VK3APC AMATEUR RADIO NEWS<br /><br />WEDNESDAY 10 April 2002 - No 143 on air edition<br /><br />In tonight's bulletin:<br /><br />* Radio on Rails this weekend<br />* Competitions planned for MDRC hamfest<br />* Using IRLP - a special report<br />* Preventing losses in your amateur station<br /><br />Amateur numbers fall<br /><br />Amateur numbers in both Australia and New Zealand continue to fall.<br /><br />The number of licensed VKs stood at 14 445 in January 2002. This compares<br />with 14 846 a year previously. This is down 2.7 per cent in twelve months.<br /><br />The number of amateur licensees in Australia peaked at just over 18 000 in<br />the early 1990s. However our amateur population is well up on that of the<br />early 1970s, when Australia had around six to seven thousand licensees. The<br />pattern is similar in New Zealand, with the number of ZLs being 23 per cent<br />down on the peak reached in October 1994.<br /><br />ZL2CA/ACA/MED<br /><br />Don't miss the train: Radio on Rails this Sunday<br /><br />Melbourne's most exciting amateur radio operating event is taking place this<br />weekend, and it's not too late to be in it. Called Radio on Rails, it<br />encourages amateurs and listeners to operate their equipment from the trains<br />and trams of Melbourne. It's a great opportunity to test how good your<br />handheld transceiver or scanner really is.<br /><br />Radio on Rails is this Sunday April 14. It goes for four hours, from 9am to<br />1pm. Stations on board (or waiting for) trains or trams can work anybody,<br />while home and car mobile stations work train or tram mobile operators only.<br />You can submit a log of contacts made, whether you are train/tram mobile or<br />not.<br /><br />Activity will be on two metres and seventy centimetres FM only. Contacts via<br />repeaters also count for scoring purposes. Repeat contacts after one hour<br />on each band also count. Another incentive to go train/tram mobile is that<br />you get an extra point if you meet another contest participant on a train or<br />tram (eyeball contact). Participants will lunch after the event - it's<br />suggested that they gather at Flinders St Station from about 1pm.<br /><br />This four hour fun day is great for listeners as well as amateurs. The MDRC<br />invites listeners to enter, with scoring similar to transmitting stations.<br />This means that if you're on a tram or train, any station heard (whether in<br />the contest or not) counts for scoring, whereas if you're at home, rail<br />mobile stations only may be logged. SWLs may also claim eyeball contacts.<br />The rules are very simple and appear on the MDRC website.<br /><br />That's Radio on Rails takes place this Sunday April 8 between 9am and 1pm.<br />It's on two metres and seventy centimetres and both simplex and repeater<br />contacts are valid.<br /><br />URL: http://www.mdrc.org.au/RonRrules.html<br /><br />Rudolph Hell dies<br /><br />Hellschreiber inventor dies Rudolf Hell, the German inventor who pioneered a<br />technology that found application in facsimile machines and scanners, has<br />died at the age of 100.<br /><br />In 1929 he invented the 'Hellschreiber', a machine for transmitting text<br />that electronically breaks up letters into a stream of dots and reassembles<br />them at the receiving end.<br /><br />With the use of computer technology, radio amateurs have revisited the<br />Hellschreiber system, and it is now being used by amateur data enthusiasts.<br /><br />WIA Victoria News on-line www. wiavic.org.au/news<br /><br />NZ Special Event Stations<br /><br />Two New Zealand Special Event stations will be active in the next few<br />months.<br /><br />The first will be ANZAC Day activity from ZL6A. The station will be active<br />on ANZAC Day Wednesday 25th April in commemoration of those who have died in<br />wars. Activity will be on all HF bands throughout the day. While this is<br />not an award as such, a QSL card will be issued for contacting ZL6A. It<br />will available via the bureau or direct by sending a SASE to Bob ZL2GJ at<br />his Call Book address.