Software Vault: The Diamond Collection/The Diamond Collection (Software Vault)(Digital Impact).ISO/cdr14/pfq0219.zip/PFQ0219.TXT

Text File | 1995-02-25 | 20KB | 399 lines

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    Howard  John  Freeman  VK2NL passed away suddenly on  Friday  17th
    February 1995.

    Howard  was born in the south of Wales,  United  Kingdom,  on  6th
    February  1923.  He joined the Royal Air Force at 18 years of age,
    and   served  in  various  roles  including  aircraft  and   radar
    operations  from  1941   to 1946.  In 1947  he  joined  the  Civil
    Aviation Authority as a Senior Flight Officer.

    First  licensed in Australia in 1948 as VK2APF,  Howard then  went
    overseas  in  1953 and served in many countries  including  Kenya,
    India,  Malaysia and the United States.  On returning to Australia
    in 1965 he returned to the bands with VK2BHF, before obtaining his
    final call of VK2NL in 1968.

    In  1963  he joined the NSW Bushfire Service and rose to head  the
    Service's Communications section before retiring in 1983.  In 1968
    he  was granted a Freeman of the City Of Wollongong  for  services
    rendered during bushfires threatening that city.

    Howard  served on the Council of the NSW Division Of the  Wireless
    Instute of Australia in 1974 and 1975.  As NSW's WICEN Coordinator
    from 1974 to 1982 he rebuilt the then defunct organisation and set
    the foundations for WICEN's future.

    Apart  from  devotion to his family and  the  community,  Howard's
    interests  ouside Amateur Radio included aviation,  motor cars and
    jazz. Howard is survived by two sons, Mark and Peter.


VK2 Div President's message

This is Michael Corbin VK2PFQ

Today I intended to be sweet brief and to the point. Reason....I spent all
day yesterday along with some very very willing workers painting the
Parramatta downstairs office in preparation for our incoming tenant. Thanks
go to these Amateurs who gave unselfishly of their time thus avoiding the
need to pay out money to Contractors. Money saved on contractors fees....
Perhaps around $2000.00....Not bad eh!

        Those responsible and deserving of our thanks are Max Bowie VK2AFE,
        (I think Max spent every day at the Institute this week)
        Dr. Tony Farrow VK2TJF, Eric Fossey VK2EFY, Pat Leper VK2JPA,
        (Pat took the Video and Provided her Scaffolding) Cesar Miranda
        VK2TCM,(he also spent a couple of days at the office this week),
        Richard Murnane VK2SKY, Peter O'Connell VK2EMU, Michael Walton VK2MJ.
        unfortunately Clive Robertson was unwell and therefore did not
        attend. Fans don't worry he will be at the Wyong Field Day...No, No
        name card .... You'll recognise him quite easily.  Those of you who
        don't know him.... If indeed there are any such people....Just look
        for the bloke wearing the yellow carnation.... (Script reads here ...
        give large grin ... Blink several times ... Look towards microphone
        ... Who writes this stuff???). Just kidding Clive!!!

        Another group which deserve our thanks is the Veterans Amateur Radio
        people. You'll recall that I jokingly suggested last week that I
        might get this group to help us with the preparation and folding of
        copies of the VK2 submission, well Franklin, the Veteran in chief,
        called in after the Broadcast and offered to help.....Since I was
        not overwhelmed with offers from anyone else I took up their offer.
        Sorry fellas I left the list at the office. Since I cannot recall
        everyone's callsign. I'll mention them next week so as not to leave
        anyone out... In the meantime.....THANKS!

        Next weekend there will be no SUNDAY MORNING Broadcast...WHY?
        Because its WYONG field Day weekend. The Broadcast I am told is not
        held on  the morning of Wyong  field day weekend.....The Sunday
        night Broadcast time have not changed. Anyhow that will give us more
        time at the Institute to prepare for the Field Day.

