23cm FM voice repeater systems centered around Sydney as of 9th April, 2023

 An update on 23cm FM voice repeater systems centered around Sydney as of  9th April, 2023

Here are the operational 23cm FM Analogue repeaters I can work:

1273.100 / 1293.100 VK2RTZ at Mt. Sugarloaf  - working,  it idents every hour, at 6minutes before the hour, requires 91.5Hz ctcss to access

1273.200 / 1293.200 VK2RWC  at Chatswood  - working

1273.400 / 1293.400 VK2RAG at Somersby - working, has beep on the tail

1273.500 / 1293.500 VK2RWI at Dural  -  yes, it is working again.

1296.850  VK2RMP FM Simplex analogue parrot repeater at Maddens Plains - working, it idents regularly every 10 minutes with a long CW message

Activity:  mostly found on Chatswood repeater, with some activity on Dural repeater on Sunday after the WIA NSW broadcast 10am and 7.30pm local time

1294.000 FM Simplex, not heard anyone on here since July 2022.

6metre voice repeaters in and around Sydney, as of 9th April, 2023

  Repeaters status as of 9th April, 2023

VK2RAG, Somersby, 53.725 MHz  requires  91.5 Hz  CTCSS tone  - they run Sunday WIA b'cast and callbacks

VK2RWI, Dural, 53.850 MHz - working,  WIA Sunday b'casts will move to here from 52.525MHz

VK2RBM, Blue Mtns, 53.875 MHz - working  requires 123Hz CTCSS

VK2RMP, Maddens Plains, 53.650 MHz  - working  requires 123Hz CTCSS

VK2RSN, Mt Sugarloaf, Newcastle, 53.625 MHz    nil response, I tested this in December 2022 when up that way.

VK2RGN, Goulburn, 53.700 MHz, off air according to the Goulburn ARC website.

VK2RMB, Terrey Hills, 53.675 MHz, still off air and still planned to return it to service.

P25 Activity for NSW & Qld areas as of 9th April, 2023

 P25 Activity for NSW & Qld areas.

we have some P25 repeaters linked to the network on TG10700, these include :
VK2RCG GPT Sydney City 438.200 MHz
VK2RNS Asquith (Sydney North) 439.975 MHz
VK2RHP Horsley Park, (Sydney south west) 438.1375 MHz

VK4RVR, The Knobby, Ipswitch - NEW P25 rptr  has joined the network

Other Operational P25:
VK2RMB Terrey Hills 438.175 MHz but is standalone, waiting to be configured and linked to P25 network
VK2RWK Kurrajong, standalone
VK2RGN Goulburn - not sure if it linked into network yet.

Non-operational or redeployed :

VK2ROT Paddington, off air, 
VK2RWI Dural - now a VK-DMR rptr
VK2RHT Chatswood - now a VK-DMR rptr
VK2RAG Somersby - gone, redeployed
VK2RHR High Range - failed, getting fixed
VK2RCF Carlingford - gone
VK2RLE Heathcote - gone
VK2RWS Berowra - gone

Planned :
possibly a P25 repeater for central west NSW (Bathurst-Orange region).

Activity:

I heard yesterday VK4AZ and VK4MCU testing on the VK4RVR multimode P25/DMR rptr, others heard this weekend VK2LP, VK2PCH, VK2GUM, VK2PET, VK2PTB, VK2JDS, WB9COY

F1, V8 Supercars, MotoGP racing weekend 1st-2nd April 2023

 this is a big weekend of racing for F1 and V8 Supercars combined at Albert Park street track, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, plus MotoGP racing from Argentina. Last week MotoGP was on at  Portugal,  I spotted Jorge Lorenzo,  he was great MotoGP rider along with Dani Pedrosa and of course Valentino Rossi.

