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Bulletin issued by the Northern P.O. Box 1010
Branches of the Wireless Institute Launceston
of Australia, Tasmanian Division Tas. 7250

February 1977
Vol.6 No.l1lO

Registered at GPO Hobart
for transmission by post
as a periodical. Category B.

It has been suggested that ORM should have an Editorial
about C.B. Well that is easy, there is no such thing as C.B. in
Australia ! As for the illegal operators on 11 metres (as well as
80 and 20 metres) they are pirates and therefore criminals .
211 this probably would never have happened if it hadn't
been for a few people, without principles where a Dollar is concerned,
selling equipment that can not be used legally unless the purchaser
is licensed.
The argument, there are so many doing it we may as well
make it legal doesn't hold water when you consider the number of
people that have been convicted for stealing, they very likely
outnumber 11 metre pirates, should we make stealing legal too ?
Some of these people are scout leaders and school teachers,
in other words, people engaged in criminal activities are teaching
children, teaching children WHAT 2 that breaking the law is alright,
as long as you don't get caught ?
If you have read any of the lists of C.B. jargon you will
have realised that the terms not copied from amateurs or armed
services are mainly designed to evade detection of other illegal
activities, mainly related to traffic infringements.
Why should we always look to the U.S.A., what about
Denmark and Holland, they withdrew C.B. on 11 metres because it was
impossible to control piracy and violation of regulations.
I am not against some form of C.B., but I am very much
against it being on 11 metres or any HF band. They may be right when
they argue that C.B. would be of great benefit in emergencies, traffic
congestion, sports and talking to the family when away from home, but
all this can be done more efficiently on VHF or UHF as there would be
less traffic due to the absence of skip, yet local range would be
better and FM more efficient than AM. As for cost, there isn't a
great deal of difference between amateur VHF, FM units and 11 metre
23 channel rigs.
As for the W.I.A., they are now looking for views from
members, a few years late but better late than never. As for the
office bearers of the Tasmanian Division and the Northern Branch, I
have yet to find one that is against C.B. on 11 metres.
cont. page 2
Page 2 QRM February 1977

Northern Branch notes by Joe VK7JG.

The Northern Branch meeting was held on the 14th January
at the S.E.S. rooms in Charles St. The attendance was down on
previous meetings with only 7?4 people present. We had one visitor
John McCulloch VK7CCC who is about to settle down and become a
permanent VK7.
Amongst the correspondence was aletter from the Launceston
City Council concerning the leasing of 34 Bourke St. stating that
the Council is willing to grant a lease for a period of 5 years
at a rental of $50.00 per annum and to be reviewed annually. At
the next meeting a leasing agreement will be presented for your
inspection and if satisfied it will be passed over to the council.
So next month attend the meeting and have your say as to wether
we accept Bourke st. or not.
A lot of discussion took place concerning C.B. radio and
a suggestion was made that a questionaire be put in QRM to obtain
your views on the matter.
This is my last issue of Northern Branch notes as Graeme
and myself have swapped positions, with the meetings approval,
so next month Graeme VK7ZGG will provide you with the news.
The Northern Branch equipment store is now at 40 Lavender
Grove, Summerhill, Phone 443882. When I am home the store will
be open 7 days a week but is closed after 2100 hrs and Sunday
mornings.
Don't forget that the March meeting is our A.G.M. so
if you are interested in holding a position get someone to
nominate you, please don't stay away from the meeting thinking
that you may get dobbed in for a position.
The North and North West Branch field day is being held
this year on the 27th of February, your attendance will be
most welcome.
Frank VK3BSJ made the most of the two repeaters while he
was here and had several eyeball Q0SO's with local amateurs.
That is all from me
73 Joe VK7JG

Editorial cont.
The W.I.A. is supposed to look after the interest of the
members and the most precious possesion we have must surely be
our amateur bands, where would amateur radio be without frequencies
in which to operate ? Yet we hear that a councillor of this
Division is lecturing in favour of giving a whole amateur band
away.
! Maybe we were given a hint of things to come when the Pre-
sident of this Division, at the Special General Meeting at
Evandale in November said, "if C.B. is legalised in Australia
we may be looking at a grade of membership in the W.I.A. for them.
When you are considering putting your views to paper,
cosider why Japan, the worlds largest manufacturer of C.B.
equipment, hasn't got a 11 metre C.B. band, like in Australia
it is an Amateur Band.
John van Staveren VK7JV

Editor
February 1977 Q R M Page 3

Notes from the North West Branch by Lindsay Johnson.

