Ham Radio Ireland

Ham Radio Ireland

spotted comments from Richard VK2SKY, 

what caught my attention was mention of the Galway VHF Group, some of my ancestors came from Loughrea, Galway,  Michael Connolly and wife Maria Griffin, emigrated with their family to Australia, settling in Terranora, south of Sydney, during the potato famine.

so here is blog for the group back in Ireland

Galway VHF Group

access to their online newsletters

Ham Radio Ireland ~ Galway VHF Group

and their Facebook page

(20+) Ham Radio Ireland | Facebook

Updating my Pi-Star MMDVM hotspots as of July 2026

 Updating my Pi-Star MMDVM Hotspots as of  July 2026.

I had to upgrade the Kernel to get the latest image installed.

now Kernel is 6.12.75+rpt-rpi-v6

Pi-Star  version is 4.3.7

Dashboard is 20260501  (1st May 2026)

Once installed I found the  DMR and P25 tabs were not coming up and 

showing RED instead of GREEN so I ran the Update function on each Hotspot, 

while watching I noticed some fixes go in and also a later Dashboard 

which is 20260623, now everything starts up and get the GREEN indicator

and I started receiving traffic from DMR and P25 sources respectively.

I configured the first DMR Hotspot for the new VK-DMR IPSC3 network, 

but after a day or two I noticed I not hearing much activity, just TG505 

traffic, which confirmed from monitoring the VK-DMR IPSC Heard List.

Then I configured another of my Hotspots against the VK-DMR IPSC2 network, 

since then I now receiving the normal TG's that I had configured as STATIC 

on IPSC2. 

Currently I can monitor traffic from IPSC3 and IPSC2 Networks simultaneously.

I also configured two of my Hotspots for P25 TG10400 and TG10700 talkgroups.

9cm microwave band Test Beacon from VK1

 

Dimitrios Tsifakis via groups.io <dtsifakis=gmail.com@groups.io>	Jun 14, 2026, 11:12 AM
to VK-Microwave

Hi all,

This beacon is mainly of interest to the ACT members.

The 9 cm beacon is finally on air! The nominal frequency is 3398.8 MHz, the beacon power output was measured to be +15 dBm past the final filter. Out of this power I expect about +10 dBm to make it to the HPOL antenna. The beacon transmits 12 WPM morse code that includes the callsign (VK1SV/B) and the approximate location (QF44).

Its stability should be superior to previous beacons I have put on air, however there might be a small offset from the nominal 3398.8 MHz operating frequency. Using an (uncalibrated) SDR, I see it at 3398.80045 MHz (450 Hz higher than the nominal freq). YMMV.

This may be a beacon that can only be heard from mountaintops, but in any case, reception reports, positive or negative, are always welcome.

73, Dimitris

PS, I have obtained a 10 W 3.4 GHz amplifier from aliexpress but haven't powered it up yet. It cost me about $40 from memory. This could be used to bring the beacon to a watt or so of output power in the future. A discussion including some measured data about this amplifier can be found here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/10w-rf-amplifier-3400-3800-mhz-from-aliexpress-reverse-engineering/

VK2XB- Indy - truck mobile missing from APRS

 When I occasionally  look around on APRS, I often spot Indy VK2XB mobile somewhere in his big rig (semi-trailer truck), but I havent had time to look around for past 6months, except for my own travelling between new home  in Yass Valley and back to Sydney and have been doing that each week for a few months.

Anyway, back to VK2XB,  I had a look on APRS to see where he travelling and I noticed he hasnt been on APRS since January. I thought, oh I hope nothing bad happened. I did some searches and spotted an article in March on Brisbane Radio Society but not much else. 

Sunday 6metre FM Nets

 Whilst listening  to the Westlakes ARC Net and broadcast on VK-DMR TG3802 talkgroup starting at 8.30am local and broadcast starting at 9am local, the callback mentioned the 6metre net starting  at 10am which it did, as I could hear it on the VK2RSN repeater 53.625 MHz

Then tonight I heard the Blue Mountain ARC 6metre start at 8pm on VK2RBM repeater 53.875 MHz 

Good to see some groups making good use of 6metre repeaters

Interference across 6metre band in Frenchs Forest area,

 Interference across 6metre band in Frenchs Forest, NSW area

Over last couple months the interference has become worse across 6metre band, more noticeable, whilst scanning the 6metre FM repeater segment, I did a sweep from 46-60 Mhz  and found there is wide band signal covering 52.500 to 57 MHz, the signal strength varies from s5 to s9 across that segment.
I suspect it radiating from Northern Beaches Hospital, possibly some piece of medical scanning equipment.
If scan across  the band with a narrow band receiver, it just seems like white noise, but the signal strength meter shows there is something there. 

This happened a few years ago and I tracked it to the hospital.and suddenly it went away.

