LEE ANDREWS SEPTEMBER 2014 Managing … 2014.pdfEmail [email protected] LEE ANDREWS Managing Director Five Year Warranty on New Yaesu, Icom, Alinco & Kenwood Amateur Transceivers

Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. - Magazine June 2010 Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine June 2010

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Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine September 2014Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine September 2014

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Photo by VK2CW

AM RADIO SIGNALS AFFECT BIRDS

A German team has found that weak electromagnetic fields produced by equipmentplugged into mains electricity plus AM radio signals interfere with the red robin'sinternal compass. The effect is greatest when the birds fly over urban areas. The study

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Five Year Warranty on New Yaesu, Icom,Alinco & Kenwood Amateur Transceivers

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Published by Westlakes AmateurRadio Club Inc. York Street Teralba,as a magazine of news, informationand opinions on amateur radio andassociated topics for the benefit ofthe members .Copyright:In general there is no copyright onarticles, they may be copied at will.The exception being those articlesfollowed by an asterisk *preceding the named source.

Founder:Keith Howard VK2AKX (SK)Patron:G.Piper MLALife members:Gregory Smith VK2CWPaul Lorentzen VK2AEAlec Efimov VK2ZMLeslie Payne VK2ZPAPeter Sturt VK2ZTVDavid Myers VK2RDGeoffrey Clark VK2EO

Correspondence to: The Secretary W.A.R.C., Box 5, BOOLAROO NSW 2284Telephone:- (02) 49 581 588(24 hour answering service)Email:[email protected]

Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.is an affiliated club with theWireless Institute of Australia.

a

Club meeting: 1st Saturday ofeach month 13.30

Membership RatesAll members................ $20.00 P.AJoining fee.................... $ 5.00

WANTED

Club fees are due 1st February

FOR SALE

Magazine assembly day "OZZI HAMS" Maxi Port-a-pole


Proof reading by: Stella

President:Steve Beveridge [email protected] President:Geoff Linthorne VK2GLSecretary:Barrie Downward: [email protected]:Greg Smith VK2CWCommittee:Allan Brown VK2JEDHerb Herivel VK2ZVFKeith Turk VK2PKTLeonie McGuiness VK2FHRKBarry Finlay VK2VBFWarren Payne VK2UWPBarry Sullivan VK2BZMichael Welsh VK2CCWDiane Wilson JP VK2FDNEMagazine Editor:Greg Smith [email protected] Liason Officer:Alex Efimov VK2ZMStoreman:Aly Zimmer VK2AFZProject Officer:Norm Cameron VK2KNCMaintenance Officer:Barry Sullivan VK2BZRadio and Contest Officer:Allan Brown VK2JEDPublic Relations:Diane Wilson JP VK2FDNESecurity:Warren Payne VK2UWPInternet Webmaster:Geoff Clark VK2EOExaminations Officer:Geoff Linthorne VK2GL

Club Directory

STONE THE CROWS 3.588 MHz SATURDAYS 6AM

THE EZYBEE NET 146.775 MHz SATURDAYS 8AM

PROJECT CORNER

Radio CallsignsClub Callsign: VK2ATZClub Repeaters:VK2RTZ 146.775MHzVK2RZL 146.875MHzClub Digipeater:VK2RTZ 147.575 MHz IRLP Node 6040 Echolink 356838Club Nets:Club News broadcast,Sunday 0900146.775Mhzfollowed by callbacksand the VK1WIA News.

EZB Net 146.775MHzSaturday 0800Stone the Crows NetSaturday 3.588MHz 060040 Metre Net7.150 MHz Mon, Wed, Fri0930Internet HomePage:www.westlakesarc.org.au

Business:Tuesday after 1700Saturday after 1200Club Distance Record:2m SimplexVK2FGM 2040 kmQRP CW VK2YA 2680 km

Note: Opinions expressed in thismagazine are those of thecontributors and do not necessarilycoincide with those of the Executivenor the members in general.

THE 40 METRE NET7.150 MHz

Monday, Wednesday, Friday9.30 AM

Yaesu FP700 Power Suppy Supply $150DX 160 Receiver ( needs work) makean offer. Barrie VK2QG 0478228983

All quiet on the project front

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Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine September 2014 Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. - Magazine September 2014

VOLTAGE OR CURRENT

has been been published in the August 2014 edition of the journal, Nature. Theexperiments were conducted over seven years and it has taken a long time before theteam was confident to come out with this to the public.Prof Mouritsen, the team leader, said he stumbled across the fact by accident thatlow frequency waves could be interfering with the European red robin. The basicexperiment in bird navigation research is to put the birds into an orientation cage.They are so eager to migrate, that they will jump in the direction in which they wantto fly, and if you turn a static magnetic field in the horizontal plane they will start tojump in a different direction. Then the robins' huts were screened on the inside withaluminium plates so the electromagnetic noise was reduced about 100 times andsuddenly the birds started to orientate.When devices are plugged into the mains they produce a weak electromagnetic fieldOver the course of the next seven years, he and his team carried out numerousexperiments to look at how the weak electromagnetic field affected the behaviour ofthe robins. In essence, he found that birds exposed to electromagnetic "noise" between50 kHz and 5 MHz lost all sense of direction. But when the field was blocked out, theyfound their bearings again. Prof Mouritsen said that migratory birds flying over townsand cities, where there are more homes and businesses that use electrical devices, wouldbe most effected - and they would probably resort to back-up navigational systems.A bird's magnetic compass is thought to use the quantum phenomenon of electronspin to navigate. A very small perturbation of these electron spins would actuallyprevent the birds from using their magnetic compass, Prof Mouritsen said. Theenergies of the electromagnetic field are so low in intensity that any physicist will tellyou they can't have an effect on a process based on conventional physics.Given this effect is real, it very difficult to come up with an explanation that is notquantum based. From BBC News

A voltage Balun utilises some form of transformer action to transfer energy back andforth between a balanced and unbalanced transmission line. A voltage balun involvesthe transformation of a voltage, often using a core type transformer (even if 1:1) butthat definition need not be so restrictive and can include a half wave loop. This impliesthe transformation of impedance (even if the same). It also includes auto-transformerslike the Guanella Balun.Current Balun A current balun allows working currents to pass but chokes commonmode currents - nothing more. There is no transformer action. Because it is a currentcontrolling device and not a transformer, there can be no such thing as a 4:1 current Balun.Put another way, a current Balun controls currents presenting a low impedance,through the device, to desired currents but a high impedance to unwanted ones. Courtesy of Norm VK2KNC

by John VK5AJL

ISOTRON ANTENNAFOR 10 - 15 - 20 METRES By Ralph WD0EJA

If you build a resonant antenna that is a 3dimensional design, it will not have muchphysical length compared to the wavelengthyou designed it for. Electrically the antennaradiates at a good efficiency, but what doesit do to the radiation?A dipole or vertical wire or piping willnaturally line up the magnetic lines with thelength of the antenna. For a dipole, this will

give it a stronger radiation in 2 directions and a weaker radiation in the 2 directions that areat 90 degrees. If you can get the antenna high enough and in the clear, you can takeadvantage of this small, but noticeable characteristic. A little more punch in 2 directions anda little rejection of other signals in the direction at right angles to the antenna. For a vertical,you can mount the antenna closer to the ground and have it work well. It can have a veryeven pattern around the antenna.Now for this 3 dimensional thing, what can you expect? The magnetic lines are atrandom, going many different ways. Some call this a random polarization. Is this bad?Not really. This design will be close to an isotropic radiator. This means radiation is equalin any direction from the antenna. Does that mean you lose radiation going straight up, oras some say a cloud warmer?If you were floating in outer space, this might be the results. However, we have good oldearth to fix this for us. Much like a horizontal dipole, the earth gives the antennas a verticalgain depending on how high the antenna is from the ground. Therefore, the 3 dimensionalantenna will exhibit the same response, increasing radiation toward the horizon per heightabove ground. There will be no need to rotate the antenna as you would the dipole.Another nice characteristic is the 3 dimensional, or randomly polarized antenna receivesless noise than either the vertical or dipole because noise many times are vertically orhorizontally polarized.The Isotrons, which is of this randomly polarized design, have beentested by Gilfer Associates on 60 metres. They found a 3 db reduction in noise whilereceived signals were of the same strength as their 1/2 wave dipole.

https://www.isotronantennas.com Courtesy of Richard VK2FRKO

HOW LONG BEFOREDRONES ARE BANNED?

A photographer at America's Yellowstone NationalPark, crashed his camera equipped aerial vehicledamaging an important geological feature

This is not the first incident of its type at Yellowstone. The increase in drone activityand un-friendly 'fly-bys' on native wildlife and other park users has caused the NationalParks Department to call a ban on the use of such aircraft, which is seemingly beingignored by a growing number of park visitors.


