John Huston (Actor), Stewart Grainger (Actor), Tony Dolby(Audio Systems), Sir Cliff Richard (Singer), Paul Tibbett (pilot “Enola Gay”), were all Hams, even Reginald Aubrey Fessenden gets a mention.

And finally some well known and obscure persons– Pricilla Presley AKA “ Lou Lou Beaulieu” licenced up to 2000, Peggy Sue Gerron Rackman ( Buddy Holly's -Peggy Sue), Loren Windom, G5RV antenna men, Fred Gwynn– Herman Munster, Groet Reber (Radio Astronomer pioneer). Rumored to have or had a ticket are Jon Bon Jovi, Jose Feliciano, Andy Griffith and even HRH Prince Philip!

So dear readers the moral of these tales is the you don't have to be famous to be a HAM, but if you are married it helps if the XYL tolerates your radio activities!

Till next time good DX hunting for these well known personalities.

Presidents Comments
Issue 6 February 2007

Greetings members and visitors.

The radios arrived last week and have been christened by Ken with an overseas contact on 20 metres using the revamped dipole. A  very big round of thanks to all who attended the clean up day this month, we managed one full trailer of junk to the tip, with more to go out at the hamfest. .

Don't forget its on the 25 th of Feb and its free to enter for club members,but no friends are free.

Please use the web site to see what's coming up next month with a guest speaker on EME and BYO food for BBQ starting at 7.00pm.

We had an excellent turn up at this month's BBQ with about 18 members coming along.

Can all please remember to sign the attendance book its protects both you and the club should you have an accident or mishap .

The John Moyle Field day weekend is coming up on 17-18 march and we would like to set up a field station.  I will be providing a high gain 2 metre antenna for the weekend, but are there any members who could supply either a six or 70 cm beam, or both! If you don't wish to work the radios, then there is always the round the campfire tall stories and good company available. More details at the next meeting 27 Feb.

Our web site has been visited by both interstate and international folk, and its good to know that we can attract their attention.

Don't forget the AGM is on 27 Feb, and I would like to see as many members attend as possible, as we have "new" committee positions to fill for 2007

Until next time good 73 Brian  vk3ybj            President HARG

Presidents Comments
Issue 5 December 2006

Christmas greetings to our members and visitors.

I am very pleased to officially announce that our club has been sucessful in obtaining a grant for the purchase of two radios- an Icom ic718 and a yaesu Ft897D, with a Vertical antenna covering 40-6 mx and 12 volt power supplies. The paperwork has been submitted to Canberra and I await the funds being transferred to our account.

The results of the questionnaire have been examined, and there was strong support for separating the meeting and shack areas leading to greater use of the radios, practical sessions on antennas, and "raffles for rigs". THe finer points will be discussed at the next committee meeting.

We will be organising a clean-up and clear out day next month 20 or 21? January, 2007, and the antenna systems will be overhauled and upgraded. This is an ideal day for the "F" calls to learn more about antennas. Please come along to help. BBQ supplied. More info available next meeting, 9 January,2007.

That's about all for now. Have a very good Christmas, be safe and have a prosperous new year. See you in 2007

Best 73

From the president and committee HARG.

Presidents Comments Issue 4
1st/August/2006

Greetings to all HARG members and visitors.

I am pleased to announce that the move to the SES is going ahead and that it is the intention to hold our first committee and club meeting there for the fourth Tuesday in August.

The committee has deceided to hold all our meetings there, as more room is required for the increased munber of members attending.
The staged removal of the club station and equipment will be subject to a fit out of a rear shed where more space is available than the rear wall of the meeting room, and we would be looking for assistance in building plaster lined stud walls and celing with bench space for equipment and a practical working area.
If anyone knows of cheap or "free" sources of materials please let the committee know. Everyone is encouraged to give their input as to how we should setup the station area.

The adddress is Argoon Road, Healesville, Melwats ref 278 A5 ,committee meeting at 1900 Hrs, club meeting at 2000 Hrs. (See the special map page)

The club HF net is running very well under the controller, Trevor, and we are even having interstate stations calling in. Well done Trevor!

The 70cm repeater request grinds on, and the 2 metre test will begin shortly thanks to the efforts of Simon and Laurie.

The request for federal funding of up to $3000, has been submitted, and acknowledged. I am optimistic about the outcome, and believe it will take another application to get some attention, but, you never really know how the system works, until you know how to work the system.

Micheal VK3FSSS and myself attended the GGREC ham fest, and were able to visit the club station. The building was constructed by the members offsite and transported to the rear of their meeting rooms in Cranbourne. Most of the cost was covered by grants. They have a station and practical area roughly 8 metres by 4 metres, and we could use some of their ideas such as hollow core doors for bench space.

The RD or Rememberance Day contest will run from the club rooms for a 6 hour period on Sunday 13 August from 12 noon to close at 6pm. This is an excellent forum for the new Foundation calls to experience contest conditions and the club will host a BBQ for lunch. We will be using both HF and VHF/UHF equipment and we mayl need to put up and pull down some additional antennas on the day.

