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Weekly podcast produced by QNews in Queensland Australia covering Amateur radio news items.

8 HR AGO

QNews for November 17th 2024

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. We like to be able to identify and put a face to bodies with which we associate. At times the face is that of a person who has the power to influence outcomes and at other times it is a willing spokesperson, a media face. Within our club structures, the group that forms the executive is usually supporting the leader or chairperson in public statements. Unlike politicians, we don’t and can’t justify having a media spokesperson in a not-for-profit body. But at times the very important role of the publicity officer is the unsung hero who gets the message out to the membership, the TV print and broadcast media and, of course, to other clubs and enthusiasts. Normally we don’t get to see or hear much of publicity officers except for perhaps their name on the bottom of a post or news release. Yet it is this person who can provide a wide range of support to our body not only with the necessary dispersal of information but making sure that the name of our club is “out there”. These days there are many platforms which people use for sourcing news and information. Once we depended on books, libraries and newspapers but these days the Internet gives us instant access to many opportunities. To this end, do you know what your membership turns to for entertainment, news and messaging? Once it was web pages that carried the traffic but these days we have numerous social media platforms and they tend to be used by different segments of the community. Has anyone gone to the trouble of finding out what club members are using regularly or what family members are chatting with from school ages through to grandparents? I bet you will find that many households are represented on several of these apps. Then naturally we have to include our specific avenues which are dedicated to supporting amateur radio. We have club pages on net platforms, the bi-monthly Amateur Radio magazine and of course our weekly news service provided by the WIA. As a regular listener have you taken the time to count the number of clubs who provide material to QNews? The regular number would probably amount to the fingers of one hand with maybe two or three appearing more than a couple of times each year. This is why I believe the publicity officer is the unsung hero because they take the time to answer those questions I have asked and they endeavour to get their messages out on all the appropriate platforms. While I was at school, I started listening to the weekly news broadcast and continued doing so as I became a shortwave listener and then a licensed amateur. If my experience stands for anything, we never know who is listening. With the world widespread of amateur radio and the internet, we should never be surprised where these listeners are. We are a community of enthusiasts and we should know how to speak to each other and include those we don’t know as well. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

4 min
6 DAYS AGO

QNews for November 10th 2024

Hi - John VK4JPM with the Darling Downs Radio Club update for Sunday 10th of November.This month the topic is balloons, specifically those that go halfway to outer space - maybe even three times as high as jet planes. Dave Nebe, VK4DN was part of a team from Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club when they did two High Altitude Balloon Experiment launches and he'll be along tomorrow to tell us the full story. There are so many parts to an experiment like this, and it's what hams do best: we come up with ideas and make them work. Dave will be able to talk about the preparation, payloads, launch, recovery, and what the experimenters learned - from both successes and failures. Bring your questions and your experiences. And who knows - maybe this is an opportunity for the Darling Downs club to do something similar. In December, our meeting topic is Software Defined Radios, and what you can do with some pretty cheap and easily available hardware. Plus we want to talk to you about ideas for club development and where we might head in the next five years. The committee has a few ideas and'd like your input and thoughts. It's YOUR club! All this is on the website at www.ddrci.org.au, and if you're a member you should have received an email with the latest news and reminders. If you can't find info or you have a question, drop a line to secretary@ddrci.org.au, and if you didn't get to write that down just use your favourite search engine for Darling Downs Radio Club. You'll find us. But mostly we'd like to find you so here's a final reminder: tomorrow night, Toowoomba Library, 1900 Eastern time, and join us for the meeting, a cuppa, a natter, and a bit of brain food. And don't forget the club net on VK4RDD every Sunday at 1000. That's it for this week - 73 from John VK4JPM for the Darling Downs Radio Club team. Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. This past week has seen some notable happenings. The Melbourne Cup was run and won by a Queensland-trained horse. The Reserve Bank held the interest rate constant. An inland town was evacuated because of strong fire activity and the Sun has assailed us with solar flare action once more. However, the thing that has captured the media attention has been the electoral joust in the USA. It would appear that the candidate most likely to be declared President is the one with the most disruptive policies, as far as our country is concerned. Trump has promised tariff barriers to protect a raft of other changes in trade and economic activities. Even as TV stations, on-air and online, presented the election commentaries reports were going to air that governments and no doubt international businesses, were attempting to work out the ramifications of the changes that Trump has mooted. Based on his rhetoric, economists forecast large increases in monetary inflation and the cost of living in the US with flow-on effects to countries like ours. We have had the media impress the messages from the Reserve Bank, the Government and the man in the street that the cost of borrowed money is crippling people financially with repayments beyond their capacity to pay and the general cost of living is placing stress on food bank type charities as more people try to survive without enough money. For us who enjoy the thrill of recreational electronics, just think of where so much of our gear comes from. It may bear the logo of a famous brand but it has, in smaller writing, a message “Made in China”. If we try and think this through, it becomes mind-boggling as the implications of what Trump’s policies can have on our small country down under. As much as it is Christmas shopping time, it might also be prudent to consider purchases which might become more expensive just after New Year. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