        You know it's probably 40 years since I have attended one of these
        Field Days. When I was a kid attendance at all thing Amateur radio
        was COMPULSORY..... Since your Dad was VK2YC The President of the
        WIA you went where he went... So did your Mum and so did the rest of
        the kids of the Corbin family... I can tell you I used to hate it.
        The only thing I EVER liked going to was the Woy Woy field Day....
        That, for you youngsters out there in Amateur Radio Land, was the
        forerunner of the Gosford Field Day... I recall a bloke Major
        Collett was mixed up in things in those days. I cannot remember what
        he looked like... Although I recall that he was a somewhat
        distinguished looking chap. I can remember his wife ..... She wore
        her hair in a Bun, which of course was the fashion in those days...
        She had that "No nonsense" air about her which struck fear into kids
        of my age...Anyhow us kids loved to go to these Field days because
        we got FREE soft drinks....Mangans I think was the brand name...And
        ... PENGUIN Ice Cream.... Ah yes Penguin's Ice Cream and it used to
        come in BUCKETS with a little wooden spoon....Some years, if you
        were Lucky, there  seemed to be lots and lots of ice cream left
        over...You went home FULL...   AH!!!   Oh! yes...and there were also
        those Lucky Dips....I still have one of those silver painted valves
        with an arrow and "D D" stamped on it that I got in one of those
        lucky Dips... I could never understand why grownups would get excited
        about getting those funny long brown things with a couple of terminal
        looking things on the end of them.... It seemed to me at the time
        that they got excited. Anyhow I remember the year that I got one of
        these ... All the Hams seemed to think that this was GOOD??? GREAT???
        Myself I was not really sure.... I wondered ... what was inside one
        of these things. I determined to find out..... With words like.
        "You'll need one of those one day"...  or ... "That"ll come in
        handy???" I crept outside early that same night ... Selected a
        suitable Blunt instrument and hit this BROWN thing ONCE TWICE and....
        well what was all the big deal about... all I could find was  a lot
        of very fine wire inside this THING and I had been lead to believe
        that these things were .... Most sort after???. No wonder I was not
        interested in Amateur Radio in those days. In case your wondering
        what this thing was, it was of course a resistor    But looking
        back....Those WERE the days......I wonder if they have lucky dips
        at Wyong these days??? Anyone who would like to talk about those
        olde days. I'd love to meet you at the Field Day.  Wal Nighe that's
        another name .... Drove us up to Woy Woy in an old, although it was
        not old in those days, Grey Chevoret.....Hmmmmmmmm!!

        The WIA WILL have a stand...All your Councillors will be in
        attendence....Come and make yourself known to us. 1995 Callbooks will
        be on sale .... Technical Books will be available....

See you there......I'm looking forward to seeing what a Field Day looks like
after 40 Year


News briefs

    Support for our case against fees increase

    David Thompson VK2BDT has sent us a clipping from the Goulburn and
    District  Magazine that highlights our battle aginst  the  amateur
    fees hike and from which we quote:

    "  Increases  of up to 100 per cent in Amateur Radio Licence  fees
    have  been strongly opposed by Federal Member for Hume and  Shadow
    Minister for Transport,  John Sharpe. Amateur radio users provide
    an  invaluable  service  in times of disaster such  as  bushfires,
    floods  and earthquakes,  at little cost to  the  community.  This
    voluntary  service  is  in  danger of  being  lost,  or  at  least
    downgraded,  because of the increase. The Coalition recognises the
    value of their service and will oppose any moves by the Government
    to approve the increase."

    The  news  item  is  an excellent example  of  the  publicity  the
    amateurs  can  gain through our local and regional papers and  is
    one of many the Divisional office has received from members in New
    South Wales and interstate.  The threat of the fees increase is  a
    good  incentive to publicise our case and gain support.  After the
    fee  issue reaches its conclusion,  for better or worse,  may  we
    suggest  that we amateurs maintain our contacts with the media  to
    keep Amateur Radio in the public eye.


WICEN News

    Hunter  advise  that their first meeting for the year will be to-
    morrow, at the Emergency Operations  Centre,  on  the  corner  of
    Elizabeth  and Hannell streets, Carrington, starting at 1900, and
    thereafter on the third Monday of each month.  Do  other  regions
    have any regular meetings?

    The  major  event  this  month is the Central Coast Amateur Radio
    Club Field Day, at Wyong Racecourse, on Sunday 26th February.  As
    usual  there  will be a WICEN stall next to the Caravan, and peo-
    ple, in uniform, are requested to help staff it for  an  hour  or
    two  from 1000 to about 1500; this is an important "PR" exercise,
    as we sign up many new members at  this  event.   Please  contact
    Alan  VK2YYJ if you can help, during tbe day on [phone], or
    via packet radio at VK2CZR.

    Events next month include the "RTA Big NSW Bike  Ride"  from  the
    4th  to  the  11th of March for which the current contact is John
    VK2AMH, and the annual Bungonia Cave Rescue  on  the  weekend  of
    18th-19th  March,  and  Mark VK2XGK is looking for volunteers who
    won't necessarily have to go underground; Mark can  be  contacted
    at work on [phone].

    A major event in April is the Oberon Car Rally on 29th April, and
    about 20 people are required;  please  contact  Alan  VK2YYJ  via
    packet radio at VK2CZR, or at work on [phone].