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next page

Steve VK2LW


A NORTH KOREAN RADIORadio parts and pieces acquired on theblack market are able to help NorthKoreans to learn about the outsideworld as this wooden homemade radioshows.Those who live near China may buy aChinese radio, but those who live awayfrom the border have to contact a local

underground radio-maker. Some North Koreans make a living out of making thehomemade radio like the one pictured.Made from woodblocks on allsix sides, the radio weighs about1.5 kilograms. Despite itsoutdated appearance, the radiohad most of the functionscommon to radios on the market.On test it was easy to connectthe power, adjust the volumeand change the frequency byturning the module attached tothe radio. Even though thefunctions were easy enough foranyone to learn in five minutes,catching the specific frequencywas not as easy as it seemed.The hardest part in operating this radio was finding the right frequency. Unlike mostmodern radios, which can easily find frequencies with the assistance of digitally projectednumbers on a screen, this handmade radio provides no visual aid. The radio therefore,leaves users to depend totally on delicate hand skills to turn the manual module inmicro-inches every time. The frequency changes with the slightest turn of the moduleeither to the left or right.Once the correct signal is found, do not touch the set as it is tootedious to find the same signal again.Extending the internal antenna is needed to catch signals. As the radio only has a shortinternal antenna, North Koreans are required to wire the antenna to an external lengthin order to hear clearly This means that this radio is not a portable device. The third problemis the low volume. It is hard to listen to the radio using the original attached speaker. Inorder to make it loud enough to be audible, a pair of headphones or a personal earphonewas the best choice unless your local underground radio-maker can come up with anexternal amplifier. It's all a bit like using a crystal set. From NK News Courtesy of Richard VK2FRKO

Westlakes attended the 2014 Our TownModel Show over the two days of 23/24August which was held at the NewcastleJockey club at Broadmeadow.The Model Show is an annual event andthis was the first time amateur radio had

been represented.Westlakes display had the fullrange of wireless technologyincluding a spark transmitter,Post Office sounders, valvetransceivers, the latesttransceivers, soft ware definedradio radios, WWII spy sets,radio controlled and cameramounted quadcopters manpacks - just about every thingto do with the hobby.Many thousands attend theModel Show each yearincluding commercial traders.Also on display and runningwere model trains (of allgauges), radio controlled shipsand boats (in their own indoorpool), tanks, trucks, planes -the list goes on. The weatherwas attrocious for most of theweekend but but no matter, allwas sealed and snug inside.Even the floor was carpeted.Back to the Westlakes stand.Items that took my interest andmost of the general publicwere: the brand new Yaesu1200DX of Barry VK2VBF,the two radio-controlled, with

camera quadcopters from Ian McLaren, Max VK2TTI and his manpack, classic Collinsradios from the 70's from Steve VK2LW, and maybe last but certainly not least were theWWII paraset, the laptop Morse, the moving electronic club sign from Geoff VK2GLwhom I must mention was there for the set-up, both days of the show, and the pull-down.A fine effort Geoff. One surprise at the conclusion of the event came from the organisers,a nice cash donation for Westlakes. We had been paid to attend! VK2CW

Photos by Barry VK2VBF


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THE RADIO BOARD GAME

It is unlikely you have ever seen this 'Radio Game' -after all it went on sale in 1924. It was published bythe American firm of Milton Bradley and was aboard game for 2 to 4 players of 7 years and older.Playing time was 30 minutes.Exactly how this game was played is lost to memory.On the game board is a stylized map of the UnitedStates indicating the boundaries of each State. Themap is in four colours, and each colour indicates atime zone: red - Pacific Time green - Mountain Timegrey - Central Time and yellow - Eastern Time.For the 2 to 4 players, certain circles across the mapare joined by red lines, while others are joined by

blue lines. The lines indicating the two dominant radio networks, NBC Red and ABC BlueThey are also the tracks for movement of the players' counters. The disc shaped cardboardcounters are in the upper right of the photograph.At the bottom left of the photograph is a "spinner card" used by the players to determinetheir movement around the board. As a "chance device", a metal arrow fixed into the centreof the card is spun by a player. Where the point of the arrow stops determines the player'smove. The outer circle on the card is divided into the four US time zones. Within each zoneare the numbers 1, 2, 3. The Radio Game was manufactured by the Alderman FairchildCompany.

RADIO JIM CREEK

time travel might be possible despite well-known clashing theories. Led by PhDstudent Martin Ringbauer, the research will add to the study of how time travel couldbe possible and how core scientific theory quantum mechanics might change innew environments.The team was able to send single particles of light, known as photons, along a pathin space-time that returns the travelling object to the same point at an earlier time, knownas a closed timelike curve. The team used mathematical equivalence to map the journey.The first photon travelled trough a wormhole into the past. It then interacted witha photon simulated to stand in as the first's older version. A second photon wassent through normal space-time and interacted with a photon that was forevertrapped in the closed timelike curve.

Jim Creek Naval Radio Station is a United States Navyvery low frequency radio transmitter facility at Jim Creeknear Oso, Washington.The primary mission of this site is to communicate ordersone-way to Pacific Fleet submarines while they aresubmerged. Established in 1953, the transmitter radiateson 24.8 kHz with a power of 1.2 million watts and acallsign of NLK, and is one of the most powerful transmitters in the world. Locatednear Arlington, Washington, in the foothills of the Cascades, north of Seattle, the sitehas 5,000 largely forested acres. Much of the site is devoted to the enormousoverhead wire antenna array that is necessary to efficiently radiate the VLF waves.The antenna consists of ten "catenary" cables, 5640 - 8700 ft long, suspended ontwelve 200 ft towers over the valley between Wheeler Mountain and Blue Mountainin a zigzag pattern.Each cable receives energy from a vertical cable attached at the centre, whichdrops down to the valley floor where it is fed by one of two "buss" transmission lineswhich extend along the valley from the transmitter building in the centre. This typeof antenna, called a "valley-span" antenna, functions as a capacitively top-loaded electrically short monopole antenna. The vertical cables are the mainradiating elements, and the horizontal cables serve to add capacitance to thetop of the antenna, to increase the power radiated. The antenna is divided intotwo sections of 5 elements, each fed with its own transmission line. These normallyoperate together as one antenna, but can operate separately so one section can beshut down for maintenance without interrupting transmission. The floor of the valleyunder the antenna is covered with a network of cables suspended a few feet abovethe ground which functions as a counterpoise ground system. From Oso Gazette

TIME TRAVEL?

In VK4, a group at University of Queensland physicists haveused light particles to simulate a key process that indicates how

From Journal Nature - August 2014

SILENT KEY - VK6ALU/2ALU

Lyle Patison VK6ALU, a pioneer ofmicro-wave amateur radio activity, passedaway last month. Pictured is his 3.7metre diameter dish he used at hisWollongong QTH to make the historic10GHz EME contact with G3WDG onthe 18th August 1996 which set the world10GHz distance record


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LONGEST MORSE CODE MESSAGEOn 26 October 1864, James W. Nye, Governor of the Territoryof Nevada, began sending a telegram to President AbrahamLincoln. This message, transmitted in Morse code, contains theentire text of the Nevada State Constitution.Sending such a long telegram at the height of the Civil Warwas a challenge -- with no direct link from Carson City to

Washington, DC, telegrapher James H. Guild worked seven hours to transmit the messageto Salt Lake City, where it was re-sent to Chicago, then Philadelphia, and finally to the WarDepartment’s telegraph Office in Washington, DC, two days later, where a 175-pagetranscription was made. The final page shows the total word count was 16,543 andand it cost US $4,313.27. This 175-page transcription of the longest ever telegram is inthe holdings of the National Archives in Washigton DC.

Indonesia, but lodged a mayday call that they had run out of food and water. Manning theradio at the Lemon Tree Passage Coast Guard unit (now Marine Rescue NSW), MrOsborne heard the mayday call come through."The Prince called a mayday off Darwin,"Mr Osborne said."He said they needed food and water and they had run out."He wantedme to call an army commander in Indonesia."The Australian Navy never picked up the prince, who got the children to Malaysia, wherethey lived for 14 years. It was not the first, or last time, a long distance call had been pickedup by the Lemon Tree Passage unit. Mr Osborne said the unit picked up mayday calls atTaylors Beach in Tasmania regularly.The call stands out in the mind of Mr Osborne, whohas been part of the volunteer rescue organisation for 33 years.Mr Osborne took up the two-year role as unit commander this month. Greg Stuchley willserve as deputy commander. Mr Osborne is no stranger to unit command, havingperformed the role four times in the coast guard. He has also served as radio officer, medialiaison and communications officer for NSW Coast Guard, and has been part of LemonTree Passage Rural Fire Service for many years.In 2008 he was awarded the Medal ofthe Order of Australia for his community service with the coast guard and RFS.Mr Osborne said his goals for the next two years were to generate more communityinterest in the unit, attract new volunteers and get existing members up to Marine Rescuetraining standards. From the Port Stephens Examiner - 24 July 2014

MEET RICHARD VK2FRKO

It was Richard Osborne OAM, the newLemon Tree Passage Marine Rescueunit commander, who picked upMalaysian Prince Raja Bahrin's maydaycall in 1992, when he abducted his twochildren from Australia.The prince took his children by boatfrom the Cape York Peninsula to

By Ellie-Marie Watts

My family still lives in Australia so it must have something going for it.

.The radar used 5 receivers with parametric amplifiers giving a dynamic range of 120dbFPQ-6 never missed a track throughout the complete Apollo and other missions and wassometimes used to track other secret objects. Carnarvon tracking station has been partiallyclosed since 1974. I remained on site until October 1969 just after the first Man on theMoon mission. It was one of most interesting positions I ever held and I have served inmany overseas postings.

two axis mount using a hydrostatic bearing in azimuth and phase roller bearings inelevation. The antenna was positioned through anti-backlash dual drive pedestal gearingvia high torque-to-inertia electro-hydraulic valve motor system.

The dish had a gain of 51db and abeamwidth of 0.4 degrees. It used acassegrain feed consisting of 5 horns,Reference centre horn and twoAzimuth and two elevation horns. Itcould track both skin and beaconsignals.The transmitter consisted of aKlystron output of 3.00 MHZ feedinginto a pressurised waveguide using drynitrogen at 90lbs per inch.The repeller voltage was 127,000Volts. Pulse widths of 0.8,to 2.4microsecs. The range of the radarwas 32,000 miles (59,264 kilometres.)It could track a copperised tennis ballout to 100miles. The trackingaccuracy was plus or minus 1.8m.VK2GL at the controls (in checked shirt)

A wherry is a type of boat that was traditionallyused for carrying cargo or passengers onrivers and canals in England, and is particularlyassociated with the River Thames and alsowith the Broadland rivers of Norfolk andSuffolk.But not this wherry. Just launched, it is thecreation of Barry VK2BZ and will only beseen on the calm waters of Lake Macquarie.