<br /><br />Somewhat harder to catch will be ZL1ZLF, which will operate intermittently<br />over the next few months. This station will commemorate the 60th<br />anniversary of the opening of Musick Memorial Radio Station. At times<br />vintage transmitters will be used.<br /><br />To mark the 60th Anniversary of the opening of Musick Memorial Radio<br />Station, Branch 86 are issuing a special QSL card for contacts with the<br />station which will from time to time be using some of the vintage<br />transmitters originally in use at the station.<br /><br />AM and CW will be used. Unfortunately the frequency chosen for AM is 3.730<br />MHz - outside our 80 metre band. However CW will be used at the lower end of<br />80m, due to the limitations of the transmitters. It is hoped to extend the<br />transmissions to 40m AM & CW when more equipment is brought on line. At<br />present it is intended to run the Award until June 2002, but it may be<br />extended for the whole year, depending on the interest shown.<br /><br />NZART HQ Info-Line<br /><br />Rumour file - Spot on You'll doubtless recall<br />that we repeated the rumour that our own "Amateur Radio" magazine might just<br />be appearing on your local newsagent's shelves.<br /><br />Well guess what? For once the rumour is "rumour as fact" and WIA Federal<br />President Ernie Hocking VK1LK has released news to the effect that this is<br />so.<br /><br />QNEWS reports that a pilot run to measure likely sales may occur as early as<br />this month! Editor Colwyn Lowe VK5UE is working on getting together an<br />attention grabbing cover for the magazine, and some good articles for the<br />inside.<br /><br />Considerable planning is required to ensure the best possible AR magazine is<br />available for it to stand alongside commercial publications in newsagents.<br /><br />WIA federal President Ernie Hocking VK1LK reports -<br /><br />"Last week I was presented with an opportunity to run a short 3 month trial<br />of AR on the news stands. Given the current debate on the financial<br />viability of this option I decided to authorise this limited pilot. The<br />basis of the pilot is that:<br /><br /> 1. We do nothing to alter the current AR format - the pilot results<br /> are based on what AR is, not what other journals or magazines offer<br /> 2. The trial is limited to three months in order to ensure that<br />"curiosity" purchases are excluded from the results.<br /> 3. The geographic distribution of the trial is controlled by the<br />distributor, and not the WIA.<br /> 4. Every effort will be made to include a survey with the magazine in<br />order to assess public opinion of the journal.<br /> 5. These results can be used to make a final decision on the future of the<br />journal in the not too distant future.<br /> 6. The worst case financial situation is that the trial would cost around<br />$400 to cover the required extra print copies.<br /><br /> I am sure that some of you may not agree with this move. However I feel<br />that unless we run this pilot, we will never be in a position to accurately<br />assess the real sales and financial impact of this option. I would hope<br />to have preliminary results available for the AGM in May" said Ernie.<br /><br />So there we be, AR on the news stands soon, what we can do about ensuring<br />the success of the trial, we can't say, other than to tell people interested<br />in radio to have a look. CB'ers might take particular note of this one.<br /><br />It is something that just had to be tried so let's hope this idea will not<br />only sell some copies of AR, but produce some interest from those toying<br />with the notion of amateur radio.<br /><br />Keith VK3JNB/ QNEWS<br /><br />Ireland warns off Foundation licensees<br /><br />The new Foundation entry level licence in Britain will not allow holders to<br />operate while visiting neighbouring Ireland, nor it seems anywhere except<br />Britain, including Australia.<br /><br />The issue was raised recently by the Irish Office of the Director of<br />Communications<br />Regulation, which has made it clear that because the Foundation licence is<br />not part of the CEPT system, it can't be used outside Britain.<br /><br />So perhaps if you're waiting until the Foundation license sets you free from<br />the usual route into amateur radio, don't hold your breath.