Author Archives: VK5GR

AREG April Meeting – VHF/UHF Contesting – 22nd April

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AREG wishes to announce that due to our regular meeting night falling on the Easter Good Friday holiday this year, the committee has agreed to reschedule the April meeting to Friday 22nd . The meeting will be held both in person at the club rooms, (Fulham Community Centre, Phelps Crt, Fulham) and online using Zoom starting from 7.45pm ACST.

This meeting’s presentation is titled: “VHF/UHF Contesting – A Trilogy in 2 parts”

Do you remember a time when operating below 50MHz required CW and specialised license privileges? Are you new to the hobby and unaware that VHF/UHF is used for more than just fox-hunting and repeaters? If so, come and join Matthew VK5ZM and Grant VK5GR as we explore contesting on the higher VHF/UHF bands.   Perhaps this year is the year to dust off that shack-in-a-box radio you have stashed in a cupboard and come sit on top of a hill for an hour or two on a Sunday afternoon ?   Curious then join us on Friday the 22nd of April.

 

AREG’s VK5RSA Adelaide CBD repeater – supported by KernWi-Fi

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One of the services that the Amateur Radio Experimenter’s Group provides is a network of repeater stations that cover the Adelaide metropolitan and surrounding areas. These systems operate on the 6m-23cm bands from 3 sites in and around Adelaide.

One of the first repeaters conceived by AREG was the Adelaide CBD repeater. Inspired in the 1990s by the original 438.025 VK3RCC repeater in Melbourne (which was located atop one of the hi-rise towers in Melbourne CBD), the intention was to reach the deep CBD buildings and the Adelaide foot hills shadowed by the existing repeaters atop the Mt Lofty ranges.

The AREG repeater in Adelaide was originally established on top of the original Angas Street police station building – then 11 stories high in Victoria Square. When that building was subsequently demolished, it was moved to another building off Flinders Street, where it ran for many years before finally developing a terminal fault.

Today, VK5RSA is back on what now is one of the best communications sites in the CBD. This is all thanks to the support AREG receives from KernWi-Fi, who are sponsoring access to Westpac House on King William Street in the heart of the Adelaide CBD.

VK5RSA operates on 438.025MHz TX -7.0MHz RX with 91.5Hz CTCSS

The repeater also received a major coverage boost when it was restored,  as we were able to connect it to the new central SA repeater network. This enhanced coverage for hand held users deep within the Adelaide CBD and extended it right across across central SA to places as far afield as Pt Wakefield, Yorke Peninsula, Victor Harbor and east as far as Tintinara.

AREG offers it’s sincere thanks to Phil Kern at KernWi-Fi for his support for the project to re-establish VK5RSA – it is fantastic to have been able to restore this service for the amateur radio community in Adelaide – and from such a fantastic site too!

About our Sponsor

KernWi-Fi supply Fibre, NBN, Fixed Wireless Internet, VoIP, Event Wi-Fi and Radio Communications to residential and businesses all over Adelaide.  They also specialise in servicing the black spots of Adelaide.  To learn more, visit their website!

They are 100% Adelaide based and owned Licensed Carrier and work with many local communities to provide high speed internet services. They also sponsor various community groups across the state.

AREG Presentation: Introducing Slow Scan TV

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AREG in conjunction with Hayden VK7HH @ HamRadioDX presents an introduction to Slow Scan TV by Grant VK5GR and Mark VK5QI on YouTube tomorrow night.

The broadcast will commence at:

  • 7.45pm Australian Central Daylight Time
  • 8:15pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time
  • 7:15pm Queensland Standard Time
  • 5:15pm Western Standard Time
  • 0915 Universal time

Next AREG Foxhunt: This Friday 22nd Oct 6:30pm

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The next foxhunt will be held this coming Friday, 22nd October. It will start once again from the car park of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, in the North Park lands, off Jeffcott Rd, North Adelaide. Hounds will gather from 6.15pm and kick off will be 6.30pm.

Foxes will be deployed on 145.3MHz, 144.39MHz and 70cm (TBC).

Liaison will be via the Summertown UHF Repeater on 439.900MHz (-5MHz Input with 91.5Hz CTCSS).

All are welcome – AREG members and non members alike. See you there!

AREG October Meeting: QRP Portable & SOTA Operation – THIS FRIDAY

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The next AREG meeting will be held this coming Friday at our clubrooms at the Fulham Community Centre. Doors will open at 7.15pm.

