November - Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc

Transcription

Page
20
W.A.R.C. Proudly supported by..
(02) 9636 9060 (02) 9688 4301
November 2012
HEY, YOUR WATCH HAS STOPPED
POCKET DIGITAL MULTIMETER
IDEAL FOR TOOL BOX
or CARRY IN THE CAR
Measures AC, DC Volts.
AC, DC Current from uA to 10Amps.
Resistance Buzzer for LO ohms.
Diode and Transistor tester.
ONLY $19.50 ea plus postage.
Limited number available.
See Geoff VK2GL
in the Westlakes Store
or direct from,
L.E. Agencies.
Unit 6, 3 Skyline Way,
Phone (02) 49434548
(02) 49818097
Westlakes Amateur
Inc. -Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Amateur Radio
Radio Club
Club Inc.-
First it was garage doors, now it's electronic watches - all going haywire because of
underwater RF. It has been revealed that radio signals being transmitted out of a USA
submarine base is likely behind reports of many garage doors failing to open and close
and Bulova divers' watches stopping in Connecticut, the U.S. Navy has admitted. The
signal is part of the radio system used by the military to coordinate responses with civil
emergency workers, said a spokesman for the submarine base.
Because garage door openers are unlicensed devices, they are not offered any protection
from interference by licensed users in the same frequency band. The problem was first
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine
2010 2012
Westlakes
Magazine June
November
Page
Published by Westlakes Amateur
Radio Club Inc. York Street Teralba,
as a magazine of news, information
and opinions on amateur radio and
associated topics for the benefit of
the members .
Copyright:
In general there is no copyright on
articles, they may be copied at will.
The exception being those articles
followed by an asterisk *
preceding the named source.
Founder and mentor:
Keith Howard VK2AKX (SK)
Patron:
G.Piper MLA
Life members:
Gregory Smith
VK2CW
Paul Lorentzen
VK2ATR
Alec Efimov
VK2ZM
Leslie Payne
VK2ZPA
Peter Sturt
VK2ZTV
David Myers
VK2RD
Geoffrey Clark
VK2EO
Frank Lusa
VK2FJL
Membership Rates
All members................ $20.00 P.A
Joining fee.................... $ 5.00
Club fees are due 1st February
Correspondence to:
The Secretary
W.A.R.C., Box 3001,
TERALBA NSW 2284
Telephone:- (02) 49 581 588
(24 hour
answering service)
Email:
secretary@westlakesarc.org.au
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.
is an affiliated club with the
Wireless Institute of Australia.
Club meeting: 1st Saturday of
each month 13.30
Page
2
Club Directory
President:
Steve Beveridge
VK2LW
president@westlakesarc.org.au
Vice President:
Geoff Linthorne
Secretary:
VK2GL
Barrie Downward: VK2ABD
Treasurer:
Greg Smith
VK2CW
Committee:
Allan Brown
VK2JED
Ted Fogarty
VK2UI
Herb Herivel
VK2ZVF
Ken Jackson
VK2KJ
Leonie McGuiness VK2FHRK
Dave Myers
VK2RD
Warren Payne
VK2UWP
Barry Sullivan
VK2BZ
Michael Welsh VK2CCW
Diane Wilson JP VK2FDNE
Magazine Editor:
Greg Smith
VK2CW
editor@westlakesarc.org.au
QSL Liason Officer:
Alex Efimov
VK2ZM
Storeman:
Aly Zimmer
VK2AFZ
Project Officer:
Norm Cameron
VK2KNC
Maintenance Officer:
Barry Sullivan
VK2BZ
Radio and Contest Officer:
Dave Myers
VK2RD
Public Relations:
Security:
Warren Payne
VK2UWP
Internet Webmaster:
Geoff Clark
VK2EO
Examinations Officer:
Michael Clarke
VK2OI
Radio Callsigns
Club Callsign: VK2ATZ
Club Repeaters:
VK2RTZ
146.775MHz
VK2RZL
146.875MHz
Club Digipeater:
VK2RTZ
147.575 MHz
IRLP Node
6040
Echolink
172107
Club Activities:
Club Nets:
Club broadcast,
Sunday 0900
146.775Mhz
followed by VK1WIA News.
Club Evening Broadcast
Sunday 1900
followed by VK1WIA News
Call backs follow each cast
EZB Net 146.775MHz
Saturday 0800
Stone the Crows Net
Saturday 3.588MHz 0600
Internet HomePage:
www.westlakesarc.org.au
Business:
Tuesday after 1700
Saturday after 1200
Club Distance Record:
2m Simplex
VK2FGM 2040 km
QRP CW
VK2AGC 2680 km
FOR SALE
Hills 60' crank-up tower $1000 negotiable.
Tower is located in Singleton NSW.
Ian Danks 0412998031
Two 1/2 wave Station Master antennas
(still in factory boxes) $100 each
Three 3/4 wave Station Master antennas
One Megatron antenna
(still in factory box) $100
One Megatron antenna like new
(in sealed bag no box) $75
Leonie VK2FHRK 0412686102
Westlakes
Inc. -Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
Club Inc.-
MORE FOR SALE
Icom IC27A 2m mobile FM $80
Kenwood V7A dual band 2m/70cm
with remote head (no remote head lead)
Just serviced by Kenwood. $180
Norm VK2ZG 43411736
email: vk2zg@yahoo.com.au
WANTED
PROJECT CORNER
THE EZYBEE NET
SATURDAYS 8AM
146.775 MHz
Note: Opinions expressed in this
magazine are those of the
contributors and do not necessarily
coincide with those of the Executive
or the members in general.
Proof reading by: Stella
19
STONE THE CROWS
3.588 MHz
Magazine assembly
day
SATURDAYS
6AM
Welcome to a new section of the
magazine, all about club projects. It will
be updated each month advising of radiorelated construction activities you can
make at Westlakes.
* The 1 valve regenerative receiver that
runs on 12 volts project is going strong.
Six are up and running and another six in
production. Most parts are available from
the Westlakes Store. Judging to find the
best constructed set will be at the club's
Christmas Frolic on December 15th.
* A short kit for a 3.5/7 Mhz LSB
transceiver with DDS vfo and digital
readout. It's coming up soon.
* A loop receiving and transmitting
antenna display and lecture on how to
make one by Maurice VK2CD. Stay
tuned for this one.
Project enquiries to Norm VK2KNC
"OZZIvk2knc@gmail.com
HAMS" Maxi Port-a-pole
email:
Westlakes
Amateur
Radio
ClubInc.Inc.-Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Amateur
Radio
Club
a
Page
Page
18
WESTLAKES FIRST
CAR BOOT SALE
Please read this this carefully. On
Saturday 10 November, Westlakes is
hosting its first car boot sale in the club
grounds at Teralba. It's a sort of trash
and treasure event. Depending on the
response, there may be more. Who
knows, it could become a regular event.
Here are the details. Anyone can be a
seller, from a car boot, a table, even off
the ground. Anything can be sold. Pot plants, lace doilies, tools and yes, even radio gear.
There is no charge for sellers or buyers - it is an absolutely free event for all. There is no
commission. All sales are between buyer and seller. One thing however, if you want a
table to set out items available for sale, you must bring your own. The club will not be
providing tables.
What will be available is lunch from the Westlakes barbecue and drinks at bargain prices.
It all gets underway at midday. If you have any surplus equipment you wish to dispose of
please bring it along. There is only one condition. Anything you bring that is unsold must be
taken home - no leaving leftovers at the club!
THE BIG BOOT SALE, WESTLAKES AMATEUR RADIO CLUB.
YORK STREET TERALBA. SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER AT 12 NOON.
BAR CODES TURN 60
The ubiquitous bar code is 60 years old. It
was patented in 1952 by Norman Woodland
and Bernard Silver but it resembled a circular
bullseye. Bar codes are now the distinctive
black and white stripes that provide details on
everything for a purchase and identification.
The are more than 5 million individual bar
codes in use around the world.
Although patented in October 1952, they did
not make an appearance until 1974 because
they needed laser technology to be easily
read. The first use of bar codes was to lable
railroad cars but they were not commercially
sucessful until they were used to automate
supermarket checkout systems. Their use
has spread to so many tasks they are known
as "automatic identification and data capture,"
(AIDC) devices.
3
reported by The Day of New London, is that the same frequency is used at very low
levels by the manufacturers of garage door openers. The signals from remote controls
to open or close the doors are blocked by the signal from the base. The new radio system
operating at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton gets the blame. Known as Enterprise
Land Mobile Radio, the communications system is being used at most U.S. military
installations to connect military personnel and civilian first responders over a wide area,
and it "may interfere with nearby garage door openers in the surrounding community,"
said base spokesman Chris Zendan.
But now underwater divers swimming in waters near the naval base base are reporting
that their Bulova "Accutron" watches are mysteriously stopping. These watches use a
360 hertz tuning fork to drive a mechanical gear train to turn the hands. The tuning fork
is powered by a one-transistor electronic oscillator circuit and instead of ticking, has a
faint, high pitch hum which came from the vibrating tuning fork. Many divers' watch of
choice is the Bulova Men's Marine Star Calendar Watch which features a waterresistant black rubber band and is water resistant to 330 feet.
The base began using the system in July 2011. ELMR uses radio frequencies between
380 and 399.9 megahertz, which have been reserved for the Department of Defense
since World War II for air and ground communications but have been underutilized until
now. "In response to the increased needs of homeland security, the Department of
Defense now must make more use of these frequencies to deploy new mobile radio
systems on and around certain military bases," the Federal Communications Commission
said in a public notice. " The commander of the Groton submarine base can't modify
the system just because of complaints from local residents or divers with stopped
watches and no compensation will be offered to those affected,
OF COURSE IT DOES
Why can't you take up
Morse like other
husbands?
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine November
Reading Westlakes Monthly Magazine while sunbaking makes you well read.
THE FUN-CEIVER REVISITED
Remember Westlakes QRP CW transmitter from the early 1990's? We sold 200 of the
little kits and in fact have a few more left in the club store at $10 each. The kit comes with
PCB, 80m crystal, and all parts. Some will know that this kit was based on the
Fun-Mitter which was published in 73 Magazine February 1981. But there was also a
matching receiver, the Fun-Ceiver published by the same magazine five months later
and as far as I know, none were made by our club members as the receiver was not
advertised by Westlakes.
