VK7RAA 2 Metre Repeater
Users of VK7RAA, 2 Metre repeater on Mount Arthur, please note that due to the ongoing problem with the squelch opening it has been decided to implement tone access. This will require your transceiver to send a CTCSS sub-tone of 123.0 Hz on your transmissions. This change will be implemented in the near future, depending on weather and site visits. It will stay in effect until we can resolve the interference problem. Published: 10th October 2025
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Updated as of 12th. October 2025 08:00.
Due to 2 metre Repeater outage, a temporary news broadcast is planned for today, Sunday and Tuesday as usual on the RAA frequency of 147.000 MHz by Portable repeater VK7RAB. Callback for the Launceston area will hopefully be handled by Peter VK7PD.
Meg Hodge(SK)
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Meg Hodge.
Meg passed away peacefully, on Wednesday the 1st of October 2025, surrounded by family. Although not an amateur radio operator, Meg is the wife of Wayne VK7FWGH and they have been members of NTARC for over a decade. You may not have ever heard Meg on air, but if you had attended NTARC meetings and social events, like coffee morning and barbecues, you would be able to put a face to the name.
Early on when Wayne was volunteering at Equine Endurance Rides, they would bring their fifth wheeler caravan, which was so spacious it was outfitted with a full size oven. So on ride days we were continuously plied with freshly baked scones with jam and cream. Sometimes even delivered to remote check-points. HiHi
Meg’s health had been declining for many years and she recently moved into the care of the Beaconsfield District Hospital.
A minute’s silence was observed on behalf of all club members at last Wednesday night’s general meeting. On behalf of NTARC, the Committee wish to pass on our condolences to Wayne and family.
Family and friends of Meg are warmly invited to attend a service to celebrate her life, to be held on Thursday the 16th October at the Beaconsfield Community Centre, 92 Weld St, commencing at 10am. For those that are unable to attend there will be a live stream, using the link in the text addition. Lethborg Family Funerals
You are greatly loved and will be missed by all.
Vale Meg (SK).
Kay Denton (SK)
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Kay Denton.
Kay passed away peacefully, on Thursday the 25th of September 2025, surrounded by family, after an all too short remission. Although not an amateur radio operator, Kay was the partner of Peter VK7KPC.
Peter and Kay had recently moved back to South Australia, after being in Tasmania for nearly twenty years. The stay in Tasmania was originally only meant to be a temporary work transfer for Peter. They liked Tasmania so much they decided to stay and lived in Evandale.
Kay has been a long-time member of NTARC and joined along with Peter soon after they arrived. You may not have ever heard Kay on air but everyone who has ever been to an NTARC social event or club morning coffee would recognise the voice, as she was always part of the dedicated few assisting and cooking behind the scenes.
Whenever Jota/Joti came around you always knew that after the long day, and all the participants had departed, the volunteers would be in for Kay’s phenomenal Tuna Mornay treat for tea, hopefully followed by Jelly cake for dessert. This was of course after we had been sustained during the day with scones and sausage rolls. Then there was Kay and Peter’s “special” fruit cake recipe that came out whenever club members were assisting at Equine Endurance Rides which was always eagerly devoured, HI-HI. Kay was a great character, larger than life, and had a very kind heart.
On behalf of NTARC, the Committee wish to pass on our condolences to Peter and family including Bijou their little dog. You were greatly appreciated and will be greatly missed by all.
Vale Kay (SK).
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Updated 3rd October 2025
Below is the Link that will take you to Simplicity Funerals in Victor Harbour, South Australia. This page will have the link to the live stream of the “In Loving Memory” service to be held on Wednesday the 8th October at 14:30 Tasmanian Daylight Savings time. Kay - In Loving Memory - link
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Updated 4rd October 2025
The NTARC club rooms will be opening, with a warm invite to members and friends who wish to attend and watch the live streamed service, “In Loving Memory”, in a group setting. The streaming will commence at 2:30 pm (14:30) Tasmanian Daylight Savings Time (Wednesday the 8th October). After the service there will be ample time for a drink or two and plenty of reminiscing.
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VK7RAA Unplanned Outage from 26th August 2025
Updated as of 22nd September 2025 at 16:40
CB Repeater 2 is currently undergoing repair and refurbishment.
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Updated as of 1st September 2025 at 17:30
The Mt. Arthur site was visited this morning and Amateur Band services were restored approximately midday. The CB Repeater 2 could not be brought back into service and has been removed from site for repair.
Todays programmed Radio Amateur Old Timers Club broadcast will go ahead as usual. Call back will be handled by Peter VK7PD.
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Updated as of 31st August 2025 at 22:05.
A temporary broadcast is planned for this Monday’s Radio Amateur Old Timers Club on the usual VK7RAA frequency of 147.000 MHz by Portable repeater VK7RAB. Callback for the Launceston area will be handled by Peter VK7PD.
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Updated as of 30th. August 2025 22:00.
A temporary news broadcast is planned for this Sunday as usual on the RAA frequency of 147.000 MHz by Portable repeater VK7RAB. Callback for the Launceston area will hopefully be handled by Peter VK7PD.
The Mt. Arthur site visit has been postponed due to safety concerns.
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Updated as of 27th. August 2025 13:00.
VK7RAA repeater site on Mt. Arthur is experiencing an unplanned outage of unknown origin. All RF services are temporarily off air until a maintenance crew can visit site.
A site visit on Sunday 31st. August is proposed, weather permitting. Sorry for any inconvenience.
A temporary news broadcast is planned for this Sunday as usual on the RAA frequency of 147.000 MHz. No callback is planned.
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-THE ETHOS AND ETHICS OF AMATEUR RADIO -
Like many hobbies, Amateur Radio has traditions, jargon and practices that are not always apparent to the newcomer.
