Broadcast - 1 August 2021
Here we are at the 1st of August and as the seasons are defined by grouping of months, what that means to us in Australia, is that August is regarded as the last month of winter. Let’s hope things pick up in coming weeks and the rain slows down. My paddocks are water logged and really cannot sustain any more liquid. I for one am looking forward to spring beginning, well one can only hope.
This week we will go straight into the report from Idris VK7ZIR and the happenings of last Wednesday Tech night, “This week, member Stuart brought us a demonstration of his Broadcast Analyser, a combination of hardware and software components.
Stuart has a background in Broadcast Engineering and as such could give us a comprehensive explanation of the makeup of an FM broadcast signal. The analyser is a Pira 175 and is designed by use for Broadcast Engineers. Made in the Czech Republic, it can be used on FM radio signals to measure and adjust peak deviation, stereo pilot and RDS level, phase and even carrier frequency. It can be used stand alone as it has a large LCD display and is battery powered. Stuart showed us the FM Scope application running with the analyser connected to a laptop which had different screens for various parameters. The BandScan facility displayed the relative signal strengths of FM broadcast stations in the area, and he then took us through the different displays pertaining to each station. There is Modulation Power, Spectral Occupancy, the MPX signal in time and frequency domains and frequency deviation. A major use would be to check that the station is conforming to the Regulator’s Broadcast limits. It was interesting to see how close some of the local FM broadcasters came to those limits.
This demonstration caused much interest and discussion for most of the evening and we thank Stuart for his explanations and the opportunity to see this precision instrument.
Until next time, 73 from Idris VK7ZIR”
UPCOMING EVENTS
SLOW MORSE COURSE – Wednesday 4th August. Your host and teacher is Nic VK7WW. Frequencies and times are the same as were used by Nic for the previous TestNet and TechNet. And if you have forgotten what they were, here they are, 1900 hrs to 1930 hrs on 3.580 MHz and then at 1930hours through to about 2030 on 3.567MHz.
So why not tune in and give it a try. For those who may want some extra help, this website is reported as being very good. www.morsecodeclassnet.com
TECH NIGHT – Wednesday 11th August at the NTARC Club rooms, 19:30 hours until whenever. Special event on the night will be an introduction to and demonstrations on how to use the VKCL program to log the RD Contest; the RD Contest Rules and future field days. Your presenter on the night will be Peter VK7PD, one not to be missed.
FUTURE EVENTS
August General meeting – Saturday 14th. Meeting will commence at 14:00 hours (2.00pm). The meeting will be followed by afternoon tea so donations of cakes, slices etc would be appreciated.
Equine event – Saturday 28th August, North East Equine Endurance Club, Jolly Lette Memorial ride, Santarena Park, Scottsdale. Plenty of warning to help out on this ride. NTARC will be providing support for 80, 40 and 20 rides. As further information comes to hand I will update this news entry with further details.
COFFEE MORNINGS – currently held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Catch up time is from 10.00 am to noon and we look forward to seeing you all.
These coffee events in the past have been normally a good opportunity to collect your QSL cards. We currently have cards awaiting collection, so why not pop in and check the QSL box and join us for a cuppa and chat.
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 me at the following address news@ntarc.net all items to be received no later than 17:00 on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
Your continued cooperation in this regard will be greatly appreciated.
We will bring you all such contributions next Sunday morning.
73, Yvonne VK7FYMX, Secretary NTARC Inc