Laurie gave us a most informative talk on digital modes at the last meeting, and I hope thae his written notes can be placed on the website for further reading. Laurie put a great deal of effort preparing the talk and the topic was well researched and delivered. Thank you so much Laurie!. If any other members have the ability to present other topics, and it does not have to be Amateur related , please let us know so we can schedule you in.

73 de Brian VK3YBJ

Attendances at the fortnightly meetings continues to be strong, and we are still negotiating for new premises. Please bear with us as the committee sorts out the finer details, and still come along to the meetings. We may allow for double decker seating, or one-on-one seating if both parties agree!

Last meeting was to feature Laurie Dane on Digital Modes, but unfortunately Laurie double booked himself on the night, so Steve 3TSR and Tony 3FBD took the reins to give short lecturette's? on shack safety, and anecdotes of what not to do.

The president was again reminded of his Faux-paux re 240 Volts and no safety switch and no fuse either. Remember that you are responsible for your own safety and the safety of other visitors to your shack.

Even one of the piggy back type safety switches to your gear and shack is better than nought! Also safe RF grounding for equipment faults and lightning protection cannot go astray. A good earth for radio as distinct from mains earth will more than likely improve your SWR, reduce noise, and give some protection in case of a near miss lightning strike.

As a fixed rule in my shack both mains and antennas are disconnected from my gear when not in use. Tony kept us laughing with his" tales of a distant farm", and the joys of SWER (Single Wire Earth Return) power lines. His lightning machine and the exclamations of "SHIT" from visiting pollies to the chamber of destruction, should make all of us go back to our shacks and see if we also could say the the same words, because we didn't adequately prepare.

I have recently applied for a commonwealth grant (money) to upgrade our station, and hopefully? allow Foundation Licences to operate the club station ( and at the correct power levels with the new gear). Steve Tregear has applied for WIA grant to cover the capital cost of the IRLP computer interface and software.

A 10 meter mast was recently installed, with 2 MX antenna atop in preparation for IRLP trials. Frequency used is 145.225.

We have access to RG213 and RG8 at good prices, and some has already been ordered for the club to sell. We can always get more so let VK3TSR know what size you would like to purchase, and order at next meeting 25 July. I also have an ALTRONICS wholesale account, on which I am prepared to purchase catalogue items for members. Prices can be up to half that of listed retail.

The club intends to operate a station from the club rooms for the Remembrance Day contest on 12/13 August and needs operators to run for 24 hours if we can manage. To operate on HF and VHF/UHF we need bodies as well as extra equipment such as antennas, power supplies, computers for logging the contacts, and TX gear. Can you help please? Have you browsed our forum page yet? Why not give us some ideas? Till next month, 73's Brian 3YBJ

The highlights of this month include a very sucessful Foundation Licence training weekend where we achieved a 100% competency with all 8 participants achieving their goal. So far we are aware of at least 3 new foundation licencees receiving their call signs, so the other calls can't be too far away.

At the last meeting, Tuesday 13 June, we had a 2 metre antenna building night. Some 10 -12 antennas were built by Foundation newcomers and some old hands too!!

There were varying results with some discussion and redesign of the element dimensions to finetune the SWR, with some antennas achieving less than 1.2 to 1 SWR over 2 Megs of band width.

The antenna goes by several names and it is basically a 1/4 wave of inner 50 ohm coax over another 1/4 wave of full coax with a velocity factor adjustment then a choke coil. Steve VK3TSR had the table all set up and ready to go before I arrived, and I think that the night went very well with The "F" calls able to take home a working antenna to help them get on 2 Metres for the monday night skeds.

For other members Tony VK3FBD was busy showing off Packet Radio and his bright led mouse was most interesting! More members were sipping coffee and generally having a good chat as we traditionally do.

With the volume of members attending the meetings were certainly need some where else with larger premises. I cannot comment on our proposed move as the Secretary is currently away, and I hope that more information will be available next committee meeting.

Our committee meetings are still open to all members, however, any agenda items need to be with either myself or the secretary at least one full week prior, to get on the agenda for discussion. The committee wishes to streamline its meeting process, and keep it short, so we can leave the rest of the night free for the members.

It is my intention to get more practical nights going once a month, and provide some basic theory for the "F" calls interested in upgrading to the higher licence levels. I need input guy's, so let us know where you want to go.

Next committee meeting has for discussion: Formalised net control station on perhaps a roster system Guest speakers from within our club on interesting subjects, both amateur and general interests Social activities- film nights BBQ's visits Visits to other clubs

Laurie wishes to start up a newsletter and needs some help to get started. Can we have some volunteers please to help him?

I am currently looking at other amateur operators within our demographic area who may be new to the area, or perhaps may wish to rejoin. Do you know of any friends, CB'ers who may wish to aspire to the foundation licence. If so, please invite them along.

Is there an interest in a retiree/ gainfully unemployed group meeting socially during the day such as the NERG'S have? Let us know!

There is a ham fest at GGREC Cranbourne next month and it has been suggested we obtain the community bus and travel as a group, picking up at say Yarra Junction , Healesviile and Cockatoo. Interest please to Steve 3TSR, or myself.

Remember its YOUR club and we on the committee want to make it happen. Again let us have your input and ideas and we will try to accomodate new ideas.

Till next month 73's Brian VK3YBJ
President HARG