<br /><br />Keith VK3JNB /WIA Vic. News on line<br /><br />ACA improves search engine<br /><br />The Australian Communications Authority has been praised on an improved<br />radio frequency search engine recently added to its website. Scanner<br />enthusiasts report that it has made finding frequency assignments easier<br />than ever before.<br /><br />The URL is too long to read out, but can be found on the Internet/Packet<br />edition of APC News.<br /><br />URL: http://www.aca.gov.au/pls/radcom/assignment_range.range_search<br /><br />aus.radio.scanner<br /><br />MDRC plans big Hamfest 2002<br /><br />Now we know that around this time of year we start prodding you to remember<br />that the MDRC Ham Fest is due on 11th.May. Well guess what ? We're doing<br />it again ! And yes we know there have been lots of Hamfests this year, but<br />not like this one.<br /><br />As usual this years Hamfest is to be held on Saturday May 11th. that's the<br />day before Mothers day) at the Brentwood Secondary College. This year we<br />predict that it will be bigger and better than before, with the inclusion of<br />major raffle prizes and for the first time a "Community selling table".<br />Doors open at to the public at 10 am. and our major raffle includes a new<br />dual band Yaesu hand-held rig as the first prize. Also, with your entry<br />fee this year we are including a free complimentary raffle ticket.<br /><br />Sellers and traders enquiries can be made to -<br /><br />Lee Moyle, VK3GK on 9705 1051 or get Lee via email at noremac@lcd.net.au<br />or you can contact Graeme Lewis VK3GRL on 9702 1199 (AH) or mobile 0418<br />289928 email to vk3grl@net2000.com.au<br /><br />Now we urge you to make a note of this years MDRC Hamfest, you won't regret<br />it.<br /><br />That's Saturday May 11th. Brentwood Sec. College, Glen Waverley. BE THERE<br /><br />(Graeme VK3GRL / Lee VK3GK)<br /><br />Sporadic E on six<br /><br />Six metre operators report that the summer sporadic-E season has been<br />disappointing, but there was some enhanced propagation last Saturday. Just<br />after 1pm, Max VK7KY near Burnie was worked via the VK3RMS 53.9 MHz six<br />metre repeater. Also to hand is an unconfirmed report of the Adelaide six<br />metre repeater on 53.750 MHz being accessed from Melbourne.<br /><br />APC on CB - progress<br /><br />Last weeks QNews reported having already made the CB relay experiment that<br />we at APC News are now contemplating.<br /><br />Last year, QNews ran relays of their news on CB channels in VK2 and VK4<br />which attracted 1010 CB check-ins, 745 of them from VK2.<br /><br />Producers of the "Q' also noted our item last week and suggest that we at<br />APC News "Go for it", all of which sounds like good advice, now all we need<br />to do is to find our relay man. So if any of you out there want a relay on<br />CB, now is the time to volunteer to do it!<br /><br />Keith VK3JNB - Qnews<br /><br />Australia's mains voltage<br /><br />What is Australia's mains voltage? For years both of your news editors<br />thought it was 240 volts. Indeed one of them grew up in a state where until<br />several years ago the potential difference between active and neutral was<br />officially 254 volts!<br /><br />Both of us have been put right by an ACA consumer information paper on<br />bringing communications equipment into Australia. In summary, 'if it<br />transmits or plugs into the phone line, forget it; it won't be type<br />approved, and you'd be better off buying Australian approved equipment<br />locally'. The main exceptions are GSM mobile phones, but even here there<br />are pitfalls.<br /><br />But getting back to the mains voltage issue, and we quote 'Australia's mains<br />power supply is nominally 230 volts and 50 Hz'. So 230 volts it is. Not<br />240 volts as it used to be. Naturally it may vary, so sometimes you might<br />measure 225 or 235 volts.<br /><br />We remember reading about a change to 230 in EA magazine a few years back to<br />bring us closer to the Europeans (who use 220 volts), but were unaware that<br />the change had been made.