7 min
31 OCT

QNews for November 3rd 2024

Hi - John VK4JPM with the Darling Downs Radio Club update for Sunday 3rd of November. Our next meeting on 11 November covers a great piece of experimentation, which is what amateurs do best. Put 11 November in your diary and come along to hear the story about the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club's High Altitude Balloon Experiment. David VK4DN is coming up from Brisbane to tell us how it went down - and up. You'll learn a bit more about ham radio, and some useful stuff about atmospherics and driving. Never know when that would come in handy. Monday 11 November at the Toowoomba Library starting from 1900 local time. But you don't have to remember all that, because it's all on our calendar of events on the website at ddrci.org.au Repeating the important stuff: the club net on VK4RDD every Sunday at 1000, ddrci.org.au for the website, and 11 November at 1900 for the next meeting. Ok, I think that's enough repeats. Until next week, 73 from John VK4JPM for the team at the Darling Downs Radio Club. Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. As we rush through Spring the rising temperatures and the more frequent storms are a reminder that we have entered the official cyclone season. As I prepare this segment, the ceiling fan is valiantly chasing the warmth out of the room and allowing the body to feel closer to comfortable. November is the start of the Summer season for buying presents for the Christmas celebrations. I have been noting that overseas events are having the inevitable effects on monetary conversion rates and the US election, later this week, could have a dramatic result as the US dollar shifts against other currencies as well as our own. As time goes on and more and more advances are made in technology, it is obvious that mankind is more aware of events around the globe and more influenced quickly by changes in other countries. It has been a position that radio amateurs have sought to demonstrate that we live in a large community and using our equipment, skill and enthusiasm we can bring more people from a distance into our lives. When the conflict in Central Europe broke out with the invasion of Ukraine, many amateurs were faced with moral choices as to whether they could still interact with people living within the boundaries of the invading regime. This was an issue in the world of sports and commerce as the good nature of acceptance of others was challenged by the actions of the government. On a person-to-person level, it was equivocal, to say the least. I am old enough to have known people who were engaged in the Second World War. The atrocities that happened to both service personnel and civilians were fresh in their minds and acceptance of people born in the countries which were our nation’s enemies was impossible for many who had been through the hell that happened. Since then we have seen military engagements in many parts of the world and today we greet people from so many ethnic and cultural groups just walking down our streets. We have been fortunate to share not only the growth of radio and electronics generally but also live through and enjoy the establishment of the internet. We have devices that give us almost instantaneous communications and access to news, music and culture as the world has never known. So what I feel is that we hams have been a small but significant group who have fostered the breakdown of geographical and cultural boundaries and brought a level of acceptance and friendship a bit closer to our families and communities in a specific way. I like to reflect on how we can continue to engage with the world from my home. It is something that can be enjoyed when other things prevent travel. I would like to think that radio amateurs have a meaning in life which benefits us all. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