The final meeting for 1976 was held at the QTH of Jim Davis
in Latrobe on Friday 10th December. This meeting was very well
attended by some 30 odd members, XYL's and girlfriends.
It was reported by Graham VK7ZAQ that the YRCS classes
will commence again at the end of January 1977. Brian VK7ZBL
thanked Graham for his time donated in the running of these
classes and also for the many other jobs done by him for the branch
over the past 12 months.
Bill Carter VK7AK gave a talk on the very much talked
about Citizen Band in Australia as there are some thousands at
present operating illegally throughout the country, Bill and
several others agreed it would make sense to get these fellows
licensed and then they would have to do the right thing or else,
the same as other licensed operators.
Towards the end of the meeting the President, Ian VK7ZIE
thanked Jim for having the meeting at his QTH and the very fine
evening he and his XYL turned on for everyone present. Jim gave
a very lenghty response to Ians remarks and extended further
invitations to us all to come again, the meeting closed at 9p.m.
with Max VK7MX thanking all for turning up.
Following the meeting Jim treated us to a cinemascope fil-
which everyone enjoyed very much, this was followed by one of the
biggest and best suppers I ever attended, everyone seemed to be
eating for hours and the table seemed to be getting more food on
it than less. A big thanks to all XYL's and YL's for this
magnificent spread, we are looking forward to the next one.
T ————

As I was unable to attend this meeting my thanks go to
Max VK7MX for supplying me with the following notes. Max reports
the meeting was held at the home of Tony VK7AX on Tuesday the
11th of January at 8.30 p.m.. This meeting was very well attended
with 16 full, 9 associate members and 2 visitors. A visitor from
Burnie Mr. Hedley Charles gave a talk on the World DX Club which
proved very interesting and went over well. Another visitor
Mr. Charlton a community development officer, lectured on FM
radio, which also proved very interesting.
The meeting was a very good one and some lenghty discussions
took place. A big thanks to Tony and his XYL for throwing open
their QTH at the last minute for this meeting, which was to
have been held at the usual place at Lakins Hall Ulverstone, but
as we were unable to obtain a key Tony helped out. The meeting
finished at 10.30 and was followed by supper.
The next meeting will, I think, be held at Lakins Hall on
February 8th at B O'eclock.
A reminder to all that the next get together will be held
at Port Sorell on February the 27th, so all members, XYL's, YL's
and visitors are asked to turn up and make this a big one.

73 Lindsay Johnson

Deadline for the March issue of ORM is February 18
Page 4 QR M February 1977

HF and DX notes by Col VK7LZ.

Perhaps the best DX for a lot of VK's since our last
notes was YJ8KM on 52 MHz, however thats someone elses story.
Incidently Ken does QSL.
Over the holiday period listening time was limited so
these notes will of necessity be rather brief.
Last December was patchy but good at times, early in the
month Europeans came through well of an evening local time on 14
and 21 MHz both on Phone and C.W., also on 14 MHz during our
afternoons South Africans were workable most days short path from
05002, unfortunately most were ZS's, the only other prefixes
heard were, A2, FB8X, ZE, ZS3, 3B8, 9J and 9Q5, this is possibly
due to the political unrest prevalent in some of the rarer
African countries, also of interest was the middle and far east
areas where SU, 9K, JY, A6, A9, AP, VU and most USSR prefixes
were workable from 1000Z onwards. However just as we were
thinking conditions were on the improve along came January and
at present any really good DX is hard to come by, Africans are
now almost non existent and European signals are well down on
last month. I can't recall hearing a European signal on 21 MHz
during our evenings although JA's are still workable afternoons
local time.
ITEMS OF POSSIBLE INTERST.
VK9ZM - is operating from Willes Island for 6 months and has
been heard on both 14 and 21 MHz using SSB, on 14MHz
Bill operates around 14.165 MHz and on 21 MHz between
21.100 @nd 21.250 MHz. Bill also mentioned that on
Saturday and Sunday mornings he operates on 7 MHz
usually between 7.080 and 7.110 MHz.
VQOR - in the Seychelles Isl. is now signing S79R.
oD - Lebonese stations are now appearing on the bands, OD5FB
was heard on 14 MHz SSB, S9 at 1200Z,advising QSL's
could be sent via Box 50314 Beirut but not before
February 1977.
VK7JV has supplied an up to the minute list of stations heard
at strengths greater than S7 on 14 MHz SSB and this should be
very helpfull in assessing present band conditions.
0500 - 0530Z, HIBXBH, YVS5EUX and W's
0900 - 0930z, G3MMN, HM2KH, HA2GM, IK1XBY, VS6FN and JA's
1130 - 12002 AP2MQ, APS5S5HQ, DK5MC, EP2SB, G4JY, GW4NZ, OHS8OF,
OE3BKC, SM2FZX, UK6LEZ, UW6FZ, UK7LAA, UL7NW,
UF6VAG, VS6FN, VU2BUI, VU2GZE, VE2ZM/SU, YB2CN,
4S7DA, 5B4ES.
1200 - 1300z HA4PW, OH5PY, SL7BS, SM5CXC, SP3CQP, UTS5VU, 4Z4UW.
1300 - 14002 DKOCW, EP2PW, GW4AYJ, IK4LEC, LA7F, OE3KSC, OKlVE,
PAGRSR, SM70E, SP9OEYZ, SV1IP, VS5MC, W4IC, YO4WY,
YB5ACJ, YU2RUO, 4X4FQ, 9K2EP, O9K2AH, 9M2MC,
also F's, G's and various USSR stations
1500 - 15302 F6EMT, G3YSV, ON8XB, IK4VEQ, DL8FL, 9V1SZ.
Also heard on C.W. on the 14 MHz band at 0900Z were, DJSDA; F8TQ,
G3HW, LU3ELK, UKS5XBA, VS6HF.
cont. page 6
February 1977 QR M Page 5
VHF notes by Kevin VK7ZAH.

