Adding a snorkel to a V6 Petrol based Holden Jackaroo

I had seen some snorkel kits advertised  for the Holden Jackaroo, they only referred to  the diesel engine versions, no mention if they fitted a V6 petrol motor. Searched the forums, everyone saying the snorkel kits (including Safari kits) will only fit a diesel engine airbox.
Well, not true, a few simple modifications and I successfully fitted a snorkel kit to my 6EV1 V6 petrol airbox. Now my Jackaroo performs better and getting improved fuel economy on highway trips . Refer  to my write up.

https://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/jackaroo_snorkel.html

RFI from Halogen to LED downlight replacement scheme

I recently had a brochure dropped in letterbox advertising some new Government "eco-friendly" scheme to replace all the halogen downlight and halogen parafloods in my house with LED replacements for free (except for the charge for someone to come and replace them for a fee).
I thought here we go I went to the trouble to replace my 50w downlights with 35w halogen downlights, I did  consider the idea of using LED downlights to save on electricity costs, but the downside of LED downlights is the RFI generated by them, creating RFI that wipes out HF bands.
It's bad enough with all the houses running noisy solar panel inverters creating wide band RFI noise across HF during the day, then start it all again at night when switch on the LED downlights. Thanks, but no thanks, I'll stick to my halogens and nuclear power stations.

VK-DMR update

I bought a Radiodity GD-77 dual band 2m/70cm DMR handheld,  found it has very similiar programming to the TYT MD-380 handheld, however, the codeplug not interchangeable, but menu options and programming layout almost identical, which is handy when having to program both. I have two handhelds so I can monitor and operate on both VK-DMR and Brandmeister networks. Which have gateway connections between the two networks now available, I can actually test  gateway connections. I also bought a JumboSpot MMDVM hotspot to compliment my OpenSpot hotspot. The JumboSpot MMDVM runs the PiStar multi-mode software. So I having fun fiddling with these hotspots and radios.

ICOM IC-9700 transceiver released - tri-band multimode base station

following in the Icom IC-910 & IC-9100 series of multi-mode VHF/UHF/SHF transceivers, the IC-9700 is now out , provide 2m, 70cm and 23cm multi-mode coverage, a must for VHF/UHF/SHF weak signal DX.

DMR (VK-DMR) repeaters in Sydney basin

as on 5th June 2018

VK2RLE - Heathcote
VK2RWW - Dural, I guessing a WICEN rptr
VK2RWI - Dural
VK2RHP - Horsley Park
VK2RCG - GPT city
VK2RHT - Chatswood
VK2RMB - Terrey Hills
VK2RHR - High Range
pretty good saturation of  DMR (MARC) across Sydney basin.

and if you driving to Canberra, then there is coverage at Goulburn and Yass and Canberra.

DMR update - May 2018

 a few locals from my local club (MWRS) getting interested in DMR, so I thought I better check the programming of my TYT MD-380 to add the new club DMR rptr (VK2RMB) details into my radio, while I at it I thought I would check up on what new DMR rptrs there were nearby, as I used to be able to work VK2RHP Horsley Park but hadnt heard it for a while, anyway, I discovered it moved from BM network to MARC network, as had VK2RCG (GPT rptr) switched earlier. 

I thought it is fine, I still have VK2RAG, but after checking the Brandmeister dashboard I see VK2RAG moved DMR to 2metres. I then see VK2RMP is showing 438.725 for DMR,  so I programmed the radio & tested it, nil response, check the Illawarra (IARS) website to find DMR gone and replaced with a Fusion rptr on 438.725.

Damn it, all the Brandmeister MMDVM rptrs are gone in the Sydney basin, so doing a check of the dashboard, I find only these 70cm rptrs running on the BM network here in VK:
VK2RHK Wyee, VK2RGP Toronto, VK2RHX Newcastle, VK3RBA, VK4RBX,VK4RSA, VK4RBY and VK7RCR,  plus a bunch of private hotspots listing themselves as repeaters, I dont know why they doing that, because a hotspot is a hotspot.

Looks like I need to setup my own MMDVM hotspot on a simplex freq to be able to do some experimentation, as there are no MMDVM rptrs running in Sydney basin.
I was looking forward to seeing some more MMDVM type rptrs on the BM network to do some cross mode experimentation, but unfortunately they moved to the VK-DMR (MARC) network which is closed shop network, meaning DMR only, no cross-mode operation.

Registrations for GippsTech Conference 2018 now open

Registrations for GippsTech Conference 2018 now open,  July 7th & 8th .

http://vk3bez.org/gippstech.html

new AnyLocker- radio reference locking board

Glen VK1XX  has designed a new  XRef type board  so you can frequency lock your transceiver with a 10 Mhz locked reference source such as a Rubidium or GPSDO, which is a requirement for doing weak signal digital modes such as WSJT, FT8,  WSPR etc.  See Glen's blog below for details.

I am keen to see Glen's  next project which will use a 1PPS reference as the lock source, which means using any of the cheap ~$5 GPS boards on Ebay such as Ublox Neo series or Telit JF2 boards that provide a 1PPS output from the GPS. Its easier to distribute a 1PPS to multiple Xref disciplined transceivers, as I wish to run multiple bands ie. 6,2,70 & higher.

https://glenenglish.com/2018/05/12/new-anylocker-radio-reference-locking-board/

40,000 km for Valentino Rossi

congratulations to Valentino Rossi for passing the 40,000km barrier for MotoGP races during the MotoGP race at Jerez Spain yesterday. 40,000 km is equivalent to circumnavigating the earth.

SOTA VKFF WWFF

I thought I should mention some useful apps for Android :
SOTA Spotter - this is the spotting app for stations activating SOTA locations. (Free app)
SOTA Finder - this is a database for finding the SOTA locations, ie. tell you where nearby locations are such as when you mobile (Free app)
Pocket SOTA - another SOTA database (pay app)
info on SOTA see  SOTA Australia FAQ

There is a ParksnPeaks iOS app for working National Parks , SOTA and other awards
see ParksnPeaks spotting