GGREC Newsletter – September 2014
Here is a summary of the key articles, topics, and announcements from this newsletter: The September issue of The President's letter welcomes the start of the warmer months. Despite some slow pace in winter activities, the club has had a busy month, with various events and projects underway, including the Mid-Year Dinner at Hastings Marina, Hamfests, Pub nights, and working bees. One notable achievement is the successful restoration of the Off Centre Dipole (OCFD), which was reinstalled after being temporarily removed. The new pole was erected in a safe location, allowing for its safe operation. This work has been completed with thanks to Ian Jackson's efforts. The newsletter also mentions the upcoming JOTA/JOTI event on October 18-19, where amateur radio will be introduced to young girl guides and scouts through a practice night at Guide Hall. Additionally, it highlights various other events, including an Antennapalooza camping trip in the back paddock, Sensors and Sensibility workshops, and Video demonstrations of Valve Construction. Lastly, the newsletter mentions that Bruno Tonizzo has taken over as the Editor for The Official Magazine of the Gate Radio & Electronics Club Inc.
GGREC Newsletter – August 2014
Here's a summary of the key articles, topics, and announcements in this newsletter: The President's column reports that while cold weather has kept him indoors, he did take advantage of the opportunity to clean up his radio room and catch up on some reading. The August General Meeting will be held on Friday night at 2000 hours at the Guide Hall. Additionally, a door prize winner was congratulated. In other news, Ian Jackson has written about his experience restoring a classic boom lift for amateur radio use. He shared that he had to navigate an 8-meter ladder to trim a branch on a Cypress tree five years ago and had to deal with a running horizontal split that caused the rope to sever one side of the ladder. The restoration process was complicated, but ultimately successful. The club's sponsors, Altronics and PK Antennas, have been recognized for their support. Rockby Electronics also provided assistance to the club. Despite the challenges of organizing a Hamfest, Bruno Tonizzo acknowledges that it is an event that brings the community together. The August General Meeting will be held on Friday night at 2000 hours at the Guide Hall.
GGREC Newsletter – July 2014
The Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club, Inc., issued their July 2014 newsletter and outlined several key events and initiatives for members. The club is currently gearing up for a major construction project, with soldering irons being warmed up in preparation. Members have been discussing the projects and are looking to tackle increasing complexity as they improve. The Hamfest will be held on August 16-17 at Cranbourne Public Hall, Melway 133 K4. The event promises to feature digital signals on the VHF/UHF radio spectrum, making it an exciting opportunity for members to explore new possibilities with their SDR kit. Members are invited to discuss and decide what projects to tackle next. In addition to the Hamfest, the club is organizing a Pub Night at the Cardinia Hotel on August 9th. Members will need to RSVP by August 2nd to secure their spot. Furthermore, members are reminded that Internet access has been made available in the Club rooms, and they can explore other possibilities for using it. The Club Secretary encourages members to contribute to discussions about potential facilities for future use.
GGREC Newsletter – June 2014
This month's newsletter from The President highlights several important events and accomplishments within the Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club Inc. One of the most notable achievements is the extension of an Australian hamming distance record in microwave frequency. On May 13, Alan Devlin, VK3XPD, set up a new record for communicating over distances greater than 64 kilometers using both SSB and digital modes on both frequencies (76/78 GHz). The initial contacts were made with a line-of-sight path that stretched nearly 60 kilometers. The same day, two more attempts by VK3HZ, VK3XPD's co-operator, reached even longer distances of up to 90 kilometers. The achievement was made possible through the use of Mike and Steve's "inverted L" antenna mountings at the club shack, as well as their new microwave link setup. The platform used for the hydraulic crane also helped to safely collect debris during pruning work in May. A significant amount of tree litter was removed by Graeme Brown and Wayne Cooke using chainsaws. The newsletter also mentions an increase in technical support provided by Rob, with construction of baluns at practice nights being particularly appreciated. Additionally, John Watkins gave a talk at the general meeting on the early days of the Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club Inc., providing insight into the club's history and evolution.
GGREC Newsletter – May 2014
The May edition of The President's Newsletter features several important updates for amateur radio clubs. One key topic is the upcoming Hamfest, which will take place on July 19th at the Cranbourne Community Hall. The event offers a platform for sellers to showcase their wares and connect with potential customers. In addition to the Hamfest, the newsletter also highlights preparations being made for this year's hamfest. The club is working towards securing a venue and arranging logistics, including table hire and door prizes. It is recommended that anyone interested in selling items at the event contacts Steve Harding on 0408 878934 or emailing details to hamfest@ggrec.org.au. The newsletter also touches on other club activities, such as mid-year lunch plans and General Meetings scheduled for May and June. The next General Meeting will take place on Friday night at the Guide Hall, starting at 2000 hours with a video presentation from WLW 500KW AM Radio Station.
GGREC Newsletter – April 2014
The Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club's (GGREC) March newsletter highlights several key articles, topics, and announcements. One notable item is the announcement that Ian Jackson, Treasurer, has decided not to restand as a candidate for committee positions due to his busy schedule. The newsletter also mentions Graeme Brown, who will be leaving the committee after three years of service. To ensure continuity, Bruno Tonizzo has advised the Committee to nominate Graeme for another position or leave the committee. Additionally, Ian Jackson is considering nominating for President again, but it's recommended that members consider applying to join the committee as a way to contribute to Club life. Another article discusses Thin LED lights being used in amateur radio equipment, with some users attempting to build their own using low-cost components. The newsletter also provides information on the upcoming General Meeting on April 11th at the Guide Hall, featuring talks by notable guests. Finally, it mentions that the PR4 Amateur Radio Expo is taking place from April 25-28 and will be promoting the growth of amateur radio in Victoria.