7 min
24 OCT

QNews for October 27th 2024

One of SCARC's former members and Presidents has sadly passed away - Noel Des Jardins VK4NL passed away last Thursday October 16th. Noel made his first appearance at SCARC in 2003 when he was VK4ADJ, I met him at JOTA and he was in his element showing the Scouts and Guides just what radio was about with so much enthusiasm it was contagious. He also donated some copper tube to be used in making cavities for a 6m repeater which unbeknownst to us he was a real fan of the 6m repeater and he used to run the 6m net AKA the backblocks net every Friday night until he left for greener pastures in Hervey Bay. Noel was also an operator for the 20m travellers net for quite some time, it was always comforting to hear his voice on the radio when you were far from home. One of his favourite sayings was "You can never have enough aluminium and wire in the sky" Mate, you be sadly missed but never forgotten. Vale Noelly, Poppy Noel, Noel Des Jardins VK4NL I'm John VK4JPM with the Darling Downs Radio Club update for Sunday 27th of October. Last Sunday saw the end of the POTA Coast-to-Coast week with the band opening up nicely on Sunday Afternoon. On 20m contacts were made into the Canary Islands, Germany and Austria. Even if you're not registered with the POTA Website, if you had a contact with a POTA operator this weekend it's possible that there's an Award waiting for you when you do set up an account. Why not come along to the next club meeting, and find out from Dave VK4JPS how to set up an account? The important stuff again: the club net on VK4RDD every Sunday at 1000, ddrci.org.au for the website, and 11 November at 1900 for the next meeting. Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. I trust all we Queensland amateurs are recovering from the contest. I don’t mean the one running from the USA but the political blood sport we know as an election. Thankfully the remaining execution is in the USA and the amount of publicity and spruiking we are receiving will diminish next month and we hams can turn our thoughts to the serious matters of amateur radio. I was pleased to see the amount of posts appearing on social media during the JOTA/JOTI weekend with some clubs obviously enjoying the time spent with the members of the Scouting and Guiding communities. It seems that the coordination of announcements and publicity fell away, this year with NO opening address supplied for broadcast as has happened for many, many years. Like so many things that happen in life, this is an example that provides lessons for the future. It would seem that the gods of weather are reminding us of the seasonal changes with more storm activity reminding us that summer is almost upon us. You have probably noticed the adverts, put out by the Government, reminding us to have a bad weather plan. The meteorologists are positing that we will probably have the warmest nights on record, in the run up to Christmas. They are also projecting that we could have about 11 cyclones around the coast of Australia with maybe 4 of those crossing the coast somewhere. This may seem like a low number of tropical storms, this season, but the scientists are saying that the trends they are measuring are for more intense behaviours from these events. The word is that we need to prepare, as I have been reminding us all, for the worst and pray for the best outcomes. One thing that I seem to have been missing in the broadcast news is the amount of trouble that various parts of the world are experiencing with particularly storms and flooding. Even in NSW there has been damage in the mining city of Broken Hill which has caused extensive blackouts and which is the result of storm damage. As the fun of summer approaches, I hope we can all remain safe and prepared and enjoy the thrill of radio. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