The Fun-Ceiver is a goof-proof project and matches the Fun-Mitter (AKA Westlakes
QRP Kit) perfectly making a simple companion receiver. It can be built for either 80 or
40 metres and can be used with other transmitters or as a stand alone receiver. It uses
a minimum of parts and can be built in an afternoon. The design criteria is that it costs
less than $30 with all new parts, the parts are readily available, no variable capacitors
or tuning, and be as simple as possible.
2012
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. - Magazine November
2012
Page
Page
4
The finished receiver meets these goals. It will tune any 70-kHz of the 40 metre band or
any 50-kHz of the 80 metre band. Sensitivity is very good and the selectivity is adequate
in the basic receiver and can be improved with the optional audio filter. The receiver is
very simple - only a tuning knob and an on/off switch is used. This makes construction
and operation easier without compromising performance.
It has a dual-gate MOSFET
and although it has drawbacks
such as AM detection, it makes
a good direct conversion
detector.
Variable frequency tuning is
provided by using general
purpose diodes as voltage
variable capacitors. The voltage
to the diodes is varied by a
front-panel pot which in turn
changes the capacitance of the
diodes to vary the frequency of
the oscillator.
Receiver PC board - foil side (not to scale)
The receiver is the ultimate in
simplicity but still performs well.
L4
CR2 CR1
L1
To J1
Antenna
L2
L3
C1
C12 D
S
Q2 G
CR3
R3
L5
C2
R2
G1
C9
R4
C3
To
L
Ext
C10
C8
G2
C4
C5
D
C6
C7
C11
C14
C13
R5
To J2
200mw Audio Amp
CONTROLLED CARRIER AM
SOMETHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN
An old modulation technology is making a comeback for A-M broadcast stations in a new
and money saving way reports Amateur Radio Newsline. Back in the days of full carrier
A-M transmission, one very popular and low cost way to put ones voice onto a carrier
wave was to modulate the final power amplifier's screen grid. A variation on this that
required no heavy modulation transformer was to vary the output power of the transmitter
at an audio rate by varying the final amplifier's screen voltage at an audio rate. This system
was called controlled carrier AM and it was made very popular on the amateur bands
in the 1940's, 50's, and 60's.
With the advent of single sideband transmission, full carrier AM fell out of favour in the
amateur radio world but it has remained a staple in the broadcast industry and other
Stevemodulation
VK2LW
services that want to get their message to the public. And now, carrier control
is making a comeback among broadcasters but not in the way it was done by radio
amateurs of the past. For broadcasters who spend tens of thousands of dollars a year
paying for electricity, the ability to raise and lower power levels can be a major cost
cutting factor. And because of this a number of stations have received approval from
the FCC to experiment with several new forms of carrier control technology.
Controlled carrier Amplitude Modulation trials in New York have provided the largest
reduction in transmitter power consumption, by saving 37 per cent in average AC power
input to the transmitters. This translates up to a $3,000 per month savings on the
electricity bill at one New Jersey transmitter site alone. Nautel, another transmitter
manufacturer has estimated that a 50 kilowatt AM transmitter using this technology and
operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week could easily save $20,000 a year or more in
electricity costs. This based on modest electricity rates of 10 cents per kilowatt hour.
So will this new form of Amplitude Modulation Companding bring back full carrier AM
ABarMarchrie
to the amateur bands? While a tiny segment may decide to experiment with it, more
VK2CXAContest
than likely SSB will remain the preferred voice system among amateur radio
Calendar
operators worldwide. At least until this mode is replaced by a digital voice system at
some time in the future. From Amateur Radio Newsline October 2012
NEW ZEALAND HOPING FOR 50 - 51 MHz
S
Q1
17
+9 v To S1
Component
next page
layout
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
Radio Club
Club Inc.Inc. Magazine
- MagazineNovember
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Radio amateurs in New Zealand hope to get 50-51 MHz when Channel 1 TV shuts down.
The bottom end of the 6 meter band (50 to 51 MHz) is to be returned to New Zealand
amateurs once all Channel 1 television has ceased and the current management right for
this expires.
What may not be known is that the last channel 1 television transmitter is not due to close
down until November 2013 and the management right under which they operate does not
expire until August 2015. NZART is working with Radio Spectrum Management on
arrangements for the period between when all the Channel 1 transmitters are turned off
and the management right expires.
Westlakes
2010 2012
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
MagazineJune
November
Page
16
wavelength from the antenna base) is important for efficiency. Radials have to collect
return current from the vertical radiator.
Fallacy Two - manufacturers' instructions would have us believe four radials per
band are optimum. Adding radials from the basic four to ninety six will improve a signal
by 3.9dB over poor ground and about 1dB over salt water. Installing strips of chicken wire
in different directions on top of the ground also helps reduce ground losses, as will a 3m
square metal plate beneath the antenna base.
Fallacy Three - the diameter of the wires is not important. With a small number
of wires (e.g. 8 per band) the heavier the gauge used the better. If many wires are to be
used, the return current is able to be spread over many more paths and so wire gauge
becomes less important. The author uses seven strand bare copper wire for radials on 40
and 20m. Due to the amount of wire required, it became necessary to use recycled auto
electrical winding wire, relying on the enamel insulation for integrity.
Fallacy Four - ground rods are desirable at the antenna base as well as at the
end of each radial wire. Ground rods are necessary for a good DC ground but are
almost non-contributory as RF grounds. They would however constitute a minimum
RF ground zone for terminating certain types of wire receiving antennas or where highly
conductive soil exists.
Fallacy Five - burying the radials is preferable. In fact research has shown that
elevated radial wires make a better ground system. This is because the return currents
do not have to negotiate the higher resistance soil if the wires are elevated. Next best is
to use insulated radials on the ground surface. If they must be buried, try to locate them
in the top 50mm of soil.
Fallacy Six - burying chicken wire or off-cut wire mesh fencing assists the
ground system. Any ferrous material, even if galvanised, will last only a short time in the
ground. Corrosion sets in very quickly and in any case, steel is not a good RF conductor.
Courtesy of VK4CMY
YOU DON'T EVEN PLUG 'EM IN
Page
Parts List
C1,C3
(80m 220pF 40m 4.7pF)
C2 4.7pF
C4,7,14 .01uF
C5,13 10uF
C6,12 .01uF
C8 47 pF
C9 200pF
C10,11 470pF
CR1,2,3 1N914 diode
(80m two piggyback)
L1 100uH
(two turn link over L2)
L2,3 100uH
(80m 8 turns removed
40m no turns removed)
L4 100uH
(80m two in series ten
turns removed 40m 100uH
no turns removed. For both
80m and 40m last three turns
spread out over rest of former)
L5 100uH
Q1 MOSFET 3N211
Q2 FET 2N3819
R1,3 100k
R2 270
R4 100
R5 1000
5
It is a direct conversion receiver utilising a product
detector, Q1, and a variable frequency oscillator,
Q2, which operates at the same frequency as the
incoming signal. L2, C1 and L3, C3 comprise a
double-tuned input network which provides out of
band signal attenuation. L1 matches the 50 Ohm
antenna impedance to the high impedance of gate
1 of the MOSFET. Small gauge magnet wire can
be used for L1.
Audio output is taken from Q1 through to C7. C6
is used to bypass the detector drain at high
frequencies. The audio output is routed to J2.
From there the audio goes to a small amplifier
"The Champ" via a shielded cable. Only two
transistors are needed and no audio control.
Other than the product detector, the only other
section of the receiver is the VFO.
The circuit is configured as a parallel-tuned Colpitts
oscillator. The receiver is powered from an internal
9 volt battery as as current draw is only 5mA,
battery life will be long.
All the parts were originally sourced from Radio
Shack with the part numbers supplied. The two
transistors are no longer available but alternate
equivalents can be found. The original 1981 article
also had two addtional options, a simple receiver
mute and and a filter circuit to enhance reception.
To read the articles on both the Fun-Mitter and
matching Fun-Ceiver in full and complete with the
options, look up 73 Magazine 1981 February and
July editions on the Internet. Every edition ever
printed, is there. VK2CW
New wirelessly-charged electric buses have
begun to operate on main routes in the UK. Diesel
buses will be replaced by electric vehicles.
The new buses will be charged, not by plugging
them into mains power, but by parking them over
electric coils for 10 minutes before and after each
run. The coils are buried in the road.
It is claimed the buses will reduce pollution and be
much quieter than diesel buses. It also expected
each bus will cost between £12,000 and £15,000
less to run per year.
Every
Radio Shack catalogue from 1939 that
SOME LIGHT READING
include amateur radio transmitters and receivers is
available at: http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalog_directory.html
Technology has lead to the creation of glassesfree 3D films at cinemas has been developed
by researchers in South Korea. It uses a
barrier with slats so that when a viewer looks
at the screen each of their eyes sees the
image differently. As a result their brain creates an illusion of depth. TV makers have
tried to use a similar approach, but require viewers to be in a particular spot to see a 3D
image. This would not be possible in a cinema where the audience needs to be able to
Westlakes Amateur
Inc. -Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Amateur Radio
Radio Club
Club Inc.-
Westlakes
November
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
Club Inc.Inc.- Magazine
Magazine June
2010 2012
GLASSES-FREE AT
3D MOVIES
Page 6
watch the screen from a wide variety of angles. The standard way to create 3D-images
on a movie screen was to use stereoscopy: the technique involves projecting two 2Dimages through a special filter.
To the naked eye the two offset versions of the footage appear to be superimposed over
each other. But if the viewer wears polarised glasses the left lens only lets in one of the
images, and the right lens the other, creating a sense of depth. The new 3D glasses
involve placing a barrier in front of the image source which has slats in it similar to those
of aVenetian blind. These slats are angled so that light from one set of the screen's pixels
shines through and is directed to one of the viewer's eyes, and light from other pixels is
shown to the other eye - with no overlap. The lead scientist Byoungho Lee, professor
at Seoul National University, said this technology constitutes a simple, compact, and
cost-effective approach to producing 3D cinema, while also eliminating the need for
wearing polarising glasses.
VK5AX AND HIS
MORSE TYPEWRITER
Australia has produced one typewriter inventor.
He was Alfred Herman Traeger VK5AX who
is best known for his development of a pedalpowered radio, which from the late 1920s
provided a means of direct contact to the outside
world for Aboriginal communities and white
Australian settlers living in the nation’s vast
“outback”. But Traeger’s wireless sets required
a working knowledge of the Morse code, which
few of the people in need of his radios had. In 1933, Traeger overcame this problem by
devising a Morse typewriter.
