Broadcast - 15 Dec 2024
Two Wednesday evenings ago saw club members attended the Iron Horse Bar and Grill for the annual NTARC Christmas Dinner. There was much discussion of the menus extensive variety of culinary delights and luckily everyone found something suitable. Orders were taken and service was fast. The food was magnificent, everyone was happy and the staff were fantastic. A great relaxing time was had by all. We all made our way home, some of us well after 10pm, but all thoroughly satiated.
Last Wednesday evening was NTARC’s General Meeting time again.
Even though we are now into summer the night was a bit on the cool side and the club rooms were decidedly chilly. So thanks to Stuart VK7FEAT, who quickly stoked the wood heater “Luke Skywarmer” and soon had it ablaze. The wood not the heater that is, hihi. The nip in the air was soon removed. We had a great roll up of members, with the meeting commencing at 19:30 hours. The agenda was worked through in about 30 minutes. With the meeting closed, a light supper was brought out and discussions continued on for another hour. This was the last General Meeting for the year, See you at the Annual General Meeting in February 2025.
For those of you with good memories… about fifteen months ago at a Club Technical night Andre’ VK7ZAB, was demonstrating his “Tiny SA” Spectrum Analyser, not on display but to display a brand new RF signal in the Launceston area. The new signal was in the 200MHz area and turned out to be from the testing of the ABC’s new Digital Audio Broadcasting Plus service for the Launceston area, or DAB for short. You may also remember that Phil VK7ZPD, stumbled across a pile of Sony DAB+ compatible radios that were brand new in boxes. He found them at a local recycling depot very near the NTARC club rooms at Rocherlea. They were less than one seventh their retail price. At $20 you couldn’t go wrong, as it certainly ticked the “cost-effective box” for amateur radio operators.
Well fifteen months later the testing has finished and the service has been officially rolled out and services the greater Launceston area.
The following is a hint for members and others that snapped up many dozens of these units.
Because of the possible difference in test stream protocol the new DAB+ signal will not automatically lock on and decode into individual channels on these units. The easiest solution is turn the unit “On” press the “Menu” button on the rear of the unit, select “Initialise” then select “Yes”. The Sony unit will reboot and scan for a DAB signal. It will lock onto the new stream, display the correct time and you will now have eleven new digital ABC channels. Maybe the reason they were being disposed of was this very problem? But who cares it’s an easy solution, happy listening.
As mentioned last week an E-mail has gone out to all members regarding membership renewal options. By all means feel free to renew your membership. But importantly if you haven’t received the e-mail and you have checked your Junk folder, then drop an e-mail to the secretary with your preferred e-mail address and I will update any address discrepancies.
Remember this week sees the winding down of club activities in time for the Christmas Break.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TestNet and TechNet session - The last session for 2024 will be this Wednesday the 18th December commencing with the TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7 pm till 7.30 pm, then a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30 pm till 8.30 pm. Your host for the evening is Nic VK7WW.
Club Room Technical night session - The last session for 2024 will be this Wednesday the 18th December commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea
Coffee Morning – The last for 2024 will be held this Friday the 20th of December 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.
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.