9 min
17 OCT

QNews for October 20th 2024

Hi, I'm John VK4JPM with the Darling Downs Radio Club update. wow - what a week we just had. The bimonthly lunch was excellent and well attended. It was great to see so many DDRCi members make the trip down to Nerang for the HamFest - thanks to GCARS for a wonderful day of information, HAM-appropriate bargains, and yummy stuff from the hotplate. Well done for the event. And ....... GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY And that's a wrap, For another year at the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society's annual HamFest. It was a cracker * over 50 tables of goodies * over half of these were commercial providers with all the major brands represented * 7 dozen bacon and egg muffins * 150 sausages and more people snapping up bargains than we have seen for years. We look forward to seeing you all next year at the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society annual HamFest. If you are up this way, drop into 85 Harper st Nerang on Saturdays at 1:30pm and say hi! So until next time, for GCARS, Aidan VK4APM. Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. . I recently watched an interesting segment from the German broadcaster, DW. We manage to adjust and adopt to the changes of technology that come into our lives. Maybe forty years ago we were telling children to turn off the lights when they left the room. This was to save electricity and reduce the bill. Maybe, 20 odd years ago the compact fluorescent lamp was gaining traction as a more efficient method of lighting than the Edison/Swan incandescent devices that had lit the world for roughly a century. Time has marched on and technology has brought us the more efficient LED, light emitting diode which has become the ubiquitous illumination source of the 21st century. More recently the world has been given access to a “holy grail” of the digital age, that of artificial intelligence. We are seeing AI incorporated into operating systems and search engines and multitudinous other forms of software and firmware and yet the underlying ethics of its use has not been decided and tabloid journalists and talking heads are speculating on science fiction like outcomes for this morally ill-defined tool. To digress a little but we have been told for many years that the tools of industry, mainly the chemistry which is used to progress our civilisation, is effecting calamitous changes to the environment which we inhabit. The outcome of this is believed to be producing devastating climate shifts that will alter all our lives. I note that whilst we are encouraged to not do anything that will damage the planet I have not heard the cries of pain that the conflicts in various parts of the globe are inflicting on our climate. Surely in some research units, there must be people trying to work out whether the explosions from the wars are negating the benefits of changing our form of lighting let alone our substitution of non-polluting electricity generation for for petrochemical and fossil fuels. This brings me back to the program. Three of the major internet colossi have joined the move to use nuclear technology to power the expected stupendous increase in electricity consumption used by AI. If the facts are correct, each major effort of AI to train itself for proper human interaction uses significantly more power than the course of living does now. What the multiple is I don’t know but the boffins and number crunchers at these behemoths of cyber business have concluded that without adopting nuclear power generation, they will not have the power to meet the expected growth of AI. It seems to be the height of ironic progress to self-destruction to be adopting technology which conflicts with the current results of massive scientific research. We as a species have been able to find alternatives and solutions to problems but if the straws in the wind are correct, can mankind survive its creative urges? I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

8 min
11 OCT

QNews for October 13th 2024

Hi. I'm John, VK4JPM with an update from the Darling Downs Radio Club. Our monthly member meeting is tomorrow night, Monday 14 October - at 1900 in the Toowoomba Library. The topic is 3D printing, and in one hour we'll do a bit of an overview for those of us who have only seen one once, in the presence of a master who can answer the curliest of questions. It's amazing both how cheap 3D printing can be, and what a range of templates already exist for download from the interweb. From brackets to knobs to clips, to complete cases to... well, all kinds of parts that might be broken in your favourite transceiver or antenna mount. Some replacement parts can even be created to be stronger or better than the original. On November 11th, Dave Nebe VK4DN from the Bundaberg Club will join us to update us on the Club's High Altitude Balloon Experiment. December 9th the topic is Software Defined Radios. Details of tomorrow night's meeting will all be found on the website at ddrci.org.au. I'm John VK4JPM, and you can drop me a line - Secretary@ddrci.org.au Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. Solar flares and thunderstorms seem to be the marker of the past week. Contesters, over the long weekend, seemed to suffer the vagaries of space weather with contacts in some areas being significantly poorer than last year and others attaining record scores. On the other hand parts of the Sunshine State have been decidedly less than sunny with both acoustic and atmospheric noise reaching new highs for this season. Overseas we have seen parts of the southern USA suffer the effects of not one but two weather events, namely Hurricane Helene and then Milton. One effect which in its way is a bizarre beneficial outcome has been the attention the services of amateur operators have been receiving from, particularly, the TV news. Making the public aware that there are means of contacting authorities and families outside the commercial services of the Internet and telephone is itself a public service. Sometimes we need to raise our heads above the parapet and take a chance that we in Amateur Radio aren’t just old boys playing in their sheds but are people with a capacity to help. It has been, it seems, a lonesome cry of mine, to renew the strong public service ethic that was once found amongst hams. As people step through life, the things that are important change and there is a changing roll call in our active membership. Some areas in VK-land still have strong bodies guiding the amateur community and some like Queensland seem to have lost the incentive or personnel to carry the torch for our pursuit. Sadly I don’t see active promotion from our peak organisation which seems to roll on with things as they are. This is not a condemnation but an observation that we need a guiding star to put us back in a position which gives the activity of radio the respect and recognition it once had in the community. As we see innovation happening in so many areas of AR, we also seem to observe more antipathy amongst our members. One thing that most volunteer-staffed bodies have is sustaining the number of people to carry out the core objectives. I have noted several not-for-profits in my area that have been appealing for new blood to keep their doors open. So it is not simply an issue that besets our clubs and other bodies, it is becoming universal. Family commitments, health and age all contribute to the amount of time that I can devote to external activities. So it must be for many of us and here is the nub, we need to recruit and to skill our membership to see the social recognition continue. We must consider the options available to us as a community of like-minded people. I still consider amateur radio a fine and enjoyable pursuit, but I wonder how I can best contribute to its growth. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