The idea behind the The Traeger Morse typewriter was rudimentary to say the least,
yet it was highly functional. Strictly speaking, the Traeger “typewriter” is no more than an
automatic Morse keyboard. While it resembles a typewriter, it simply comprises of keys
connected to a working face of pivoted steel bars, with notched long and short spacings
corresponding to the Morse alphabet. An oil-filled dash pot was necessary to produce
smooth movement of the keyed arms.
From 1929, Traeger travelled to outback areas across Queensland, South Australia, the
Northern Territory and Western Australia, installing radio sets and teaching the users
Morse code and how to use their radios. He found, however, that for many people,
grasping a working knowledge of the Morse code presented a fresh challenge. So in 1933,
Traeger invented his typewriter Morse keyboard, enabling outback users to type their
message in plain language and have it transmitted in Morse.
Traeger was honoured for his work with the Flying Doctor Service by being appointed an
OBE in 1944. Traeger had suggested the idea of a School of the Air, and in 1951 this
became a reality. Alfred Traeger VK5AX died in 1980 at Rosslyn Park, Adelaide.
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
ClubInc.Inc.Magazine
- MagazineNovember
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Page 15
wealth flowed in and the members wallowed in it.
The author made very selective donations to the club in kind. The most visible today
is the north wing cladding and alumimium windows. During all those years, the
members thought the Novice Manual was owned and operated by Westlakes.
Wrong - it never was. It was rightly owned and copyright to Keith Howard
Westlakes Publications, and a Post Office Box. It was a cottage industry of just
three people.
Two of the cottage industry thought they were doing it all for the club too. For six
years, their efforts had been free. All that was to change in 1982. One retailer was
buying 500 copies at a time. This meant 2 x 70kg parcels to rail freight - back
breaking labour for free.
At the same time, "master control" of the monies was doing some rather frivolous
club projects. Who can remember the wonderful telephone exchange in the office
as an example? It was never installed at all. And there were others as well. But
business was good and the free labour so efficient, big discounts on the Manual
could be offered.
The crunch in the relationship came when the "dispatchers" wanted commission
and not more labour gratis. The rot set in once a small commission was paid. After
that, counter-signing Post Office Box company cheques had dispatch wondering.
Hmmm! Further service to other committments was the correct way out.
The author, known to be an astute and learned person, probably hedged his bets.
Some monies to Publishing/Publicity, some to dispatch, some to club projects. With
copyright, was there any "surplus"? Westlakes Publications operated out of a
Post Office Box. What may, or may not have been, is pure speculation. The past
is a long way behind us but what an excellent 15,000-plus selling-copies the
Manual was. Just how many who started as novices did it solely with that
publication?
The Manual of Questions and Answers for the Novice Licence has passed
into history. It is as easy to understand today as it ever was. The wonder is not one
interested party has tried to take over copyright. It is surely a magical publication
gone to waste.
Eric Brockbank VK2EZB (SK)
SO YOU WANT TO GET A VERTICAL?
Here are five fallacies about HF vertical antennas:
Fallacy One - vertical antennas are space saving and are ideal for small
suburban lots. Yes, that's what the manufacturers would have us believe. Nothing could
be further from the truth. Verticals of proper proportion take up much more space than
dipoles, G5RV's, Zepps, beams, or quads. A good ground system for a short vertical (less
than 7/16 wavelengths long) takes up much more space unless installed over salt water.
All the literature confirms that the quality of the reflecting ground system (up to 1/2
Westlakes
Westlakes Amateur
Amateur Radio
Radio Club
MagazineJune
November
2010
2012
Page 14
SOUTH SUDAN IS ON THE AIR
The amateur bands are active with the first two
amateur stations in the Republic of South Sudan.
The first is James Pratt Z81A followed by Diya Al
Asadi.Z81D. Asadi works for the UN World
Food Program. South Sudan gained its
independence in July 2011 and the ITU has given
it a group of callsigns. For now, only Z81A and
Z81D are active so please be patient. Both can be
found on the website QRZ.com.
THE SKELETONS IN THE CUPBOARD
A TALE OF
THE WESTLAKES NOVICE MANUAL
The brown-covered book was called, The Manual of
Questions and Answers fot the Novice Licence. It may
well have had a sub-title, Un-asked Questions and Ungiven Answers. The following article appeared in
Westlakes Monthly Newsletter - February 1998 and
was penned by one of the two protagonists. They are both
now Silent Keys.
"This year marks the 20th year since the Manual of
Questions and Answers for the Novice Licence by
Keith Howard VK2AKX was commercially printed.
Both Roneod and printed copies of this extremely popular
"novice bible" spanned the years between 1976 to 1990.
Due for revision, the 7th edition was put on a permanent
hold by the demise of the author in March 1990.
The first two years of issue were to be a time-consuming
Roneo chore. The team of three never imagined there
would be such a demand. Once the word got around, the team were printing, compiling,
and posting about 500 copies a month. the "monster" work load forced the Manual to
commercial print in 1978 and it became the standard study guide for the individual or class
group. It was simple and easy in explanation and cost a lowly $3.95.
The basis for the manual came from several sources including a "leaked" June 1975 Novice
Exam. The exam was never held due to an examiners' strike. Once it was known to be a
popular reference and study guide, the author was approached by the WIA NSW Division.
He was asked to "do the right thing" for amateur radio. He thought he was, but the WIA
wanted the author to waive the copyright. This was all about a licence to print money.
By the early 80's tapes and other items were added to Westlakes Publications. The
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
ClubInc.Inc. Magazine
- MagazineNovember
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Page 7
DO YOU REMEMBER THE TEST CARD GIRL?
She has clocked up more air time on
television than anyone else. But for
Carole Hersee, her return to our
screens after an absence of many
years has come as a complete
surprise. Carole Hersee became
known as the "Test Card girl" and
the BBC has reintroduced its most
famous test card, which features
her as an eight-year-old girl playing
noughts and crosses on a blackboard
with a toy clown.
Carole Hersee is now 53 and lives in
the New Forest, Hants, with her
mother and two teenage children.
The orignal BBC test card was
also shown on Australian TV when
colour was introduced. Little Carole
was wearing a red shirt and red
hairband, and Bubbles the clown in
green, was surrounded by colour
scales and test graphics. This image
was first transmitted in 1967.
The new test card with an older Carole is being broadcast on the BBc's new high-definition
TV channels has been rescanned to allow viewers to set the colour, contast, and sharpness
on modern televsions. Ms Hersee may now look older but Bubbles doesn't seemed to
have changed at all.
THE FUTURE IS WIRELESS
According to Intel, the future of everything is wireless. Intel Corp. believes that in the
future all equipment have to be completely wireless, whether it is a laptop, a display or
something else. To achieve that, Intel wants to integrate radio in every applicable chip it
makes, which essentially adds wireless tech to any client chip these days, given the trend
towards highly-integrated system-on-chip devices.
"In the future, if it computes, it connects. From the simplest embedded sensors to the most
advanced cloud data centres, we are looking at techniques to allow all of them to connect
without wires," said Justin Rattner, chief technology officer of Intel, at Intel Developer
Forum. (It's funny how the old term "wireless" once ditched for "radio" is back
again. The Wireless Institute of Australia may not be old-fashioned after all. Ed.)
Westlakes
November
Westlakes Amateur
Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine
Magazine June
2010 2012
Page 8
LONDON UNDERGROUND MAP RADIO
Page
13
AN E-BOOK OF PIRATES - RADIO PIRATES
Or to give it the correct title, Clandestine and Opposition
Shortwave Broadcast Guide. Amateur Radio operator
Steve Handler, N9ABC has another radio related eBook
that has been published and is available on Amazon.com.
Published in late September 2012, it contains a detailed list of
clandestine and opposition shortwave broadcasters listed by
time (GMT). Included are frequencies, and for most of the
listings, the target of the broadcaster, transmitter sites and
other information. There are also several chapters with information about the operations
of several of these broadcasters.
Another Chapter covers QSLing clandestine and opposition shortwave stations and
provides a number of postal or email address. The price is $3.99 and its Amazon stock
number is ASIN: B009HC5ESU For more information, including viewing sample
pages visit Amazon.com For those who do not have a Kindle, Amazon.com offers free
Kindle e-Book programs allowing Kindle files to be read on both PC and MAC. The
price is right and it would make a nice Christmas present.
IT'S IN THE BOOK, OR RATHER
IT WILL BE FROM NOW ON
The latest craze in the UK is to purchase an AM radio which has its tracks (ha ha) laid in
the shape of the famous London underground tube map. It is the product of Japanese
designer, Yuri Suzuki.
WHICH WAY FOR HEAT SINKS
One of the great mysteries of amateur radio is that of thermal design and heat
transfer. Natural convection often will do the job but for cooling power amplifiers, an heat
sink (and perhaps a cooling fan) is essential. When power is dissipated by an amplifier, the
heat sink becomes warm. the air in contact with the sink is also warmed and rises thus
causing air circulation and cooling of heat sink and the amplifier.
Efficient natural cooling is simple and has no moving parts. It makes possible the elimination
of blowers or rumbling fans if the finning is large enough and the placement of the heat sink
has been well thought out. There are limitations in the use of natural cooling of amplifiers.
It is not practical to dissipate continuously more that 100 watts because of the size of the
sink that would be required. But if the face of the heat sink is flat so that the circuit board
can be secured intimately to it, and the finning and the orientation of the sink are sufficient,
a fan of a blower should be unnecessary for power levels up to 100 watts.
Gravity and air density play an important role in convective heat transfer. There are good
and bad fin orientations.Vertical finning is the most effective and horizontal is the worst.
Amateur Radio
Inc. -Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
Westlakes Amateur
Radio Club
Club Inc.-
For some time, there has been an attendance book at the entrance of Westlakes Amateur
Radio Club. It is supposed to be signed by those arriving at the club. It is fair to say that
this requirement has been largely ignored by most members. At the October Monthly
Meeting, the need to sign in was was discussed and agreed that all who arrive at
the club will on a Saturday, Tuesday or any other time, shall register their attendance by
signing the book.
This requirement has implications for property and contents insurance, third party
insurance, and the lease conditions with Lake Macquarie City Council. So from now on,
ALL members AND visitors are asked to "sign the book!" The club executive and
committee have been tasked with making sure this happens. A sign has been placed at
the at the entrance, the book and pen are waiting, so please make it easy on everybody
and SIGN IN.