Amateur Radio Nets

 update on some Amateur Radio Nets:

Welfare Net : hosted by Simon VK3XEM - this net was created  at start of Covid, its pretty informal net, run Mon-Friday 10am local time for Victoria Australia,  operating on the VK3 Allstar network, comprised of several linked FM voice repeaters in Victoria (VK3) plus some digital repeaters, including access from Brandmeister TG50525

Central Coast Amateur Radio Club morning tea net - hosted by Bob VK2AOR, run Mon-Fri at 10am local (NSW-VK2) this is on the 2metre FM voice repeater, VK2RAG 146.725 MHz, plus interfaced with EchoLink gateway.

Both nets have people checking in locally and from overseas.

GippsTech Conference update

 I keep checking the VK3BEZ website to see if any updates for a future GippsTech Conference, but unfortunately, nothing.

Just keep monitoring the VK3BEZ website.  GippsTech (vk3bez.org)

P25 Activity Update as of 29th March, 2023

 P25 Activity for Sydney area.

we have some P25 repeaters linked to the network on TG10700, these include :
VK2RCG GPT Sydney City 438.200 MHz
VK2RNS Asquith (Sydney North) 439.975 MHz
VK2RHP Horsley Park, (Sydney south west) 438.1375 MHz

Other Operational P25:
VK2RMB Terrey Hills 438.175 MHz but is standalone, waiting to be configured and linked to P25 network
VK2RWK Kurrajong, standalone
VK2ROT Paddington, standalone
VK2RGN Goulburn - not sure if it linked into network yet.

Non-operational or redeployed :
VK2RWI Dural - now a VK-DMR rptr
VK2RHT Chatswood - now a VK-DMR rptr
VK2RAG Somersby - gone, redeployed
VK2RHR High Range - failed, getting fixed
VK2RCF Carlingford - gone
VK2RLE Heathcote - gone

VK2RWS Berowra - gone

Planned :
possibly a P25 repeater for central west NSW (Bathurst-Orange region).

VI100MB operating on the John Moyle Field Day (JMFD) Contest 18th/19th March 2023

 

update below  from Dom VK2JNA and team, operating VI100MB Centennial Anniversary  callsign for VK2MB Manly Warringah Radio Society (1923-2023): 

We have setup horizontal OCF antenna about 35ft & predominately using that. 

We have also setup 18m vertical with radials at edge of salt water mangroves.  Will use on low bands tonight

Running on batteries on club IC-7300

Great sigs

Nice & rf quiet here at Culburra Beach (near Nowra)

Taking turns & Leo has participated in his first contest. 

We had to build a long feedline, so Nick volunteered his 100m roll of Benelec coax.

We intend to go 24hr & just plod along waving the MWRS flag 

It’s nice that every so often we get asked what the special call is for giving us a chance to explain our MWRS Centenary 

Currently 14190

Operators :
Dom VK2JNA

Nick VK2FS

Leo VK2LEO

WIA VHF UHF SHF Field Day Contest 2023

 

Upcoming WIA  VHF UHF SHF Contest Date & Time for 2023

  Summer 2023 - 0100 UTC Saturday 14 through 0059 UTC Sunday 15 January(0400 / 0359 in VK6). - COMPLETED

  Winter 2023 - 0100 UTC Saturday 24 June through 0059 UTC Sunday 25 June (0300 / 0259 in VK6).

The Wireless Institute of Australia (wia.org.au)

F1 from Bahrain this weekend

 I been watching bits of F1 GP Practice Sessions on Foxtel this weekend, as the F1 season starts for 2023  with Foxtel's feed coming from Sky Sports UK, I just love the technical bits which they cover in detail during practice sessions, like they do with the MotoGP events. Anyway, the technical stuff I like is when they talk about motors and electronics and aerodynamics is fantastic. Plus there is a segment called Ted's Notebook, where Ted wanders around the  F1 Team buildings,  very casual, with cameraman in tow,  showing all the behind the scenes of the F1 team areas and customer display areas, absolutely fascinating, with Ted providing commentary on team  details and news, I think it's just one of the best pieces of TV I have seen, none of BS "reality" crap on 90% of TV programming, I like Ted's Notebook as it so casual and real and highly informative and shows another perspective apart from just the actual racing.. Thanks Ted I really like your segment.

And of course, good luck to Mick's son Jack Doohan in F2 this weekend