President’s
Ramblings
Seems quite a lot is happening around the club at the moment
so keep an eye on the event queue so you don't miss anything.
Just a reminder that next month is the Annual General Meeting
when all committee positions are declared vacant and elections
held as necessary. It would be great to see a few new faces “having
a go”! You will find a nomination form in this issue.
You can either rip it out or photocopy it. There will be
some available at the March meeting as well for those that
forget! They need to be with the Secretary two weeks before
the Annual Meeting.
We had a bit of an interesting time on the prac night with
me working at the Cranbourne Harness and using my handheld
back to the shack. I tipped you one trifecta did you have
your money on it??? My partner was quite amused by all the
banter going on. Next time it happens we might try and set
up an ATV network. That could be interesting!
With school holidays coming up and Easter just around the
corner there will be a number of members out and about at
various parts of the State so keep your ears open and your
radios tuned I am sure they would love to make contact with
you.
See you all at the meeting on Friday, it would be good to
see some faces we have not seen for a while!
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Working Bee
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Saturday
18th March
We need your help to secure some poles and other things. Be there!
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Pub Night - Tooradin Sports Club
A great evening of food and fellowship was had at the Tooradin
Sports Club on a recent Saturday night (sorry about the late
change of venue folks!).
Over 20 members and family were in attendance and everybody
seemed to enjoy themselves.
There was one moment of some mirth when our Treasurer tried
to inhale some red wine instead of drinking it (mind you
I don’t think he was laughing at the time!). It seems
he could not quite get his head around the concept of a ride
on
goat!
All in all another pleasant GGREC evening out.
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Sci Fi Quote(s) of the Month
" How does it work, Professor?"
"
You're too dumb. You wouldn't understand" Harry Harrison's 'Technicolour
Time Machine'
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries,
is not Eureka! (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...' - Isaac Asimov
'Discworld.'
"
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely
foolproof, is to under-estimate the ingenuity of complete fools." -- Douglas
Adams, 'Mostly Harmless'
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Upcoming Events
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| Friday March 17th |
General Meeting |
Guide Hall/ Tentec Demo |
| Saturday 18th March |
Working Bee |
Club Shack |
| Monday 27th March |
Committee Meeting |
Club HQ |
| Friday 7th April |
Prac Night |
Club HQ |
| Saturday April 8th |
Fox Hunt |
Philip Island |
| Easter Friday 14th |
El’Dorado Caravan |
See Helmut |
| Friday 21st April |
Annual General |
Guide Hall 8pm |
| July 22nd |
HAMFEST |
Cranbourne Hall |
| October ? |
JOTA |
Guide Hall/Club Shack |
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Surplus Items
The committee will be asking the club to approve the sale
of some surplus items at the next general meeting. This includes
some left over timber and rubber mats from the building of
the ramp and some items of antenna gear from the Colin Santos
estate (poles x 2 and a discone antenna). It was suggested
that we have an auction night for members to clear some junk
in May and that these items be included then.
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The Philips PRM8040 project
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These
radios are now available for purchase. The committee
has decided that we will allow until the Annual General
Meeting for Club Members to put their name on the list.
If we have more names than available radios we will have
to work out a way of cutting down the list. Hopefully
this will not happen! If you don’t know how much
they are ask a committee member . SPECIAL CLUB MEMBER
ONLY PRICE. Any left over radios will be sold at a different
price. See Pauls TGX article on page 10. |
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WIA
news
Why not listen to the WIA news each week on the VK3RML repeater. It is on Sunday
nights at 8pm and Wednesday 11am
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RFID Access to Clubrooms
No you don't have to have your ears pierced. Well not yet
aynway!!!
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The system is now up and running smoothly. Thanks to Ian BUF and all the time
and effort he has put into this project.
You can now purchase a key tag to allow you access
they are $10 each and last as long as you are a financial
member of the club. You are required to sign an agreement
binding you to the regulations governing use of the
shack (as circulated in an earlier magazine with some
slight modification).
The whole idea is that members can access the shack whenever they feel like
it and make use of the facilities therein. In the main it is based on trust
but by signing an agreement everybody knows where they stand.
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Amateur Radio ID Badge
Ian VK3BUF has designed an ID badge (similar to a car license)
that he proposes that the club make available to members
(for a small fee for the club).
The idea being that you would be able to identify yourself
as a holder of an Amateur Radio License. This might be useful
when purchasing gear etc.
We will get Ian to showcase it at the March general meeting.
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IRLP Repeater
Our new IRLP repeater had been sent up to Andy Beales in Queensland
for some modifications. Thanks Andy!. At the committee meeting
Albert reported that the repeater has been programmed and tests
OK. Output has been boosted to 25 watts. It is on the way back
to us.
We will also be sent a manual for us to copy and return to
Andy.
Discussion took place about trying out the repeater at Alberts
place to see what the coverage is. Access tone is to be changed
to 123 Hz, to fall into line with the other repeaters. WIA & ARV
(that’s Amateur Radio Victoria not Ivan) to be notified
of the change to 123 Hz.
Hopefully we can have it all up and running soon.