Westlakes ARC holds its general meeting on the first Saturday of each
month at the clubrooms York Street Teralba at 1.30.pm
WESTLAKES COMING EVENTS
Saturday 3 November Monthly Meeting
Saturday 10 November Westlakes First Car Boot Sale
Saturday 15 December Westlakes Christmas Barbecue and Darts Match
Westlakes Amateur
2010 2012
Westlakes
Amateur Radio
Radio Club
MagazineJune
November
Page
Page
12
A YAESU FT- 818 ?
This is straight from the rumours
department - an upgrade to the
ubiquitous Yaesu FT - 817. The
specs read as follows: All mode,
all bands 1.8 to 1296 plus 5 and 70
MHz. US version has 500 kHz.
QRP 5 watts (2 watts on 1296
MHz.) 3.5 AHr Li-ion battery
pack (2hr charging). Built-in
random wire and whip auto-ATU
Full colour TFT display. Mulch- functioned DSP noise reduction. RF speech processor,
QSK in CW. Courtesy of Richard VK2FRKO
I can believe the Li-ion battery, the DSP, QSK, speech processor, noise reduction,
and at a pinch, the colour TFT display, but 1296 MHz plus an auto ATU?
It's not April is it? VK2CW
SILENT KEY - MICHAEL OWEN VK3KI
WIA President and IARU Region 3 Chairman, Michael Owen VK3KI, passed away
on 22 September. He was 75 years old. Michael is mainly known by today's radio
amateurs as leading the WIA from its divisional states structure to one national
organisation. His legacy will live on through the formation of the WIA Foundation,
a new venture for which Michael so strongly championed.
SILENT KEY - RAY NAUGHTON VK3ATN
An early VHF enthusiast and moon bounce experimenter, Ray Naughton VK3ATN
of Birchip in Victoria, Australia has died aged 83. He was the first in the southern
hemisphere to contact stations in the northern hemisphere, by bouncing signals off
the surface of the moon. This was achieved when most equipment used valves, was
largely home brew and without the aid of computers.
Ray was also famous for his commercial manufacture of antennas and here
Westlakes ARC has a connection. The large HF log-periodic antenna at the club was
manufactured by VK3ATN and was erected over 30 years ago and it is still going
strong.
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.Inc. -Magazine
MagazineNovember
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
9
It all has to do with air path and the fact that warm air rises. A vertcally oriented fin heat
sink can be effective even when the lower air entrance side is blocked. How do you know
what size heat sink to use? For a start, it cannot be too big, it size is only limited by cost
and the construction limitations of the project. Commercial manufacturers use complex
heat sink volume and thermal efficiency charts in their designs. Scale your project to a
similar sized heat sink to power needed to be dissipated as you see on bought items.
The "finger thermometer" is the amateur's best guide. this is where 50 degrees C is the
point for an auxilliary fan to aid an over-stressed heat sink. 50 degrees C is where you can
keep a finger on the heat sink, but not for long.
Should a heat sink be matte black or natural aluminium? Black is better but not as much
as many think. An unanodised heat sink with a natural mill finish has an approximate
radiative emittance of 0.80, whereas a black anodised heat sink is 0.95. It is far more
important to have a heat sink with larger finning than worrying about colour.
How does the performance of a heat sink improve with some form of induced motion?
Quite dramatically. A vast improvement may be had with only a small air velocity passing
through the fins. A two-fold cooling performance can be obtained with the smallest of fans.
A small fan can be slowed to inaudibility through the use of series resistors yet will be
effective in times of high ambient temperatures and prolonged transmissins.
The "golden rules" for heat sinks are: 1) Vertical fins are best. 2) On it's back (fins up)
if you must. 3) Horizontal fins - never.
THIS HAS TO BE A RECORD
The following email sent on 27 September 2012 has been received from John Wright
G3VPW in the UK:
"What a surprise, today I received a QSL card confirming my contact with
VK2ATZ/LH. For this I am grateful and would like to thank who ever at Westlakes
A.R.C who sent it. So thanks a lot es gud DX. John G3VPW."
The amazing thing is that the VK2ATZ/LH card is from Westlakes one and only
DX-pedition to Lord Howe Island in 1979. It would have been forwarded by Westlakes
in 1980 at the latest. Thirty two years it took for the card to arrive. The Lord, the postal
service, and QSL Bureaux do indeed act in mysterious ways.
WE CAME THIRD
In the 2012 Remembrance Contest VK2ATZ, the Westlakes contest station came
third in the multi-single section. The contest team comprised Dave VK2RD, Barrie
VK2ABD, Allan VK2JED, Leonie VK2FHRK, and Richard VK2FRKO. The section
placings and their points scored were: 1st VK2GGC 1148, 2nd VK2ACW 751,
3rd VK2ATZ 600.
I like sleeping outdoors, Tom said intently.
VK2EZB (SK)
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
MagazineJune
November
2012
Westlakes
2010
Page
Page
10
THE FERRITE CORE ANTENNA
AND RECIPROCITY THEORY
The ferrite rod antenna is a form of RF antenna design that is almost universally used
in portable transistor broadcast receivers as well as many hi-fi tuners where reception
on the long, medium and possibly the short wave bands is required. Ferrite rod antennas
are also being used increasingly in wireless applications in areas such as RFID (radio
frequency identification) of shopping tags where antennas need to be compact and
effective, making ferrite rod antennas an ideal solution.
AA
As the name suggests, the antenna consists of a rod made of ferrite, an iron based
magnetic material. A coil is wound around the ferrite rod and this is brought to resonance
using a variable tuning capacitor contained within the radio circuitry itself and in this
way the antenna can be tuned to resonance. As the antenna is tuned it usually forms
the RF tuning circuit for the receiver, enabling both functions to be combined within the
same components, thereby reducing the number of components and the cost of the set.
If you buy a $3 transistor radio from KCoils - normally
Mart, it will have a ferrite rod or bar as
one each for long
the antenna. As we know, an RF signal
and medium wave
has an electric and a magnetic component
at right angles to each other. The vertical
transmitting mast of a broadcast station
emits the magnetic component horizontally
so the ferrite rod in a radio is horizontal as
well and operates best when it is at right
Former for
angles to the direction of the transmitter.
Ferrite rod
the coil
This means that the antenna has a null
position when the antenna is in line with the direction of the transmitter.
This form of RF antenna design is very convenient for portable applications, but its
efficiency is much less than that of a larger RF antenna. The performance of the ferrite
also limits the frequency response. Normally this type of RF antenna design is only
effective on the long and medium wave bands, but it is sometimes used for lower
frequencies in the short wave bands although the performance is significantly degraded,
mainly arising from the losses in the ferrite. This limits their operation normally to
frequencies up to 2 or 3 MHz.
So far, so good. Now for antenna reciprocity. It is a fundamental property of antennas
that the electrical characteristics of an antenna described in the next section, such as
gain, radiation pattern, impedance, bandwidth, resonant frequency and polarization, are
the same whether the antenna is transmitting or receiving. For example, the "receiving
pattern" (sensitivity as a function of direction) of an antenna when used for reception is
identical to the radiation pattern of the antenna when it is driven and functions as a
radiator. This is a consequence of the reciprocity theorem of electromagnetics. Therefore
in discussions of antenna properties no distinction is usually made between receiving
and transmitting terminology, and the antenna can be viewed as either transmitting or
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
Club
- MagazineNovember
June 2010
Westlakes
Inc.Inc.
- Magazine
2012
11
or receiving, whichever is more convenient. A necessary condition for reciprocity is that
the materials in the antenna and transmission medium are linear and reciprocal meaning
that the material has the same response to an electric current or magnetic field in one
direction, as it has to the field or current in the opposite direction.
An interesting question is; why does a simple ferrite rod antenna from a cheap $3 K-Mart
AM radio not work just as efficiently as a transmitting antenna on the 160 metre amateur
band? Both frequencies are in the antenna's 'sweet spot' of under 2 MHz and the 4 inch
rod could be stood in a vertical position on the window sill. The antenna certainly works
in the cheap AM radio, receiving stations all over the country at night. If this reciprocity
business is correct, it should make a great 160 metre vertical antenna too. Come to
think of it, all an AM broadcast station should need as an antenna is a a 4 inch ferrite
rod instead of an antenna mast hundreds of feet tall. Just think of the savings! VK2CW
AMP-HOURS AND BATTERY CHARGING
All batteries are rated in amp-hours. An amp-hour is one amp for one hour, or 10 amps
for 1/10 of an hour. It is amps x hours. I you have something that pulls 20 amps and
you use it for 20 minutes, then the amp-hours used would be 20 amps x .333 hours, or
6.67 AH. The generally accepted AH rating time for batteries used in solar electric
and backup power systems is the "20 hour rate."
This means that the battery is discharged down to 10.5 volts over a 20 hour period while
the total actual amp-hours it supplies is measured. Sometimes ratings at the six hour rate
and the 100 hour rate are also given for comparison. The six hour rate is often used for
industrial batteries as that is a typical daily duty cycle. Sometimes the 100 hour rate is
given just to make the battery look better than it really is, but it is also useful for
calculating battery capacity for long-term backup amp-hour requirements.
Amp-hours are specified at a particular rate because of the Peukert Effect which is
directly related to the internal resistance of the battery. The higher the internal resistance,
the higher the losses while charging and discharging, especially at higher currents. This
means the faster a battery is used (discharged) the lower the A-H capacity. Conversely,
if it is drained more slowly the A-H is higher. A battery can be considered dead when
it has dropped to 10.5 volts.
Battery charging takes place in 3 basic stages - bulk, absorption, and float. With bulk
charging, current is sent to the battery at the maximum safe rate it will accept until the
voltage rises to near 80 - 90 % of full charge level typically 10.5 volts to 15 volts. The second
absorption stage is when the voltage remains constant and the current gradually tapers
off as internal resistance increases during charging. It is during this stage that the charger
puts out maximum voltage. The third, or float stage is after the battery reaches full
charge and voltage is reduced to a maintenance or trickle charge since its main
purpose is to keep an already charged battery from discharging.
Courtesy of Bob VK2HS
AN UPGRADE
Congratulations to Allan who has gone from VK2PNC to VK2ALL. Well done.