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4 to 1 Balun Wiring Diagram

Unbalanced

4:1 Balanced

B

b

A

a

In last month's magazine (page18) there was an article by JohnVK5AJL, "When is a balun nota balun? When it's a unun."There were two wiring dia-grams, one of a balun, the otherof a unun. The unun was correctThe balun was not.Eagle-eye Max VK2TTI pickedthe error and pointed out that thecoax connection in the drawingof the balun was back to front.The cold side of the coax shouldgo to "b" and the hot side shouldgo to "a."Observe the corrected drawingof the 4:1 balun on the left.Thank you Max.

VK2CW

The Linthorne family arrived in Australia October 1965 after 6 weeks at sea on the SSFairsea. The first thing we did in Fremantle was to find a cafe and buy two teas and amilkshake made with pure milk after the last weeks aboard with only powdered milk.We were accommodated at a motel in Cottesloe for two weeks, whilst we purchased allthat we would need to set up a home in Carnarvon WA. Takes a bit of imagination whenyou have to buy everything to set a new home unseen when your possessions consist ofthe clothes you have which were totally unsuitable for the climate, i.e. fur coats and warmclothing for the UK and now 30 degrees in the shade.

To give you some idea of the specifications of the FPQ-6 firstly I was informed that therewere only two these in the entire tracking worldwide network. Carnarvon was one of theprime tracking radars. The FPQ-6 radar was a C-Band radar 5400-5900 MHz. The dishwas 30.5m in diameter weighed 35 tons and could slew at 27degrees a second. It rotated360 degrees in azimuth and 180 degrees in elevation.The whole assembly was mounted onthe top of a tower with an overall height of 150ft. The antenna pedestal was high precision

We flew up to Carnarvon on“Mickey Mouse” airlines in a DC3next to the freight. The firsttouchdown was Geraldton, a onehour stop in a tin shed known as theTerminal. We took off and arrivedin Carnarvon about midday.Accommodation was arranged forus at The Carnarvon Hotel wherewe stayed until our goods andchattels arrived from Perth someten days later. Whilst the familystayed in the hotel I reported forduty to the Carnarvon TrackingStation to take up my position asAntenna Technician at the FPQ-6space tracking radar.I was amazed at the size of the dishantenna and the twelve racks ofassociated electronics to control itplus all the hydraulics andhydrostatics. I was thrown in at thedeep end I had one week to get upto speed as the next track wasscheduled in 5 days.

Monthly Meeting Saturday 6 September

Westlakes 2014 Field Day Sunday 14 September

A radio enthusiast who erected a 30ft mast in his back garden without planningpermission has dismissed claims it could give neighbours cancer. Armando Martins, 73,has also had to fight off accusations the signal from the 10-metre aerial is interferingwith people’s pacemakers and hearing aids.But residents at the Thornhurst sheltered bungalow complex in Beltinge, UK, are

RADIO MASTS ARE TERRIBLE THINGS


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the capacitor with electromagnetic power. When energized, the microchip capsulesends radio signals back to the scanner with the identification number. The scannercan then interpret the radio waves and display the identification number on anLCD screen

A REAL PARROTON A STICK

Observe closely a freak accident,What a "GALAH" this bird was. Itis in fact a Pink Galah which impaleditself on an antenna at Marine RescueBase at Norah Head. The antennahas penetrated completely throughthe bird's wingBeing a Rescue Base, those inattendance felt obliged to perform amost unusual rescue. The servicesof a rigger obtained for $300. Up hewent and freed the galah which flewoff and never even said thank you.

Courtesy of Mal VK2VON who also took the photo

In the UK, the communications regulator, Ofcom, requires amateurs to revalidate theirlicence every 5 years. Ian G3ZHI after looking through Ofcom's 'Frequently askedQuestions' and, under the sub-heading 'I have more than one licence. Must Irevalidate all of them?', he received this rather interesting answer."You should only have one personal licence. You should not, for example, have twoFull licences that reflect the old 'A' and 'B' licences respectively. However, we knowthat some amateurs have more than one personal licence and, for the purposes ofrevalidating, you should revalidate all or any licence(s) that you hold."Here comes the interesting bit: "If you have more than one personal licence, it islikely that we shall be contacting you in the future to ask you which one you wish tokeep and we may require you to relinquish all but one of your licences." From Southgate Radio

IS ONE LICENCE ON THE WAY?

continuing their battle to get the mast taken down, with Mr Martins recently forced toapply for retrospective planning permission.Next-door neighbour Rose Clayson, 78, has lived at the complex for five years. She said:“Last year I developed cancer, and since then three others nearby have also have got it.It could just be a coincidence." “It also affects my hearing aid because I hear a buzzingnoise, and is doing something to my television signal. When we get any bad weather weget howling through our television aerial.”Fellow resident Carol Barfoot said: “He has not got planning permission for it andwhenever other residents want to put up something like a satellite television dish, we’retold we can’t. “Four people in the complex have been diagnosed with cancer all virtuallynext door to each other.“It doesn’t affect all pacemakers, but some people have toldme it’s making them not work the way they are supposed to. One man told me he was fineuntil he moved here a year ago.”

But Mr Martins, who has operated a radio since 1962 and erected the mast in 2012,denied that it can cause health problems and interrupt hearing aids or pacemakers. Hesaid: “People don’t understand and ask ‘what is that big aerial for?’, but they don’tunderstand and don’t know what it’s about. “I get all sorts of remarks made, sayingit interrupts with television or pacemakers, but it broadcasts on a totally differentfrequency. How can a piece of metal interfere?”He uses the £7,000 equipment to communicate with other operators across the globe andhelp in disaster zones if other communication systems have been knocked out. He said:“It’s people who don’t know what it’s about and who are interfering and giving me griefall the time. It’s my hobby, but everywhere I go people complain. It makes my life hell.”East Kent Housing Association runs the complex and says mediation betweenMr Martins and his neighbours has broken down. Its manager, Michelle Simmonds,added tests carried out by Ofcom have not revealed evidence of any interference from themast.Mr Martins is awaiting the results of his application for planning permission.

The culprit - Amando M0PAM The victims - and that mast

From Kent on Line - August 2014

AMATEUR RADIO MAGAZINE DIGITAL

June, July,and August 2014 copies of Amateur Radio Magazine areavailable for download by WIA members from the WIA site. TheSeptember 2014 edition will be available on 28 August.


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AMATEUR RADIOCAN BE FUNNY

In July 2014, the ARRL reported that theFCC came down hard on two US hamsfor causing interference on air and making

'animal noises' The two in question were Michael Guernsey, KZ8O of Parchment,Michigan, and Brian Crow, K3VR, of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.The FCC in both instances responded to several complaints of intentional interferenceon 14.313 MHz. Commission agents used radio direction-finding techniques to pindown the source of the transmissions. The agents monitored the transmissions andheard a song being played and various animal noises being made on the frequency.It was no laughing matter, as the pair face several thousands of dollars in fines andcosts plus loss of their licences.Now it may be just me, but when two blokes named Guernsey and Crow are caught onamateur radio playing a song and making animal noises at each other, I think that's funny. PS I wonder if the song was, Old Macdonald Had a Farm? VK2CW

PORTABLE 3el 70cm Yagi By alex K6VHF

This is my recent project of 3 el yagi for 70 cm band.It’s very light, portable and great for backpacking andhiking. I like to hike and want to have only necessaryequipment with me. Many amateurs use a smallhand held VHF/UHF radios but unfortunately theoriginal antennas are very poor and cause radiooverheating. I decided to make an antenna that I can handle andhave with me every time when I am hiking orbackpacking. This antenna is light, small, foldable, andhas good performance.I used material that had in my garage, there is nothingspecial or expensive. The boom is a simple piece of

fishing rod. The antenna elements made from 3.18 mm brass rod. Simply drill two holes,one for reflector another for director. The driven element can be just zip tied to theboom. The important step is tuning. At least you have find a position of driven elementwhere you get a lowest SWR on central frequency (the antenna can be tuned ether forSSB or FM). Personally I use this particular antenna only for FM, repeaters and satellites.As you can see on photo, I attached my cheap Chinese radio directly to the boom. Courtesy of Dave VK2RD

HOW PET MICROCHIPS WORK

11.5 mm

Pet Microchip Glass Capsule

Tuning CapacitorAntenna CoilSilicon Microchip

The basic technology behind pet microchips traces back several decades. But, it wasn'tuntil recently that the devices became cheap enough to hit the mainstream pet market.A pet microchip uses radio frequency identification technology. RFID, as the nameimplies, uses radio waves as a medium to transmit information. An RFID tag stores dataand, using electromagnetic forces for power, communicates that data to a device thatinterprets it.RFID tags come in different forms. Microchips in animals don't need to activelytransmit information; they just hold information (a unique identification number for the pet).This type of tag, dubbed a passive RFID tag, has no battery and no internal power source.Rather it sits completely inert in the animal, waiting to be read.A microchip capsule is roughly the size of a grain of rice and incorporates severalcomponents to help it do its job. First, the glass material that encapsulates the device isbiocompatible. That means it's not toxic and doesn't hurt the animal's body, so your petwon't experience an allergic reaction to the device after implantation. Some versions ofthe microchip also include a cap made of polypropylene polymer to keep the chip frommoving around once it's inside the animal. Although surgical removal of the deviceis difficult, microchips don't expire or wear down.Inside the capsule is the actual silicon microchip that holds the important information,as well as a tuning capacitor and an antenna coil. The capacitor receives power andsends it to the microchip. The microchip's information can then be picked up through theantenna, which is a copper coil. Because it has no internal power source, pet microchipsneed a reader or scanner to energize it .Often, manufacturers of microchips donatescanners to animal shelters.When set to the correct frequency, the scanner "interrogates" the microchip by invigorating


Page 10 10 10 10 10 Page 15 15 15 15 15

AA

Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. - Magazine September 2014 Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine September 2014

PALM SIZE DIGITAL MULTIMETERRANGES

DC volts 200mV to 500V, AC volts 250V 500VDC Current 2000uA, 20mA, 200mA, 10A

Resistance 200, 2K, 20K, 20M, 200M OhmInput Impedance 10M Ohm

Continuity buzzer, Diode testerSquare wave output

BIG 1/2" LCD DIGITSComplete with leads, battery

and Protective Holster

Contact Geoff VK2GL at Westlakes or email [email protected]

For a start, a field radio stationwas camouflaged with brush-wood and straw. It was littlemore than a pit dug in the groundwithout heating or sanitation andunder constant fire from mortarsand shells.The photo shows Telegraphequipment being used in 1914 insuch a station in France. Wagonspulled by horses were used to laythe wire cables over the ground.