<br /><br />This has all sorts of interesting consequences. Think of a light bulb<br />rated at 240 volts, 100 watts. It would consume 0.42 amps and have a<br />resistance of 576 ohms. Put 230 volts through it, and the consumption is<br />about 0.40 amps giving only 92 watts! Thus a 4 per cent drop in voltage has<br />allowed power to fall by 8 per cent! Of course every cloud has a silver<br />lining - according to an old Technical Topics article, slightly<br />under-running lights dramatically improved bulb life. That is of course if<br />the bulbs are rated at 240, and not 230, which would be good if you wanted<br />to sell more bulbs!<br /><br />ACA Consumer Fact Sheet<br />http://www.aca.gov.au/consumer/fsheets/consumer/fsc18.htm<br /><br />Time to listen to the Intruder of the Month<br /><br />WIA Intruder Watch reports that this month's target is a broadcast station<br />on 14.210 MHz. It is a harmonic of 7105 and can be heard around 0830 UTC.<br /><br />Intruder Watch, or the IARU Monitoring Service, relies on individuals<br />reporting stations using exclusive amateur bands. Reports can be sent via<br />the WIA Victoria website or by e-mail to Jimmy VK3TZE,<br />intruders@wiavic.org.au<br /><br />WIA Vic/RWARS<br /><br />Using IRLP<br /><br />APC News has been the first to bring you many developments regarding<br />Internet Repeater Linking, but so far we've had little 'nuts and bolts'<br />information on actually using the system and opening the links.<br /><br />Let's assume that you want to use the VK3RMH system that operates on 438.325<br />MHz. The guidelines below probably apply to other systems, but we haven't<br />tried them yet.<br /><br />If you want to link up to a particular repeater or node, you will need to<br />know the node number. This is a three digit number. All nodes in Australia<br />are numbered in the 600-series. In many cases the second digit is a state<br />number. For example, 622 is in Lismore NSW, and 670 is Ulverstone Tasmania.<br />Lists of nodes are widely available on the web by searching appropriate<br />keywords.<br /><br />To select a node, you need a DTMF microphone. This comes as standard on<br />most handheld transceivers. If you don't have one, you can use a keypad<br />held up to the microphone. Some people report that a mobile phone will work<br />if the volume is set loud enough. The DTMF tones from a home phone are<br />usually too quiet. However we think that if you were to get an old (but not<br />too old) home phone and put an audio amplifier module inside you'd have the<br />beginnings of a suitable dialler.<br /><br />To connect to a node, dial the node number and then a zero. Thus to connect<br />to Lismore, you'd dial 6220. After a while you will hear an announcement<br />that you are connected to Lismore. If you are unsuccessful, this may be<br />because the node is busy, connected to other nodes or is not operational.<br />In all cases you will receive the appropriate announcement.<br /><br />Once switched through, you can make your call. After a period of<br />non-activity, the remote node will automatically disconnect itself. Again<br />this will be announced. Or if you want to manually disconnect, you dial the<br />node number followed by a 1. Thus punching in 6221 would disconnect you<br />from Lismore. If you wanted to, you could connect to some other node by<br />pressing in the node number and then a 0.<br /><br />No doubt there are other commands that are possible with IRLP. However these<br />ones perform the two basic functions that of connecting to and disconnecting<br />from a node. As for DTMF keypads, we understand that chips for these are<br />almost impossible to obtain, but we hope to have news of getting around this<br />in future bulletins.<br /><br />Further reading: IRLP & repeater usage guidelines on<br />http://www.wiavic.org.au<br /><br />Working Africa<br /><br />Africa can be hard to work from VK3, but Michael VK3JMG reports that<br />conditions can be quite good at this time of the year. Michael suggests<br />swinging your beams to between 210 and 240 degrees between 0600 and 0800<br />UTC. This should bring results on bands between 20 and 10 metres. Over the<br />past few years Michael has worked South Africa (ZS), Kenya (5Z), Zambia<br />(9J), Zimbabwe (Z2) and other countries around the above times on 10 meters<br />(try 28.460 to 28.500mz) at this time of year up until Winter.