Westlakes
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
MagazineNovember
June 2010
2012
Page
Page
10
THE FERRITE CORE ANTENNA
AND RECIPROCITY THEORY
The ferrite rod antenna is a form of RF antenna design that is almost universally used
in portable transistor broadcast receivers as well as many hi-fi tuners where reception
on the long, medium and possibly the short wave bands is required. Ferrite rod antennas
are also being used increasingly in wireless applications in areas such as RFID (radio
frequency identification) of shopping tags where antennas need to be compact and
effective, making ferrite rod antennas an ideal solution.
AA
As the name suggests, the antenna consists of a rod made of ferrite, an iron based
magnetic material. A coil is wound around the ferrite rod and this is brought to resonance
using a variable tuning capacitor contained within the radio circuitry itself and in this
way the antenna can be tuned to resonance. As the antenna is tuned it usually forms
the RF tuning circuit for the receiver, enabling both functions to be combined within the
same components, thereby reducing the number of components and the cost of the set.
If you buy a $3 transistor radio from KCoils - normally
Mart, it will have a ferrite rod or bar as
one each for long
the antenna. As we know, an RF signal
and medium wave
has an electric and a magnetic component
at right angles to each other. The vertical
transmitting mast of a broadcast station
emits the magnetic component horizontally
so the ferrite rod in a radio is horizontal as
well and operates best when it is at right
Former for
angles to the direction of the transmitter.
Ferrite rod
the coil
This means that the antenna has a null
position when the antenna is in line with the direction of the transmitter.
This form of RF antenna design is very convenient for portable applications, but its
efficiency is much less than that of a larger RF antenna. The performance of the ferrite
also limits the frequency response. Normally this type of RF antenna design is only
effective on the long and medium wave bands, but it is sometimes used for lower
frequencies in the short wave bands although the performance is significantly degraded,
mainly arising from the losses in the ferrite. This limits their operation normally to
frequencies up to 2 or 3 MHz.
So far, so good. Now for antenna reciprocity. It is a fundamental property of antennas
that the electrical characteristics of an antenna described in the next section, such as
gain, radiation pattern, impedance, bandwidth, resonant frequency and polarization, are
the same whether the antenna is transmitting or receiving. For example, the "receiving
pattern" (sensitivity as a function of direction) of an antenna when used for reception is
identical to the radiation pattern of the antenna when it is driven and functions as a
radiator. This is a consequence of the reciprocity theorem of electromagnetics. Therefore
in discussions of antenna properties no distinction is usually made between receiving
and transmitting terminology, and the antenna can be viewed as either transmitting or
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
Club
- MagazineNovember
June 2010
Westlakes
Inc.Inc.
- Magazine
2012
11
or receiving, whichever is more convenient. A necessary condition for reciprocity is that
the materials in the antenna and transmission medium are linear and reciprocal meaning
that the material has the same response to an electric current or magnetic field in one
direction, as it has to the field or current in the opposite direction.
An interesting question is; why does a simple ferrite rod antenna from a cheap $3 K-Mart
AM radio not work just as efficiently as a transmitting antenna on the 160 metre amateur
band? Both frequencies are in the antenna's 'sweet spot' of under 2 MHz and the 4 inch
rod could be stood in a vertical position on the window sill. The antenna certainly works
in the cheap AM radio, receiving stations all over the country at night. If this reciprocity
business is correct, it should make a great 160 metre vertical antenna too. Come to
think of it, all an AM broadcast station should need as an antenna is a a 4 inch ferrite
rod instead of an antenna mast hundreds of feet tall. Just think of the savings! VK2CW
AMP-HOURS AND BATTERY CHARGING
All batteries are rated in amp-hours. An amp-hour is one amp for one hour, or 10 amps
for 1/10 of an hour. It is amps x hours. I you have something that pulls 20 amps and
you use it for 20 minutes, then the amp-hours used would be 20 amps x .333 hours, or
6.67 AH. The generally accepted AH rating time for batteries used in solar electric
and backup power systems is the "20 hour rate."
This means that the battery is discharged down to 10.5 volts over a 20 hour period while
the total actual amp-hours it supplies is measured. Sometimes ratings at the six hour rate
and the 100 hour rate are also given for comparison. The six hour rate is often used for
industrial batteries as that is a typical daily duty cycle. Sometimes the 100 hour rate is
given just to make the battery look better than it really is, but it is also useful for
calculating battery capacity for long-term backup amp-hour requirements.
Amp-hours are specified at a particular rate because of the Peukert Effect which is
directly related to the internal resistance of the battery. The higher the internal resistance,
the higher the losses while charging and discharging, especially at higher currents. This
means the faster a battery is used (discharged) the lower the A-H capacity. Conversely,
if it is drained more slowly the A-H is higher. A battery can be considered dead when
it has dropped to 10.5 volts.
Battery charging takes place in 3 basic stages - bulk, absorption, and float. With bulk
charging, current is sent to the battery at the maximum safe rate it will accept until the
voltage rises to near 80 - 90 % of full charge level typically 10.5 volts to 15 volts. The second
absorption stage is when the voltage remains constant and the current gradually tapers
off as internal resistance increases during charging. It is during this stage that the charger
puts out maximum voltage. The third, or float stage is after the battery reaches full
charge and voltage is reduced to a maintenance or trickle charge since its main
purpose is to keep an already charged battery from discharging.
Courtesy of Bob VK2HS
AN UPGRADE
Congratulations to Allan who has gone from VK2PNC to VK2ALL. Well done.
Westlakes
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
MagazineNovember
June 2010
2012
Page
Page
12
A YAESU FT- 818 ?
This is straight from the rumours
department - an upgrade to the
ubiquitous Yaesu FT - 817. The
specs read as follows: All mode,
all bands 1.8 to 1296 plus 5 and 70
MHz. US version has 500 kHz.
QRP 5 watts (2 watts on 1296
MHz.) 3.5 AHr Li-ion battery
pack (2hr charging). Built-in
random wire and whip auto-ATU
Full colour TFT display. Mulch- functioned DSP noise reduction. RF speech processor,
QSK in CW. Courtesy of Richard VK2FRKO
I can believe the Li-ion battery, the DSP, QSK, speech processor, noise reduction,
and at a pinch, the colour TFT display, but 1296 MHz plus an auto ATU?
It's not April is it? VK2CW
SILENT KEY - MICHAEL OWEN VK3KI
WIA President and IARU Region 3 Chairman, Michael Owen VK3KI, passed away
on 22 September. He was 75 years old. Michael is mainly known by today's radio
amateurs as leading the WIA from its divisional states structure to one national
organisation. His legacy will live on through the formation of the WIA Foundation,
a new venture for which Michael so strongly championed.
SILENT KEY - RAY NAUGHTON VK3ATN
An early VHF enthusiast and moon bounce experimenter, Ray Naughton VK3ATN
of Birchip in Victoria, Australia has died aged 83. He was the first in the southern
hemisphere to contact stations in the northern hemisphere, by bouncing signals off
the surface of the moon. This was achieved when most equipment used valves, was
largely home brew and without the aid of computers.
Ray was also famous for his commercial manufacture of antennas and here
Westlakes ARC has a connection. The large HF log-periodic antenna at the club was
manufactured by VK3ATN and was erected over 30 years ago and it is still going
strong.
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.Inc. -Magazine
MagazineNovember
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
9
It all has to do with air path and the fact that warm air rises. A vertcally oriented fin heat
sink can be effective even when the lower air entrance side is blocked. How do you know
what size heat sink to use? For a start, it cannot be too big, it size is only limited by cost
and the construction limitations of the project. Commercial manufacturers use complex
heat sink volume and thermal efficiency charts in their designs. Scale your project to a
similar sized heat sink to power needed to be dissipated as you see on bought items.
The "finger thermometer" is the amateur's best guide. this is where 50 degrees C is the
point for an auxilliary fan to aid an over-stressed heat sink. 50 degrees C is where you can
keep a finger on the heat sink, but not for long.
Should a heat sink be matte black or natural aluminium? Black is better but not as much
as many think. An unanodised heat sink with a natural mill finish has an approximate
radiative emittance of 0.80, whereas a black anodised heat sink is 0.95. It is far more
important to have a heat sink with larger finning than worrying about colour.
How does the performance of a heat sink improve with some form of induced motion?
Quite dramatically. A vast improvement may be had with only a small air velocity passing
through the fins. A two-fold cooling performance can be obtained with the smallest of fans.
A small fan can be slowed to inaudibility through the use of series resistors yet will be
effective in times of high ambient temperatures and prolonged transmissins.
The "golden rules" for heat sinks are: 1) Vertical fins are best. 2) On it's back (fins up)
if you must. 3) Horizontal fins - never.
THIS HAS TO BE A RECORD
The following email sent on 27 September 2012 has been received from John Wright
G3VPW in the UK:
"What a surprise, today I received a QSL card confirming my contact with
VK2ATZ/LH. For this I am grateful and would like to thank who ever at Westlakes
A.R.C who sent it. So thanks a lot es gud DX. John G3VPW."
The amazing thing is that the VK2ATZ/LH card is from Westlakes one and only
DX-pedition to Lord Howe Island in 1979. It would have been forwarded by Westlakes
in 1980 at the latest. Thirty two years it took for the card to arrive. The Lord, the postal
service, and QSL Bureaux do indeed act in mysterious ways.
WE CAME THIRD
In the 2012 Remembrance Contest VK2ATZ, the Westlakes contest station came
third in the multi-single section. The contest team comprised Dave VK2RD, Barrie
VK2ABD, Allan VK2JED, Leonie VK2FHRK, and Richard VK2FRKO. The section
placings and their points scored were: 1st VK2GGC 1148, 2nd VK2ACW 751,
3rd VK2ATZ 600.
I like sleeping outdoors, Tom said intently.
VK2EZB (SK)
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
MagazineJune
November
2012
Westlakes
2010
Page 8
LONDON UNDERGROUND MAP RADIO
Page
13
AN E-BOOK OF PIRATES - RADIO PIRATES
Or to give it the correct title, Clandestine and Opposition
Shortwave Broadcast Guide. Amateur Radio operator
Steve Handler, N9ABC has another radio related eBook
that has been published and is available on Amazon.com.
Published in late September 2012, it contains a detailed list of
clandestine and opposition shortwave broadcasters listed by
time (GMT). Included are frequencies, and for most of the
listings, the target of the broadcaster, transmitter sites and
other information. There are also several chapters with information about the operations
of several of these broadcasters.