LIFE IN A WWIFIELD RADIO STATION

This task must have appeared hopeless at times as the cables were under constantbombardment from the shell-fire or damaged by the movement of troops.There were other disadvantages to communicating via wires. The telegraphists soondiscovered anywhere bare metal touched the earth, messages being sent on themcould be intercepted as they often were. The soldiers who operated the transmittersalso found themselves marked out as targets because the transmitters required antennae,but when they were attached the location became very visible to the enemy forces,The use of aircraft and tanks also posed new conundrums. Initially, hand signals orsquares of white cloth laid out in preformed patterns over the ground were used tocommunicate messages, but this was cumbersome and unable to adapt quickly tochanging circumstances - the only solution was radio field stations.At the start of WWI the allied forces had a small number of wireless sets. Unlike thecommunications sets used in later years, they were not easily portable and requiredtwo or three men to move them. As important as communications were to the forces,signallers were often mistrusted by their own men. Some of the British listeningpositions actually listened to their own Army communications to make sure that theywere behaving properly and using the correct voice procedure. But even by 1918 thekit operated by soldiers was almost unrecognisable to that used in the early days of1914.It was no fun being in an underground WWI radio field station for years on end. It wasnot much fun being on the surface either. From Life in a WWI Radio Field Station

Les VK2LT and his Westlakes capat the Parthenon, Greece

The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW)had 541 regstrations from 56 countries this year making new

A NEW RECORD

records in the annual fun-event. Westlakes has booked Norah Head again in 2015.


Page 14 Page 11

September 2014September 2014

Quickly you can Snap together your ladder linein lengths you need to make antennas. Nowaiting hard to find 14 gauge window line. Makeit as you go and only use what you need. Veryhigh performance, low loss and cost effective.Indestructible UV Stabilized Delrin Material.Good for up to 5000 watts of RF. Recommendedspacing is one Ladder-Snap every 18 inches.

LADDER SNAPThis looks good and it is claimed to be the hottestthing going for amateur radio feedlines. Youcan easily make your own 600 Ohm ladderline in a 'snap.' These made in the USAspreaders allow you to painlessly make ladder-line using 14 AWG wire, solid or stranded.

See wwwcnc.com

Drinks Badge Prize Store Sales Barbecue Radio Auction Boot Sales Gates Open 9 am York Street Teralba

This is the 99th year of continuous aidsto navigation management by theCommonwealth, and there is a greatdeal of local history associatedwith the some 350 lighthouses across

Australia. While many of the lighthouses AMSA maintains are located in remote andhard to reach locations the following 18 lighthouses are regularly open to the public:NSW: Cape Byron, Byron Bay; Smoky Cape, South West Rocks, and MontagueIsland; Victoria: Cape Schanck, Split Point, Wilson’s Promontory, Gabo Island, CapeNelson; WA: Cape Naturaliste, near Dunsborough; Cape Leeuwin, near Augusta;and Rottnest Island; QLD: Bustard Head; South Australia: Cape Borda; andTAS: Eddystone. Australia's oldest and longest operating lighthouse is at Old SouthHead Rd, Vaucluse.The International Lighthouse Weekend is held annually across the globe to celebratethe significant role of lighthouses in our history. International Lighthouse Weekendwas initiated in 1998 by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group in Scotland to promote publicawareness of lighthouses and other aids to navigation and their need for preservationand restoration, as well as encouraging amateur radio operators to practice their craft.

From Royal Australian Historical Society Courtesy of Jenny MyersWestlakes again actvated Norah Head Lighthouse for this year's ILLW. Some factson Norah Head are: Constructed 1903. Tower 27 metres high. Steps 97. Light range40km. 1961 changed from kerosene burner to mains electricity increasing power to1 million candlepower. 1995 lighthouse became fully automated. Information courtesy of Kevin VK2CE

An introductory course for computers will start in the next month or so. An indication ofnumbers would be appreciated. Please contact Michael George VK2OB at the club oremail [email protected] to register your interest. Course is to coverthe very basics of computer operations so if your having trouble grasping the very basics,here is help.

Antenna building day at Westlakes or just come to the club and make a new one. Rememberkevlar antenna wire can be ordered for you from Westlakes should you need some. Youcan purchase as many metres as you wish at $1.00 per metre. Normally the cost is $1.50.Baluns are also available, in kits or ready made. Have you heard of the famous WestlakesWonderwhizzer 2 metre antenna? We have the jig at the club to build these. Are youinterested? Please contact the club secretary and register your name.


Page 12 Page 13

September 2014 2014September

TESLA'S WARDENCLYFFE TOWER

In 1900, famed financier J.P. Morgan learned ofNicola Tesla's convictions after reading an articlein Century Magazine, wherein the scientistdescribed a global network of high-voltage towerswhich could one day control the weather, relay textand images wirelessly, and provide ubiquitouselectricity via the atmosphere.Morgan, hoping to capitalize on the future of wirelesstelegraphy, immediately invested $150,000 torelocate Tesla's lab to Long Island to constructa pilot plant for this "World Wireless System."

Construction of Wardenclyffe Tower and its dedicated power generating facility began thefollowing year.In December 1901, a scant few months after construction of the Wardenclyffe Towerbegan, a competing scientist named Guglielmo Marconi executed the world's firsttrans-Atlantic wireless telegraph signal. Tesla's investors were deeply troubled by thedevelopment despite the fact that Marconi borrowed from seventeen Tesla patentsto accomplish his feat. Though Marconi's plans were considerably less ambitious inscale, his apparatus was also considerably less expensive. Work at Wardenclyffecontinued, but Tesla realized that this his competitor's success with simple wirelesstelegraphy had greatly diminished the likelihood of further investments in his own, muchgrander project.In essence, Tesla's global power grid was designed to "pump" the planet with electricitywhich would intermingle with the natural telluric currents that move throughout theEarth's crust and oceans. At the same time, towers like the one at Wardenclyffe wouldfling columns of raw energy skyward into the electricity-friendly ionosphere fifty milesup. To tap into this energy conduit, customers' homes would be equipped with a buriedground connection and a relatively small spherical antenna on the roof, thereby creatinga low-resistance path to close the giant Earth-ionosphere circuit. Oceangoing ships coulduse a similar antenna to draw power from the network while at sea. In addition to electricity,these currents could carry information over great distances by bundling radio-frequencyenergy along with the power, much like the modern technology to send high-speedInternet data over power lines.There was little reason to doubt the veracity of Tesla's claims. But building the powerstation, the huge wooden tower, and the fifty-five ton conductive dome depleted theoriginal investment money relatively quickly, leading to chronic funding shortages.The complications were further compounded by a stock market crash in 1901 whichdoubled the cost of building materials and sent investors scurrying for financial cover.The project soon devoured Tesla's personal savings, and it became increasingly clear thatno new investments were forthcoming. In 1905, having exhausted all practical financial

options, the construction efforts on the tower were abandoned. If Tesla's plans had cometo fruition, the pilot plant would have been merely the first of many. Such "magnifyingtransmitter" towers would have peppered the globe, saturating the planet withfree electricity and wireless communication as early as the 1920s. Instead, the futuristicfacility's potential went untapped for over a decade, until the tower was finally demolishedfor salvage in 1917.The end of the Wardenclyffe Tower sent the brilliant inventor into a deep depressionand his colleagues began to seriously doubt his mental well-being. His eccentricitiesincreased, bringing home injured pigeons, an unnatural fear of germs, washing his handscompulsively, and refusing to eat any food which had not been disinfected throughboiling. Nicola Tesla died in 1947 aged 87. Courtesy of Allan Bellows

The Time from NPL is a radio signalbroadcast from the Anthorn RadioStation, Rugby, Warickshire , whichserves as the United Kingdom'snational time reference.

The time signal is derived from three atomic clocks installed at the transmitter site,and is based on time standards maintained by the UK's National Physical Laboratoryin Teddington.The signal, also known as the MSF signal as these letters are sent in Morse as the stationidentifier but it is best known as the Rugby Clock. The broadcast is a highly accuratefrequency of 60 kHz and can be received throughout the UK, and in much of northernand western Europe. The signal’s carrier frequency is maintained at 60 kHz to within 2parts per million controlled by caesium atomic clocks at the radio station. The radio stationat Rugby was first operated by the Post Office from 1926. Today, The transmitted signalhas an effective radiated power of 17 kW.The Rugby Clock was to feature in world news in 1982 as this was the VLF stationfrom which the message to sink the Agentinian cruiser, the General Belgrano was sentto HMS Conqueror, the UK nuclear submarine. Three hundred and twenty-three membersof General Belgrano's crew died in the incident despite the ship being well outside the200 mile Total Exclusion Zone that the British had declared around the Falklands.So the Rugby Clock has been effective effective in peace and war and is still tickingaway with extreme accuracy.

ANOTHER SHORT WAVE SERVICE CLOSESS W Radio Africa, known as the independent voice of Zimbabwe, has announced thatits last broadcast took place on 10 August 2014.


Page 12 Page 13

September 2014 2014September

TESLA'S WARDENCLYFFE TOWER

In 1900, famed financier J.P. Morgan learned ofNicola Tesla's convictions after reading an articlein Century Magazine, wherein the scientistdescribed a global network of high-voltage towerswhich could one day control the weather, relay textand images wirelessly, and provide ubiquitouselectricity via the atmosphere.Morgan, hoping to capitalize on the future of wirelesstelegraphy, immediately invested $150,000 torelocate Tesla's lab to Long Island to constructa pilot plant for this "World Wireless System."