7 min
4 OCT

QNews for October 6th 2024

Alex McDonald VK4TE passed away on 27th September Alex's radio interest as a boy came from the humble crystal set, this was followed by six years as a RAAF radio technician, during this period he got his amateur limited licence followed by the unrestricted licence about four years later. Alex was secretary of the Queensland branch of the WIA for years until it was absorbed into the national WIA, during this period, he was instrumental in recording morse practice tapes and sending hundreds of them to radio amateurs who wished to upgrade their licence. In his early years, Alex was mainly interested in competitions, he achieved his DXCC and loved radio field trips with his family. After 45 years of not using CW, he regained proficiency and focused on CW contacts until his passing. Amateur radio was a significant part of Alex's life, it gave him great entertainment and created many friendships. Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. The images of destruction from various parts of the world have proliferated in the past few weeks. Sadly the news doesn’t seem to be improving with wars and natural disasters claiming headlines. It has been a feature of the amateur community to offer assistance to the community in times of distress and following the devastation that Hurricane Helene has wrought through parts of the southeastern US, we have seen mainstream media picking up on some hams using their stations to pass welfare messages. There is a long history of this in the United States and even in this Land Down Under many man-hours have gone into community support with amateurs using their equipment and skills during cyclones, floods and fires and also working in volunteer bodies in their home communities. Most of the OTs are familiar with the WICEN acronym and several bodies are operating under the WICEN name scattered around the country. Seventy years or so ago, Australia had a strong volunteer body known as the Civil Defence. This body performed multiple functions but it had a strong government-supported ethos of looking after the civilians which was shaped by the lessons of World War 2. Today there is much less emphasis on civil defence with bodies such as the Salvation Army, Red Cross and SES performing many of those functions. You will find amateur operators working quietly within these bodies and many other groups. However, just because there are formal structures doesn’t mean that we as individuals cannot help if the situation demands it. Certainly, the training which these bodies and professions such as the military provide can smooth the way messages are handled but really, if we think about what our regulations exams cover, we all have the basics of being effective message handlers. With more and more equipment being available for camping and other recreations, most of us can have things like backup power to run rigs and computers. The thing is that amateurs have the option to be versatile in what they do and what bands they use. That versatility can link low and high power, DX and NVIS, simplex and repeater operations into very effective communication networks. I certainly would like to see the promotion of activities like WICEN and things such as message handling tools and operating manuals as it would improve the flow of information to those who need it and it would also make operations consistent and better able to be logged. It seems that much effort has been put into promoting other areas of the hobby when community support could be more valuable. As we head into daylight saving in other parts of the country, we in the east of the country especially along with the north and north-west are welcoming the start of cyclone season. It is also the time when bushfires are at the most damaging in the run-up to the great mid-summer season. I reckon we can all be ready to do a bit if needed as in times of emergency every little bit helps. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about

