Broadcast - 5 November 2023
First item this broadcast is a congratulations to Nic VK7WW. You may recall in previous broadcasts that he has been having quite a few successful long distance QRP Morse Code contacts. All using his 80 metre, 1 watt, transmitter project called the “Cent”, which he designed as a celebration of 100 years of Amateur Radio in Tasmania. Nic received a “Milliwatts Per Kilometre Award” from the “CW Operators’ QRP Club Inc.” of Australia. Being for a successful contact between Legana in Tasmania to Mark VK6QI in Bedfordale, Perth Western Australia. With a total distance of 2924 Kilometres this equates to 2.92 mW per kilometre! Not bad going for a 1 watt single transistor transmitter Nic.
While we are on the subject of QRP, Peter VK7KPC has also had some luck. This time with his ex-military WS62 HF transceiver, circa WW2, that he is repairing and restoring. It appears Peter is having some success with repairs as he recently made a contact on 80 metres using 1watt into Sydney NSW.
For interest Peter replaced the faulty high voltage power supply with a 250 volt switch mode power supply module. It is neatly housed within a perforated metal cover and blends in excellently, looking to be part of the original rig. This particular fault and “temporary” fix might even stay as permanent.
Being a sixty years old transceiver it required a plug in crystal using the large 20mm or so pin spacing. Unfortunately Peter does not have a suitable crystal but fortunately he did have a crystal of the required frequency, but it was a newer small PCB style crystal. Necessity being the mother of invention, Peter soldered a couple of thick pins that fitted the socket onto the crystals leads. Then covered the assembly in thermo-setting Polymorph mouldable plastic beads. It hardened and the finished product is a much sturdier and more reliable than holding the crystal leads in the socket while initially testing.
Well I think QRP is certainly in good hands at the moment, thank you Nic and Peter for the updates.
NTARC Auction Hosting – “Shack Clear-out” auction Saturday the 25th November. As at last count we have exceeded 120 Lots, that’s 120 Lots guaranteed for auction and that’s a lot of equipment!
If you would like your items included on the NTARC Web sites, ever growing auction catalogue, please send us a brief description of each item “Lot” to the: secretary@ntarc.net .
The auction will be held at the NTARC Club rooms Archer Street, Rocherlea Saturday 10:00 am on the 25th of November. Remember, this auction will be open to all amateurs’ not just NTARC members!
It looks as though our very own, almost world famous, auctioneer Nic VK7WW, will be doing the honours as master of ceremonies for the day.
To view current items please go to the NTARC website link on the email version of the broadcast and select the “Notices” option to view the catalogue of items.
If you listened to the previous WIA broadcast, and just to be sure, the Lancaster bomber does not come with the 1155 transmitter. hihi
As a truly great man once said, well actually it was last week in the broadcast… there are some delicious items available, he is seriously not joking!
As always equipment pictures and links are available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast. Now back to the house keeping.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
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 Club Technical night - The next session will be on Wednesday the 15th of November and will commence at 6.30 pm through to about 10.00 pm, at the Club room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
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.