Another Chapter covers QSLing clandestine and opposition shortwave stations and
provides a number of postal or email address. The price is $3.99 and its Amazon stock
number is ASIN: B009HC5ESU For more information, including viewing sample
pages visit Amazon.com For those who do not have a Kindle, Amazon.com offers free
Kindle e-Book programs allowing Kindle files to be read on both PC and MAC. The
price is right and it would make a nice Christmas present.
IT'S IN THE BOOK, OR RATHER
IT WILL BE FROM NOW ON
The latest craze in the UK is to purchase an AM radio which has its tracks (ha ha) laid in
the shape of the famous London underground tube map. It is the product of Japanese
designer, Yuri Suzuki.
WHICH WAY FOR HEAT SINKS
One of the great mysteries of amateur radio is that of thermal design and heat
transfer. Natural convection often will do the job but for cooling power amplifiers, an heat
sink (and perhaps a cooling fan) is essential. When power is dissipated by an amplifier, the
heat sink becomes warm. the air in contact with the sink is also warmed and rises thus
causing air circulation and cooling of heat sink and the amplifier.
Efficient natural cooling is simple and has no moving parts. It makes possible the elimination
of blowers or rumbling fans if the finning is large enough and the placement of the heat sink
has been well thought out. There are limitations in the use of natural cooling of amplifiers.
It is not practical to dissipate continuously more that 100 watts because of the size of the
sink that would be required. But if the face of the heat sink is flat so that the circuit board
can be secured intimately to it, and the finning and the orientation of the sink are sufficient,
a fan of a blower should be unnecessary for power levels up to 100 watts.
Gravity and air density play an important role in convective heat transfer. There are good
and bad fin orientations.Vertical finning is the most effective and horizontal is the worst.
Amateur Radio
Inc. -Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
Westlakes Amateur
Radio Club
Club Inc.-
For some time, there has been an attendance book at the entrance of Westlakes Amateur
Radio Club. It is supposed to be signed by those arriving at the club. It is fair to say that
this requirement has been largely ignored by most members. At the October Monthly
Meeting, the need to sign in was was discussed and agreed that all who arrive at
the club will on a Saturday, Tuesday or any other time, shall register their attendance by
signing the book.
This requirement has implications for property and contents insurance, third party
insurance, and the lease conditions with Lake Macquarie City Council. So from now on,
ALL members AND visitors are asked to "sign the book!" The club executive and
committee have been tasked with making sure this happens. A sign has been placed at
the at the entrance, the book and pen are waiting, so please make it easy on everybody
and SIGN IN.
Westlakes ARC holds its general meeting on the first Saturday of each
month at the clubrooms York Street Teralba at 1.30.pm
WESTLAKES COMING EVENTS
Saturday 3 November Monthly Meeting
Saturday 10 November Westlakes First Car Boot Sale
Saturday 15 December Westlakes Christmas Barbecue and Darts Match
Westlakes Amateur
2010 2012
Westlakes
Amateur Radio
Radio Club
MagazineJune
November
Page 14
SOUTH SUDAN IS ON THE AIR
The amateur bands are active with the first two
amateur stations in the Republic of South Sudan.
The first is James Pratt Z81A followed by Diya Al
Asadi.Z81D. Asadi works for the UN World
Food Program. South Sudan gained its
independence in July 2011 and the ITU has given
it a group of callsigns. For now, only Z81A and
Z81D are active so please be patient. Both can be
found on the website QRZ.com.
THE SKELETONS IN THE CUPBOARD
A TALE OF
THE WESTLAKES NOVICE MANUAL
The brown-covered book was called, The Manual of
Questions and Answers fot the Novice Licence. It may
well have had a sub-title, Un-asked Questions and Ungiven Answers. The following article appeared in
Westlakes Monthly Newsletter - February 1998 and
was penned by one of the two protagonists. They are both
now Silent Keys.
"This year marks the 20th year since the Manual of
Questions and Answers for the Novice Licence by
Keith Howard VK2AKX was commercially printed.
Both Roneod and printed copies of this extremely popular
"novice bible" spanned the years between 1976 to 1990.
Due for revision, the 7th edition was put on a permanent
hold by the demise of the author in March 1990.
The first two years of issue were to be a time-consuming
Roneo chore. The team of three never imagined there
would be such a demand. Once the word got around, the team were printing, compiling,
and posting about 500 copies a month. the "monster" work load forced the Manual to
commercial print in 1978 and it became the standard study guide for the individual or class
group. It was simple and easy in explanation and cost a lowly $3.95.
The basis for the manual came from several sources including a "leaked" June 1975 Novice
Exam. The exam was never held due to an examiners' strike. Once it was known to be a
popular reference and study guide, the author was approached by the WIA NSW Division.
He was asked to "do the right thing" for amateur radio. He thought he was, but the WIA
wanted the author to waive the copyright. This was all about a licence to print money.
By the early 80's tapes and other items were added to Westlakes Publications. The
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
ClubInc.Inc. Magazine
- MagazineNovember
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Page 7
DO YOU REMEMBER THE TEST CARD GIRL?
She has clocked up more air time on
television than anyone else. But for
Carole Hersee, her return to our
screens after an absence of many
years has come as a complete
surprise. Carole Hersee became
known as the "Test Card girl" and
the BBC has reintroduced its most
famous test card, which features
her as an eight-year-old girl playing
noughts and crosses on a blackboard
with a toy clown.
Carole Hersee is now 53 and lives in
the New Forest, Hants, with her
mother and two teenage children.
The orignal BBC test card was
also shown on Australian TV when
colour was introduced. Little Carole
was wearing a red shirt and red
hairband, and Bubbles the clown in
green, was surrounded by colour
scales and test graphics. This image
was first transmitted in 1967.
The new test card with an older Carole is being broadcast on the BBc's new high-definition
TV channels has been rescanned to allow viewers to set the colour, contast, and sharpness
on modern televsions. Ms Hersee may now look older but Bubbles doesn't seemed to
have changed at all.
THE FUTURE IS WIRELESS
According to Intel, the future of everything is wireless. Intel Corp. believes that in the
future all equipment have to be completely wireless, whether it is a laptop, a display or
something else. To achieve that, Intel wants to integrate radio in every applicable chip it
makes, which essentially adds wireless tech to any client chip these days, given the trend
towards highly-integrated system-on-chip devices.
"In the future, if it computes, it connects. From the simplest embedded sensors to the most
advanced cloud data centres, we are looking at techniques to allow all of them to connect
without wires," said Justin Rattner, chief technology officer of Intel, at Intel Developer
Forum. (It's funny how the old term "wireless" once ditched for "radio" is back
again. The Wireless Institute of Australia may not be old-fashioned after all. Ed.)
Westlakes
November
Westlakes Amateur
Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine
Magazine June
2010 2012
Page 6
watch the screen from a wide variety of angles. The standard way to create 3D-images
on a movie screen was to use stereoscopy: the technique involves projecting two 2Dimages through a special filter.
To the naked eye the two offset versions of the footage appear to be superimposed over
each other. But if the viewer wears polarised glasses the left lens only lets in one of the
images, and the right lens the other, creating a sense of depth. The new 3D glasses
involve placing a barrier in front of the image source which has slats in it similar to those
of aVenetian blind. These slats are angled so that light from one set of the screen's pixels
shines through and is directed to one of the viewer's eyes, and light from other pixels is
shown to the other eye - with no overlap. The lead scientist Byoungho Lee, professor
at Seoul National University, said this technology constitutes a simple, compact, and
cost-effective approach to producing 3D cinema, while also eliminating the need for
wearing polarising glasses.
VK5AX AND HIS
MORSE TYPEWRITER
Australia has produced one typewriter inventor.
He was Alfred Herman Traeger VK5AX who
is best known for his development of a pedalpowered radio, which from the late 1920s
provided a means of direct contact to the outside
world for Aboriginal communities and white
Australian settlers living in the nation’s vast
“outback”. But Traeger’s wireless sets required
a working knowledge of the Morse code, which
few of the people in need of his radios had. In 1933, Traeger overcame this problem by
devising a Morse typewriter.
The idea behind the The Traeger Morse typewriter was rudimentary to say the least,
yet it was highly functional. Strictly speaking, the Traeger “typewriter” is no more than an
automatic Morse keyboard. While it resembles a typewriter, it simply comprises of keys
connected to a working face of pivoted steel bars, with notched long and short spacings
corresponding to the Morse alphabet. An oil-filled dash pot was necessary to produce
smooth movement of the keyed arms.
From 1929, Traeger travelled to outback areas across Queensland, South Australia, the
Northern Territory and Western Australia, installing radio sets and teaching the users
Morse code and how to use their radios. He found, however, that for many people,
grasping a working knowledge of the Morse code presented a fresh challenge. So in 1933,
Traeger invented his typewriter Morse keyboard, enabling outback users to type their
message in plain language and have it transmitted in Morse.
Traeger was honoured for his work with the Flying Doctor Service by being appointed an
OBE in 1944. Traeger had suggested the idea of a School of the Air, and in 1951 this
became a reality. Alfred Traeger VK5AX died in 1980 at Rosslyn Park, Adelaide.
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
ClubInc.Inc.Magazine
- MagazineNovember
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Page 15
wealth flowed in and the members wallowed in it.
The author made very selective donations to the club in kind. The most visible today
is the north wing cladding and alumimium windows. During all those years, the
members thought the Novice Manual was owned and operated by Westlakes.
Wrong - it never was. It was rightly owned and copyright to Keith Howard
Westlakes Publications, and a Post Office Box. It was a cottage industry of just
three people.
Two of the cottage industry thought they were doing it all for the club too. For six
years, their efforts had been free. All that was to change in 1982. One retailer was
buying 500 copies at a time. This meant 2 x 70kg parcels to rail freight - back
breaking labour for free.
At the same time, "master control" of the monies was doing some rather frivolous
club projects. Who can remember the wonderful telephone exchange in the office
as an example? It was never installed at all. And there were others as well. But
business was good and the free labour so efficient, big discounts on the Manual
could be offered.
The crunch in the relationship came when the "dispatchers" wanted commission
and not more labour gratis. The rot set in once a small commission was paid. After
that, counter-signing Post Office Box company cheques had dispatch wondering.
Hmmm! Further service to other committments was the correct way out.