UPDATE: 19 Feb 2026
I spent some time doing  better sweep, due to hearing some sort of buzz sound opening the mute on a repeater output frequency. Superimposed on that buzz sound is a click at approximately 1 per second rate, noted in the morning, afternoon and night at times when I checked. I swept from 46 to 60 MHz, these are the frequencies I noted the buzz sound on.
 these following frequencies were weak s0 but clearly audible :
50.030  50.060 51.280 51.870 52.140
these following frequencies were strong ie. s5 to s9 :
52.440  53.080  53.640  53.690  54.240  54.280  54.840  55.500  56.050  56.090
these following frequencies were weak s0 but clearly audible :
57.270  57.310  57.900  58.470  59.110  59.680  59.720

Overall, the raised S-meter was from 52.500 to 57 MHz,  where as the narrow bandwidth buzz sound is heard from  50MHz to 60MHz

23cm activity from VK3 this morning 26th January, 2026

 The VK3's having a cracker of a morning on 23cm SSB

Canberra Region and Wagga Region repeaters

 I was just checking out the repeaters for Goulburn and Southern Highlands ARC (GaSHARC) recently, as they have an extensive repeater network  from Yass - Goulburn - High Range, which led me to check out the Canberra and Wagga club's repeaters as we visit Canberra and Junee and also Tumut from time to time.

Both CRARC and WARC  have their own extensive repeater networks which are outlined on their respective websites.

Next time I out Junee way, I'll get to try out the WARC 6metre repeater VK2RBE,
I also noted CRARC still showing their 6metre repeater for Mt.Ginini as planned, so fingers crossed it that it gets finished and commissioned one day

Repeaters - Wagga Amateur Radio Club

Repeaters – CRARC

P25 TG10700 Activity as of 19th Jan 2026

 P25 TG10700 Activity as of 19th Jan 2026

Alternative DMR Networks for VK & ZL as of October, 2025

 Alternative DMR Networks for VK & ZL (Australia & New Zealand)

Apart from the VKDMR Network (DMR-MARC)   and  Brandmeister DMR Network, there are some other alternate DMR based networks, providing servers in Australia and New Zealand, these are :

Digitial Voice DMR Australia (DVAU) Network    https://dmr.dvau.au/

Digital Voice DMR New Zealand  (DVNZ) Network    https://dmr.dvnz.nz/

the DVAU and DVNZ are experimental networks working together.

VKFreeDMR Network Australia    https://www.vkfreedmr.org/

FreeDMR Network New Zealand    https://freedmrnz.dvnz.nz/

The two FreeDMR networks are associated with the FreeDMR network   https://www.freedmr.uk/

They all have their own dashboards so you can see activity, and similar structured talkgroups.

6metre Transequatorial DX 50.313 FT8 as of 1st October, 2025

 some good 6metre Transequatorial DX today on 50.313 FT8 as per vkspotter.com

Brandmeister DMR TalkGroups for VK & ZL as of September, 2025

 Brandmeister DMR TalkGroups for VK & ZL as of September, 2025.
Here are some  talkgroups for Brandmeister DMR network, some bridged to VK-DMR Network, some are some gateway ports setup by clubs and groups going to different networks, usually DStar.

505  National Calling Talkgroup for VK
5050 >> XLX500 G Reflector
5051 bridged to 3801 VK-DMR
5052 bridged to 3802 VK-DMR
5053 bridged to 3803 VK-DMR
5054 bridged to 3804 VK-DMR
5055 bridged to 3805 VK-DMR
5056 bridged to 3806 VK-DMR
5057 bridged to 3807 VK-DMR
5058 bridged to 3808 VK-DMR
50520 >> BMARC Net Monday 09.30utc
50521 >> IARS Chat
50525 bridge to P25 and NXDN Networks
50526 >> CCARC
50529 >> XLX500
50566  WICEN
50590  >> VK2HK Wires-X
50591  >> VK2GP Wires-X
50592  >> VK3KAY Wires-X
50594  >> VK2RFG 
505205  >> XLX500
5052110  >> XLX500

ZL TG's :
530  >> XLX299
5301  ZL1 Regional
5302  ZL2 Regional
5303  ZL3 Regional
5304  ZL4 Regional
53020  was used  for XLX626
53021  >> IFROAR  (Rotarians)
53029  >> XLX299 X
53050  >> XLX751
53060  Taupo ARC
53085  >> XLX299 >> AllStar Bridge
53099  >> XLX750

VK-ZL-Pacific:
95

Dashboard | BrandMeister

VK-DMR and P25 Activity for VK & ZL as of 25th September, 2025

here is some screenshots to show some of the typical activity on VK-DMR and P25  talkgroups covering VK & ZL,  recently noting a few ZL's appearing on P25 mode which is  good, as the P25 gateways and talkgroups for ZL had basically faded away or turned off.

VK-DMR

 

P25 TG10700

P25 TG10400

P25 TG10401   Note: this is APAC/WICEN TG, but being used by stations from China.

Orana Region Amateur Radio Club Repeaters

 Repeaters of Orana Region Amateur Radio Club

I was listening to a local from Dubbo on DMR talking about the repeaters they manage

VK2RRT Condobolin,  146.900 MHz -600 KHz 

VK2RCD Dubbo, 146.725 MHz -600 KHz, currently has Echolink running node- 973817

VK2RCC Coonabarabran,  146.800 MHz -600 KHz  requires 91.5 input tone

VK2RDD Dubbo,  439.950 MHz -5 MHz   DMR only.

