Broadcast - 21 April 2024
NTARC News for Sunday Broadcast – 21st April 2024
This certainly has been a very quiet week as far as anything of a newsworthy nature goes. However, there are a few things to mention, namely a highlight, an anniversary and a trial.
The highlight was the first “winter period” general meeting for the year. It was held last weekend on Saturday, early in the afternoon. This is our normal transition from Wednesday night meetings because of the shortening of daylight hours and the inclement weather period we are entering.
Saturday general meetings will be the order of the day until winter is over, the weather improves, the days grow longer and we start Daylight Savings once again, in early October.
The anniversary is a by-product of the Covid lockdown that saw all face-to-face club activities cease in early 2020. However, Nic VK7WW or as we knew him then VK7BEE, suggested that he could run a weekly Wednesday night Tech-Net session on 3.567MHz under the club callsign of VK7TAZ. So with Nic hosting the on-air Net and Paul VK7KPA managing Discord, they went live in April. It was a monumental success and within a year had morphed to include a Test-Net and CW Morse code training session.
The rest, as you say is history, it has been successfully running for four years and must be getting very close to clocking up 200 evenings on air. It now also boasts good mainland amateur participation, even if propagation doesn’t always allow voice or CW reception in both directions, there is always the Discord channel. Phil VK7ZPD and Paul still keep Discord ticking away and also provide the off-air audio stream available when logged into Discord. Rick VK7HBR along with Phil, also have been known to stand in as the Guest Host and Net controller when Nic has been unavailable.
Thank you, Nic for your enthusiastic hosting and all who have participated in the nets, whether on air, on Discord or as a short wave listener.
As a trial, a year ago we started opening the Club Technical night sessions, held every second Wednesday night, an hour earlier. Doors opened at 18:30 instead of the previous 19:30.
This was initially intended for the duration of the winter period to provide more flexibility for those of us who live out of town and have to travel home later in the evening, often in inclement weather.
The earlier starting time certainly has proven popular and not just during the winter months. I think the trial start time might end up being recommended as permanent. If you have any thoughts on the matter please let one of the committee know.
As always, pictures will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TestNet and TechNet session - Every Wednesday, TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7 pm till 7.30 pm, then a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30 pm till about 8.30 pm. Your host for the evening will be Nic VK7WW.
Coffee Morning - held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10 am 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.
Club Room Technical night session - The next session will be on Wednesday the 24th April and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm, running through to about 10 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 5 pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
That’s all folks,
73, Stefan VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC Inc.