Any concerns/comments should be made at the next meeting.
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Some late Limericks….
These are the ones I can print (Thanks Reg!)
A man known as 3ARV
Bought a boat to go out to sea
One day while out fishing
He found something missing
With his anchor at the bottom of the sea
———————
There was a young man called Dave
Who found an old rig in a cave
He said “isn’t it disgusting
It only needs dusting”
And look at the money I’ll save
—————
There was a man called Helmut
Who was riding his bike with no helmet
The cops said “you fool
You should know the rule
Your booked for not wearing your helmet”
—————
Our president you all know as Andy
Who went in the pub for a shandy
With the flick of a cloth
He wiped off the froth
And the barmaid said “blimey that’s handy”
———————
There was a young man called Mike
Who went in the bush on a bike
But I’m sorry to say
His back wheel gave away
And the only way home was to hike!
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The
joke is on us….
With thanks to Russ MWR…
A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy: "So
I hear you're getting Married?"
"Yep!"
"Do I know her?"
"Nope!"
"This woman, is she good looking?"
"Not really."
"Is she a good cook?"
"Naw, she can't cook too well."
"Does she have lots of money?"
"Nope, poor as a church mouse."
"Well then, is she good in bed?"
"I don't know."
"Why in the world do you want to marry her then?"
"Because she can still drive after dark."
Three
old guys are out walking. First one says, "Windy,
isn't it?"
Second one says, "No , its Thursday." Third one
says, "So am I. Let's go get a beer."
A man was telling his neighbor, "I just bought
a new hearing aid . It cost me four thousand dollars,
but it's state of the art. It's perfect." "Really," answered
the neighbor. "What kind is it?"
"Twelve thirty."
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GGREC
Committee
Nomination Form |
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I ___________________________
being a financial member of Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics
Club (GGREC) nominate the following for committee positions
for 2006-7:
Name__________________ Position ______________ Seconded
_______________Accepted______________
Name__________________ Position ______________ Seconded _______________Accepted______________
Name__________________ Position ______________ Seconded _______________Accepted______________
Name__________________ Position ______________ Seconded _______________Accepted______________
Signature of nominator_______________
Date __/__/__
All completed forms must be with the Secretary two weeks
prior to the Annual General meeting.
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Further
UP the Creek with a paddle…..
Red Cross Murray River Canoe Marathon 2005 (Graeme VK3BXG)
Along
the route each day are four check points – “Alpha”, “Bravo”, “Charlie” and “Delta” and
a prerequisite for these is that they have road access. At
these points we in Wicen set up our portable communications
both on HF and VHF (2 meters) to communicate up and down
the course and to the official boats. Red Cross also sets
up a first aid post here and Lroc sets up their checkpoint
and account for all competitors as they pass through. Half
way between the main land checkpoints another patrol boat
is positioned for safety and communications whilst behind
the last canoe follows the “Water Safety Officer’s
boat which technically reopens the river behind it to other
river traffic
Because
of the distances and no repeaters in the area HF is used
to establish
communication between “Start”, “A”,”B”,”C”,”D” and
Finish and HQ (VK3AWI). This is a controlled net and formal
messages are the order of the day whilst the VHF net is for
communication with the official boats and maybe the next
checkpoint and is therefore not a controlled net. At each
Wicen checkpoint a minimum of two operators is needed – one
on HF and one on VHF. I have done both on my own but it is
hard work keeping track.
My Day
1 location was at “C” on the Victorian
side of the river at Cobram. I shared the day with Ian VK3DVO
and primarily looked after the 2mx net.
Day 2
again started with “Morning has Broken” at
5am with the day’s start from Cobram. My assignment
for the day was Bravo – the next point west of Tocumwal
(Alpha). As a result of the heat the previous day, two of
our operators were stood down for day 2 in the interest of
their health so I found myself on my own having to run two
nets. For a couple of hours though I had the help of YL,
Cherrie, my “message runner” who was of great
help but had burnt and blistered her feet running across
the river sand the previous day.
It was a particularly hot day and getting hotter and I think
every Land Rover must have had an electric car refrigerator
in it. The electronic noise generated from them on HF was
horrendous in what should have been a very low noise or noise-free
area. But other than to make note of this, signals were still
above this noise level and stayed that way for the day.
Day 2 finished in the Millewa State forest about 8Km south
of Moroco West on the NSW side of the border and that afternoon
we all moved camp to Echuca to the football oval.
We will continue this intrepid adventure next month. I have
some pictures as well that I will slot in somewhere!!! Andrew
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2 Metre Radios
The
Philips PRM8040 project
Currently I am over
half way through re-programming all the radios. Almost all
the “complete” radio sets
have been done, and I am now well stuck into the “incomplete” radio
sets. Don’t worry about the “incomplete” tag,
it just means they are missing a speaker mounting bracket
etc. Of more concern is the faulty pile that now stands at
5. One of these is an easy fix, a new protection diode as
someone either connected the radio to reverse polarity, or
more likely connected it to a 24V truck without a 24 to 12V
converter.