    WICEN is always looking for members to provide the community with
    communications assistance.  Write to WICEN (NSW) Inc, PO Box 123,
    St  Leonards  2065  for further information, or come up on one of
    the WICEN nets: Blue Mountains on the first Monday of each  month
    at  8.30pm  on  channel  7175  simplex,  Hunter each Wednesday at
    7.30pm on channel 6900, Northern Rivers  each  Wednesday  at  8pm
    around 3610 kHz, Central Coast each Thursday at 8.30pm on channel
    7125, and Sydney each Thursday at 9.30pm on  channels  7150/8275.
    If  there are any other regular nets then we'd like to hear about
    them.

     -- Dave VK2KFU, WICEN (NSW) Inc. Publicity Officer


Dural report

    Here  again is another report on activities at the Dural broadcast
    station.

    Work at Dural last week saw the installation of the transnmit  and
    link antennas for the 6m repeater,  and extra wiring for a battery
    backup  system.  Unfortunately,  wind gusts meant it was unsafe to
    realign the bent antennas,  so this will have to wait for  another
    time.  Thanks go to Peter VK2XZP for climbing the tower,  and Tony
    VK2ZLT for grovelling underneath the building.

    A  plea  for more "807" transmitting valves resulted in  donations
    from Alan Peake in South Australia,  and Mick VK2ZQM; thanks go to
    both of them.

    A  donation  of a complete  FM-828/E base  station  from  Cockatoo
    Island was made, and it is possible that this unit may end up as a
    packet radio service at Dural.

    Finally,  don't forget that due to the Wyong Field Day next Sunday
    the usual morning broadcast has been cancelled; the Sunday evening
    broadcast will be as usual.

    --Dave VK2KFU Dural Engineer


Central Coast Field Day

    Now's  the time to put aside Sunday 26th February - that's just  one
    week   away  - for a trip to the Central Coast to visit  the  Annual
    Central  Coast Field Day.  The Field Day has something for everyone.
    There  are traders galore,  selling new and  second-hand  equipment,
    interesting  technical  lectures  and  workshops,  special  interest
    groups and displays,  fox hunts for those with a competitive spirit,
    bus  trips for the family,  and a chance to meet people who you  may
    not have seen for years or have only ever worked on the radio.

    More  than  2,000 people come from far and wide and this year as  in
    past years there will be many international visitors.

    The Central Coast Field day is held at Wyong Racecourse,  just  five
    minutes  from  Wyong Railway Station.  The  Racecourse  provides  an
    excellent  venue  with  under cover display area,  Bistro  and  food
    facilities and ample car parking within the grounds.

    Two entry gates will be in operation this year to avoid the  traffic
    congestion that has occurred in the past.  Gates will not open until
    8:30 a.m., and this includes entry for Flea Market traders.

    An information service will be provided on the Central Coast 2 Metre
    Repeater 146.725 MHz using the call sign VK2AFY on Saturday 25th and
    the morning of Sunday 26th February.

    Admission is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for pensioners and Seniors Card
    holders and children under 12 are admitted free.

    Further  information  can  be obtained by writing to the  Field  Day
    Committee,  Box 252,  Gosford,  NSW, 2250, or via Packet to VK2AFY @
    VK2EHQ. Telephone enquiries can be made by phoning (043) 40 2500.

    See you at the Central Coast Field Day on 26th February.

    Bob Fitzgerald, VK2XRF
    CCARC Publicity Officer


IPS Report

                          IPS WEEKLY REPORT
                          -----------------
                           10 - 16 FEBRUARY

    DATE OF ISSUE: 17 FEBRUARY 1995

    INDICES:

    DATE     10    11    12    13    14    15    16
    10CM     81    81    81    86    82    85    86
    A         1    20    25    25    20    13   ( 5 ESTIMATED)
    T        29    30   -13     3     8   -18    31

    SOLAR ACTIVITY WAS VERY LOW ALL WEEK.

    THE  GEOMAGNETIC  FIELD  AT MUNDARING NEAR PERTH WAS QUIET  ON  10TH
    FEBRUARY, UNSETTLED TO ACTIVE ON 11TH; ACTIVE ON 12TH; MOSTLY ACTIVE
    ON  13TH WITH MAJOR STORM LEVELS 1200 TO 1500 UT.  ON 14TH  FEBRUARY
    THE  FIELD WAS UNSETTLED TO ACTIVE WITH MINOR STORM LEVELS  1200  TO
    1500  UT;  AND  QUIET  TO UNSETTLED ON 15TH-16TH WITH  BRIEF  ACTIVE
    PERIODS.