The author, known to be an astute and learned person, probably hedged his bets.
Some monies to Publishing/Publicity, some to dispatch, some to club projects. With
copyright, was there any "surplus"? Westlakes Publications operated out of a
Post Office Box. What may, or may not have been, is pure speculation. The past
is a long way behind us but what an excellent 15,000-plus selling-copies the
Manual was. Just how many who started as novices did it solely with that
publication?
The Manual of Questions and Answers for the Novice Licence has passed
into history. It is as easy to understand today as it ever was. The wonder is not one
interested party has tried to take over copyright. It is surely a magical publication
gone to waste.
Eric Brockbank VK2EZB (SK)
SO YOU WANT TO GET A VERTICAL?
Here are five fallacies about HF vertical antennas:
Fallacy One - vertical antennas are space saving and are ideal for small
suburban lots. Yes, that's what the manufacturers would have us believe. Nothing could
be further from the truth. Verticals of proper proportion take up much more space than
dipoles, G5RV's, Zepps, beams, or quads. A good ground system for a short vertical (less
than 7/16 wavelengths long) takes up much more space unless installed over salt water.
All the literature confirms that the quality of the reflecting ground system (up to 1/2
Westlakes
Westlakes Amateur
Amateur Radio
Radio Club
MagazineJune
November
2010
2012
Page
16
wavelength from the antenna base) is important for efficiency. Radials have to collect
return current from the vertical radiator.
Fallacy Two - manufacturers' instructions would have us believe four radials per
band are optimum. Adding radials from the basic four to ninety six will improve a signal
by 3.9dB over poor ground and about 1dB over salt water. Installing strips of chicken wire
in different directions on top of the ground also helps reduce ground losses, as will a 3m
square metal plate beneath the antenna base.
Fallacy Three - the diameter of the wires is not important. With a small number
of wires (e.g. 8 per band) the heavier the gauge used the better. If many wires are to be
used, the return current is able to be spread over many more paths and so wire gauge
becomes less important. The author uses seven strand bare copper wire for radials on 40
and 20m. Due to the amount of wire required, it became necessary to use recycled auto
electrical winding wire, relying on the enamel insulation for integrity.
Fallacy Four - ground rods are desirable at the antenna base as well as at the
end of each radial wire. Ground rods are necessary for a good DC ground but are
almost non-contributory as RF grounds. They would however constitute a minimum
RF ground zone for terminating certain types of wire receiving antennas or where highly
conductive soil exists.
Fallacy Five - burying the radials is preferable. In fact research has shown that
elevated radial wires make a better ground system. This is because the return currents
do not have to negotiate the higher resistance soil if the wires are elevated. Next best is
to use insulated radials on the ground surface. If they must be buried, try to locate them
in the top 50mm of soil.
Fallacy Six - burying chicken wire or off-cut wire mesh fencing assists the
ground system. Any ferrous material, even if galvanised, will last only a short time in the
ground. Corrosion sets in very quickly and in any case, steel is not a good RF conductor.
Courtesy of VK4CMY
YOU DON'T EVEN PLUG 'EM IN
Page
Parts List
C1,C3
(80m 220pF 40m 4.7pF)
C2 4.7pF
C4,7,14 .01uF
C5,13 10uF
C6,12 .01uF
C8 47 pF
C9 200pF
C10,11 470pF
CR1,2,3 1N914 diode
(80m two piggyback)
L1 100uH
(two turn link over L2)
L2,3 100uH
(80m 8 turns removed
40m no turns removed)
L4 100uH
(80m two in series ten
turns removed 40m 100uH
no turns removed. For both
80m and 40m last three turns
spread out over rest of former)
L5 100uH
Q1 MOSFET 3N211
Q2 FET 2N3819
R1,3 100k
R2 270
R4 100
R5 1000
5
It is a direct conversion receiver utilising a product
detector, Q1, and a variable frequency oscillator,
Q2, which operates at the same frequency as the
incoming signal. L2, C1 and L3, C3 comprise a
double-tuned input network which provides out of
band signal attenuation. L1 matches the 50 Ohm
antenna impedance to the high impedance of gate
1 of the MOSFET. Small gauge magnet wire can
be used for L1.
Audio output is taken from Q1 through to C7. C6
is used to bypass the detector drain at high
frequencies. The audio output is routed to J2.
From there the audio goes to a small amplifier
"The Champ" via a shielded cable. Only two
transistors are needed and no audio control.
Other than the product detector, the only other
section of the receiver is the VFO.
The circuit is configured as a parallel-tuned Colpitts
oscillator. The receiver is powered from an internal
9 volt battery as as current draw is only 5mA,
battery life will be long.
All the parts were originally sourced from Radio
Shack with the part numbers supplied. The two
transistors are no longer available but alternate
equivalents can be found. The original 1981 article
also had two addtional options, a simple receiver
mute and and a filter circuit to enhance reception.
To read the articles on both the Fun-Mitter and
matching Fun-Ceiver in full and complete with the
options, look up 73 Magazine 1981 February and
July editions on the Internet. Every edition ever
printed, is there. VK2CW
New wirelessly-charged electric buses have
begun to operate on main routes in the UK. Diesel
buses will be replaced by electric vehicles.
The new buses will be charged, not by plugging
them into mains power, but by parking them over
electric coils for 10 minutes before and after each
run. The coils are buried in the road.
It is claimed the buses will reduce pollution and be
much quieter than diesel buses. It also expected
each bus will cost between £12,000 and £15,000
less to run per year.
Every
Radio Shack catalogue from 1939 that
SOME LIGHT READING
include amateur radio transmitters and receivers is
available at: http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalog_directory.html
Technology has lead to the creation of glassesfree 3D films at cinemas has been developed
by researchers in South Korea. It uses a
barrier with slats so that when a viewer looks
at the screen each of their eyes sees the
image differently. As a result their brain creates an illusion of depth. TV makers have
tried to use a similar approach, but require viewers to be in a particular spot to see a 3D
image. This would not be possible in a cinema where the audience needs to be able to
Westlakes Amateur
Inc. -Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Amateur Radio
Radio Club
Club Inc.-
Westlakes
November
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
Magazine June
2010 2012
GLASSES-FREE AT
3D MOVIES
Page
Page
4
The finished receiver meets these goals. It will tune any 70-kHz of the 40 metre band or
any 50-kHz of the 80 metre band. Sensitivity is very good and the selectivity is adequate
in the basic receiver and can be improved with the optional audio filter. The receiver is
very simple - only a tuning knob and an on/off switch is used. This makes construction
and operation easier without compromising performance.
It has a dual-gate MOSFET
and although it has drawbacks
such as AM detection, it makes
a good direct conversion
detector.
Variable frequency tuning is
provided by using general
purpose diodes as voltage
variable capacitors. The voltage
to the diodes is varied by a
front-panel pot which in turn
changes the capacitance of the
diodes to vary the frequency of
the oscillator.
Receiver PC board - foil side (not to scale)
The receiver is the ultimate in
simplicity but still performs well.
L4
CR2 CR1
L1
To J1
Antenna
L2
L3
C1
C12 D
S
Q2 G
CR3
R3
L5
C2
R2
G1
C9
R4
C3
To
L
Ext
C10
C8
G2
C4
C5
D
C6
C7
C11
C14
C13
R5
To J2
200mw Audio Amp
CONTROLLED CARRIER AM
SOMETHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN
An old modulation technology is making a comeback for A-M broadcast stations in a new
and money saving way reports Amateur Radio Newsline. Back in the days of full carrier
A-M transmission, one very popular and low cost way to put ones voice onto a carrier
wave was to modulate the final power amplifier's screen grid. A variation on this that
required no heavy modulation transformer was to vary the output power of the transmitter
at an audio rate by varying the final amplifier's screen voltage at an audio rate. This system
was called controlled carrier AM and it was made very popular on the amateur bands
in the 1940's, 50's, and 60's.
With the advent of single sideband transmission, full carrier AM fell out of favour in the
amateur radio world but it has remained a staple in the broadcast industry and other
Stevemodulation
VK2LW
services that want to get their message to the public. And now, carrier control
is making a comeback among broadcasters but not in the way it was done by radio
amateurs of the past. For broadcasters who spend tens of thousands of dollars a year
paying for electricity, the ability to raise and lower power levels can be a major cost
cutting factor. And because of this a number of stations have received approval from
the FCC to experiment with several new forms of carrier control technology.
Controlled carrier Amplitude Modulation trials in New York have provided the largest
reduction in transmitter power consumption, by saving 37 per cent in average AC power
input to the transmitters. This translates up to a $3,000 per month savings on the
electricity bill at one New Jersey transmitter site alone. Nautel, another transmitter
manufacturer has estimated that a 50 kilowatt AM transmitter using this technology and
operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week could easily save $20,000 a year or more in
electricity costs. This based on modest electricity rates of 10 cents per kilowatt hour.
So will this new form of Amplitude Modulation Companding bring back full carrier AM
ABarMarchrie
to the amateur bands? While a tiny segment may decide to experiment with it, more
VK2CXAContest
than likely SSB will remain the preferred voice system among amateur radio
Calendar
operators worldwide. At least until this mode is replaced by a digital voice system at
some time in the future. From Amateur Radio Newsline October 2012
NEW ZEALAND HOPING FOR 50 - 51 MHz
S
Q1
17
+9 v To S1
Component
next page
layout
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
Radio Club
Club Inc.Inc. Magazine
- MagazineNovember
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Radio amateurs in New Zealand hope to get 50-51 MHz when Channel 1 TV shuts down.
The bottom end of the 6 meter band (50 to 51 MHz) is to be returned to New Zealand
amateurs once all Channel 1 television has ceased and the current management right for
this expires.
What may not be known is that the last channel 1 television transmitter is not due to close
down until November 2013 and the management right under which they operate does not
expire until August 2015. NZART is working with Radio Spectrum Management on
arrangements for the period between when all the Channel 1 transmitters are turned off
and the management right expires.
Westlakes
2010 2012
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
MagazineJune
November
Page
Page
18
WESTLAKES FIRST
CAR BOOT SALE
Please read this this carefully. On
Saturday 10 November, Westlakes is
hosting its first car boot sale in the club
grounds at Teralba. It's a sort of trash
and treasure event. Depending on the
response, there may be more. Who
knows, it could become a regular event.
Here are the details. Anyone can be a
seller, from a car boot, a table, even off
the ground. Anything can be sold. Pot plants, lace doilies, tools and yes, even radio gear.
