Q-News AR News from Queensland QNews VK4BB

This is Allan VK4HIT with news from Ipswich and District Radio Club.

First up from WICEN, the Brisbane Trail Marathon was held on April 28 with members volunteering their time at five checkpoints, a portable repeater site, and the base. The importance of providing safety communications to such events opens up the opportunity for members to support the club through the WICEN group. Congratulations to first-timers.

The next event is the Pinnacles Classic on June 16 followed by The Guzzler Ultra Marathon held over two days – July 20 and 21.

Now to more domestic matters, but no less important. Members are reminded a new mowing roster for the clubhouse is being put together. Able bodied members are urged to put your name forward. The club supplies the mower and fuel. The roster means only one or two mows per year if it can be filled with at least 10 members. As secretary Greg VK4GJW puts it – many mowers make light work.

Reporting from Ipswich this is Allan, VK4HIT.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

An interesting time has been had by radio enthusiasts in the past few days with a G5 level flare impacting the Earth’s magnetic field. Some people recognised the severity of the event when the bands went dead and pictures of auroras from the Antarctic to the sub-tropics were appearing on TV and internet sources.

Those of us old enough to remember the heady days of the legalisation of CB in this country know that it also coincided with a peak in sunspot activity.

27MHz was a school that taught many how well low power signals can go when conditions are right.

We are seeing these magnificent openings again.

Back then the Novice Licence was drawing interest amongst radio enthusiasts and projects were published to adapt and use cheaply available equipment on the Novice allocations. The hobbyist Aladdin's cave of the day, Dick Smith stores were at the front of the pack in packaging and selling kits for things like transverters which used the ubiquitous CB rig as the generation platform to access other bands. Many people went on self learning safari and explored the design technology and I recall Amateur Radio magazine carried articles for changing the mixing crystals in the 23 channel radios to put them on accepted amateur frequencies in the 10 and 11 metre bands.

These days there are collectors who pay seemingly outrageous prices for veteran CB equipment and from pictures I have seen, there have been numerous tables at ham fests seeking to move the same types of gear on to new homes. The difference is that the amateur event sales are usually at much lower prices.

Here we have a combination of things. Good conditions and a source of less valuable radios than the all singing, all dancing commercially produced amateur radios. There are radio clubs that make available gear to new members at cheap prices or on loan to allow the freshly minted ham to burn brightly when the urge is new.

What if we managed to get some of this old CB gear and set about having a conversion project within our clubs? There would be many amateurs who have relics of past activities sitting on shelves and in the magic junque boxes and who would like to know their treasure was given a good home instead of finding the rubbish skip when the Last Post has gone silent.

Maybe we could see some of the construction and conversion articles pulled from the archives and updated with the use of currently available components.

We have just heard the cry of the Budget with its reminder of the high cost of living and, just perhaps, we have a means of doing some club activities which would help newly interested people get the feel for radio. Being able to adapt and modify has been the hallmark of the amateur and there is nothing more satisfying than the sound of a project that is completed and working.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. I don’t know about you but I find it hard to pull rabbits out of a hat or even hit the ground running, these days. With the best will in the world I can say that things aren’t what they used to be for me 10, 20 years and more ago. The realisation that one’s circumstances are changing is perhaps the sign of maturity or for some, I believe, its a shock to the whole understanding of life. Now I have raised this contentious subject of age because we have to accept on a personal level that our capacities change but for most of us, we have the memories and understanding of what life was like for us at various ages. This is experience that we should be able to harness in taking an interest in the expanding field of amateur radio. Just because we are young or just because we are mature doesn’t mean our value as a person is any less or more than our fellows. We are unique individuals with a tremendous capacity to learn and grow and be able to share some of that capacity with others. This, of course, is a hobby horse of many in the radio community who wish to see the whole spectrum of activities available to us populated by people with a burning desire to pass the enjoyment on to more and more people. To do that is to ensure that our children and their children will have the opportunity to take part, as we are doing, with the knowledge that a radio ham is a good person. That may seem to be a wishy-washy sentiment but if we all accept the virtues in the Amateurs Code then we have the beacon that has guided our predecessors and our peers through the years. So I suppose the question for each of us becomes, do we want to be ready to help someone join the community? Then what do I do when the opportunity comes knocking? Can I as an individual operator provide the mentoring or can I call on a local club to offer support and friendship, too? Talking of clubs; has your club started the conversation with members as how to progress AR? I suppose after my recent challenge there has been time to really hit the road running on this proposal. With an evolving set of guidelines from the ACMA under the new license regime and a newly constituted WIA Board in place to represent us it really seems to be an opportunity that, as they say, is too good to miss. As much as the activities on air and at the bench must define the role of the wireless enthusiast, the radio amateur, the ham, it is the effort that goes into maintaining the governing structures that sustains this recreation. Moving with the times and not remaining fossilised on the shelf of past glories is as important as gathering entries in the log or chasing another certificate. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you? -------------------------------------------------------------------

Hallo everyone, this is Graham VK4BB reminding you that today, being the first Sunday of of the month, it's time for the QNEWS Social Calender for VK4 to go to air. Social Scene Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section Caboolture Radio Club Hamfest July 11 (vk7jea) GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 13 at Nerang Country Paradise Parklands 231 Beaudesert-Nerang Road Nerang. (vk4DMH)

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

Welcome to the new WIA Board who have been getting the feel of the mood in Bundaberg at the Annual General Meeting and associated events. We wish them a very productive and successful year ahead. With the benefit of the experience of the longer serving members the new members face the task of assuming the roles of directors and also the thrill and pressures of being advocates of the Australian Amateur Radio Community.

