Broadcast - 23 Oct 2022
Last weekend saw 77 attendees pass through the NTARC club rooms for our part in the 65th JOTA and 26th JOTI Jamboree. Saturday’s weather was kind to us and the pauses in the rain seemed to coincide with whenever we had a group outside fox hunting. Peter VK7KPC will cover the state wide event in detail next broadcast. I would like to thank everybody who helped at the club rooms and especially those external to us that took the time to talk via radio when there were no Scouts available, thank you Shirley VK7HSC, Brendan VK7VIP, Lewis VK7IT and at least one other that I can’t recall, sorry but things were pretty hectic at times and my grey matter has failed me.
Wednesdays Clubroom Technical night was a much quieter affair in comparison. Even though Peter VK7KPC had a couple of hectic days over the weekend in his JOTA /JOTI capacity he still managed to turn up early at the Clubrooms bringing with him some interesting ex-military equipment in the form of a “Control Group AN / GRA-6” setup. This equipment was manufactured by an unusually named company called “Plated Wires & Electronics Inc.” of Ansonia, Connecticut.
The setup comprised two units, “Local” and “Remote”. These two units are interconnected by a one pair telephone line and could be separated by at least 3 Km. In field telephone mode they can call each other by winding the crank handle mounted on the front panel of each unit and talk as normal using the handsets. The “Local” unit also contains interconnecting cables that plug into one or two Transmitter Receiver combinations. It could control the transmitters individually or combined. If the “Local” unit was switched to “Remote” mode the transmitters could be controlled at least 3 Km away by the remote unit.
This allowed the radio operator to site the radio set on a hill, then retreat to a safer spot and operate his set via the GRA-6. Also two sets could be interconnected via the GRA-6, on different frequencies, to act as a radio relay. Thank you Peter for bringing these units along and setting them up for us to try using.
A link for more information is included in the text version of this broadcast. TM_11-5038_1951.pdf (radionerds.com)
Ross VK7ALH brought in the matching external power supply unit for his Yaesu FT-200 transceiver which was also displayed at a recent technical night, both units were from the early 70s.
The external power supply add on was locally manufactured in Australian by Bail Electronic Services and incorporated a very substantial A&R mains transformer, rectifiers and regulation. The unit also included a reasonable sized inbuilt loud speaker. It was in restoration mode and the exposed top side of the chassis showed the classic white corrosion of the passivated zinc, luckily the underside or business end was in surprisingly good condition sporting very clean Elna electrolytic capacitors, which were probably originals.
Bail Electronic Services had been the Australian factory representatives and specialists in Yaesu amateur communication equipment from 1963, at least ten years prior to the Dick Smith stores. Thanks Ross.
Ian, VK7IG as hoped, brought in his small WSPR transmitter module made by ZachTeck of Sweden. I was expecting just the module but he has been industrious! Ian has purchased a weather proof 240Volt power board hinged plastic enclosure from a popular hardware store and has used this enclosure as the basis for a portable self-contained unit. A lithium vehicle “jump start” battery unit with USB sockets provides the power, the WSPR module is about the size of a cigarette packet and there is still plenty of room for a possible power amplifier module plus filters. Even the cables can coil up with-in the case. Just connect an antenna and you have at least three days of run time. I believe that this weekend’s projected rain will be the water proof test. Fingers crossed and congratulations on a nice build Ian.
Lionel VK7ZLB, produced from his pocket what appeared at first glance to look like a standard off the shelf spark plug, and yes it was made by a current spark plug manufacturer, K.L.G.
It was indeed made from porcelain, however the “Gap” end was a solder-able post and the “Spark plug lead end” was threaded shaft complete with a nut, which could be used to tighten onto a lug or wire conductor. The entire unit could easily be secured through a bulkhead or chassis panel using the provided large nut. It was effectively a high voltage or RF insulated feed through.
The man behind K.L.G. was Kenelm Lee Guinness. He started manufacturing “Sparking Plugs” in 1912, yes I did say “Sparking Plugs”, as they were once called. K.L.G. started production in a disused Inn or Pub and very quickly earned a reputation for incredible reliability. So much so that during World War 1 the entire factory output was reserved by the War Ministry for the exclusive use in aircraft. Over one hundred and ten years of manufacturing and still going strong!
Discussions roamed freely but one subject that I had not really considered since the demise of the daytime AM broadcast band in Launceston to “Junk Status” was crystal sets! In particular Burnie VK7BRs question, did anybody know of a good FM Crystal set design? That stumped things for a while, it would be nice to listen to something intelligent on a crystal set again. After a fair bit of web searching and some interesting designs Lionel, VK7ZLB has taken up the challenge to look into the subject. I think I will also do some research before next Technical night. As eleven o’clock was rapidly approaching the remaining few decided to call it a night and go home as one of us had to get up for work at 04:30!
Equine Endurance event - The State Championships at Santarena Park, Scottsdale on the 18th & 19th of November is coming up rapidly. This is a request for additional crew members to help us handle this twenty four hour event starting at midnight. Please advise if you are able to assist for any length of time by emailing Roger, VK7ARN or catch up with the Secretary at a Coffee Morning or Tech Session.
Tassie Ham Expo in November - The club has decided to combine the Coffee Morning and Technical Night donations for the month of October. Our aim is to purchase some new items that can be donated to the Tassie Ham Conference / Expo in November, they will be added to the pool of raffle prizes. So next Coffee Morning or Tech Night feel free to bring along any old change or bank notes that you no longer have a use for and pass them on to this good amateur cause.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TestNet and TechNet – Wednesday 26th October. 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 be Nic VK7WW.
Club Technical night - Wednesday 2nd November. Held at the NTARC Club rooms, 7.30pm until late.
SSTV Net - Held every Thursday night on the 70cm repeater, VK7RJG and linked to the South via repeater VK7RAF. Conducted from about 7.30pm. These SSTV images will be available on the NTARC website under ‘Blogs’.
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. We currently have QSL cards awaiting collection, so why not pop in, check the QSL box and join us for a cuppa and chat. Remember, door proceeds will go to the November Ham Expo!
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.
Remember equipment photos and radio propagation maps are available on the NTARC web site under “Blogs” for this week’s broadcast.
That’s all folks,
73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC.