There is no charge for sellers or buyers - it is an absolutely free event for all. There is no
commission. All sales are between buyer and seller. One thing however, if you want a
table to set out items available for sale, you must bring your own. The club will not be
providing tables.
What will be available is lunch from the Westlakes barbecue and drinks at bargain prices.
It all gets underway at midday. If you have any surplus equipment you wish to dispose of
please bring it along. There is only one condition. Anything you bring that is unsold must be
taken home - no leaving leftovers at the club!
THE BIG BOOT SALE, WESTLAKES AMATEUR RADIO CLUB.
YORK STREET TERALBA. SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER AT 12 NOON.
BAR CODES TURN 60
The ubiquitous bar code is 60 years old. It
was patented in 1952 by Norman Woodland
and Bernard Silver but it resembled a circular
bullseye. Bar codes are now the distinctive
black and white stripes that provide details on
everything for a purchase and identification.
The are more than 5 million individual bar
codes in use around the world.
Although patented in October 1952, they did
not make an appearance until 1974 because
they needed laser technology to be easily
read. The first use of bar codes was to lable
railroad cars but they were not commercially
sucessful until they were used to automate
supermarket checkout systems. Their use
has spread to so many tasks they are known
as "automatic identification and data capture,"
(AIDC) devices.
3
reported by The Day of New London, is that the same frequency is used at very low
levels by the manufacturers of garage door openers. The signals from remote controls
to open or close the doors are blocked by the signal from the base. The new radio system
operating at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton gets the blame. Known as Enterprise
Land Mobile Radio, the communications system is being used at most U.S. military
installations to connect military personnel and civilian first responders over a wide area,
and it "may interfere with nearby garage door openers in the surrounding community,"
said base spokesman Chris Zendan.
But now underwater divers swimming in waters near the naval base base are reporting
that their Bulova "Accutron" watches are mysteriously stopping. These watches use a
360 hertz tuning fork to drive a mechanical gear train to turn the hands. The tuning fork
is powered by a one-transistor electronic oscillator circuit and instead of ticking, has a
faint, high pitch hum which came from the vibrating tuning fork. Many divers' watch of
choice is the Bulova Men's Marine Star Calendar Watch which features a waterresistant black rubber band and is water resistant to 330 feet.
The base began using the system in July 2011. ELMR uses radio frequencies between
380 and 399.9 megahertz, which have been reserved for the Department of Defense
since World War II for air and ground communications but have been underutilized until
now. "In response to the increased needs of homeland security, the Department of
Defense now must make more use of these frequencies to deploy new mobile radio
systems on and around certain military bases," the Federal Communications Commission
said in a public notice. " The commander of the Groton submarine base can't modify
the system just because of complaints from local residents or divers with stopped
watches and no compensation will be offered to those affected,
OF COURSE IT DOES
Why can't you take up
Morse like other
husbands?
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine November
Reading Westlakes Monthly Magazine while sunbaking makes you well read.
THE FUN-CEIVER REVISITED
Remember Westlakes QRP CW transmitter from the early 1990's? We sold 200 of the
little kits and in fact have a few more left in the club store at $10 each. The kit comes with
PCB, 80m crystal, and all parts. Some will know that this kit was based on the
Fun-Mitter which was published in 73 Magazine February 1981. But there was also a
matching receiver, the Fun-Ceiver published by the same magazine five months later
and as far as I know, none were made by our club members as the receiver was not
advertised by Westlakes.
The Fun-Ceiver is a goof-proof project and matches the Fun-Mitter (AKA Westlakes
QRP Kit) perfectly making a simple companion receiver. It can be built for either 80 or
40 metres and can be used with other transmitters or as a stand alone receiver. It uses
a minimum of parts and can be built in an afternoon. The design criteria is that it costs
less than $30 with all new parts, the parts are readily available, no variable capacitors
or tuning, and be as simple as possible.
2012
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. - Magazine November
2012
Page
Published by Westlakes Amateur
Radio Club Inc. York Street Teralba,
as a magazine of news, information
and opinions on amateur radio and
associated topics for the benefit of
the members .
Copyright:
In general there is no copyright on
articles, they may be copied at will.
The exception being those articles
followed by an asterisk *
preceding the named source.
Founder and mentor:
Keith Howard VK2AKX (SK)
Patron:
G.Piper MLA
Life members:
Gregory Smith
VK2CW
Paul Lorentzen
VK2ATR
Alec Efimov
VK2ZM
Leslie Payne
VK2ZPA
Peter Sturt
VK2ZTV
David Myers
VK2RD
Geoffrey Clark
VK2EO
Frank Lusa
VK2FJL
Membership Rates
All members................ $20.00 P.A
Joining fee.................... $ 5.00
Club fees are due 1st February
Correspondence to:
The Secretary
W.A.R.C., Box 3001,
TERALBA NSW 2284
Telephone:- (02) 49 581 588
(24 hour
answering service)
Email:
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.
is an affiliated club with the
Wireless Institute of Australia.
Club meeting: 1st Saturday of
each month 13.30
Page
2
Club Directory
President:
Steve Beveridge
VK2LW
president@westlakesarc.org.au
Vice President:
Geoff Linthorne
Secretary:
VK2GL
Barrie Downward: VK2ABD
Treasurer:
Greg Smith
VK2CW
Committee:
Allan Brown
VK2JED
Ted Fogarty
VK2UI
Herb Herivel
VK2ZVF
Ken Jackson
VK2KJ
Leonie McGuiness VK2FHRK
Dave Myers
VK2RD
Warren Payne
VK2UWP
Barry Sullivan
VK2BZ
Michael Welsh VK2CCW
Magazine Editor:
Greg Smith
VK2CW
editor@westlakesarc.org.au
QSL Liason Officer:
Alex Efimov
VK2ZM
Storeman:
Aly Zimmer
VK2AFZ
Project Officer:
Norm Cameron
VK2KNC
Maintenance Officer:
Barry Sullivan
VK2BZ
Radio and Contest Officer:
Dave Myers
VK2RD
Public Relations:
Security:
Warren Payne
VK2UWP
Internet Webmaster:
Geoff Clark
VK2EO
Examinations Officer:
Michael Clarke
VK2OI
Radio Callsigns
Club Callsign: VK2ATZ
Club Repeaters:
VK2RTZ
146.775MHz
VK2RZL
146.875MHz
Club Digipeater:
VK2RTZ
147.575 MHz
IRLP Node
6040
Echolink
172107
Club Activities:
Club Nets:
Club broadcast,
Sunday 0900
146.775Mhz
followed by VK1WIA News.
Club Evening Broadcast
Sunday 1900
followed by VK1WIA News
Call backs follow each cast
EZB Net 146.775MHz
Saturday 0800
Stone the Crows Net
Saturday 3.588MHz 0600
Internet HomePage:
www.westlakesarc.org.au
Business:
Tuesday after 1700
Saturday after 1200
Club Distance Record:
2m Simplex
VK2FGM 2040 km
QRP CW
VK2AGC 2680 km
FOR SALE
Hills 60' crank-up tower $1000 negotiable.
Tower is located in Singleton NSW.
Ian Danks 0412998031
Two 1/2 wave Station Master antennas
Three 3/4 wave Station Master antennas
One Megatron antenna
(still in factory box) $100
One Megatron antenna like new
(in sealed bag no box) $75
Leonie VK2FHRK 0412686102
Westlakes
Inc. -Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
WestlakesAmateur
AmateurRadio
RadioClub
Club Inc.-
MORE FOR SALE
Icom IC27A 2m mobile FM $80
Kenwood V7A dual band 2m/70cm
with remote head (no remote head lead)
Just serviced by Kenwood. $180
Norm VK2ZG 43411736
email: vk2zg@yahoo.com.au
WANTED
PROJECT CORNER
THE EZYBEE NET
SATURDAYS 8AM
146.775 MHz
Note: Opinions expressed in this
magazine are those of the
contributors and do not necessarily
coincide with those of the Executive
or the members in general.
Proof reading by: Stella
19
STONE THE CROWS
3.588 MHz
Magazine assembly
day
SATURDAYS
6AM
Welcome to a new section of the
magazine, all about club projects. It will
be updated each month advising of radiorelated construction activities you can
make at Westlakes.
* The 1 valve regenerative receiver that
runs on 12 volts project is going strong.
Six are up and running and another six in
production. Most parts are available from
the Westlakes Store. Judging to find the
best constructed set will be at the club's
Christmas Frolic on December 15th.
* A short kit for a 3.5/7 Mhz LSB
transceiver with DDS vfo and digital
readout. It's coming up soon.
* A loop receiving and transmitting
antenna display and lecture on how to
make one by Maurice VK2CD. Stay
tuned for this one.
Project enquiries to Norm VK2KNC
"OZZIvk2knc@gmail.com
HAMS" Maxi Port-a-pole
email:
Westlakes
Amateur
Radio
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Amateur
Radio
Club
a
Page
20
W.A.R.C. Proudly supported by..
(02) 9636 9060 (02) 9688 4301
November 2012
HEY, YOUR WATCH HAS STOPPED
POCKET DIGITAL MULTIMETER
IDEAL FOR TOOL BOX
or CARRY IN THE CAR
Measures AC, DC Volts.
AC, DC Current from uA to 10Amps.
Resistance Buzzer for LO ohms.
Diode and Transistor tester.
ONLY $19.50 ea plus postage.
Limited number available.
See Geoff VK2GL
in the Westlakes Store
or direct from,
L.E. Agencies.
Unit 6, 3 Skyline Way,
Phone (02) 49434548
(02) 49818097
Westlakes Amateur
Inc. -Magazine
Magazine November
June 2010 2012
Westlakes
Amateur Radio
Radio Club
Club Inc.-
First it was garage doors, now it's electronic watches - all going haywire because of
underwater RF. It has been revealed that radio signals being transmitted out of a USA
submarine base is likely behind reports of many garage doors failing to open and close
and Bulova divers' watches stopping in Connecticut, the U.S. Navy has admitted. The
signal is part of the radio system used by the military to coordinate responses with civil
emergency workers, said a spokesman for the submarine base.
Because garage door openers are unlicensed devices, they are not offered any protection
from interference by licensed users in the same frequency band. The problem was first
Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine
2010 2012
Westlakes
Magazine June
November

November - Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc

Transcription

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