Broadcast - 23 June 2024
June is nearly over with just one more broadcast until the middle of the calendar year and the end of the financial year, with the accompanying “fun” tax return time again.
First up, an Important Message!
As we are well and truly heading into the winter season it seems a suitable time to mention that our repeater batteries can sometimes struggle to fully recharge each day, especially in cloudy and wet weather conditions. Please consider this as it will minimise the possibility of trying to save power by turning some repeaters off for a period of time. Thank you from the NTARC Committee.
I will now hand over to Idris VK7ZIR, to provide a rundown of the Wednesday evening’s technical session.
“First arrivals to the Clubrooms would have found the heater well fired up and the urns ready, due to some construction work happening that afternoon, and so preparations for the evening were already done. Peter VK7KPC, is continuing cleaning and testing the Marinetta 2 life boat radio. Progress so far includes getting the hand cranked generator working, achieving a correct HT of 300 volts and auxiliary voltage of 30 volts. A light glows to indicate when HT level is correct, confirmed with a multimeter. His next task is to wire in the unattached microphone to enable voice transmission. Luckily, there are very good schematics available. With the case cleaned up and a long wire antenna attached, the whole radio looks very business-like. Operational progress reports to come, watch this space! Thanks Peter.
Ross VK7ALH brought in a resident from the “VK7ALH Home for Unwanted and Damage Radios”. This was an example of a Ten Tec 544 HF transceiver, rescued from a skip after an estate cleanout. The radio was in many pieces with almost no knobs, so Ross has a box full of parts to source from. This unit is of modular construction with many small circuit boards. Hopefully he will have enough parts to get the radio operational. Modifications made by the previous owner have to be found and the correct specifications restored. The top and bottom covers have been lost, so Ross is having replacements manufactured. The finished restoration will be a very handsome radio. Well done Ross, we will look forward to progress reports and a final demonstration.”
Thanks Idris for the Tech night update.
As always, pictures will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast. NTARC Blogs
Mid-year Club get-together and meal – The venue has been booked, locking in the date and time. It is to be held on the 10th of July, which is a Wednesday night, with the venue being the Iron Horse Bar and Grill located at 468 Westbury Rd, Prospect Vale, Launceston. Those who wish to attend please register the number of places required by e-mailing the Secretary or filling in the registration sheet at the club rooms. Menu is a-la-carte. We will be arriving at 6pm for a 6:30 meal. A link to the Iron Horse location and menu information is available in the text version of this broadcast. Iron Horse Bar & Grill
Just for information, the main access to the restaurant is via a wheel chair and walking friendly gentle ramp.
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 check the QSL cards 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 3rd July and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 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.
