Broadcast - 6 Mar 2022
Last Friday’s morning tea saw a healthy number of people coming and going through-out the session. Not just being limited to drinking and eating all the time, there were also deep technical discussions at a couple of tables. This included Nic VK7WW’s CW beacon with its reception in various parts of the world, general band propagation at this time of the year, and the latest from the James Webb telescope calibration process.
Peter VK7SP was continuing with the NTARC Equine project to port his self-written application from Windows to the Raspberry Pi4 platform. He was also assisting Norm VK7KTN in resurrecting his very old Windows laptop by converting it into a Linux Mint machine, capable once again of running modern radio software. Is there a theme here of getting away from Microsoft Windows. HiHi.
Peter has recently returned from Switzerland, which was his home for the past eighteen months, where he had plenty of spare time to work on this project. The use of a Raspberry Pi will provide a backup to the PC and an alternative that is much more field portable. This is for the management software that interfaces between the National Equine electronic timing system and NTARC’s data transfer system. This was designed and built by Andre’ VK7ZAB and is based on the amateur packet radio standard, to connect field checkpoints with the Ride Base. This assists the NTARC Safety Communications team in the tracking of riders. This is obviously a huge work in progress and we wish all involved good luck.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Club Tech night – Wednesday 9th March. Held at the NTARC Club rooms, 7.30pm until whenever.
TestNet and TechNet – Wednesday 16th March. TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7pm till 7.30pm….and then a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30pm till about 8.30pm. Your host for the evening will again be Nic VK7WW.
Coffee Mornings – held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Catch up time is from 10am to noon and we look forward to seeing you all there.
These coffee events represent 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.
As masking wear may soon no longer be mandatory, this maybe the last reminder to take your mask off when eating and drinking. You know who you are!
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.
73, Stefan VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC Inc
