VK2RCW Repeater Update

an update regarding the  VK2RCW repeaters operating in Central West NSW,
that are owned and manged by the Amateur Radio Central West Group.

The repeaters had been relocated in middle of 2017 to their new location QF46qu, height is around 950m ASL, the two analogue FM repeaters are :
147.200 MHz output and 147.800 MHz input (+600kHz offset)   no ctcss tone required.
439.300 MHz output and 434.300 MHz input (-5MHz offset)  no ctcss tone required

The multi-mode digital repeater 439.975 / 434.975 MHz is off air pending its relocation.

The VK2ACW  30m HF APRS Receive Gateway is also pending relocation.

www.arcwg.org

vk-172 GPS mouse driver issue for remote timesynching

Dave VK2JDS has done a write up on the vk-172 GPS mouse Windows10  driver issue, which affects  users going remote portable where there is no internet coverage and internet timesynch available, I added the writeup to my webpages.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/gps_mouse.html

PLL boards, Signal Sources etc.

I also bought some cheap PLL Developer boards  to play around with. They suffer from jitter, but  good enough for experimenting with. Also picked up a 4GHz white RF noise source for testing microwave receivers, ie. 1.2GHz, 2.4GHz and 3.4GHz transverters.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/pll.html

VHF, UHF and SHF wide band LNA's

I bought a few of these cheap wide band LNA's that run off 12v or 5v, with varying Gain and Bandwidths,  at a few bucks each,  they good for playing and experimenting with in terms of weak signal receivers for VHF, UHF and SHF.   Good selection around on Ebay and AliExpress.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/lna.html

GPSDO - GPS Disciplined Oscillator

I picked up one of these  BG7TBL 10MHz GPSDO units a few months ago to replace a borrowed Rubidium based 10 MHz reference unit.  Again this BG7TBL unit is 10 MHz sine reference, with GPS receiver input to lock it to GPS satellite time signals, so that this box provides NMEA 4800Baud data, plus 10 MHz signal, plus 1PPS signal to drive other devices.  There is even a smaller, lightweight unit available now for portable operation.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/gpsdo.html

GPS info - NMEA serial data and 1pps output

I have added a write up  regarding GPS boards for extracting NMEA serial data for APRS use  and also extra 1pps (1 Pulse Per Second) signal for use with providing GPS locking of 10 MHz Reference signal  (or other Reference frequencies) for providing an accurate and stable source, typically for locking a Local Oscillator source for a microwave transverter kit, or for other transceivers used  for doing weak signal digital modes, such as WSPR and WSJT.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/gps.html

more 70 MHz (4metre band) info

just some more followup on the WIA band plan submission for a tiny slice of  70-87 MHz segment,  WIA asking for 70.000 to 70.500 MHz,  that 500kHz to play with,  definitely more than adequate in my mind, plenty to experiment with.

Noting what Region1 has for a bandplan, if we could get the same slice here (Region3), then obviously we need to use the same Bandplan as Region1 to be able to work Region1 from Region3 during E's.

https://iaru-r1.org/index.php/spectrum-and-band-plans/vhf/4-meter

70.200 MHz  SSB calling.

70.450 MHz  FM calling ,  using 12.5kHz FM channel spacing.

70. 260 MHz       -  AM calling !!   really ??  that's legacy modes for sure.

70.100 to 70.250     that's 150 kHz for weak signal nodes,   heaps of space.

70.300 to 70.500  FM at 12.5 kHz spacing = 16 channels,    that's plenty of channels !!