<br /><br />VK3JMG/RWARS<br /><br />Time to fight the war on loss<br /><br />The earlier item about 230 and 240 volts led one to speculate about the<br />effects of small voltage drops on amateur stations. Of course, the<br />principle that a slight voltage drop has a disproportional effect on<br />transmitted power should worry any power-hungry amateur. And not just power<br />hungry amateurs either; those seeking to build an efficient station from<br />available resources should be even more concerned about preventing losses<br />between the power point and the antenna.<br /><br />Think that next time you consider running your 13.8 volt transceiver off<br />exactly twelve volts your output power in this case could drop by as much as<br />25 per cent! That is more than one decibel.<br /><br />Of course we haven't mentioned voltage drop in your power leads. A one volt<br />drop in too-long or too-thin power cables is not unknown. This adds nearly<br />another dB to your loss. All you need is one or two more dB loss in your<br />feedline, and your actual radiated output power could be half or less of<br />what it could be if your station was operating at maximum efficiency. And<br />we haven't even started on losses in antenna traps or due to poor earthing<br />systems, et cetera. Again these could add another one or two dB.<br /><br />It's not just power and antenna cables that cause loss in the shack. On<br />SSB, the lack of RF speech processing will cost a few dB. The same could be<br />said for poor deviation or microphone gain on FM signals, especially when<br />hiss is present. Muffled audio is another contributor to unintelligibility.<br />In such situations a QRP station with clear audio can get through when a 100<br />watt station with poor audio can't.<br /><br />Then there are operating factors, particularly apparent in HF DXing and<br />contesting. One sometimes hears stations calling another station. Judging<br />from locations and signal levels, contact should be established. However<br />due to the calling operators' poor sense of timing, contact is not<br />established. The ability to jump in quickly at the right moment is<br />important here. However repeated calling and doubling may cause the DX<br />station assume that you are just QRM and are not calling him. Most<br />important is that you break in just after a contact has ended, but when<br />people are still listening. Breaking in when people are having their 'final<br />finals' (even if these drag on) may lead to unnecessary 'doubling' and cause<br />the station you are calling assume your are QRM and aren't calling him.<br />This skill can only be learned with practice.<br /><br />A good operator with a station found wanting in the other areas discussed<br />above will usually make a few contacts, but a poor operator with a good<br />station may not be very successful and may give up in frustration.<br /><br />How important is emphasising the prevention of loss in all parts of an<br />amateur station? Let's assume that it is possible to cheaply and easily<br />improve your station by 3dB. Unless interference is severe, a 3dB power<br />loss is hardly significant. However when signals are weak or competing with<br />noise and interference, 3dB is highly significant.<br /><br />On VHF, a 3dB loss won't affect your signal into local repeaters one bit.<br />However for long distance FM contacts, a 3dB difference is all that stands<br />between a noisy signal and one that's 'armchair copy'. SSB DX operators may<br />also reflect that a difference of 3dB is greater than the difference between<br />(say) a quite-buildable 10 element yagi and a 20 element monster that will<br />probably overhang the neighbours fence and cause you to worry during a<br />storm.<br /><br />So in summary, preventing losses in the amateur station pays big dividends.<br />Now, to that 12 metres of RG58 used on 70 centimetres?!<br /><br />Waiter please !<br /><br />Now after last week's tale about the talking washing machine and the<br />possibility of talking transceivers, I just know that you're going to think<br />that I make these things up.