WESTLAKES NEWS FOR JUNE 1ST 2014

At the club yesterday was almost a record number of members and visitors for a normal Saturday. One would have thought that it was the club general meeting day. Adam (VK2YK) was visiting the club with his son Josh and Adam was showing his version of his man pack but in Adam's case it was a man bag. Also out for display was Adams LINK COUPLED MULTIBAND ANTENNA made out of light weight materials, LIPO batteries and Match Maker manual tuner for his SOTA work. Michael VK2FMRG ( who has advanced forward to the advanced licence) was also talking to Adam about working the birds. For those who don't know what this means - it is working the HAM SATELLITES. Michael (VK2CCW) was in the kitchen cooking his famous hamburgers( which are ONLY available from Westlakes A.R.C. Club) along with Thompsons sausage rolls and pies. All are very delicious. In the activity room Norm (VK2KNC - the clubs PROJECT OFFICER ) was demonstrating a couple of new SDR receiving programmes that run off your PC. In the middle of that Dave (VK2RD) gave Norm a file which Barry ( VK2BZ) did for Baofeng UV-5R hand helds radios. We did try the program on Dave's radio but the programming lead FAILED so it looks like Dave has to buy a new programming lead. Most of you by the time the news has been read should have received your electronic version of the WESTLAKES MAGAZINE. It has some very good reading in it. If you have a good article that you think is worth sharing please send it along to the club mag editor so that it can be included in a future edition. FROM THE WIA NEWS DESK: The countdown is on for users of wireless microphones, with only seven months to go until new arrangements take effect on 1 January 2015. >From this date, it will be illegal to use spectrum in the 694-820 MHz frequency range. ACMA have a handy info graphic which explains what you need to do to get ready and still be heard. So if you or an organisation you belong to use a wireless microphone, be warned. From THE CENTRAL COAST ARC. Central Coast Repeaters to be Switched Off. Starting from Late May the following changes will be made to VK2RAG repeaters. These measures are being introduced to reduce overall power consumption at the installation, whilst minimising inconvenience to users. We are also investigating Solar Power for the site to further improve consumption and costs. Between Midnight and 0600, all the un-used low usage repeaters will be turned off. To be switched off in frequency order will be 53.725 (6M), 145.600 B’Cast RX’s (FM-814 and FM-92), 439.725 (6M link), 439.950 (APCO 25), 441.00 (Rylstone link) and 1273.4 (23 cm.) This will leave on only 146.725, 438.075 repeaters, 145.175 APRS, 439.150 Packet regenerator,146.6375 (D- Star port C), 438.325 (D- Star Port B), D – Star Gateway. REMINDERS: The ORARC 2014 Field Day will be an excellent weekend again this year - 7TH -8TH JUNE. The venue is the same as last year, the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club hall on Matthew Flinders Drive, Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie. The Field Day dinner will be on Saturday night the 7th of June from 6pm at the Port Macquarie Golf Club with the same arrangements as last year. Sunday is the trading day with both VK4ICE and Radio Supply bringing extra stock this year. There will be all the other usual Field Day attractions with fox hunts both days. We are expecting a good field of Home Brew projects so everyone is encouraged to bring their latest projects along for the display. There will be a sausage sizzle lunch on the Saturday. On Sunday there will be bacon and egg sandwiches for breakfast and sausage and steak sandwiches with fruit salad and ice cream for lunch. There is no charge or commission for disposals. Looking forward to seeing a good contingent from Westlakes at our Field Day again. Everyone is welcome. 