Ramping up the
Shack - Albert , BQO
The first day started out with threatening clouds but it was muggy. That was
Saturday 30th October. Our fears of rain were not warranted as the sun showed
through and caused a lot of sweat soaked shirts on the guys digging the post
holes to support the wheelchair and pedestrian ramp to the Club Shack. I am sure
a few kilos were shed during the day but a great amount was completed.
Ian (BUF) had prepared a lot of the timber to length making the job a lot quicker
and with less heads trying to calculate the measurements it probably made the
job more accurate as well. The plan was to set up the structural sections of
the walkway and support them so that the concrete footings could be poured around
the post supports. This method works well as everything is square before you
pour the concrete.
The guys were eager to work as shown by the short lunch break taken only to consume
some fish and chips and down a coldie.
By about 3pm, most of the timber had been set in place and although the first
stage was not quite completed, a sense of pride and satisfaction showed on the
faces of the remaining workers. (Especially after another coldie) First day slaves
were: Ivan, Reg, Bruno, Ron, Helmut, Ian and myself.
On Saturday 5th, we completed the structural timber ready to pour the footings.
There was just as much sweat lost as on the first day by the varied crew of Bruno,
Ron, Mike, Graham, Ian, Paul and myself. By the time you read this, much of the
work should have been completed so you can come along to the meeting and marvel
at the handiwork of some bloody hard workers.
 |
Mikes's
new name is Thor.
He couldn't put his hammer down all day. |
The photo shows a section of the completed ramp with Mike taking a well earned
rest from swinging his hammer. Next weekend should see the concrete poured with
the remainder of the work being a great deal easier.
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The Outer-limits and into the Twilight zone (by Graeme “Gremlin” Brown
VK3BXG)
My father was one of the lucky ones that during the depression of the 1930’s
and at aged 17 he was able to get a job with the Victorian Railways and very
quickly trained to be a fireman on the steam locomotives, mostly doing the country
runs. Now the fireman’s prime job (for those readers under 50) was to shovel
the coal into the boiler and to keep an eye on the boilers temperature and pressure
whilst the driver worked the controls for power and speed.
He told us of his many
experiences during those years. One in particular comes to mind of a still
winter’s night, when overloaded and underpowered in what he called
a coffee-pot engine, they pulled out of the Jolimont railyard at about three
o’clock in the morning on the South Gippsland goods run. Now it was
imperative to be clear of suburbia before 5am so as not to disrupt suburban
passenger trains.
All went well and at about
5am they were out beyond Hallam, somewhere near Lysterfield when dad said
he noticed sparks coming off the track ahead of them in the dark just out
beyond the range of the kerosene headlamp. After a bit he ventured to say
to his driver, “I don’t know about you, but every now and then
I can see sparks in front of us!” His driver replied “yeh, I’ve
been watching it for a while”.
Quite bewildered they
settled back in an apprehensive silence and prepared for the unexpected.
It was not long in coming. As they passed through Cranbourne there under
the only street light that lit the narrow South Gippsland Highway rail crossing
in those days was some farmer’s draught horse doing a quick right turn
and continuing galloping down the main street towards the town sparks flying
from its horseshoes as they hit the stones.
In Memory of Keith Sidney
Brown. 19/05/1917 – 03/07/2005.
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ICE …. No
not in the whiskey!!!
A campaign encouraging people to enter an emergency contact number
in their mobile phone's memory under the heading ICE (In Case of Emergency),
has rapidly spread throughout the world as a particular consequence of last
week's terrorist attacks in London.
Originally established
as a nation-wide campaign in the UK, ICE allows paramedics or police to be
able to contact a designated relative / next-of-kin in an emergency situation.
The idea is the brainchild of East Anglian Ambulance Service paramedic Bob
Brotchie and was launched in May this year. Bob, 41, who has been a paramedic
for 13 years, said: "I was reflecting on some of the calls I've attended
at the roadside where I had to look through the mobile phone contacts struggling
for information on a shocked or injured person. Almost everyone carries a
mobile phone now, and with ICE we'd know immediately who to contact and what
number to ring. The person may even know of their medical history."
By adopting the ICE advice, your mobile will help the rescue services quickly
contact a friend or relative - which could be vital in a life or death situation.
It only takes a few seconds to do, and it could easily help save your life.
Why not put ICE in your phone now? Simply select a new contact in your phone
book, enter the word 'ICE' and the number of the person you wish to be contacted.
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4wd Trip To The Snowy River
A week and a half ago several Club members embarked on a trip in the
mountains North of Orbost. The trip included a tour through the Buchan caves,
crossing the historic McKillop’s Bridge and a steep drive through the rugged
Snowy wilderness area via the Deddick trail. Graeme VK3BXG and his son AndrewVK3HJK
traveled in their highly capable Lada. Jim VK3UFO was in his Kia Sportage and
his son Iain was in his Suzuki Sierra. Ian VK3BUF, Eric and Hal were in the L300
van. Peter VK3KCW and Albert VK3BQO were also traveling in the region and a short
rendezvous was made with them high on an alpine trail.
