Broadcast - 19 June 2022
This week was not only busy but was indeed a chilly one, Wednesday night club presentation night was no exception and was quit cold, but was definitely a not to be missed event. I will pass it over to Idris VK7ZIR for a rundown of the night’s presentation.
“Our tech night presentation was especially well attended despite the inclement weather. Our guest speaker was Malcolm White, who is currently Chair of the Board of Governance at the Tasmanian Royal Flying Doctor Service. Malcolm’s topic was “Innovation in the Bush”, which celebrated an amateur radio achievement fifty five years ago. He opened with a brief history of his younger days in a small town called Birchip in rural Victoria. As a twelve year old boy with an interest in radio he managed to get a job during his school holidays at the local radio shop. He took the audience back in time to how amateur radio was in the nineteen sixties, before the wide spread use of transistors and anything above two metres was considered exotic. His neighbour was a keen amateur radio operator and there started a lifelong friendship with Ray Naughton, VK3ATN. Ray was already a well-established innovative radio amateur with numerous contest awards. He achieved, what was considered at the time to be impossible with what experts said was limited equipment. Ray had built his own steerable quad stacked rhombic antenna in the paddock next to his house. In 1966 using 144 MHz, and limited to 150 Watts he proved them all wrong with Australia’s first ever Moon Bounce QSO with stations in the USA. Ray’s motivation came from the news that man was preparing to attempt a moon landing. When that great day arrived, Ray used one of his antenna arrays to monitor the voice communications between the Lunar Lander and NASA.
Two years after his Moon Bounce record he was invited, in an all-expenses paid trip to America to share his knowledge with scientists and for his part was awarded the ARRL Technical Merit Award, the first time it was bestowed outside of America. His later interest was Radio Astronomy and Tasmania was graced with his presence when he met with Grote Rebar, who was a pioneer in Radio Astronomy and lived at Bothwell. In conclusion Malcolm lamented the demise of innovative Australian electronics companies for example Vinten and AWA. Many questions and discussions continued into the sumptuous supper that followed. Thanks go to Malcolm for his fascinating and informative presentation.”
Thank you Idris, it was indeed a very illuminating presentation, apart from the technical aspects Malcolm also managed to put the human side to a great achievement in the amateur world. An interesting fact is that Ray constructed the “directing” end of the rhombic antenna using pullies, this allowing for a limited range of about 10 degrees of steer ability. This intern extended the possible QSO duration out to about 10 minutes. And the question from last week’s broadcast as to how Ray set up the contact schedules with his American counter parts? They used the 40 Metre amateur band, when it was open. And finally in Ray’s later years, he started an antenna manufacturing company called ATN Antennas! Designing and constructing kit antennas and towers. Now how many of us older amateurs have not at some time had one of their fine antennas in their collection? I was particularly fond of their 13 Element 2 metre Yagi, they formed an excellent stacked array.
For some excellent pictures and more technical information see the link in the broadcast text.
The first Amateur Lunar tests & contacts |2nd part: 1966-1976 (ok2kkw.com)
Once again the SSTV Net was held on repeater VK7RJG on Thursday night. But this time the North South RF link was functioning to VK7RAF. This allowed for a state wide link up to happen. The SSTV pictures came thick and fast, and ended up featuring stills from some old TV shows. A selection of these SSTV images from the night are available on the NTARC website under ‘Blogs’.
As this item was penned late on Friday, the NTARC Safety Communications crew, had already travelled to Lebrina in readiness for a one day Equine Endurance Ride. We have established our Ride Base, set up a 2 meter and 70cm repeater for voice and data communications and trialled communications to some field check point in readiness. Two of our tougher members are actually going to camp out at the furthest check point on Friday night, ready for the early start Saturday morning. If it is Sunday when you hear this then hopefully we are packing up, making our way back to Launceston and still have two unfrozen club members, assuming we don’t get some of the sub zero overnight temperatures of the previous week again. Happy tenting Roger VK7ARN and Peter VK7KPC.
Mug Order - yes, we are talking about the white mugs for drinking out of, those that have our club logo on one side, personalised with your name and call sign on the other. We are placing another order so if you would like one then please see André at coffee mornings or at the technical night. Those members who have already requested a mug, please email secretary@ntarc.net to confirm order, and anyone else who wants one please specify what name is to be printed above the call sign. The final price will be about $12 depending on eventual quantity ordered.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TestNet and TechNet – Wednesday 22nd June. TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7pm till 7.30pm….and a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30pm till about 8.30pm. Your host for the evening will again be Nic VK7WW.
Club Technical night – Wednesday 29th June. Held at the NTARC Club rooms, 7.30pm until whenever.
Coffee Morning – held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Get warm while you 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.
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.
That’s all folks, 73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC.