<br /><br />I do assure you however that this is not so, and from the same source this<br />week, comes this little snippet.<br /><br />Scientists have now invented a glass that calls for a waiter to provide a<br />refill.<br /><br />The iGlassware system uses a glass fitted with an electronic tag similar to<br />anti- shoplifting devices. When the person's glass is emptied, a signal is<br />picked up by a receiver at the table, hence alerting the waiter to the fact<br />that, you probably want another drink.<br /><br />"If there is a delay between beverage order time, fill, and a subsequent<br />refill, customers feel less satisfied about the entire dining experience" so<br />offers Ronald Cole a US hotel expert.<br /><br />You may be excused for seeing a parallel with the talking washer story last<br />week and our extension of the idea to a "Dalek" squarking transceiver.<br /><br />There is no intended parallel, however one of these special glasses could<br />be a handy accessory around the radio shack whilst you and your talking<br />transceiver are engaged in a tight, "no interruption" type contest.<br /><br />If the glass squealed loud enough, you might just get another drink; on the<br />other hand, you might be told to get back to the household chores you are<br />supposed to be doing.<br /><br />(Keith VK3JNB / Melb.Herald/Sun)<br /><br />Coming Events<br /><br />* The GGREC's Pub Night is planned for Saturday April 13.<br />* Radio on Rails will be on Sunday April 14. This is a fun event that<br />encourages amateur radio activity from trains and trams. Rules are on the<br />MDRC website.<br />* World Amateur Radio Day is Thursday April 19. The theme will be 'Amateur<br />Radio: Continuing Innovation in Communication'.<br />* The MDRC meets on Friday April 19. Speaking will be Peter Thorne on<br />computer history.<br />* Also on April 19 is when the Gippsland Gaters hold their AGM.<br />* The Midland Amateur Radio Club Convention will be Sunday April 28.<br />* The MDRC Hamfest will be on Saturday May 11. Same venue as last year.<br />* That weekend is also the National Foxhunting Championships. Let's hope<br />not too many foxhunters are also bargain hunters!<br />* The GGREC's Hamfest has been planned for Saturday July 20.<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------<br />-<br /><br />About APC News<br /><br />APC News is Melbourne's weekly amateur radio news service from the<br />Moorabbin & District Radio Club. Bulletins are produced by Keith<br />VK3JNB and Peter VK3YE with the assistance of Lee VK3GK, Gordon<br />VK3XX, Graeme VK3GRL, Tony VK3JED, David VK3ASE, Tony VK3CAT,<br />Gary VK3KHB, David VK3JDA and other members and friends of the MDRC.<br />Thanks also to the Gippsland Gate Radio and Electronics Club for the<br />use of their six metre repeater VK3RDD.<br /><br />Availability of APC News<br /><br />- Voice Bulletin: 8:00pm Wednesdays, 1.843, 3.565, 7.065, 29.640,<br />53.575, 146.550, 438.750 MHz, UHF TV Channel 16 via VK3RTV.<br />- After Midnight Repeat: 12:40am Thursdays (ie Wed night), 146.550 MHz.<br />- Web audio (after 9pm Wed): http://www.qsl.net/vk3jed/repeater.html<br />- Internet text: http://www.mdrc.org.au/apcnews<br />- E-mail subscription: http://www.yahoogroups.com/subscribe/apcnews<br />- Packet radio service: Provided by Gordon VK3XX<br /><br />Send contributions to APC News<br /><br />- E-Mail: editor@mdrc.org.au or keith@lcd.net.au or<br />parkerp@alphalink.com.au<br />- Telephone: 03 9569 6751 (ah) or 03 9551 7971 (ah)<br />- Post: APC News, MDRC, PO Box 58, Highett, Victoria, 3190<br /> (not for urgent items)<br /><br />MDRC<br /><br />- URL: http://www.mdrc.org.au<br />- Postal Address: MRDC, PO Box 58, Highett 3190<br /><br />Use of Material<br /><br />APC News bulletins are not copyright. Items from them may be<br />reproduced for any purpose connected with the advancement of<br />amateur radio. Please note that opinions expressed are not<br />necessarily those of the M&DRC.<br /><br />--<br />---<br />Peter Parker<br />E-mail: parkerp @ alphalink . com . au<br /><br />URL: http://www.alphalink.com.au/~parkerp Amateur Radio VK3YE - Melbourne<br />Transport - Writing<br />Monitoring VK3RMS 53.900 MHz 7am - 10pm