Our presenter this month is Marcus VK3TST/VK5WTF who will discuss “the peaks and valleys of QRP portable, from where to go, to how to be heard, and the equipment you need to get a signal out.” Marcus, who was licensed as a teenager in 1994 is always trying to do more with less. He will talk about the basics of antennas he uses and his experiences hiking with amateur radio in both Australia and Japan.

 

The meeting presentation will commence at 7.45pm ACDT and will also be streamed live for members on Zoom (that is 7.15pm QST or 8.15pm AEDT for our interstate members). While we wont be offering a live Youtube stream this month, we do hope to post a recording of the presentation after the event on HamRadioDX.

The presentation will be followed by a general business meeting. All members are encouraged to attend either in person at the hall or via Zoom if you are remote.

To find us in person, the meeting will be held at the Fulham Community Centre, Phelps Court, Fulham SA. See you there!

3D Printing Introduction – Youtube LiveStream Friday 17th 7.45pm ACST

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AREG is pleased to confirm that our next meeting will be streamed live on Youtube via the HamRadioDX Channel!

The broadcast will start on Friday 17th September:

  • 7.45pm ACST
  • 8:15pm AEST
  • 1015 UTC

 

The presentation by Scott VK5TST will provide an introduction to filament based 3D printing. While the technology is large, and there are many ways to use and enjoy it, this is based on one person’s experiences. I approached 3D printing as getting a new tool to help with other hobbies, rather than my hobby being build and development of the printer.

The presentation will discuss the technology, the process, equipment (software, printer and consumables) with some tips on how to get started. Not to mention a few lessons over a year or so of playing with the hobby.

The Amateur Radio Experimenters Group will be hosting the presentation live at our clubrooms at the same time, Phelps Court, Fulham. Doors will be open from 7.15pm. COVID Safe protocols will need to be observed – face masks will need to be worn and COVID Check in will be mandatorty.

Remote AREG members will be able to interact with the meeting via our Zoom link.

 

September Meeting: 3D Printing Basics – One Way to Get Started

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The next meeting of the Amateur Radio Experimenter’s Group will be held this coming Friday, September 17th, starting at 7.45pm ACST. We will be featuring a presentation by Scott Testi VK5TST who will talk about 3D Printing Basics – One Way to Get Started.

The brief presentation will provide an introduction to filament based 3D printing. While the technology is large, and there are many ways to use and enjoy it, this is based on one person’s experiences. I approached 3D printing as getting a new tool to help with other hobbies, rather than my hobby being build and development of the printer.

The presentation will discuss the technology, the process, equipment (software, printer and consumables) with some tips on how to get started. Not to mention a few lessons over a year or so of playing with the hobby.

The meeting will also be streamed for members via Zoom and we are hoping to also make it available via YouTube via the HamRadioDX Channel. (TBC)

The group meets at the Fulham Community Centre, off Phelps Court, Fulham. Doors open at 7.15pm. A general business meeting will be held after the presentation.

Visitors are most welcome!

We run as a COVID safe event. Everyone attending in person will be required to wear a mask and will need to do a COVIDSafe Checkin at the door.

 

 

August Meeting: Amateur Radio Contesting with VK5ARG

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VK5ARG: Tarlee Contest Site – Remembrance Day Contest 2021

The next meeting of the Amateur Radio Experimenter’s Group will be held this coming Friday, 20th August. The topic will be Amateur Radio Contesting with VK5ARG. During the meeting we will explain the basics of Amateur Radio Contesting and how we apply them during “Contest Month” up at our remote site west of Tarlee.

The aim will be to demystify how to get involved with contesting and explain the basics. We will also talk a bit about contest strategy, band awareness and operating styles, so you can get a feel for how to make contacts in a contest environment. After the initial presentation, there will be time for Q&A.

For anyone who would like to get involved in Contest Month during September/October for the first time, know that we will be working to introduce newbies at the event with each new operator having a mentor to help them get into the swing of things!

Michael VK5ZRN – First time contester – Remembrance Day Contest 2021 @ VK5ARG

The presentation this Friday night will start at 7.45pm. Doors open at 7.15pm and the venue will be the Fulham Community Hall, Phelps Court, Fulham! Visitors are welcome – see you there!

AREG Members note: the meeting will be simulcast on Zoom for members who cant be there in person, but there will be no YouTube stream this month. We will be observing the current COVID restrictions at the hall as well and will ask everyone in attendance to wear a mask in accordance with current health guidelines. Check in at the door will be mandatory. If you are unwell, please stay home and join the proceedings via Zoom!