These notes contain happenings on the VHF bands for
December and January.
The Ross Hull contest has come and gone and won, by whom
is the question. There are a number of VK2's and 4's who were
exchanging rather large serial numbers at about half way through
the contest, but due to the lack of 6 Mx openings it is not known
if these increased significantly in the latter part of the contest.
Thereis one VK7 who ended with a very large serial number.
A number of operators have expressed the opinion that the
Ross Hull contest still favours the operator who has high power
SSB equipment and more than one band. For those who operate 6 Mx
and/or 2 Mx FM the task of winning any section of the contest is
an impossibility. It has been suggested that a more equal situation
may occur if there were a greater number of sections in the contest.
By this it is meant seperate sections for 6 Mx, FM, SSB, portable
and similarly for all other bands. Each of these sections having
a State winner, the overall winner to be eliminated and in its
place have a winning State on the basis of, number of contacts,
participation, bands used etc. this type of Award should encour-
age greater participation to enable one's State to win the Trophy.
If you agree with this or have any better ideas please forward
to the contest Manager as soon as possible so next years contest
may be better than the previous ones.
“~w to the subject of band happenings.
6 Metres, Up to about the 4th of January the band opened nearly
every day. During this period all States were worked as well as
P29, YJ8 and ZL. Peter VK7PD finally managed to work a VK6 which
completes his W.A.S., Peter has been trying to work VK6 for
about ten years. The FM net channel has also been very active
with stations operating from the South, North and North West
areas of the State.
On the 29th December the band opened at about 11.30 p.m.
local time and closed at 3 a.m.. VK5,4 and ? were worked, three
local stations were operating during this period, these being
7JV, 7JG and 7ZAH, Ian VK7ZIF was there keeping the Southern
end of the State in the picture.
2 Metres, Probably the most interesting happening on this band
was the opening to VK4. On the 1llth December VK7PS heard VK4ZCL
on 144.1 SSB but unfortunately did not work him. On the 27th Dec.
Peter VK7PD was parked in Ulverstone, with who we are not quite
certain, Peter was reading the VK4 repeater beacon from Brisbane
at noise free strength at times but when he tried to break in
on the QSO in progress the QSB had taken the signal down to a
level where he could not trigger the device. Kevin VK7ZAH was
heard in Brisbane whilst exchanging reports with VK3YJI on
144.1 SSB, later in the evening the report was QSL'ed from a
VK4. Prior to the 5th of January no inversion type of openings
occurred although Kevin worked VK3ZQV and VK3YJI everyday since
the start of the Ross Hull contest. When the band finally opened
it stayed open to varying degrees until the 13th of January,
mostly Geelong and Gippsland stations were the strongest and
most consistent. Occasionally during this period Melbourne
stations were worked. Hobart stations VK7's PS, MC, ZIF, AZ and
ZJG worked into Geelong and Gippsland with good signal strengths.
It just goes to show that almost anything is possible if one is
around at the right time.
cont. next page
Page 6 QR M February 1977