I think  70 MHz would be good fun, with ducting, tropo and E's propagation modes.

fingers crossed we get a slice to play with.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/4metre_70MHz.html

Modifications for the TYT TH-9800 FM quad-bander mobile transceiver

These TH-9800  quad band FM transceivers  (a clone of the Yaesu FT-8900 transceiver) have an issue of blowing the transmit driver FET.  I have documented a modification to fix this, as it would be a considerable amount of work to replace the drive FET, or even the PA FET for that matter. Easier to do the mod and run at less output power, better than having a dead tx PA. It basically adding a 8v (7808) regulator into the supply circuit for the Driver FET,  which is fed hot from the 13.8v DC input.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/th9800.html

Reducing RFI from your vehicle for operating mobile

I have documented the modifications to my 4WD  vehicle that I use for mobile and portable operation. It was only that in past year I have decided to operate HF, whereas in the past I only ever had VHF and UHF equipment, so RFI radiating out and also from within the vehicle was not so much of a problem, but is more so for HF.  My web page includes photos.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/holden_jackaroo.html

VK5KK microwave photos from WIA AGM Hahndorf 2017

these are the photos I took of David VK5KK's microwave equipment display,  held on the Open Day, as part of the WIA AGM weekend, 21st May, 2017,  located at the Hahndorf Oval.

David was operating  all bands from 1.2GHz through to 122GHz ,including the 10GHz EME station.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/vk5kk_microwave.html

Photos from WIA AGM in Hahndorf for VK5ZD's microwave equipment

I have now collected and edited up the photos I took from the WIA AGM held in Hahndorf on 20th May 2017 and from the Open Day held on 21st May 2017,  this particular web page contains the photos of Iain VK5ZD's microwave equipment, I documented this to show what different people doing in terms of microwave band activity and experimentation. All bands 1.2GHz through to 122GHz.
I also preparing the same for David VK5KK's microwave equipment.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/vk5zd_microwave.html

MAD 23 on 23 (Microwave Activity Day) 23rd July 2017

I went portable for this months MAD 23 on 23, since it coincided with 23rd falling on a weekend, this month a Sunday, the VK4's organised to start at 12 noon, I went to the old Army Artillery Base up on North Head, Sydney, QF56pe, I chose this again, as it has some flat, clear area, reasonanly void of trees, and having a clear takeoff up the coast and to the north (direction of brisbane). The aim was to try and hear some of the activity from vk4  on microwave bands via AE. I took 23cm, 9cm and 3cm equipment. Tee'd up some attempts with some of the VK4's and VK2MAX on 1296.150, (via VKlogger.com)  we waited for some Brisbane bound jets from Sydney to be in position half way between us, we gave out calls to each other, but unfortunately nothing heard.  Found out later there were a handful of 23cm stations setup  out Penrith area.   Next MAD 23 on 23 that falls on a weekend is 23rd September 2017. Maybe next time to go Blue Mountains again.



the gridpack is for 23cm,  the square panel is one of the Geelong ARC 3.4 GHZ converted panels, the 60cm dish is ex-Austar dish and  modified feed for 10GHz

Mobile phone coverage comparison

when travelling to and from GippsTech noticed there a gap where there is no mobile phone coverage, I had known that was case for Optus on previous trips, but this time took note to see how Telstra handled the same segment of road, as can bee seen comparing my APRS versus VK2JDS APRS using Telstra. They both not covering that segment of road.

GippsTech 2017 summary

Had a great time again at Gippstech, put faces to some more callsigns, good lectures and displays, learnt lots. A bit cold on the monday drive back, -6 deg out in far east Gippsland, but at least no rain and snow.
There was a bit snow on the roadside near Nimmatabel on the Friday drive down.
Did some on-air microwaving again from carpark and also from Powerworx hilltop on Sunday afternoon at conclusion of Gippstech, Ralph VK3WRE gave us some 10GHz contacts.
Tested 23cm, 9cm and 3cm gear.

GippsTech 2017 - 1st and 2nd July 2017

registrations for GippsTech are now open today, as it only 1 month away until its on again, 1st and 2nd July.
http://www.vk3bez.org/gippstech.html
I driving down again, taking 23cm and 9cm equipment for some live contacts on the weekend. Maybe 10GHz.