8 min
28 SEPT

QNEWS for 29th September 2024

Hi. I'm John, VK4JPM with an update from the Darling Downs Radio Club. The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is still in full swing until 7 October, so it's a perfect time to try for your Garden City award. Check out the rules on the club website at ddrci.org.au, and you'll see it's pretty easy to get - especially if you come up on the club's VK4WID Sunday net at 1000. That's the biggest hint I can give you, so what are you waiting for? You can also make personal contact with club members at our October lunch, coming up on Saturday 12th at the Southern Hotel. We kick off at 1130, and it's open to everyone whether you're a member or not. Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. The end of the first month of Spring has almost caught us by surprise with some pleasant weather being interrupted by a cold and wet change. The long range weather is for warmer and generally wetter conditions over the next three months so for the gardeners amongst us it looks promising for some nice fruit, vegetables and flowers. Of course we all try and get ahead of the weather and plan for future events with the hope that all will go well. Thus we usually go through the Spring cleaning routine to set us up for the next few months of warm and pleasant weather. What we must also factor in is that we are approaching the annual cyclone and bush fire seasons, so being ready to meet the challenges of these “natural” events have to be taken into account as well. Being as well prepared as we can be is always part of the amateur radio practice and this runs to following the guidelines of the various bodies that look out for natural events and their consequences. A stock pile of things such as food and water, medicines, broadcast radio and spare batteries, fuel for the generator and so on should all be in the ready to go state. No one wants to be isolated, without electricity or to have to evacuate their home but as various authority figures tell us, the inclement weather is expected to be more severe. Having taken care of the emergency things, we should take time in the good weather to sort out what is on the agenda for the next few months. Rural people will be planning for the seasonal changes which govern their life and others will be marking off the calendar as to when their leave falls, when they can put the tools away for a few weeks and so it goes according to circumstances. Clubs, I would expect, have their calendars marked with the events that are coming and making plans for meetings, field days and contests, for instance. Whilst the school holidays have come to an end, it is really a good time to think if activities can be arranged for students in the coming holidays and making preparation for the necessary publicity and stores to be on hand. Along with the outings and meetings, perhaps as we also have a large ageing population, a plan for making home visits to local amateurs to provide some of the companionship that hams espouse. Flying the flag is always a good way to attract publicity so maybe a barbeque in a local park with some portable operations could provide an invitation to other locals to see what we get up to. There are so many ideas that can be successfully adopted and with band conditions and the weather being favourable why not give some of them a go? I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

8 min
19 SEPT

QNEWS for September 22nd 2024

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. I had an event in the past week that made me consider the importance of diversity. What I mean is that for my video watching I basically depend on YouTube which is a subsidiary of the megalith we remember as Google. I had accumulated a number of amateur radio videos that I kept for reference on various subjects and it was handy to have this library of a few dozen items when I wanted to review my understanding of different subject. Then I turned on the TV, pressed the button on the remote to be greeted by a message that I was no longer signed in. Don’t you love the power of the tech giants to control our activities? I left the matter ride for a few hours and the following day had the same result so I concluded it wasn’t an issue with the TV firmware or the router of the NBN service. I located the correct password and logged in to find that my library had been removed as well as my favourite channels. Thus became a period of wasted time finding and restoring as much of the lost material as I could find. The whims and fancies of many of these services that people use on the internet are often fraught with issues. Remember the famous actor who wanted to will his streaming music collection to his offspring? He found out that despite all the subscription fees that he had paid and the belief that he was paying to own the material he was in fact only buying the rights to play that music during his lifetime. Similar stories exist concerning operating systems for computers. It is really a Catch 22 situation that you need the OS to run your computer but the developers claim ownership. If they decide that they will not provide backward compatibility you can find that your gear is vulnerable to cyber attacks or obsolescence in the future. I have some gear that uses Windows 10 and doesn’t meet the requirements for the next iteration of the future one that is on the drawing boards. Sadly some of my needs won’t be met by reverting to a Windows 7 commercial version so like many others, I have the choice to make of upgrading or risking the viability of those systems. There are no doubt numerous examples of similar plans of big business to extract more of the folding stuff from us. It is important to the private user and possibly more important to clubs who have to maintain records and keep access for defined times. There have been attacks on cloud services and magnetic media has a certain period that it remains viable. We older people can remember the entry of the personal computer into our lives and its adoption into the field of amateur radio. The cussedness of those early machines, particularly the IBM clones was something that people said would drive a teetotaller to drink. The reliability of our systems is so much better but our dependency on monopolistic supply chains can still prevent total security for the user. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