Construction of Wardenclyffe Tower and its dedicated power generating facility began thefollowing year.In December 1901, a scant few months after construction of the Wardenclyffe Towerbegan, a competing scientist named Guglielmo Marconi executed the world's firsttrans-Atlantic wireless telegraph signal. Tesla's investors were deeply troubled by thedevelopment despite the fact that Marconi borrowed from seventeen Tesla patentsto accomplish his feat. Though Marconi's plans were considerably less ambitious inscale, his apparatus was also considerably less expensive. Work at Wardenclyffecontinued, but Tesla realized that this his competitor's success with simple wirelesstelegraphy had greatly diminished the likelihood of further investments in his own, muchgrander project.In essence, Tesla's global power grid was designed to "pump" the planet with electricitywhich would intermingle with the natural telluric currents that move throughout theEarth's crust and oceans. At the same time, towers like the one at Wardenclyffe wouldfling columns of raw energy skyward into the electricity-friendly ionosphere fifty milesup. To tap into this energy conduit, customers' homes would be equipped with a buriedground connection and a relatively small spherical antenna on the roof, thereby creatinga low-resistance path to close the giant Earth-ionosphere circuit. Oceangoing ships coulduse a similar antenna to draw power from the network while at sea. In addition to electricity,these currents could carry information over great distances by bundling radio-frequencyenergy along with the power, much like the modern technology to send high-speedInternet data over power lines.There was little reason to doubt the veracity of Tesla's claims. But building the powerstation, the huge wooden tower, and the fifty-five ton conductive dome depleted theoriginal investment money relatively quickly, leading to chronic funding shortages.The complications were further compounded by a stock market crash in 1901 whichdoubled the cost of building materials and sent investors scurrying for financial cover.The project soon devoured Tesla's personal savings, and it became increasingly clear thatno new investments were forthcoming. In 1905, having exhausted all practical financial

options, the construction efforts on the tower were abandoned. If Tesla's plans had cometo fruition, the pilot plant would have been merely the first of many. Such "magnifyingtransmitter" towers would have peppered the globe, saturating the planet withfree electricity and wireless communication as early as the 1920s. Instead, the futuristicfacility's potential went untapped for over a decade, until the tower was finally demolishedfor salvage in 1917.The end of the Wardenclyffe Tower sent the brilliant inventor into a deep depressionand his colleagues began to seriously doubt his mental well-being. His eccentricitiesincreased, bringing home injured pigeons, an unnatural fear of germs, washing his handscompulsively, and refusing to eat any food which had not been disinfected throughboiling. Nicola Tesla died in 1947 aged 87. Courtesy of Allan Bellows

The Time from NPL is a radio signalbroadcast from the Anthorn RadioStation, Rugby, Warickshire , whichserves as the United Kingdom'snational time reference.

The time signal is derived from three atomic clocks installed at the transmitter site,and is based on time standards maintained by the UK's National Physical Laboratoryin Teddington.The signal, also known as the MSF signal as these letters are sent in Morse as the stationidentifier but it is best known as the Rugby Clock. The broadcast is a highly accuratefrequency of 60 kHz and can be received throughout the UK, and in much of northernand western Europe. The signal’s carrier frequency is maintained at 60 kHz to within 2parts per million controlled by caesium atomic clocks at the radio station. The radio stationat Rugby was first operated by the Post Office from 1926. Today, The transmitted signalhas an effective radiated power of 17 kW.The Rugby Clock was to feature in world news in 1982 as this was the VLF stationfrom which the message to sink the Agentinian cruiser, the General Belgrano was sentto HMS Conqueror, the UK nuclear submarine. Three hundred and twenty-three membersof General Belgrano's crew died in the incident despite the ship being well outside the200 mile Total Exclusion Zone that the British had declared around the Falklands.So the Rugby Clock has been effective effective in peace and war and is still tickingaway with extreme accuracy.

ANOTHER SHORT WAVE SERVICE CLOSESS W Radio Africa, known as the independent voice of Zimbabwe, has announced thatits last broadcast took place on 10 August 2014.


Page 14 Page 11

September 2014September 2014

Quickly you can Snap together your ladder linein lengths you need to make antennas. Nowaiting hard to find 14 gauge window line. Makeit as you go and only use what you need. Veryhigh performance, low loss and cost effective.Indestructible UV Stabilized Delrin Material.Good for up to 5000 watts of RF. Recommendedspacing is one Ladder-Snap every 18 inches.

LADDER SNAPThis looks good and it is claimed to be the hottestthing going for amateur radio feedlines. Youcan easily make your own 600 Ohm ladderline in a 'snap.' These made in the USAspreaders allow you to painlessly make ladder-line using 14 AWG wire, solid or stranded.

See wwwcnc.com

Drinks Badge Prize Store Sales Barbecue Radio Auction Boot Sales Gates Open 9 am York Street Teralba

This is the 99th year of continuous aidsto navigation management by theCommonwealth, and there is a greatdeal of local history associatedwith the some 350 lighthouses across

Australia. While many of the lighthouses AMSA maintains are located in remote andhard to reach locations the following 18 lighthouses are regularly open to the public:NSW: Cape Byron, Byron Bay; Smoky Cape, South West Rocks, and MontagueIsland; Victoria: Cape Schanck, Split Point, Wilson’s Promontory, Gabo Island, CapeNelson; WA: Cape Naturaliste, near Dunsborough; Cape Leeuwin, near Augusta;and Rottnest Island; QLD: Bustard Head; South Australia: Cape Borda; andTAS: Eddystone. Australia's oldest and longest operating lighthouse is at Old SouthHead Rd, Vaucluse.The International Lighthouse Weekend is held annually across the globe to celebratethe significant role of lighthouses in our history. International Lighthouse Weekendwas initiated in 1998 by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group in Scotland to promote publicawareness of lighthouses and other aids to navigation and their need for preservationand restoration, as well as encouraging amateur radio operators to practice their craft.

From Royal Australian Historical Society Courtesy of Jenny MyersWestlakes again actvated Norah Head Lighthouse for this year's ILLW. Some factson Norah Head are: Constructed 1903. Tower 27 metres high. Steps 97. Light range40km. 1961 changed from kerosene burner to mains electricity increasing power to1 million candlepower. 1995 lighthouse became fully automated. Information courtesy of Kevin VK2CE

An introductory course for computers will start in the next month or so. An indication ofnumbers would be appreciated. Please contact Michael George VK2OB at the club oremail [email protected] to register your interest. Course is to coverthe very basics of computer operations so if your having trouble grasping the very basics,here is help.

Antenna building day at Westlakes or just come to the club and make a new one. Rememberkevlar antenna wire can be ordered for you from Westlakes should you need some. Youcan purchase as many metres as you wish at $1.00 per metre. Normally the cost is $1.50.Baluns are also available, in kits or ready made. Have you heard of the famous WestlakesWonderwhizzer 2 metre antenna? We have the jig at the club to build these. Are youinterested? Please contact the club secretary and register your name.


Page 10 10 10 10 10 Page 15 15 15 15 15

AA

Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. - Magazine September 2014 Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine September 2014

PALM SIZE DIGITAL MULTIMETERRANGES

DC volts 200mV to 500V, AC volts 250V 500VDC Current 2000uA, 20mA, 200mA, 10A

Resistance 200, 2K, 20K, 20M, 200M OhmInput Impedance 10M Ohm

Continuity buzzer, Diode testerSquare wave output

BIG 1/2" LCD DIGITSComplete with leads, battery

and Protective Holster

Contact Geoff VK2GL at Westlakes or email [email protected]

For a start, a field radio stationwas camouflaged with brush-wood and straw. It was littlemore than a pit dug in the groundwithout heating or sanitation andunder constant fire from mortarsand shells.The photo shows Telegraphequipment being used in 1914 insuch a station in France. Wagonspulled by horses were used to laythe wire cables over the ground.

LIFE IN A WWIFIELD RADIO STATION

This task must have appeared hopeless at times as the cables were under constantbombardment from the shell-fire or damaged by the movement of troops.There were other disadvantages to communicating via wires. The telegraphists soondiscovered anywhere bare metal touched the earth, messages being sent on themcould be intercepted as they often were. The soldiers who operated the transmittersalso found themselves marked out as targets because the transmitters required antennae,but when they were attached the location became very visible to the enemy forces,The use of aircraft and tanks also posed new conundrums. Initially, hand signals orsquares of white cloth laid out in preformed patterns over the ground were used tocommunicate messages, but this was cumbersome and unable to adapt quickly tochanging circumstances - the only solution was radio field stations.At the start of WWI the allied forces had a small number of wireless sets. Unlike thecommunications sets used in later years, they were not easily portable and requiredtwo or three men to move them. As important as communications were to the forces,signallers were often mistrusted by their own men. Some of the British listeningpositions actually listened to their own Army communications to make sure that theywere behaving properly and using the correct voice procedure. But even by 1918 thekit operated by soldiers was almost unrecognisable to that used in the early days of1914.It was no fun being in an underground WWI radio field station for years on end. It wasnot much fun being on the surface either. From Life in a WWI Radio Field Station

Les VK2LT and his Westlakes capat the Parthenon, Greece

The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW)had 541 regstrations from 56 countries this year making new

A NEW RECORD

records in the annual fun-event. Westlakes has booked Norah Head again in 2015.