As we
only received 48 heads, not 52, we have 4 spare radio’s
so to speak, so hopefully we will have 48 usable radio’s
to cover the list of requests, that now sits at 33 (last
I heard). Lets just hope for no more faults, especially heads.
The channel
programming I have been using is largely based on Ian VK3BUF’s
FM92 program he devised several years ago, so if you are
familiar with certain channel numbers,
they stay the same. I have added a lot more simplex channels,
so you can continuously tune from 144.500MHz all the way
to 147.975MHz.
If the
radio is run in “text” mode (default)
then all the simplex channels of Ian’s original ’92
ROM and my additions are all sorted in order, with the exception
being 146.225, because I labelled this channel as “GGREC
CLUB”.
All the radio’s are basically programmed the same,
except for some minor tweaks I have made along the way. Involving
the labelling of muti-repeater frequencies etc.
Two of
the radios have been loaned (not given) to Adam so some
real world
testing could be performed. (After all, if
he didn’t open his mouth, we would have no radios).
Anyway, all seems good so far, my programming has not confused
him and his audio sounds, well, “Philips”. The
last thing I wanted was to have 48 radios handed back to
me with the comment of “they work, BUT ….”
At work, I found a service manual for a Philips PRM8030,
same radio, different head. So, apart from the head, we have
full schematics and alignment procedures.
Also
in the kit of bits were GPS receivers – Hmm,
hook up a display and bung them into your car, or how about
use on fox hunts, or set up an APRS system.
DC power converters, 9-18V in, 15v (13.8) out, charge car
battery from another battery! Radio modems – not sure
yet – maybe just bung them onto eBay.
(Please note
that no decision has been made on these extra items as yet.
However, we will be looking to sell most of them given that
we ended up a few heads short! A decision should be made
at the next meeting. If you are interested in some please
let us know. Andrew)
Paul VK3TGX
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General Meeting Minutes
Date: 17th February 2006
Start time: 08:00 PM.
Location: Guide Hall Cranbourne.
Chairperson: Andrew Clinkaberry VK3HFA
Minute Taker: Bruno Tonizzo VK3BFT
Present: As per attendance sheet.
Visitors and Guests: John VK4HJS
Apologies: PeterVK3VB & Pat Pavey VK3OZ, Colin VK3HR & Bobbie
Bishop, Grahame VK3YCG & Susan Brown, Max Hill VK3TMK,
Andrew Brown VK3HJK, Ian VK3KSJ & Val Benson.
Correspondence Received:
Email correspondence from:
Amateur Radio Victoria, requesting operators for the VK3GAMES
roster.
AR Industries, asking if they can set up a stall at our Hamfest.
NERGs, informing us of the passing of Alan Marr VK3JPK.
Letter from AMA containing our VK3RDD Licence.
Correspondence Sent:
Letter to CCIS outlining the contact details of GGREC for
the City of Casey information magazine.
Treasurer’s
Report: As tabled.
Read by: Mike Ide, VK3KTO Moved by: Mike Ide, VK3KTO Seconded
by: Russ White VK3MWR
Carried: Yes
New Call signs - Nil
Previous Minutes: As printed in the February 2006 GATEWAY
magazine.
Read by: Andrew Clinkaberry VK3HFA Moved by: Ian Jackson
VK3BUF Seconded by: Albert Hubbard VK3BQO Carried: Yes
Business Arising from Previous Minutes:
Ian Jackson has installed the RF ID access system in the
shack. Committee will be trialling the system to see if
there are any bugs.
Limerick Competition.
IRLP repeater – Repeater is with Andy Beales for programming.
Russ White pointed out that there is a mis-print in the February
Gateway magazine. The next Hamfest is in 2006 not 2206.
Australia Day BBQ went well, a good time was had by all.
Members to note that both Graeme Wheatley & Reg Goddard
are disposing of radio equipment.
New Business:
Mid Year Dinner – members voted to go out for this festive occasion.
Philips radios – Mike & Albert went to Theis and collected 48 radios & accessories.
11 have been programmed to date. The members that loaned the Club cash will
get first preference. Programming of marine frequencies may be possible. Albert
to see if he can get one of the GPS units working.
HAMFEST – Dianne Jackson has agreed to take table bookings. Cranbourne
Public Hall booking has been confirmed.
A special thank you is to be conveyed to Peter & Pat Pavey for organising
the Clubs 25th Anniversary QSL cards into 2 photo albums.
Bowling night has been postponed as the notice to Club members was too short.
Working bee was discussed and members encouraged to come and help out.
Bruno asked members to consider becoming trainers or examiners for Amateur
radio licences.
Tentative date for the Fox Hunt will be the 8th of April 2006.
Easter at Eldorado Caravan Park. See Helmut for details.
Tonight’s guest speaker is Ian Jackson presenting
the Design, construction & operation of the Club’s
RFID access system.
Meeting Closed at around 9:00 PM.
Next
Committee Meeting: Monday 27th February 2006, at the Club
Rooms starting at 8:00pm.
Next Prac Night: Friday 3rd March 2006.
Next General Meeting: Friday 17th March 2006.
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