Broadcast - 5 Feb 2023
The Club Technical night – Every second Wednesday certainly seems to come around quickly. Even so the night continues to be very well attended with over three hours disappearing very rapidly, especially when you are deep in technical or other discussions. As always the arrival of various items act as a catalyst in the ensuing discussions, tonight was no exception.
Lionel VK7ZLB, brought along a 12Kg, 750 VA, Australian made transformer. Not intended for show and tell but for the future re-use by another amateur. The really good thing is that the possible alternative was way less than ten dollars from the scrap metal recyclers, for a still perfectly good and superbly manufactured unit. But like anything, there is a limit to what you can stock pile waiting for that, “It might come in useful sometime”, moment to come along. Luckily this saved component has found a happy home.
Kevin VK7KJL, brought in an Icom IC-F1010 from the early 1990s which he is trying to resurrect and programme with some State repeaters. As the programming software was old it would also only run on Windows XP so Kevin built up a working computer from old parts and installed windows XP operating system and the required vintage Icom software. Idris VK7ZIR, tracked down and installed some old serial interface drivers and by the end of the evening HyperTerminal was working into a loop back on the radio end of serial cable. Next step is interfacing to the radio and attempting to program it, a work in progress Kevin.
The night must have been an “Items from last century evening” because Ian VK7IG, brought in a “FishPro 80 Commander”. The manual describes it as “The Fisherman’s Personal Guru & Trip Planner” and comes “Programmed from years 1970 to 2050”. Ian purchased it in the late1980s or early 90s and it has absolutely no radio receive or transmit capability but what an incredible example of programmable handheld technology from that period. Designed and manufactured in Melbourne by OCS, Outdoor Computer Systems, the unit has widely spaced cursor and data entry keys that could easily be used while wearing any thickness gloves and the display was a glorious two line LCD screen that was actually quite large for the time and easily readable. Not a touch screen to be found and therefore no water droplet on screen problems! As this unit is capable of providing information for any location on the planets’ surface, it comes with a transparent numbered grid squares reference that sits over the general area maps provided, enter the grid square reference nearest to where you are, enter barometric pressure and update time and you are ready to go. It will give you sun up/down times, comprehensive tide coverage with graphical display on the two line LCD, best daily solar / lunar fishing times and much more. Funnily I have never heard of any Fish all Grids competitions though. HiHi
Just to break the trend Stefan VK7ZSB, brought in a currently available External display module suitable for the Yaesu FT-817, 818, 857, and 897. This accessory connects via the CAT control connector and mimics the information displayed on the radios LCD screen. It can also provide an extended microphone interface if needed. It has two display modes: “big character mode” where it displays frequency, transmission mode, battery voltage, signal strength or power output, depending on receive or transmit state of the rig and “calendar mode” where it includes date, time and temperature. It is of the expected construction method nowadays that comes with some cost effective equipment from China, all the electronic boards are stacked and sandwiched between two clear acrylic sheets, ready for integration into whatever project case you desire. It provided me with a considerable increase in screen size on the FT-817, from 35mm to 80mm diagonal, more suitable for aging eyesight, and can be located within 1.8 metres of the transceiver using the provided CAT interface cable.
Yet another good session and as usual the photos of all items from the night are available on the NTARC web site under blogs and the broadcast notes for this week.
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 positions closed last Friday, the 3rd of February 2023.
As usual, the AGM will be followed by a General Meeting which in turn will be followed by the usual get-together and refreshments. Feel free to bring a “plate”, preferably with some type of edible food on it.
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. This gives you the right to vote at the AGM.
NTARC QSL Cards - A quick note from Andrew, VK7DW.
Thanks to Herman VK7HW for his continued support regarding QSL deliveries.
Following a recent deliver, the following call signs are waiting at the NTARC club rooms for collection.
VK7WW, VK7KPA and VK7LG
Thank you Andrew for the update.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
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 cards awaiting collection, so why not pop in and check the QSL box and join us for a cuppa and chat.
The TestNet and TechNet session - Wednesday the 15th February. TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7pm till 7.30pm…. and a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30pm till about 8.30pm. As Nic, VK7WW is unavailable, your host for the evening is to be announced.
The Club Technical night - Wednesday 22nd of February. Held at the NTARC Club rooms, 7.30pm until late.
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.