Page 16 16 16 16 16 Page 9 9 9 9 9


AMATEUR RADIOCAN BE FUNNY

In July 2014, the ARRL reported that theFCC came down hard on two US hamsfor causing interference on air and making

'animal noises' The two in question were Michael Guernsey, KZ8O of Parchment,Michigan, and Brian Crow, K3VR, of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.The FCC in both instances responded to several complaints of intentional interferenceon 14.313 MHz. Commission agents used radio direction-finding techniques to pindown the source of the transmissions. The agents monitored the transmissions andheard a song being played and various animal noises being made on the frequency.It was no laughing matter, as the pair face several thousands of dollars in fines andcosts plus loss of their licences.Now it may be just me, but when two blokes named Guernsey and Crow are caught onamateur radio playing a song and making animal noises at each other, I think that's funny. PS I wonder if the song was, Old Macdonald Had a Farm? VK2CW

PORTABLE 3el 70cm Yagi By alex K6VHF

This is my recent project of 3 el yagi for 70 cm band.It’s very light, portable and great for backpacking andhiking. I like to hike and want to have only necessaryequipment with me. Many amateurs use a smallhand held VHF/UHF radios but unfortunately theoriginal antennas are very poor and cause radiooverheating. I decided to make an antenna that I can handle andhave with me every time when I am hiking orbackpacking. This antenna is light, small, foldable, andhas good performance.I used material that had in my garage, there is nothingspecial or expensive. The boom is a simple piece of

fishing rod. The antenna elements made from 3.18 mm brass rod. Simply drill two holes,one for reflector another for director. The driven element can be just zip tied to theboom. The important step is tuning. At least you have find a position of driven elementwhere you get a lowest SWR on central frequency (the antenna can be tuned ether forSSB or FM). Personally I use this particular antenna only for FM, repeaters and satellites.As you can see on photo, I attached my cheap Chinese radio directly to the boom. Courtesy of Dave VK2RD

HOW PET MICROCHIPS WORK

11.5 mm

Pet Microchip Glass Capsule

Tuning CapacitorAntenna CoilSilicon Microchip

The basic technology behind pet microchips traces back several decades. But, it wasn'tuntil recently that the devices became cheap enough to hit the mainstream pet market.A pet microchip uses radio frequency identification technology. RFID, as the nameimplies, uses radio waves as a medium to transmit information. An RFID tag stores dataand, using electromagnetic forces for power, communicates that data to a device thatinterprets it.RFID tags come in different forms. Microchips in animals don't need to activelytransmit information; they just hold information (a unique identification number for the pet).This type of tag, dubbed a passive RFID tag, has no battery and no internal power source.Rather it sits completely inert in the animal, waiting to be read.A microchip capsule is roughly the size of a grain of rice and incorporates severalcomponents to help it do its job. First, the glass material that encapsulates the device isbiocompatible. That means it's not toxic and doesn't hurt the animal's body, so your petwon't experience an allergic reaction to the device after implantation. Some versions ofthe microchip also include a cap made of polypropylene polymer to keep the chip frommoving around once it's inside the animal. Although surgical removal of the deviceis difficult, microchips don't expire or wear down.Inside the capsule is the actual silicon microchip that holds the important information,as well as a tuning capacitor and an antenna coil. The capacitor receives power andsends it to the microchip. The microchip's information can then be picked up through theantenna, which is a copper coil. Because it has no internal power source, pet microchipsneed a reader or scanner to energize it .Often, manufacturers of microchips donatescanners to animal shelters.When set to the correct frequency, the scanner "interrogates" the microchip by invigorating


Page 17 17 17 17 17 Page 8 8 8 8 8


the capacitor with electromagnetic power. When energized, the microchip capsulesends radio signals back to the scanner with the identification number. The scannercan then interpret the radio waves and display the identification number on anLCD screen

A REAL PARROTON A STICK

Observe closely a freak accident,What a "GALAH" this bird was. Itis in fact a Pink Galah which impaleditself on an antenna at Marine RescueBase at Norah Head. The antennahas penetrated completely throughthe bird's wingBeing a Rescue Base, those inattendance felt obliged to perform amost unusual rescue. The servicesof a rigger obtained for $300. Up hewent and freed the galah which flewoff and never even said thank you.

Courtesy of Mal VK2VON who also took the photo

In the UK, the communications regulator, Ofcom, requires amateurs to revalidate theirlicence every 5 years. Ian G3ZHI after looking through Ofcom's 'Frequently askedQuestions' and, under the sub-heading 'I have more than one licence. Must Irevalidate all of them?', he received this rather interesting answer."You should only have one personal licence. You should not, for example, have twoFull licences that reflect the old 'A' and 'B' licences respectively. However, we knowthat some amateurs have more than one personal licence and, for the purposes ofrevalidating, you should revalidate all or any licence(s) that you hold."Here comes the interesting bit: "If you have more than one personal licence, it islikely that we shall be contacting you in the future to ask you which one you wish tokeep and we may require you to relinquish all but one of your licences." From Southgate Radio

IS ONE LICENCE ON THE WAY?

continuing their battle to get the mast taken down, with Mr Martins recently forced toapply for retrospective planning permission.Next-door neighbour Rose Clayson, 78, has lived at the complex for five years. She said:“Last year I developed cancer, and since then three others nearby have also have got it.It could just be a coincidence." “It also affects my hearing aid because I hear a buzzingnoise, and is doing something to my television signal. When we get any bad weather weget howling through our television aerial.”Fellow resident Carol Barfoot said: “He has not got planning permission for it andwhenever other residents want to put up something like a satellite television dish, we’retold we can’t. “Four people in the complex have been diagnosed with cancer all virtuallynext door to each other.“It doesn’t affect all pacemakers, but some people have toldme it’s making them not work the way they are supposed to. One man told me he was fineuntil he moved here a year ago.”

But Mr Martins, who has operated a radio since 1962 and erected the mast in 2012,denied that it can cause health problems and interrupt hearing aids or pacemakers. Hesaid: “People don’t understand and ask ‘what is that big aerial for?’, but they don’tunderstand and don’t know what it’s about. “I get all sorts of remarks made, sayingit interrupts with television or pacemakers, but it broadcasts on a totally differentfrequency. How can a piece of metal interfere?”He uses the £7,000 equipment to communicate with other operators across the globe andhelp in disaster zones if other communication systems have been knocked out. He said:“It’s people who don’t know what it’s about and who are interfering and giving me griefall the time. It’s my hobby, but everywhere I go people complain. It makes my life hell.”East Kent Housing Association runs the complex and says mediation betweenMr Martins and his neighbours has broken down. Its manager, Michelle Simmonds,added tests carried out by Ofcom have not revealed evidence of any interference from themast.Mr Martins is awaiting the results of his application for planning permission.

The culprit - Amando M0PAM The victims - and that mast

From Kent on Line - August 2014

AMATEUR RADIO MAGAZINE DIGITAL

June, July,and August 2014 copies of Amateur Radio Magazine areavailable for download by WIA members from the WIA site. TheSeptember 2014 edition will be available on 28 August.


Page 18 18 18 18 18 Page 7 7 7 7 7


4 to 1 Balun Wiring Diagram

Unbalanced

4:1 Balanced

B

b

A

a

In last month's magazine (page18) there was an article by JohnVK5AJL, "When is a balun nota balun? When it's a unun."There were two wiring dia-grams, one of a balun, the otherof a unun. The unun was correctThe balun was not.Eagle-eye Max VK2TTI pickedthe error and pointed out that thecoax connection in the drawingof the balun was back to front.The cold side of the coax shouldgo to "b" and the hot side shouldgo to "a."Observe the corrected drawingof the 4:1 balun on the left.Thank you Max.

VK2CW

The Linthorne family arrived in Australia October 1965 after 6 weeks at sea on the SSFairsea. The first thing we did in Fremantle was to find a cafe and buy two teas and amilkshake made with pure milk after the last weeks aboard with only powdered milk.We were accommodated at a motel in Cottesloe for two weeks, whilst we purchased allthat we would need to set up a home in Carnarvon WA. Takes a bit of imagination whenyou have to buy everything to set a new home unseen when your possessions consist ofthe clothes you have which were totally unsuitable for the climate, i.e. fur coats and warmclothing for the UK and now 30 degrees in the shade.

To give you some idea of the specifications of the FPQ-6 firstly I was informed that therewere only two these in the entire tracking worldwide network. Carnarvon was one of theprime tracking radars. The FPQ-6 radar was a C-Band radar 5400-5900 MHz. The dishwas 30.5m in diameter weighed 35 tons and could slew at 27degrees a second. It rotated360 degrees in azimuth and 180 degrees in elevation.The whole assembly was mounted onthe top of a tower with an overall height of 150ft. The antenna pedestal was high precision

We flew up to Carnarvon on“Mickey Mouse” airlines in a DC3next to the freight. The firsttouchdown was Geraldton, a onehour stop in a tin shed known as theTerminal. We took off and arrivedin Carnarvon about midday.Accommodation was arranged forus at The Carnarvon Hotel wherewe stayed until our goods andchattels arrived from Perth someten days later. Whilst the familystayed in the hotel I reported forduty to the Carnarvon TrackingStation to take up my position asAntenna Technician at the FPQ-6space tracking radar.I was amazed at the size of the dishantenna and the twelve racks ofassociated electronics to control itplus all the hydraulics andhydrostatics. I was thrown in at thedeep end I had one week to get upto speed as the next track wasscheduled in 5 days.

Monthly Meeting Saturday 6 September

Westlakes 2014 Field Day Sunday 14 September

A radio enthusiast who erected a 30ft mast in his back garden without planningpermission has dismissed claims it could give neighbours cancer. Armando Martins, 73,has also had to fight off accusations the signal from the 10-metre aerial is interferingwith people’s pacemakers and hearing aids.But residents at the Thornhurst sheltered bungalow complex in Beltinge, UK, are

RADIO MASTS ARE TERRIBLE THINGS


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LONGEST MORSE CODE MESSAGEOn 26 October 1864, James W. Nye, Governor of the Territoryof Nevada, began sending a telegram to President AbrahamLincoln. This message, transmitted in Morse code, contains theentire text of the Nevada State Constitution.Sending such a long telegram at the height of the Civil Warwas a challenge -- with no direct link from Carson City to

Washington, DC, telegrapher James H. Guild worked seven hours to transmit the messageto Salt Lake City, where it was re-sent to Chicago, then Philadelphia, and finally to the WarDepartment’s telegraph Office in Washington, DC, two days later, where a 175-pagetranscription was made. The final page shows the total word count was 16,543 andand it cost US $4,313.27. This 175-page transcription of the longest ever telegram is inthe holdings of the National Archives in Washigton DC.