Your licence entitles you to get on the air and transmit, but, as a newcomer, you need to familiarise yourself with the way the hobby works operationally before transmitting.
Getting to know how amateur radio stations operate will provide a smooth and stress-free entry to this great hobby of ours.
Have a listen around the bands before you first transmit (if you haven’t already) – monitor typical amateur QSOs (conversations). This will give you a feel for on air practices.
Once you start transmitting, steer well clear of controversial topics, including:
● religion;
● politics;
● business (you can talk about your profession/trade, but you cannot advertise your services or those of anyone else);
● derogatory remarks/observations/jokes directed at any group (gender, ethnic, religious, political, sexual orientation, etc.); and
● off-colour humour.
Above all, apply common sense and good taste.
Remember, you are also prohibited from transmitting any form of entertainment.
Do NOT use CB jargon – you will annoy your fellow amateurs and will be ostracised at best or roundly criticised on air at worst... Amateur and CB radio are different hobbies, with different operating practices.
This hobby has many participants with many differing views.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Amateurs, like all radio licensees in Australia, are governed by The Radiocommunications Act.
Section 108 (2) (d) of the Act prescribes that a person:
must not operate, or permit operation of, a transmitter:
(i) in a way that would be likely to cause reasonable persons, justifiably in all the circumstances, to be seriously alarmed or seriously affronted; or
(ii) for the purpose of harassing a person.
Extract from “Australian Amateur Radio Regulations Handbook © 2024”
Shirley Hardstaff VK7HSC (SK)
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Shirley Hardstaff VK7HSC.
She had recently moved to a Nursing Home in the North West of Tasmania.
Shirley passed away peacefully, on Saturday the 5th April 2025, surrounded by family. She was 83 years old.
Shirley has been a long time member of NWTARC and a remote member of NTARC for well over a decade and will be greatly missed by all.
The Committee will pass on any further information as we receive it.
Vale Shirley VK7HSC (SK).
On behalf of the NTARC committee.
Updated 2025/04/13 - Private cremation. The Examiner newspaper, 2025/04/10 - Page 18
JOHN DEEGAN, VK7JFD (SK)
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of John Deegan, VK7JFD on 21st December 2024.
Brendan VK7VIP, was notified and he informed the Committee of John's passing.
We believe that there will be a private cremation and no notice in the newspaper.
The Committee will pass on any further information as we receive it.
John was a much valued club member and will be greatly missed.
Vale John, VK7JFD (SK)
On behalf of the NTARC committee.
Ben Lomond repeater
As of 30 June 2024 the Ben Lomond repeater has now been reinstated and is operational with upgraded equipment and a slightly different callsign. To reflect the repeater location, the callsign has been changed from VK7RBH to VK7RBL. To give recognition to the repeater’s original owner, Barry Hill VK7BE, the voice identification has been recorded again by Barry with the new callsign.
There is now a 7 MHz negative offset between output and input frequencies to alleviate possible LPID interference, so please check your radio programming.
2023 - Making the VK-DMR network simpler and more flexible
There are approximately 50 Talk Groups (TGs) on the VK-DMR network. This is confusing for new users and makes radio programming a complex business. Many of the TGs are not used.
There are also a lot of static (always on) TGs on TS2 – 505, and the state/territory based 380x series. Experience has proven that multiple static TGs do not work well together on the same time slot.
For example, if a state/territory 380x TG is being used, it blocks TG505 on every repeater in that state/territory – this is confusing for users and limits network flexibility.
So, we have decided to simplify network operation using a two-phase process.
Phase one
Phase one will take effect from 9th January 2023.
All TGs will become User Activated (UA), apart from 5 on TS1 and 505 on TS2.
The TG380x TGs on TS2 will no longer be State/Territory specific.
As the 380x TGs will be UA, any 380x TG may be used to link any two or more repeaters together on TS2. As with all UA channels, the repeaters need to be keyed up (“kerchunked”) on the appropriate 380x TG.
TG505 will not change – it will remain static and will continue as the network calling channel.
The parrot on TG9990, all the TGs on TS1 and the VK-DMR net on TG5 will not change.
Your radio will continue to work as is without reprogramming.
Phase 1 will run for one month.
Phase two
Phase two will take effect from 9th February 2023
Under Phase two, the network will be reconfigured as follows:
Time Slot 1 – all UA
TG Used for
5 Broadcasts
3801-3808 Tactical user channels
9 Local to the repeater only (no change)
Time Slot 2
TG Used for
505 Calling and the Tuesday evening net
9990 Parrot (no change)
All TS1 TGs will be UA. TG505 on TS2 will be the only static TG.
The 3801-8 TGs will move to TS1 and become tactical channels.
Users will call on 505 and then QSY to any of the 3801-3808 TGs on TS1. Any of these TGs may be used by any station, in any location – they are no longer region specific.
The Tuesday evening VK-DMR net will move to TG505.
Any other nets will use TG3801-8, with an announcement on 505 prior to the net.
Outside of net times, 505 will be used as a calling channel only.
Broadcasts will continue to use TG5, however they will be UA. As with all UA channels, if you wish to listen to a broadcast, you must key up your local repeater or hotspot on TG5. Broadcasts will be preceded by an announcement on 505.
These changes will simplify network operation/radio programming and improve network flexibility.
We will post up new user guides for radio and hotspot programming in early January.
John Moyle Memorial Field Day
VK7TAZ a Winner
Six Hour Portable Operation - Multiple Operator
54 contacts scoring 543 points.
Well done to the operators
James VK7JAM
operating microwave gear: 23, 13,9 and 3cm
Andrew VK7DW
talking on 10GHz to Richard VK7BX on Mt Wellington
Some of the antennae at White Hills, SE of Launceston.