6metre repeater status in and around Sydney and NSW , as of 29th August, 2025

 6metre repeater status in and around Sydney and NSW that I know of, as of 29th August, 2025,

53.625 VK2RSN, Mt.Sugarloaf, Newcastle, back on air July 2025, requires 91.5Hz tone

53.650  VK2RMP, Maddens Plain, Illawarra,  operational, requires 123Hz

53.675  VK2RMB, Terrey Hills, off-air

53.700  VK2RGN, Goulburn, off-air

53.725  VK2RAG, Somersby, Central Coast, operational, requires 91.5Hz tone, linked to 23cm rptr

53.800  VK2RCN, Port Macquarie operational

53.825  VK2RBE, Bethungra operational

53.850  VK2RWI, Dural, operational

53.875  VK2RBM, Blue Mtns, operational, requires 91.5Hz tone

52.525 FM Simplex - still plenty activity, particularly Sunday morning after ARNSW broadcast

Wagga Amateur Radio Club (WARC) - new 6metre Repeater on-air VK2RBE

 Wagga Amateur Radio Club (WARC) - new 6metre Repeater on-air VK2RBE  

Just learnt that a new repeater has been commissioned at Mt.Bethungra, near Bethungra, north of Junee,

operating on 53.825  with -1MHz input, no ctcss tone required and it standalone, as of June 2024.

Follow details on the WARC website Repeaters - Wagga Amateur Radio Club

Just thinking about it, I havent done any trips to Young/Cootamundra/Junee/Wagga/Tumut since 2023, hence not tried out this repeater mobile yet.

Since this new 6metre repeater is co-sited with the VK2RBE 2metre repeater on 146.675MHz,  then it is possible it will be accessible from the Hume Highway in the Jugiong-Coolac region for those traversing the Hume Highway with 6metre FM in the mobile, otherwise should be good coverage on the Olympic Highway in Junee-Bethungra-Cootamundra section.

XLX Reflectors for VK & ZL as of 23rd August, 2025

 XLX Reflectors for VK & ZL as of 23rd August, 2025

here are some of the XLX Reflectors, looking at them, they are now all XLX, replacing the older XRF,DCS reflectors. Note- some are purely DStar, some are multi-protocol

XLX014 AU multi-protocol
XLX087 AU VK3AGK Ballarat  DStar
XLX129 NZ Hamilton 
XLX299 NZ BM530 and multi-protocol
XLX432 AU  VK3JED   Multi-protocol
XLX500 AU BM DMR & multi protocol
XLX530 NZ Taupo ARC
XLX750 NZ DVNZ multi-protocol
XLX751 AU multi-protocol

XLX820 AU VK4 DStar
XLX824 AU VK4 DStar
XLX903 AU VK2YI  Dstar
XLX940 AU VK2YM  DStar
XLXVMM NZ  DStar
VK4TUX  gone

23 on 23 Activity for 23rd August, 2025

Here in Sydney tonight, VK2HC,VK2ZIP,VK2ZIW,VK2BPG,VK2KQ,VK2TDN 

Brandmeister Network Activity Viewer - hose.brandmeister.network

 This is a reminder of a Brandmeister tool website to give you a  live snapshot of current/recent activity on the Brandmeister DMR Network. You can you use the dropdown icon on right hand side to allow you to choose the view based on a region or country. In my example I am looking at EU and AU regions, you can select one region or multiple. If you click on the desired talkgroup you can monitor it, which is good tool to test if you transmitting or not. Choose a region and you can select & deselect it.  This website has been updated compared to how it originally looked.  Now it sticking purely to the required data and less graphics, to get more on your screen.

https://hose.brandmeister.network

Brandmeister talkgroup 530 ZL National Call

On Brandmeister DMR, one of the talkgroups I monitor is TG530, I keep hearing this strange white hash sound and bits and pieces of conversations and its randomly occurs,  including some drunken americans talking jibberish, I just never bothered to stop and try to figure what it was, I usually turn down the volume until it goes away again. 

This time I stopped to pay more attention, took note of the ID  and realised it was only one ID involved 530047, looked it up on the Brandmeister website, it comes up as ZL2AWW, showing two hotspots, then I  monitored the Heard list, its all sorts weird things going on, as if it tied to a gateway and a cluster in USA, strange behaviour for a ZL Call channel.

Its odd, with squeals and artifacts of digital transmissions and bits of one sided QSO's, sometimes maybe hear both sides and one american I recognise on several occassions comes up with some slurred words, god knows what he saying, I guessed he is pissed. Then I  realised it was coming from WW TG91

The two hotspots have different SSID's, and showing different frequencies, so I dont think the hotspots are relaying to each other, but at 600kHz away, and if operated in close proximity to each other they may interfere with each other. So it looks to be bleedthrough from one hotpot 53004721 txing locally, being received by the second hotspot 53004701 and it is broadcasting to TG530