Broadcast - 22 Jan 2023
It is with great sadness that we have been advised that Jason Reilly, VK7ZJA has become a Silent Key. He had fought a courageous battle with cancer and passed away earlier this week. It’s fortunate that Rodney, VK7HAM and Peter, VK7ZPE had a happy visit with him in the LGH last Sunday afternoon. Jason was Secretary of NARC inc. from 2009 until early 2011. He also wrote and contributed many good articles for the state wide Sunday morning broadcasts as well as Web hosting technical pages on various communications radio modifications.
Idris VK7ZIR, and myself were lucky enough to have worked with Jason at various times throughout our careers in Telecom and Telstra mainly back in the 80s and 90s. When Optus started as the fledgling second telecommunications carrier in Australia, Jason took up a position with them. With his skills he soon became one of the two major “go to” contacts for all Optus telecommunications problems in Tasmania. During this period our discussions and site visits with Jason were mainly due to the many Opus interconnect data bearers being provided by Telstra.
News can travel fast within the amateur community, as the first I knew of his passing was an e-mail sent to NTARC from one of his overseas contacts, a French amateur named Guy, F1DMG passing on his condolences to us.
Vale Jason, you will be greatly missed.
The Club Technical night had its first get together for 2023 on Wednesday night. It was well attended but mainly a low key start to the year after hearing of the loss of one of our fellow amateurs.
Ross VK7ALH did however bring along a Vintage valve audio signal generator, made by Advance Components Ltd. of England, a Type J1, covering from 15Hz to 50 kHz, circa 1955. It had the standard balanced 600 Ohm output but interestingly it had the rare inclusion of a low impedance 5 Ohm output for testing speakers. It was not in Ross’s hands for restoration or repair, he just wanted the valves, so now he has acquired more old spare parts. HiHi
The one amazing thing about this unit was the comment when the back came off, “It has that British smell”. Well yes it did have that smell about it, probably could have come from the type of transformer lamination lacquer used in the 1950s? But yes we know what he means.
Finally on a congratulatory note it is nice to see some NTARC call signs in the recent edition of Lo-Key, “The Journal of the VK QRP Club”, magazine. It was in relation to the QRP Hours Contest October 2022 Results. Nic VK7WW came in equal Sixth in the SSB mode, Andrew VK7DW, came in Second in the Digital mode with both Nic and Peter VK7KPC featuring in the CW mode with a Second place and Eighth place respectively. Remember all contacts are QRP! and I do hope the places come with a certificate, as it is bound to “stoke” the Certificate envy! HiHi
2023 Membership fees - It’s that time of the year again and a big thank you to all those members who have paid their 2023 subs. Remember NTARC’s 2023 membership fees are still just $40.00 for a Full voting member and $5 additional for each Family member that the voting member wishes to add to his or her primary membership.
Annual General Meeting - Members are reminded that the NTARC AGM will take place on Wednesday the 8th of February at the NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street, Rocherlea, commencing at 7.30pm (19:30). All current office holder and committee positions fall vacant at the AGM. Nominations for each office bearer and the Committee Member are invited and should be made in writing to the Secretary, along with the signatures of the Nominator, Seconder and that of the member nominated. Nominations will also be required for the positions of Internal Auditor and Public Officer.
Please note for your convenience there is a nomination form available on the NTARC website, www.ntarc.net and printed forms are also available at the club room. Please ensure that the completed nomination form is returned by “Close of Business” on the 2nd of February 2023, either in person or at the following mail address: The Secretary, NTARC Inc. PO Box 275 Launceston Tas 7250.
As usual, the AGM will be followed by a General Meeting. More details on that meeting’s topic will be given closer to the date.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The TestNet and TechNet session - Wednesday 25th January. 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.
Coffee Morning - held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10am to noon and we look forward to seeing you all there. We currently have a couple of QSL cards awaiting collection, so why not pop in, check the QSL box and join us for a cuppa and chat.
The Club Technical night - Wednesday 1st of February. Held at the NTARC Club rooms, 7.30pm until late.
Annual General Meeting - Wednesday the 8th February. Members are reminded that the NTARC AGM will take place at the NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street, Rocherlea, commencing at 7.30pm (19:30). February General Meeting to follow the AGM.
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.