9 min
13 SEPT

QNews for September 15th 2024

Hi - I'm John VK4JPM, Secretary of the Darling Downs Radio Club. Toowoomba is known for many things, and one of the most famous is the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. The 75th Carnival kicked off last Friday and it runs through to 7 October. You can check out what's on the program at the website, tcof.com.au. We're a friendly lot in the Darling Downs, and very proud of the Carnival which is at least as good as Floriade and much closer! Our next club meeting is on Monday 14 October. Details on the club website: www.ddrci.org.au Dates again: Monday 14 October for the meeting; Saturday 12 October for lunch; Carnival on right now; Garden City award at any time, and details at ddrci.org.au I'm John VK4JPM, and thanks for listening. Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. As the northern hemisphere prepares for winter and all that it can bring, we in the south are finding the Spring weather is consolidating with the promise of what Summer will bring. The long-range weather forecasts paint the picture of warmer weather and variable rainfall fall so in one perspective, outdoor activities seem promising until the end of the year. We can hope this is true as the Wet Season is projected to start early in the top end. It will be interesting if the crocodile nesting season coincides with the computer modelling this year. For the avid tourists to the various major gatherings around the world, the climax has been the Tokyo Hamvention which saw some Aussie amateurs attending. The major news has been the release of new radio models from the three largest Japanese manufacturers and the prospect that samples will be appearing around the world at smaller events. There has been some tentative pricing information on a flagship model but with Australia suffering an economic sickness, I suspect very few sales can be expected here. What is interesting is that the radio from Yaesu, apart from its innovative design features, is that it fits the pattern of the shack in a box. Of course, this is not a new segment for this manufacturer but it is a slot that many smaller manufacturers have been enjoying some fierce competition in promoting. The low-power multi-mode radio has been well used in various pursuits such as parks, hilltops and other venues where outdoor participation is necessary. The development of alternative battery technology has reduced the weight of a station which can be comfortably carried in a backpack and conveyed to places not normally accessed by radio hobbyists. Combine these various features with the peak of a sunspot cycle and it is like manna from heaven to the enthusiastic HF QRP operator. Add into the mix the various rigs coming from Asian countries, other than Japan and the accessories for portable operating that are on the market, it is quite opportune to upgrade one’s station and expand the operating geography we can use. Traditionally the warmer months, are when many contests happen and with good equipment, good weather and good band conditions, what more could a happy camper that plays radio be looking for? For me, I think it is in my genes to be frugal so finding ways to save comes naturally. Building a station tends to be a progressive enterprise with tools, accessories and equipment added when time and funds allow. Building, or home brewing as we call it, tends to be the most economical way to get items for the station and it is undoubtedly the most instructive as we tend to read the manual and research the gear before, during and after completing a project. Combining retail or swap meet purchases with some time spent at the workbench seems to be a good way to go. Keeping an eye open for bargains on your favourite sales and auction sites can often grab a winner. Whatever we do, enjoy it. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

7 min

10 Episodes

Weekly podcast produced by QNews in Queensland Australia covering Amateur radio news items.

Creator

QNews VK4BB
Years Active

2020 - 2024
Episodes

10
Rating

Clean
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Q-News AR News from Queensland

Q-News AR News from Queensland

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