    IONOSPHERIC  F2 CRITICAL FREQUENCIES AT SYDNEY WERE NEAR  PRE-DICTED
    MONTHLY  VALUES  10TH,  AND  AGAIN ON 11TH UNTIL  LOCAL  NIGHT  WHEN
    ENHANCEMENTS  OF  UP  TO 30 PER  CENT  WERE  OBSERVED,  FOLLOWED  BY
    DEPRESSIONS OF UP TO 20 PER CENT AFTER LOCAL DAWN.  FREQUENCIES WERE
    DEPRESSED  BY 15 PER CENT ON 12TH;  MOSTLY NEAR PREDICTED VALUES  ON
    13TH,  WITH  SHORT SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED PERIODS;  AND  NEAR  PREDICTED
    VALUES  ON  14TH.  FREQUENCIES WERE AGAIN DEPRESSED BY UP TO 20  PER
    CENT  IN  THE FIRST HALF OF THE UT DAY ON 15TH  FEBRUARY;  AND  NEAR
    PREDICTED TO 20 PER CENT ENHANCED DURING LOCAL NIGHT ON 16TH.

    BLANKETING SPORADIC E WAS OBSERVED AT TIMES ON 10TH,  AND 13TH-15TH.
    SPREAD F WAS ALSO OBSERVED ON 14TH AND 16TH FEBRUARY.


                FORECAST (17 FEBRUARY - 23 FEBRUARY)

    SOLAR:        VERY LOW TO LOW

    GEOMAGNETIC: QUIET TO UNSETTLED.

    IONOSPHERIC: NEAR PREDICTED MONTHLY VALUES.


    COURTESY OF THE IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES

    SUMMARY BY PAT VK2JPA ANARTS BROADCAST OFFICER


Castle Hill Radio Museum

    Castle Hill  Military Radio Collection will once again be mounting a
    display at the Wyong Field Day this year.

        Items on display will include:
         a BC611 U.S. Infantry walkie-talkie
         the U.S. Navy TCS small ships transmitter
         a Bendix RA-1B Catalina aircraft receiver
         an Australian Wireless Set no 62, with no 10 Calibrator
         a late model No 19 Mark 3 tank transceiver
         and an Eddystone 730 receiver in military guise
    There will  also  be an associated display of the  English  Larkspur
    equipment.

    If you need any information on service type radio equipment,  please
    contact me and I will endeavour to bring it to the Field Day.

    Donations  of  equipment,  spares or manuals to the  collection  are
    always greatly appreciated.  As usual,  I will have an empty trailer
    with me.

    Please contact me on [phone].

    Ian O'Toole, VK2ZIO, Curator, Castle Hill Military Radio Collection.


Club news: AAPRA

    AAPRA at the Field Day

    AAPRA has been busy preparing for the Central Coast Field Day next
    Sunday  26th  February at Wyong.  We will be demonstrating  a  new
    modem  which will run TPK,  Graphic Packet,  Baycom and who  knows
    what  else?  It  will be available in built-up form ready  to  go,
    although homebrewers will not be turned away.

    There will be another Packet Seminar which will cater for  present
    and prospective packet operators.  So,  if you have any  questions
    about packet radio or want to find out what it is, come along.

    Our shareware library as well as our books and manuals will be  at
    our  exhibition table where some exotic new packet programmes will
    be demonstrated.

    See you there next Sunday

    -- Geoff VK2BQ Publicity Officer


Coming events

                               Coming events

    Now, a summary of upcoming events of interest to members and
    other Radio Amateurs and Short Wave Listeners ...

    Hunter WICEN meeting (Pauline VK2GTB). . . . . . . .  . . Monday
    No Divisional broadcast. . . . . . . . . . . next Sunday morning
    Central Coast ARC Field Day at Wyong . . . . . . . . next Sunday
    Proposed new Amateur Licence fees come into effect . . . 1 March
    (may be delayed until April -- keep writing)
    RTA Big NSW Bike Ride (WICEN). . . . . . . . . . . . .4-11 March
    Daylight Saving Time ends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 March
    Summerland ARC Annual General Meeing . . . . . . . . . . 5 March
    Signals Reunion at Wagga Wagga . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 March
    Bungonia Cave Rescue exercise (WICEN-Mark VK2XGK). . 18-19 March
    Hunter WICEN meeting (Pauline VK2TGB). . . . . . . . . .20 March
    Divisional Trash and Treasure Sale . . . . . . . . . . .26 March
    Easter Monday public holiday . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 April
    Hunter WICEN meeting (Pauline VK2GTB). . . . . . . . . .17 April
    International Marconi Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 April

    If  you  have an event you'd like publicised on the weekly  broad-
    cast,  then  please  send  details  to  the  Divisional  Broadcast
    Officer,  Michael Corbin VK2PFQ, by phone on [phone],  or by
    fax  on [phone]. Club news items  can be sent by  packet  to
    VK2SKY@VK2AAB.  Items  may  also  be forwarded to  the  Divisional
    Office  before close of business on the Friday before  the  broad-
    cast.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    VK2WI Broadcast, 19th February  1995. Copyright 1995 WIA (NSW) &
    contributors.   Material  may be used elsewhere if the source  is
    acknowledged.