RF site testing at QF46qu on Easter Sunday, 16th April, 2017

Doing some site testing at a friend's farm at QF46qu at Gowan, north west of Bathurst NSW.
my GPS estimated 950m ASL mostly cleared, with almost 360degress of clear horizon, good for playing radio. As it was Sunday morning I made use of the fact that the WIA morning broadcast was one reason to listen for it on various known frequencies including 2metres, 70cm and 6metres.

I could hear 146.775 Newcastle, 146.725 Somersby, 146.850 Maddens Plains, 146.975 Knights Hill,  53.650 Maddens Plains, 146.950 Mt Ginini.   Could not hear anything from Dural. This was using quad band radio (TYT TH-9800) and quad band vertical from the vehicle. Should be much easier with some yagis up a mast.

Looks to be excellent site to run microwave equipment from (23cm and upwards).

 a little bit of trees to north east,

 looking to north coast & mid north coast NSW, all clear.

 looking to Newcastle through Sydney, all clear

Looking back to Bathurst

 Looking to south and VK1

Looking to VK3 & VK5 all clear.

Looking west, a couple trees

Facing to north west, highest point where these pine trees are.

 Looking north, a few sparse trees, but nothing Roundup or a chainsaw can't fix

Good flat area, for parking, camping, whatever.

Field Portable QF46pu Gowan NSW

For Easter weekend, April 2017, was visiting QF46pu, to get on 2m,70cm, and 23cm AE nets in the mornings. Did some testing on 23cm gridpacks and dish against the Dural beacon 1296.420. Did not hear any other 23cm beacons.

 This is small gridpack looking back towards Newcastle.

 This is a larger gridpack, certainly slightly better than the small gridpack

 IC-910H was hooked up to 2m yagi, 70cm yagi and 23cm  running from solar panels and batteries

 The 3metre diameter mesh dish with 23cm feed, aimed towards north coast NSW

 Smaller gridpack aimed at Sydney Dural 23cm beacon (approx 180km)

Looking towards Melbourne in the gap between trees

 Looking toward VK1, worked VK1KW and VK1DJA on 2m SSB

 2metre and 70cm yagis

I took 3.4Ghz and 10GHz  but did not get time to flash it up.

Best activity was working Compton VK2HRX who was SOTA portable up the Warrumbungles, worked him on 2m SSB, 70cm SSB and 1294.000 FM

Aiming to the right of the big tree to work Compton VK2HRX/p at QF48mr SOTA spot CCW001 a distance of 209km, not bad on 1294 MHz FM as Compton was using a 1w handheld.

and screenshot from VKLogger

For next time,  remember take my portable generator.

Motorola GM-339 and Tait 8110

Just some ex-commercial radios  we playing with for 2m and 70cm

Motorola GM-339 UHF mobiles, and Tait 8110 VHF mobiles.  Excellent radios.

23cm portable 8th to 10th December, 2016

I did  a trip to Canberra on 8th December, 2016,  first stopped at the carpark at southern end of Federal Highway, (QF44qu) where it rises up from Lake George, so I could try to work Dave VK2JDS at QF46pu, it was extremely windy and difficult to keep grid pack still or even hear the radio, so we were unsuccessful. It probably should have worked and I was aiming up the lake, above the water.
On 9th December 2016, I visited Mt Ainslie (QF44nr) to try and work Rod VK2TWR at Nimmitabel, but he already packed up, but I did hear Gordon VK3EJ at Cobram on 1296.150 MHz via AE, working Rob VK1KW, nice strong signal from Gordon before quickly fading out. At least this proved my IC-910H and 23cm Gridpack were working.

on 10th December 2016, came up to Mt Ainslie (QF44nr) again and tried on the northern side of the hill, to try and work Grant VK2MAX at Kempsey via AE on 1296.150 bu to no go. Also tried to receive Dural beacon 1296.420 but no go.

Then I moved around to western side of Mt Ainslie (QF44nr) to try Grant VK2MAX again but no good AE path available.