Contact with other Club members took place on 80M each evening from our campsite
on the Snowy river and other locations. Strong signals on the 80M dipole
overrode the huge static crashes present on the Saturday night.
Plenty of wildlife was in evidence, with roos, wallabies, emus frequently sighted.
Even a pair of 1.2metre goannas marauded through the campsite for a couple
of hours.
Weather conditions were good, with little of the high rainfall
in Melbourne that weekend reaching our campsite. This ensured that
the tracks remained dry and stable.
The trip was highly successful and subsequent trips to the region will be contemplated
for the future.
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Have You Waved Your Microphone
At A Policeman Lately?
If not, then it’s probably a good thing. However, it is
worth noting that Amateurs, CB’ers etc. are exempt from the
laws governing the use of Mobile Phones while driving. The following
Rule 300 is an extract from the Victorian Road Rules as taken from
their current web site:
Victoria Government Gazette P 2 28 October 1999 219
Road Rules – Victoria
r.287
Part 18- Miscellaneous Road Rules
Division 1- Miscellaneous rules for drivers
____________________________
300. Use of hand-held mobile phones
(1) The driver of a vehicle (except an emergency vehicle or police vehicle)
must
not use a hand-held mobile phone while the vehicle is moving, or is stationary
but not parked, unless the driver is exempt from this rule under subrule (3).
Penalty: 2 penalty units.
Note Emergency vehicle, park and police vehicle are defined in
the dictionary.
(2) In this rule-
mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two-way
radio.
(3) This rule does not apply to a driver if the Corporation has
by notice in writing,
exempted the driver from subrules (1).
No longer need you feel guilty about talking to your microphone,
muesli bar or whatever while driving. Just tell them about Rule
300 and they will be forced to fall back on some other transgression
for you to contribute to their cause.
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Amateur Radio
Satellites
(Feb
2005)
A
few months back Amsat launched a new amateur radio satellite designated
AO-51, also known as Echo.
It is a very easy satellite to use, as the mode for communication is standard
FM with a 67 HZ CTCSS tone used to switch on the satellite transmitter. AO-51
also has PSK-31 and AX-25 digital capabilities.
Analog Uplink:
145.920 MHz FM (PL - 67Hz)
1268.700 MHz FM (PL - 67Hz)
Analog Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM
2401.200 MHz FM
PSK-31 Uplink 28.140 MHz USB
Digital Uplink: 145.860 MHz 9600 bps, AX.25
1268.700 MHz 9600 bps AX.25
Digital Downlink: 435.150 MHz 9600 bps, AX.25
2401.200 MHz 38,400 bps, AX.25 Broadcast Callsign: PACB-11 BBS Callsign: PACB-12
Launched June 29, 2004
The Satellites
wizz around the Earth in a Polar orbit and the amateur radio
operator has a window or around 15 minutes on each overhead pass.
You will need to know when the Satellite is over head so that
you can use it. A "FREE" computer-tracking program
is available from www.satscape.co.uk this program can interface
with your soundcard and alert you just before the satellite is
in range.
(The Male voice sounds like Reg)
I use just
a normal vertical antenna for the 2-meter Uplink and use about
25 watts. The receiving antenna should be a circular polarized
type in order to help eliminate drop outs due to the satellite
changing orientation to the Earth due to the slow spinning that
helps keep the Satellite stable.
AO-51 only
transmits about 1 watt but it is capable of up to seven watts
output. There are quite a few amateur satellites and the only
way to find out all about them is on the Amsat home page. http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php
This site has a wealth of information and will make it a lot
easier for you to try satellite communications.
I have designed
and built may types of satellite antennas over the years and
now has come up with very simple antennas to use and build. Maybe
I can do a show and tell at the club if anybody is interested?
Currently
there are 11 satellites that are working, some are fully functional
and some have only the beacons working. There are new satellites
being built such as Hamsat and SetiExpress. Information on these
new projects can we found on the Amsat home page.
Get into using
Satellites as it is very easy to do and is a great way to improve
your knowledge in space based communications.
Peter VK3KCG
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Tower Without
Glory
(Ian
VK3BUF - Jan 2005)
Graeme
VK3BXG planted a pole in the ground this week in preparation for
his tower installation. It is a standard Nally tower that he is
relocating to his QTH after repairing and sleeving the pole to its
original spec.
It will replace an existing guyed mast (in the background) that
is difficult to service without a lot of manpower needing to be
present.
The 2.8m hole was professionally bored by a drilling company. It
only took about 7 minutes. The drilling truck had a crane attachment
that also placed the pole into the hole before It left.
On the following
day the concrete was poured. It took about 0.4 of a cubic metre
of concrete to fill. The pole was guyed with rope until the concrete
had set.
Graeme should
have the complete installation fully operation very soon.
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