Broadcast - 29 October 2023
Last weekend saw what has now become a very familiar event in NTARC’s yearly calendar. For as long as I can remember the event has been organised and co-ordinated on the two days by Peter VK7KPC. So who better is there to give us a rundown on last weekend’s happenings, over to you Peter;
“JOTA/JOTI for 2023
Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Inc. located in an outer suburb of Launceston hosted over 70 Scouting members over the JOTA/JOTI weekend. Scouts were from Tamar, Riverside, Newstead, Summerhill and 4th Launceston plus Norfolk Plains which covers some nearby country towns and surrounds. We commenced set up on the preceding Wednesday and Friday with last minute tasks like hiding the foxes on Saturday morning.
Equipment activated included HF on a multi-band folded dipole, VHF handheld accessing VK7KPC-l echo-link node, DMR mobile radio accessing VK7RJG and another UHF unit connected to a yagi to access VK7RMD on the North Coast. We also had a DMR hotspot set up as backup if needed.
Several Morse code practice oscillators were set up as well as a Morse keyboard with its side tone audio fed to a Morse decoder program on a laptop.
The club also provided a large screen monitor in the attached hall for accessing Skype, and internet access for a number of pc’s connected to a hub for Scoutlink chat connection. Snap together electronic kits and Edison robots also available. There were 4 aforementioned foxes disguised as various other animals in surrounding bush waiting to be found by the Scouts wielding measuring tape yagis and VK3YNG df receivers.
There were about 20 Scouts of various ages through the event on Saturday afternoon and the remainder in 2 by 2 hour bocks from 10 am and 1pm on the Sunday.
The club was assisted in running the JOTI portion by a number of Matthew Brady Venturer Scouts.
The following members of NTARC Inc. helped during the weekend many for the whole operational period. Andre VK7ZAB, Stefan VK7ZSB, Kevin VK7KJL, Ian VK7IG, Tony VK7ZTT, Brendan VK7VIP, Tony VK7YBG, Ian VK7IH, Idris VK7ZIR, Douglas VK7DGD and Bernie VK7BR.”
Thank you Peter for the update on another very successful JOTA/JOTI weekend. It was excellent to see so many NTARC members and Matthew Brady Venturer Scouts giving up their time to help with this long running scouting event.
NTARC Auction Hosting – Its official, lock in Saturday the 25th November for the “Shack Clear-out” auction. To date we have received pictures and descriptions on over seventy items of equipment for the auction. Covering transceivers, scanners, power supplies and test equipment including dummy loads and SWR meters. The auction will definitely be going ahead and will be held at the NTARC Club rooms Archer Street, Rocherlea on Saturday the 25th November. Remember, this auction will be open to all amateurs’ not just NTARC members! If you have items please let NTARC Secretary know by e-mailing secretary@ntarc.net . All that is needed is a quick note stating your name, call-sign and proposed items to be re-home. If you would like some or all of your items included on the NTARC Web sites, ever growing auction catalogue, please include a picture and very brief item description when e-mailing.
To view current items please go to the NTARC website at www.ntarc.net and select “Notices” option to view the latest catalogue of items.
NTARC QSL Cards - Andrew VK7DW, our QSL manager has advised me that the following QSL cards are available for collection. VK7’s AT, BO, AU, GC, JFD, KPA, WW and ZR. If you just heard your call-sign then there are cards waiting at the NTARC club rooms for collection on the next Coffee morning or Technical Night. Thank you Herman for your continued support regarding QSL deliveries and thank you Andrew for the update.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Club Technical night - The next session will be on Wednesday the 1st of November and will commence at 6.30 pm through to about 10.00 pm, at the Club room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
Coffee Morning - held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10am to noon and we look forward to seeing you all there. So why not pop in and join us for a cuppa, there is endless tea and coffee along with biscuits available for a donation.
The TestNet and TechNet session – Every Wednesday, 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 be Nic VK7WW.
“Shack Clear-out” auction - Saturday the 25th November, NTARC club rooms.
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@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 Inc.