One of the tasks that we all have is planning ahead for the activities that stimulate the juices and strengthen the hunger in this great activity. For those who have had the opportunity to attend Bundaberg, this weekend, I hope the shared experience has brought new thoughts and strengthened friendships. Some of us have had to sit out this event with other responsibilities taking precedence and we await the reports to our clubs and hopefully the written words in Amateur Radio magazine.

WIA News depends on its contributors and I for one will be eagerly waiting for the reports.

I wonder how many clubs have managed to formulate plans to grow the membership and increase the involvement of current members? This is more than an idle musing but the hope that people have the capacity to pull something worthwhile out of the collective hat. It is the case that if we don’t try we will never succeed.

Now is the time that we must realise that for amateur radio to remain a thriving community activity, there has to be no “them and us” mentality. It is the time when we need to agree that it really is all about us. Individually and collectively it is our participation that marks this pursuit as and enjoyable influence around the world. We have wars being fought and contacts are continuing to demonstrate the spirit of amateur radio in countries which are involved.

We have had disputes about politics and which is the superior marque of car but when we get on air, the rules that have governed procedure for so many years have helped to reinforce the amateur spirit of respect for our fellow amateur operators. I see that some of the older members of our community and some of the more serious younger ones, too, are extremely cautious of the supposed laxity of the Class Licence and what it can introduce.

Those of us old enough to have lived through the introduction of the CB Service have also witnessed the anarchy which overtook that activity with the introduction of class licensing. There are good reasons to take this as an object lesson and to ensure the regulator does not let go of the reins of the amateur service.

This brings me back to the need to input, to share ideas and to participate.

Collectively we are a community and we share the responsibility for growth and recognition. If we don’t take the first step in supporting our hobby, don’t expect they will do it for us.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

As the Rum City, Bundaberg, prepares to host the annual general meeting of the Wireless Institute it is perhaps the right time for us to think about what we would like to see happen for amateur radio in the next 12 months. There are matters that will need improvement and there are matters that need attention and there will be matters that have been neglected.

As a new Board takes over the process of representing all Australian amateurs it is up to us as individuals and collectively as club members to let that Board know what we want. It seems that too often action is left to someone or some other body to be taken. Yet as a body that has the place to address issues it is not solely the responsibility of the top echelon of the WIA to do all the thinking. Nor is it, on the other side of the coin, the right of the WIA to dictate how we conduct our hobby. We all have a collective responsibility to the hobby to promote and protect it and here we have the best opportunity of doing these things.

We have talked about STEM/STEAM as a way of promoting amateur radio amongst the younger members of the community. We have a new catch word of Innovation which can be a tag line for the renewal and growth of this recreation. Just as various sports have undergone a process of regeneration with more major events and sponsorship, our much smaller occupation is capable of a rebirth and update to the 21st century. The real issue is whether we have the incentive and initiative to drive that change.

In the more balmy climate of Queensland, winter can be a good time to get around a fire at night and chew the fat. Often the best ideas are generated when people are feeling comfortable and relaxed and able to speak freely. This is where social activities not only bond us together but also stimulate new thinking which can benefit us all.

I wonder if many clubs can find a way of incorporating the social gatherings, if they don’t already have them. I wonder if the free and easy discussions can bring fresh ideas to the club meetings and maybe, we can revive the club gatherings, presidents lunches and in a friendly way get discussions at all levels of the hobby going properly, once again.

The good thing about social activities is that we can experience new adventures amongst our friends. I recall a day out with my club with a trip on a heritage railway. There was a saving on the tickets as a group booking gained a good discount. It was something different and an enjoyable adjunct to belonging to a radio club. There are so many things that we can do in groups in VK4 that can oil the cogs of one’s club. Can you think of things to do in your area? Are you prepared to join in the wider conversation about growing amateur radio?

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

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Hallo everyone, this is Graham VK4BB reminding you that today, being the first Sunday of of the month, it's time for the QNEWS Social Calender for VK4 to go to air.

Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)

Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg (vk4kc)

Caboolture Radio Club Hamfest July 11 (vk7jea)

GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 13 at Nerang Country Paradise Parklands 231 Beaudesert-Nerang Road Nerang. (vk4DMH)

VK4JDJ Dennis Bauer SK 12 April Dennis grew up in Northern Queensland and in his early years lived in a small community on the Palmerston Range where it rained nearly all year which made for interesting bus rides on the muddy road to school. Dennis led a life of various jobs on cattle properties, drilling camps, road maintenance work and hotel work and picked up a range of varied skills. On one occasion Dennis designed a full wave 80 meter horizontal loop antenna with support posts which was huge but certainly worked. Dennis was a regular on Rob VK4ARQ CW 0530 to 0630 net with hams from Darling Downs, Rockhampton, Mackay, Bowen, Townsville and atherton Tableland locations plus Cairns and occasionally others joined in. They got up to some high sending speeds. Dennis acquired a few different paddles from Italy and other countries. He also enjoyed QRP ops and building various projects to incorporate his station Usually a quiet bloke who “plugged away” at projects and learning. Many hams have similar attributes.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

During the past week, I received an email from the ACMA seeking clients to complete a satisfaction survey. This is a good indication that pleasing the client base is a priority and I would suggest that we all take the opportunity of spending the 4 to 5 minutes this takes. With the introduction of the Class Licence, people have listed what they see as deficiencies in the material being made available and here is an opportunity to personally let the regulator know our thoughts.

“The times are a-changin” was the lyric in an old song and surely that is true. We amateurs do crazy things such as send each others post cards when the e-qsl routes aren’t quite what is needed. Now I am familiar with the extensive delays which happen with the volunteer run QSL bureaux but just to delay things a little more our not so beloved main carrier has introduced alternate day postal deliveries. This past week, the new regime started on Tuesday which means we had 2 lonely delivery days this week.

It is perhaps not so important that mail is delayed but the basic cost of a stamp to send a letter has risen to $1-50 which means that more and more business communications are going to be directed to electronic delivery.

This can raise many issues for those of us with physical impairments and regardless of rules about discrimination, some of these actions just cement the divides in the community.

Recently I had to find a supplier of a certain type of antenna mount and despite my best efforts I couldn’t track down what I needed from local vendors. It ended up being a choice between two of the big international on-line vendors. The deciding factor was that one would deliver free of postage and the other required me to sacrifice a vital internal organ to pay for delivery. Well the decision was easy and with the help of someone who had an account with the seller, the mount was bought and paid for.

Overseas vendors using major on-line sites are beset by advertised delivery prices that too often dissuade the prudent buyer from a sight unseen purchase.

Sadly for the local suppliers to our niche interest, the amateur radio fraternity is small and the cost of maintaining inventory often can’t be justified for the low return it provides. We do have some excellent small businesses dedicated to the amateur market and often their stocked prices are more competitive than the overseas megastores when freight and warranty costs are taken into account. It is perhaps the subject for an article in Amateur Radio magazine just to let us all know who is serving the market for us. I have been told that some vendors feel the cost of advertising is beyond their resources and a printout with product lines and contact details would be a service to the amateur community.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

In this great information age powered by the digital revolution and the internet, there is undoubtedly the greatest access to the most information that the world has known. That is not hyperbole or in the more modern jargon, clickbait. It is a fact that the amount of data grows exponentially each and every day and in fact the data storage and processing is being classed as a climate change factor by reason of the electricity that is used, the heat that is generated and the water that is used for cooling.

I spend a reasonable amount of time checking out different things that interest me and I use various components of the internet to do so. In many cases I am looking to see what others have recorded about particular items and one of the easiest ways is to watch videos. There are tremendous resources available to the electronics and ham radio communities and learning to refine your search terms certainly speeds up access to the sources.

Herein lies the great difficulty that until we are familiar with a topic it is very hard to judge the quality of the material that you read or view. I have frequently followed a very sincere looking presentation with another on the same topic only to have points of contradiction be glaringly obvious between the two. If the subject is quite recently presented to the world, it may be hard to find the critiques that shade and colour the picture and I am left with the big question mark and scratching my head. How do I know what is right?

Fortunately in our field of interest, the laws that govern how radio and electronics are well enough established that it is only in the minute details that we will see radical change. In other words, the material in the manuals and text books is going to be more than accurate than we need in the practical world. It is for this reason that I have a small library of standard books of varying ages and they can provide most of the theoretical and technical answers that I need for my purposes.

This is where I point you to belonging to a club which maintains a library for members to use. Along with equipment and instruments, books are a valuable resource and should be available to club members, at least. I have seen reports over the past years that public libraries have cleared most of their shelves of amateur radio type material and it then becomes the province of the club and individual amateur operator to source and maintain these valuable resources.

Every day there are questions to which I don’t have the right answer and being able to “fact check”, with better accuracy than on social media, is a source of satisfaction.

I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

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Social Scene

Clubs are welcome to submit text with audio for this section

WIA AGM held MAY 4-5 2024 in BUNDABERG. (barc)

Park-fest 4 & 5 of May Bundaberg (vk4kc)

Caboolture Radio Club Hamfest July 11 (vk7jea)

GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 13 (Venue to be announced) (vk4DMH)