WIA VHF UHF Winter Field Day Contest 2021 Summary from VK7HH

 here is a short video (almost 7minutes) produced by Hayden VK7HH from up on top of Mt.Wellington next to Hobart, in Tasmania. 

We have a new Field Day van! Winter Field Day 2021 | Ham Radio - YouTube

I was just up at Mt.Wellington a few months ago,  the trap with going up there is the weather can change so fast, we were in Hobart and it was sunny, we drove up the top  of Mt. Wellington, 30 minute drive and straight into cloud that just swept in and smothered the top of the mountain.

Regardless, I still have it on my bucket list, to go back to VK7 (via the ferry from Melbourne to Devonport) to do one of these VHF/UHF/SHF contests  portable from VK7, as Tasmania has so many damned good mountain sites (clear of trees and accessible by vehicle)  to run VHF, UHF and above, as portable station.

PI-Star for MMDVM Release 4.1.5 and Dashboard 20210621 now available

 PI-Star for MMDVM Release 4.1.5 and Dashboard 20210621 now available as of 21st June 2021.

I haven't seen a release note for it yet. Upgraded three of my units from 4.1.4

All of my units are running HS_HAT 1.4.17

radio shack (shed) working bee 19th/20th June 2020

 finally got to visit the DX farm, since covid locked  everything down.

We were able to get some work done on the remote DX shack.

Added another operating desk and shelving, as it was a bit squashed at one end of the shed  trying to run several radios and laptop and paperwork and very difficult if multiple operators, so we cleared the shed and added the extra desktop at the other end of the shed.  We also hung up some old rugs and pieces of carpet for sound proofing and echo reduction, so the background noise and echoes are greatly reduced now.  The desks and shelves all have a gap at the back to allow cables to drop or rise behind the  desk or shelf. It just needs another bulk head added to run coax cables in at this end of shed.

I also surveyed a couple spots at the site for running WSPR beacons and iGates etc for the times when not operating DX or contesting.

CCARC 'Morning Tea' Net VK2RAG

 I discovered the CCARC (Central Coast Amateur Radio Club) Morning Tea Net on Wednesdays at 10am on VK2RAG 146.725 MHz FM repeater, which seems to run for about an hour.

new source of RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) LED signs

 Here is a short video showing some RFI coming from a LED sign from local club member, when start to look around you find many of these signs at schools, churches and shops.

This example is listening on a 2metre band FM radio.   It be nice to find the manufacturer to let them know these signs are radiating RFI.

IMG_2254.MOV - Google Drive

DMR radio nets

 here are some DMR radio nets in VK :

RAOTC - 11am first Monday each month, on VK-DMR TG5

Sean VK3KK's King Arthur Round Table net - from 8pm each Wednesday night, on Brandmeister TG50525, P25 TG50525, NXDN TG50525 and VK3 AllStar network.

Simon VK3XEM's  covid welfare net - 10am, Mon-Fri ,  on Brandmeister TG50525, P25 TG50525, NXDN TG50525 and VK3 AllStar network.

Peter VK4NBL's VK-DMR net -  7.30pm,  Tuesday nights  on VK-DMR TG5

80metre nets

 having a listen  on 80 metre band,  on a Thursday night,  came across two club nets,  Ballarat ARC on approx 3.608 MHz LSB   and   Bendigo ARC on 3.655 MHz LSB   around the 8.30pm local time  (which is 10.30UTC)  good signals from both nets.

Manly Warringah Radio Society (MWRS-VK2MB) club auction 5th June 2021

 

if you in Sydney, you may wish to check out this catalogue,  a tonne old of gear, valves, test equipment ,

look at the catalogue on the following page  

Sale of the (Last) Century – 5th June-2021 – VK2MB: Manly-Warringah Radio Society (mwrs.org.au)

CCARC Wyong Field Day 2021

 

The Central Coast Amateur Radio Club (CCARC) held its 2021 Field day last weekend  30th May 2021, 

it was held later than normal, due to Covid disruptions.   Here are a few pics from Wyong by Phil VK2APL, one photo showing members of Manly Warringah Radio Society (MWRS-VK2MB) having a catchup, including visitor and past member Bruce VK4MQ who travelled down from VK4. 

Wyong Field Day - Life, the Universe and Fishing (phwl.org)