Broadcast - 19 November 2023
The last technical night update will be carried over to next week’s broadcast due to club commitments at this year’s Equine Endurance Ride 24 hour State Championships held at Sassafras. This is the major Equine Endurance Ride event for the year commencing at Friday midnight for 24 hours. When this broadcast goes to air on Sunday, hopefully we will be packing up after another successful weekend of providing emergency radio communications and ride tracking. More to follow next week.
For those of us that may not be aware the Ben Lomond repeater VK7RBH is temporarily off air. Unfortunately we can’t blame Optus, hihi. This one is our problem and I will hand over to Tony VK7YBG for an update on his Ben Lomond Trip:
“As most of you are aware we had interference on VK7RBH that was ongoing and was threatening to cause battery issues, so a small team went to the site to rectify the issue.
We had a good day and all went to plan, the coaxes on the tower were secured with stainless clamps, sheath damage on the coax repaired with self-amalgamating tape, all other site checks and clean-up went ok, VK7RBH removed from site for 7MHz split and upgrades. Some heavy roof damage was evident from falling flag ice and will need some attention in the near future
I was lucky to have a good crew yesterday and the timing of the thunderstorm and our travels went smoothly resulting in a bonus coffee break at the shop at the village.
Thanks go to Wayne and Kathy Tyrill, Stuart Kincade and Colin Fuller for their attendance and hard work.
There is work on VK7REC Snow Hill to be sorted, but it is currently operational. The next trip will be to Mt. Arthur for a big site clean-up and rubbish removal, finish the rigging on the small tower so we can mount antennas on it, and a general site check.”
Thank you Tony for the repeater update and as always “Normal services will be restored as soon as possible”.
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, DON, JFD, KPA, KW, RC 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.
NTARC Auction Hosting – Ok this will be the last time we mention the Auction, this time next broadcast it will be all over bar the shouting. That’s correct, the “Shack Clear-out” auction is next Saturday at the NTARC Club rooms Archer Street, Rocherlea. As at last count we were rapidly approaching 160 Lots!
This Auction is open to ALL enthusiasts, Short Wave Listeners and Radio Amateurs worldwide – you do not have to be a member of the Club to Buy or Sell. Please sort your gear out that you wish to dispose of, and bring it along. Acceptance of items closes the morning of the Auction up to 10:30am.
If you would like your items included on the NTARC Web sites auction catalogue, please send us a brief description of each item or “Lot” to the: secretary@ntarc.net .
Nic VK7WW, will be doing the honours as master of ceremonies and auctioneer for the day, this is assuming Sean Connery is unable to make it! hihi All eager participants will be congregating abou10:00 am ready for the auctioneer’s first Hammer strike to occur at 10:30. To view current items please go to the NTARC website and select the “Notices” option to view the two catalogues of items.
Any NTARC club members with some spare time and wish to assist at the auction, please contact the secretary. Any assistance would be appreciated. See you all next Saturday!
End of Year Club Celebration – is locked in, it will be on Wednesday the 6th of December. To be held at the Iron Horse Bar and Grill located at 468 Westbury Rd, Prospect Vale, Launceston. We will be in a quiet function room at the rear of the dining area. Tables have been booked under the name of NTARC and the Menu is a-la-carte. We will be arriving at 6pm for a 6:30 meal.
Please RSVP to the secretary at secretary@ntarc.net or jot your name and number of places required on the registration sheet next to the sign in register on a Wednesday night session or Friday coffee morning. We will need to confirm final numbers with the Iron Horse by December,
A link to the Iron Horse location and menu information is available in the text version of this broadcast.
Just for information, the main access to the restaurant is via a wheel chair and climbing friendly gentle ramp.
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 29th 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.