Indonesia, but lodged a mayday call that they had run out of food and water. Manning theradio at the Lemon Tree Passage Coast Guard unit (now Marine Rescue NSW), MrOsborne heard the mayday call come through."The Prince called a mayday off Darwin,"Mr Osborne said."He said they needed food and water and they had run out."He wantedme to call an army commander in Indonesia."The Australian Navy never picked up the prince, who got the children to Malaysia, wherethey lived for 14 years. It was not the first, or last time, a long distance call had been pickedup by the Lemon Tree Passage unit. Mr Osborne said the unit picked up mayday calls atTaylors Beach in Tasmania regularly.The call stands out in the mind of Mr Osborne, whohas been part of the volunteer rescue organisation for 33 years.Mr Osborne took up the two-year role as unit commander this month. Greg Stuchley willserve as deputy commander. Mr Osborne is no stranger to unit command, havingperformed the role four times in the coast guard. He has also served as radio officer, medialiaison and communications officer for NSW Coast Guard, and has been part of LemonTree Passage Rural Fire Service for many years.In 2008 he was awarded the Medal ofthe Order of Australia for his community service with the coast guard and RFS.Mr Osborne said his goals for the next two years were to generate more communityinterest in the unit, attract new volunteers and get existing members up to Marine Rescuetraining standards. From the Port Stephens Examiner - 24 July 2014

MEET RICHARD VK2FRKO

It was Richard Osborne OAM, the newLemon Tree Passage Marine Rescueunit commander, who picked upMalaysian Prince Raja Bahrin's maydaycall in 1992, when he abducted his twochildren from Australia.The prince took his children by boatfrom the Cape York Peninsula to

By Ellie-Marie Watts

My family still lives in Australia so it must have something going for it.

.The radar used 5 receivers with parametric amplifiers giving a dynamic range of 120dbFPQ-6 never missed a track throughout the complete Apollo and other missions and wassometimes used to track other secret objects. Carnarvon tracking station has been partiallyclosed since 1974. I remained on site until October 1969 just after the first Man on theMoon mission. It was one of most interesting positions I ever held and I have served inmany overseas postings.

two axis mount using a hydrostatic bearing in azimuth and phase roller bearings inelevation. The antenna was positioned through anti-backlash dual drive pedestal gearingvia high torque-to-inertia electro-hydraulic valve motor system.

The dish had a gain of 51db and abeamwidth of 0.4 degrees. It used acassegrain feed consisting of 5 horns,Reference centre horn and twoAzimuth and two elevation horns. Itcould track both skin and beaconsignals.The transmitter consisted of aKlystron output of 3.00 MHZ feedinginto a pressurised waveguide using drynitrogen at 90lbs per inch.The repeller voltage was 127,000Volts. Pulse widths of 0.8,to 2.4microsecs. The range of the radarwas 32,000 miles (59,264 kilometres.)It could track a copperised tennis ballout to 100miles. The trackingaccuracy was plus or minus 1.8m.VK2GL at the controls (in checked shirt)

A wherry is a type of boat that was traditionallyused for carrying cargo or passengers onrivers and canals in England, and is particularlyassociated with the River Thames and alsowith the Broadland rivers of Norfolk andSuffolk.But not this wherry. Just launched, it is thecreation of Barry VK2BZ and will only beseen on the calm waters of Lake Macquarie.


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THE RADIO BOARD GAME

It is unlikely you have ever seen this 'Radio Game' -after all it went on sale in 1924. It was published bythe American firm of Milton Bradley and was aboard game for 2 to 4 players of 7 years and older.Playing time was 30 minutes.Exactly how this game was played is lost to memory.On the game board is a stylized map of the UnitedStates indicating the boundaries of each State. Themap is in four colours, and each colour indicates atime zone: red - Pacific Time green - Mountain Timegrey - Central Time and yellow - Eastern Time.For the 2 to 4 players, certain circles across the mapare joined by red lines, while others are joined by

blue lines. The lines indicating the two dominant radio networks, NBC Red and ABC BlueThey are also the tracks for movement of the players' counters. The disc shaped cardboardcounters are in the upper right of the photograph.At the bottom left of the photograph is a "spinner card" used by the players to determinetheir movement around the board. As a "chance device", a metal arrow fixed into the centreof the card is spun by a player. Where the point of the arrow stops determines the player'smove. The outer circle on the card is divided into the four US time zones. Within each zoneare the numbers 1, 2, 3. The Radio Game was manufactured by the Alderman FairchildCompany.

RADIO JIM CREEK

time travel might be possible despite well-known clashing theories. Led by PhDstudent Martin Ringbauer, the research will add to the study of how time travel couldbe possible and how core scientific theory quantum mechanics might change innew environments.The team was able to send single particles of light, known as photons, along a pathin space-time that returns the travelling object to the same point at an earlier time, knownas a closed timelike curve. The team used mathematical equivalence to map the journey.The first photon travelled trough a wormhole into the past. It then interacted witha photon simulated to stand in as the first's older version. A second photon wassent through normal space-time and interacted with a photon that was forevertrapped in the closed timelike curve.

Jim Creek Naval Radio Station is a United States Navyvery low frequency radio transmitter facility at Jim Creeknear Oso, Washington.The primary mission of this site is to communicate ordersone-way to Pacific Fleet submarines while they aresubmerged. Established in 1953, the transmitter radiateson 24.8 kHz with a power of 1.2 million watts and acallsign of NLK, and is one of the most powerful transmitters in the world. Locatednear Arlington, Washington, in the foothills of the Cascades, north of Seattle, the sitehas 5,000 largely forested acres. Much of the site is devoted to the enormousoverhead wire antenna array that is necessary to efficiently radiate the VLF waves.The antenna consists of ten "catenary" cables, 5640 - 8700 ft long, suspended ontwelve 200 ft towers over the valley between Wheeler Mountain and Blue Mountainin a zigzag pattern.Each cable receives energy from a vertical cable attached at the centre, whichdrops down to the valley floor where it is fed by one of two "buss" transmission lineswhich extend along the valley from the transmitter building in the centre. This typeof antenna, called a "valley-span" antenna, functions as a capacitively top-loaded electrically short monopole antenna. The vertical cables are the mainradiating elements, and the horizontal cables serve to add capacitance to thetop of the antenna, to increase the power radiated. The antenna is divided intotwo sections of 5 elements, each fed with its own transmission line. These normallyoperate together as one antenna, but can operate separately so one section can beshut down for maintenance without interrupting transmission. The floor of the valleyunder the antenna is covered with a network of cables suspended a few feet abovethe ground which functions as a counterpoise ground system. From Oso Gazette

TIME TRAVEL?

In VK4, a group at University of Queensland physicists haveused light particles to simulate a key process that indicates how

From Journal Nature - August 2014

SILENT KEY - VK6ALU/2ALU

Lyle Patison VK6ALU, a pioneer ofmicro-wave amateur radio activity, passedaway last month. Pictured is his 3.7metre diameter dish he used at hisWollongong QTH to make the historic10GHz EME contact with G3WDG onthe 18th August 1996 which set the world10GHz distance record


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next page

Steve VK2LW


A NORTH KOREAN RADIORadio parts and pieces acquired on theblack market are able to help NorthKoreans to learn about the outsideworld as this wooden homemade radioshows.Those who live near China may buy aChinese radio, but those who live awayfrom the border have to contact a local

underground radio-maker. Some North Koreans make a living out of making thehomemade radio like the one pictured.Made from woodblocks on allsix sides, the radio weighs about1.5 kilograms. Despite itsoutdated appearance, the radiohad most of the functionscommon to radios on the market.On test it was easy to connectthe power, adjust the volumeand change the frequency byturning the module attached tothe radio. Even though thefunctions were easy enough foranyone to learn in five minutes,catching the specific frequencywas not as easy as it seemed.The hardest part in operating this radio was finding the right frequency. Unlike mostmodern radios, which can easily find frequencies with the assistance of digitally projectednumbers on a screen, this handmade radio provides no visual aid. The radio therefore,leaves users to depend totally on delicate hand skills to turn the manual module inmicro-inches every time. The frequency changes with the slightest turn of the moduleeither to the left or right.Once the correct signal is found, do not touch the set as it is tootedious to find the same signal again.Extending the internal antenna is needed to catch signals. As the radio only has a shortinternal antenna, North Koreans are required to wire the antenna to an external lengthin order to hear clearly This means that this radio is not a portable device. The third problemis the low volume. It is hard to listen to the radio using the original attached speaker. Inorder to make it loud enough to be audible, a pair of headphones or a personal earphonewas the best choice unless your local underground radio-maker can come up with anexternal amplifier. It's all a bit like using a crystal set. From NK News Courtesy of Richard VK2FRKO

Westlakes attended the 2014 Our TownModel Show over the two days of 23/24August which was held at the NewcastleJockey club at Broadmeadow.The Model Show is an annual event andthis was the first time amateur radio had

been represented.Westlakes display had the fullrange of wireless technologyincluding a spark transmitter,Post Office sounders, valvetransceivers, the latesttransceivers, soft ware definedradio radios, WWII spy sets,radio controlled and cameramounted quadcopters manpacks - just about every thingto do with the hobby.Many thousands attend theModel Show each yearincluding commercial traders.Also on display and runningwere model trains (of allgauges), radio controlled shipsand boats (in their own indoorpool), tanks, trucks, planes -the list goes on. The weatherwas attrocious for most of theweekend but but no matter, allwas sealed and snug inside.Even the floor was carpeted.Back to the Westlakes stand.Items that took my interest andmost of the general publicwere: the brand new Yaesu1200DX of Barry VK2VBF,the two radio-controlled, with

camera quadcopters from Ian McLaren, Max VK2TTI and his manpack, classic Collinsradios from the 70's from Steve VK2LW, and maybe last but certainly not least were theWWII paraset, the laptop Morse, the moving electronic club sign from Geoff VK2GLwhom I must mention was there for the set-up, both days of the show, and the pull-down.A fine effort Geoff. One surprise at the conclusion of the event came from the organisers,a nice cash donation for Westlakes. We had been paid to attend! VK2CW