GGREC Newsletter – March 2014
The March newsletter of the Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club Inc. features articles about various projects and initiatives within the club, as well as external events. One key article highlights the capabilities of microprocessors in amateur radio, with several members showcasing their programming skills and sharing knowledge. Other topics covered include a discussion on tire pressure monitoring and control systems, courtesy of Ian Jackson's presentation last month. Additionally, the newsletter mentions a "Prac Night Facilitator" program, which aims to encourage members to bring along their projects for show-and-tell sessions at future meetings. The newsletter also covers external events, including the PR4 Amateur Radio Expo, which is being promoted by WIA (Worldwide Interoperability for Amateur Radio) and features exhibits on amateur radio growth. Another notable event mentioned is Anzac Day, where members can try using AM and CW modes in a unique way that was popular during wartime.
GGREC Newsletter – February 2014
In this February newsletter, GGCRC (Goulburn-Gippsland Radio & Electronics Club) is preparing for a John Moyle Field Day in Yea, which aims to be a fun weekend event for members. The club has received an invitation from Ian branch VK3YEA to use his property, and discussions are ongoing about whether the field day will take place before or after the expected bushfire threat. As part of the preparations, Bruno Tonizzo is looking for a Hamfest co-ordinator who can assist with organizing an event. This opportunity provides a chance for individuals to gain experience in organizing events and contributing to the club's personal development. Additionally, the committee is seeking input and involvement from members to form the new GGRC committee for 2014-2015. The newsletter also includes various articles on topics such as tower maintenance hazards, Redefining the AMP (Alternating Current Measurement Principle), and automatic tyre inflation. These discussions are aimed at promoting member safety and providing information on best practices in their respective areas of interest.
GGREC Newsletter – January 2014
The newsletter discusses various events and activities within the Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club Inc., including a Christmas party hosted by Pat Pavey, VK3OZ. The party was well-attended and featured delicious food and a raffle win for a prize hamper donated by Jackson's. The club is planning to change the date of their General Meeting from April 18th due to the Good Friday holiday falling on that day. The newsletter also touches on the origins of '73, which is a popular QSO (contact) activity where amateur radio operators search for signals emanating from different locations around the world. The "SOTA" program allows participants to earn points by locating specific points or regions, with double-point awards awarded for successful contacts. Another article announces an upcoming field day event at John Moyle Field Day, which will take place on March 16th and 17th. Finally, the newsletter mentions a new activity called Sink Holes On The Air (SOTA), where amateur radio operators attempt to find large holes in the ground and contact others through point-to-point communication. This unique sport pushes the boundaries of Amateur Radio communications into areas previously thought to be too noisy.
GGREC Newsletter – November 2013
The latest newsletter from The President of GGREC highlights the successes and events of the year. One notable achievement is the successful completion of the Antennapaloosa, a new 70 cm repeater VK3RWD. This project, which was organized by several members, successfully built and tested a significant antenna system. Another highlight is the Mid-Year dinner, which took place on November 10 at Pats VK3OZ. The event featured good food, warm company, and lively conversation. It's great to see that many members contributed to making this event successful. Additionally, there are updates on various activities, including the upcoming Yarra Valley Hamfest (November 10) and the General Meeting at the Guide Hall (November 15). Other details include the deadline for January Gateways, which is set for January 17.
GGREC Newsletter – October 2013
The Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club's October newsletter highlights various updates and events for members. A new VK3RWD 70cm repeater has been installed in Drouin, providing access to central Gippsland for much of the area. Additionally, the club notes that one element of their HF beam is damaged after a windstorm, requiring an urgent repair session. A working bee will be organized to address this issue as soon as possible. The Christmas hamper is now available in the Clubroom and donations are welcome for the raffle. The 56th Joint Operating Team Australia (JOTA) event is scheduled for October 19-20 at Cranbourne, with helpers required to supervise fox-hunting and operate radios during designated hours. Further information will be provided in subsequent club meetings. The official magazine for the Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club will have more details on JOTA activities.
GGREC Newsletter – September 2013
This newsletter from the Gate Radio & Electronics Club Inc. covers various topics related to amateur radio, including events, announcements, and updates. A notable event mentioned in the newsletter is a working bee planned for Saturday, which aims to install the repeater at QTH VK3RWD. The newsletter invites members to attend the General Meeting on September 20th to share their feedback on the proposed beacons. This includes discussing who listens to them, who would like to use them, and who is interested in using them for communication. The newsletter also mentions a camping trip planned for the Melbourne Cup long weekend with details of contact information provided to interested members. Additionally, it lists various club-related events, including a practice night at the Club Shack on October 4th from 1930 hours, an antenna weekend from October 12-13, and a general meeting on November 1st. The newsletter also provides some interesting updates, such as the testing of antennas for repeater VK3RWD and the installation of the equipment cabinet. The purpose-built antenna, designed by Ian VK3BUF, is expected to provide more accurate results in future tests.