73 Henry VK2ZHE ARNSW BALUN DAY. AR NSW is having a ‘Balun spectacular’ on Sunday 29 June at the Dural site, 63 Quarry Road starting at 10 am. Gates open at 0845 hrs for breakfast Yes, bacon and eggrolls are on the breakfast menu with a variety of sauces. Not only will you learn everything you need to know about the care and feeding of a balun, you will also have the opportunity to make your own 1:1 one kilowatt rated balun, at a subsidised price. As usual, AR NSW have sourced the best presenters from around the world. As usual, they are all from Sydney. Bookings are essential. Register by email to balun@arnsw.org.au Please include your callsign and a contact number. Admission free to AR NSW members. In accordance with numerous requests from mbers, we have organised a beautiful pair of Asian strippers to be raffled on the day. And there will be both chocolate and vanilla ice cream, but not for breakfast. Further details in later bulletins. Keep the date, Sunday 29 June for the ‘Balun spectacular’ That’s balun@arnsw.org.au NEW PRODUCT REVIEW. RIG EXPERT WTI-1 wireless transceiver interface. Connect your transceiver to the internet via WI-FI. Use your laptop to operate phone, CW, or digital modes from anywhere in the world. Analog audio interface is a connection to transceiver audio output (external speaker connector or line output) and transceiver audio input ( microphone connector or line input. Audio interface enables operating digital modes, recording and playing voice, as well as other useful functions ( such as measuring levels of a signalfrom the air) by using a computer. You may use a conventional headset on your computer to operate voice modes. A virtual soundcard drives is provided to support operating digital modes.CAT interface for various transceiver models. CAT (Computer Aided Transceiver) system provides control of transceiver frequency, operating mode and other functions by computer software. Normally, modern transceivers have serial (with various signal levels) link providing CAT interface. In RigExpert WTI-1, CAT interface port is seen as a COM port by computer software. FSK output FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) is a popular method of transmitting digital messages over radio primarily used in radioteletype (RTTY) mode. Most transceivers provide FSK modulator feature to make the RTTY signal stable and clear. A separate COM port is assigned for the FSK output when using RigExpert WTI-1. PTT and CW output functions. Transceivers provide PTT (Push To Talk) and CW (Continuous Wave) keyer inputs to allow setting the transmitter on or off and operating CW using external device (PTT pedal, CW bug or paddle, terminal node controller, or personal computer). In RigExpert WTI-1, PTT and CW outputs are assigned to the RTS and DTR lines of a separate COM port. In addition, the user may press the PTT button on the screen to activate transmission. WinKey emulation. To operate CW, you may use software which either directly manipulates the DTR line, or uses the WinKey protocol. A separate COM port is created in the system to support the WinKey data exchange. 9A5N Solid state CW paddle is a completely new product in the world of telegraphy keys. Innovative idea of detection finger pressing to paddle lever(s) eliminates moving parts typical for mechanical keys. Solid State CW Paddle advantages: - standstill lever(s) has no travel time and moving inertia - fingers movement is diminished - keying is absolutely silent, without clicking sound produced by moving parts - keying pressure on the lever(s) is adjustable in range from 10 to 50 grams by software algorithm - no maintenance and periodical readjustments typical for mechanical keys Keying technique with Solid State CW Paddle is equivalent to the mechanical paddle technique. User will easily and quickly correct keying style according to the Solid State CW Paddle advantages and increase possible maximum keying speed. Keying with lower finger pressure on lever(s) and diminished fingers movement will make keying less fatigue and more enjoyable. The paddle “brain” based on microcontroller technology is situated in a head made of aluminium to protect sensitive electronic from influence of RF signals. Paddle base is made of stainless steel/coated steel. Total paddle weight of 1.8kg gives outstanding paddle stability on surface during keying. Solid State CW Paddle, available in single and twin lever version, will provide you many hours of CW keying pleasure for years to come. In order to generate CW code with Solid State CW Paddle, external electronic keyer must be in use. Dimensions: 90 x 90 x 60 mm Weight: 1,8 kg Supply: 2 x AAA (LR03) batteries built in paddle base There you are Greg, a new toy to play with. Well that's all the news I have this week. Do you have a news item that you would like read out on a broadcast? Contact Richard VK2FRKO on email address vk2frko@tpg.com.au or give the item to Richard at the club.