Photos by Barry VK2VBF

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Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.- Magazine September 2014 Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. - Magazine September 2014

VOLTAGE OR CURRENT

has been been published in the August 2014 edition of the journal, Nature. Theexperiments were conducted over seven years and it has taken a long time before theteam was confident to come out with this to the public.Prof Mouritsen, the team leader, said he stumbled across the fact by accident thatlow frequency waves could be interfering with the European red robin. The basicexperiment in bird navigation research is to put the birds into an orientation cage.They are so eager to migrate, that they will jump in the direction in which they wantto fly, and if you turn a static magnetic field in the horizontal plane they will start tojump in a different direction. Then the robins' huts were screened on the inside withaluminium plates so the electromagnetic noise was reduced about 100 times andsuddenly the birds started to orientate.When devices are plugged into the mains they produce a weak electromagnetic fieldOver the course of the next seven years, he and his team carried out numerousexperiments to look at how the weak electromagnetic field affected the behaviour ofthe robins. In essence, he found that birds exposed to electromagnetic "noise" between50 kHz and 5 MHz lost all sense of direction. But when the field was blocked out, theyfound their bearings again. Prof Mouritsen said that migratory birds flying over townsand cities, where there are more homes and businesses that use electrical devices, wouldbe most effected - and they would probably resort to back-up navigational systems.A bird's magnetic compass is thought to use the quantum phenomenon of electronspin to navigate. A very small perturbation of these electron spins would actuallyprevent the birds from using their magnetic compass, Prof Mouritsen said. Theenergies of the electromagnetic field are so low in intensity that any physicist will tellyou they can't have an effect on a process based on conventional physics.Given this effect is real, it very difficult to come up with an explanation that is notquantum based. From BBC News

A voltage Balun utilises some form of transformer action to transfer energy back andforth between a balanced and unbalanced transmission line. A voltage balun involvesthe transformation of a voltage, often using a core type transformer (even if 1:1) butthat definition need not be so restrictive and can include a half wave loop. This impliesthe transformation of impedance (even if the same). It also includes auto-transformerslike the Guanella Balun.Current Balun A current balun allows working currents to pass but chokes commonmode currents - nothing more. There is no transformer action. Because it is a currentcontrolling device and not a transformer, there can be no such thing as a 4:1 current Balun.Put another way, a current Balun controls currents presenting a low impedance,through the device, to desired currents but a high impedance to unwanted ones. Courtesy of Norm VK2KNC

by John VK5AJL

ISOTRON ANTENNAFOR 10 - 15 - 20 METRES By Ralph WD0EJA

If you build a resonant antenna that is a 3dimensional design, it will not have muchphysical length compared to the wavelengthyou designed it for. Electrically the antennaradiates at a good efficiency, but what doesit do to the radiation?A dipole or vertical wire or piping willnaturally line up the magnetic lines with thelength of the antenna. For a dipole, this will

give it a stronger radiation in 2 directions and a weaker radiation in the 2 directions that areat 90 degrees. If you can get the antenna high enough and in the clear, you can takeadvantage of this small, but noticeable characteristic. A little more punch in 2 directions anda little rejection of other signals in the direction at right angles to the antenna. For a vertical,you can mount the antenna closer to the ground and have it work well. It can have a veryeven pattern around the antenna.Now for this 3 dimensional thing, what can you expect? The magnetic lines are atrandom, going many different ways. Some call this a random polarization. Is this bad?Not really. This design will be close to an isotropic radiator. This means radiation is equalin any direction from the antenna. Does that mean you lose radiation going straight up, oras some say a cloud warmer?If you were floating in outer space, this might be the results. However, we have good oldearth to fix this for us. Much like a horizontal dipole, the earth gives the antennas a verticalgain depending on how high the antenna is from the ground. Therefore, the 3 dimensionalantenna will exhibit the same response, increasing radiation toward the horizon per heightabove ground. There will be no need to rotate the antenna as you would the dipole.Another nice characteristic is the 3 dimensional, or randomly polarized antenna receivesless noise than either the vertical or dipole because noise many times are vertically orhorizontally polarized.The Isotrons, which is of this randomly polarized design, have beentested by Gilfer Associates on 60 metres. They found a 3 db reduction in noise whilereceived signals were of the same strength as their 1/2 wave dipole.

https://www.isotronantennas.com Courtesy of Richard VK2FRKO

HOW LONG BEFOREDRONES ARE BANNED?

A photographer at America's Yellowstone NationalPark, crashed his camera equipped aerial vehicledamaging an important geological feature

This is not the first incident of its type at Yellowstone. The increase in drone activityand un-friendly 'fly-bys' on native wildlife and other park users has caused the NationalParks Department to call a ban on the use of such aircraft, which is seemingly beingignored by a growing number of park visitors.


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Published by Westlakes AmateurRadio Club Inc. York Street Teralba,as a magazine of news, informationand opinions on amateur radio andassociated topics for the benefit ofthe members .Copyright:In general there is no copyright onarticles, they may be copied at will.The exception being those articlesfollowed by an asterisk *preceding the named source.

Founder:Keith Howard VK2AKX (SK)Patron:G.Piper MLALife members:Gregory Smith VK2CWPaul Lorentzen VK2AEAlec Efimov VK2ZMLeslie Payne VK2ZPAPeter Sturt VK2ZTVDavid Myers VK2RDGeoffrey Clark VK2EO

Correspondence to: The Secretary W.A.R.C., Box 5, BOOLAROO NSW 2284Telephone:- (02) 49 581 588(24 hour answering service)Email:[email protected]

Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.is an affiliated club with theWireless Institute of Australia.

a

Club meeting: 1st Saturday ofeach month 13.30

Membership RatesAll members................ $20.00 P.AJoining fee.................... $ 5.00

WANTED

Club fees are due 1st February

FOR SALE

Magazine assembly day "OZZI HAMS" Maxi Port-a-pole


Proof reading by: Stella

President:Steve Beveridge [email protected] President:Geoff Linthorne VK2GLSecretary:Barrie Downward: [email protected]:Greg Smith VK2CWCommittee:Allan Brown VK2JEDHerb Herivel VK2ZVFKeith Turk VK2PKTLeonie McGuiness VK2FHRKBarry Finlay VK2VBFWarren Payne VK2UWPBarry Sullivan VK2BZMichael Welsh VK2CCWDiane Wilson JP VK2FDNEMagazine Editor:Greg Smith [email protected] Liason Officer:Alex Efimov VK2ZMStoreman:Aly Zimmer VK2AFZProject Officer:Norm Cameron VK2KNCMaintenance Officer:Barry Sullivan VK2BZRadio and Contest Officer:Allan Brown VK2JEDPublic Relations:Diane Wilson JP VK2FDNESecurity:Warren Payne VK2UWPInternet Webmaster:Geoff Clark VK2EOExaminations Officer:Geoff Linthorne VK2GL

Club Directory

STONE THE CROWS 3.588 MHz SATURDAYS 6AM

THE EZYBEE NET 146.775 MHz SATURDAYS 8AM

PROJECT CORNER

Radio CallsignsClub Callsign: VK2ATZClub Repeaters:VK2RTZ 146.775MHzVK2RZL 146.875MHzClub Digipeater:VK2RTZ 147.575 MHz IRLP Node 6040 Echolink 356838Club Nets:Club News broadcast,Sunday 0900146.775Mhzfollowed by callbacksand the VK1WIA News.

EZB Net 146.775MHzSaturday 0800Stone the Crows NetSaturday 3.588MHz 060040 Metre Net7.150 MHz Mon, Wed, Fri0930Internet HomePage:www.westlakesarc.org.au

Business:Tuesday after 1700Saturday after 1200Club Distance Record:2m SimplexVK2FGM 2040 kmQRP CW VK2YA 2680 km

Note: Opinions expressed in thismagazine are those of thecontributors and do not necessarilycoincide with those of the Executivenor the members in general.

THE 40 METRE NET7.150 MHz

Monday, Wednesday, Friday9.30 AM

Yaesu FP700 Power Suppy Supply $150DX 160 Receiver ( needs work) makean offer. Barrie VK2QG 0478228983

All quiet on the project front


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W.A.R.C. is supported by..


WESTLAKES MAGAZINEIS SPONSORED BY

CARDIFF RSLSUB BRANCH

SEPTEMBER 2014

Warners Bay2/276 Macquarie Road

Warners Bay, 2282Ph: 02 4954 8100

Fax: 02 4954 8200

Members at Jaycar Warners Bay. A Discount Applies to all Club Members on Purchases over $25

Special Offer to Westlakes

Photo by VK2CW

AM RADIO SIGNALS AFFECT BIRDS

A German team has found that weak electromagnetic fields produced by equipmentplugged into mains electricity plus AM radio signals interfere with the red robin'sinternal compass. The effect is greatest when the birds fly over urban areas. The study

Shop 8, 41-51 Bathurst Street Greystanes NSW 2145Phone

Facsimile (02) 9688 1995Email [email protected]

LEE ANDREWSManaging Director

Five Year Warranty on New Yaesu, Icom,Alinco & Kenwood Amateur Transceivers

(Applies to new sales from 2 May 2014)Web www.andrewscom.com.au

(02) 9636 9060 (02) 9688 4301 (02) 9896 8972

Documents

LEE ANDREWS SEPTEMBER 2014 Managing … 2014.pdfEmail [email protected] LEE ANDREWS Managing Director Five Year Warranty on New Yaesu, Icom, Alinco & Kenwood Amateur Transceivers