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Amateur
Radio \ AUGUST 1985,
Issued by the Tasmanian Division of
the Wireless Institute of Australia
Radiotorial (omment
The last two or three months have seen a steadily increasing number
of weekly participants in the Activity Centre at Newtown Road, Hobart.
From reports in the Sunday morning broadcast, the N.W. Branch's
Activity Night in Penguin is also increasingly well patronised.
In our last Editorial, we expressed the hope that these would produce
an improvement in the real participation by members, in W.I.A. projects
The most significant factor in these happenings is the setting-up of
a single major project with which all can identify, and in which all
can take a practical part, knowing clearly what the end-product is to
be. Converting the MRT25A to 6m., for instance, has been the aim of
the Southern Branch Activity Group - and perse verance has had to be
the nome of the game when starting out on this trail., Although the
method of conversion was supposed to take "about an hour", in fact
this proved highly optimistic - not because the instructions were
wrong or misleading, but because the marking system for capacitors
was both wrong and misleading. And this brings us to the "crunch
point" of this Editorial. It seems to us that the whole point of
code-marking components is to create a system for easy, rapid
identification of values, but the present situation, with both
resistors and capacitors, is frustrating in the extreme. F'rinstance,
a capacitor stamped 220 is really 22pF, one with 221 on it, is actually
220pF - SOMETIMES:.
We have come to the conclusion that progress is impossible without
a capacitance measuring device. Many of the modifiers have had to
"'go back to square one" when transmitter tests were carried out.
Your Editor would be delighted to have your comments on this topic,
either to change the system, to explain how to make it foolproof
(for his personal benefit) or to give us a circuit for o home-brew
capacitance meter.
At least it's emphasising our ideao of producing o series on
amateur testing equipment! \
!
ANV VKT UK
QSL INFORMATION SHEETS.
As promised in our July issue we complete the QSL sheets sent to us
by Allen, VK7AN. A2 to VE are available in last month's copy, from
the Editor if you happened to miss it.
CQ7—9 - o—r@® fifid)QSLE‘J—D—
" T7 7A | [ e | {E Fit
! | VE7 © Burnaby Amateur Radio Club
P.0O.Box80555, South Burnaby, BC V5H 3X9
| VE.VO.VY CANADA VES" c/o R. Ziemann, VE8RZ, 2888 Lanky Ct., Yellowficknifc. NWT X1A 2G4
VO : c/o P.O.Box6, St. John's, NF A1C 5H5
VY1 Yukon Amateur Radio Association
. P.0O.Box4597, Whitehorse, YUK Y1A 2R8
: VK1 : P.O.Box E46, Queen Victoria Terrace, ACT 2600
VK2 : P.O.Box73. Teralba, NSW 2284 ‘
VK3 :c/o B. Gray, VK3BYK, 1 Amery St., Ashburton, Vic. 3147 ;
‘ VK4 c/o G.P.0O.Box638, Brisbane, Old. 4001 f
VK | AUSTRALIA VK5: c/o R. Dobson, VKS5DI, 16 Howden Rd.. Fulham, SA 5024 |
| VK6 : ¢/o J. Rumble, VK6RU, G.P.0O.Box F319, Perth, WA 6001
VK7 ¢/o G.P.O.Box 371D, Hobart, Tas. 7001
‘ VK8 ¢/o H.G. Andersson, VKSHA, P.0.Box 1418, Darwin, NT 5794
l____ VK9-4 © ¢/o N. Penfold, VK6NE, 2 Moss Court, Kingsley, WA 6026
1 VP2M IM(\.\'TSERRAT | Montserrat Amateur Radio Society. PO Box448, Plymouth T
| VP2V BRITISH VIRGIN IS,| British Virgin Islands Radio League, P.0.Box653, Road Town, Tortola
1 VP9 TrBF,RMUDA Radio Society of Bermuda, P.O. Box275, H;\mnTIE;B 3
VS6 | HONG KONG | Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society, P.0.Box541, Hong Kong
VU [INDIA_ |"Amateur Radio Societyof India, P.O.Box 3005, New Delhi 3
W1 Harfi—p(len_Cfiunt,\' Radio AssnciA:ltiun
| P.0O Box216, Forest Park Station, Springfield, MA 01108
W2 North Jersev DX Association, P.O. Box599, Morris Plains, N J07950 |
| W3 Cumberland County Amateur Radio Service
! P.O.Box448, New Kingstown, PA 17072-0448
. K4, N4, W4 . Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society
P.0O.Box DX, Charlotte, NC 28220
C AAAKS KAKZY NANZELWAWZL - Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club
W,AA AL
‘ Call Box 599, Sterling Park, VA 22170
K.N
W5 ARRL W3 QSL Bureau, P.0.Box 44246, Oklahoma City, OK 73144
"W6 ARRL 6th District DX QSL Bureau
‘ P.O. Box 1460. Sun Valley., CA 91352
W7 Willamette Valley DX Club. P.O.Box553, Portland, OR 97207
WR Columbus Amateur Radio Association
Radio Room. 280 E, Broad St.. Columbus, OH 43215
W9 o Northern Illinois DX Association, P.0O.Box519. Elmhurst, 1L 60126
W¢ AK-Sar-Ben Radio Club, P.0O.Box291, Omaha NE 68101
; KAZ I‘ar East Amateur Radic League M
; c/0 S.Fleming, Sagami Facility, A.P.0O. San Francisco 96343 |
i KA6 Radio Club of Okinawa ‘
| P.0O Box217. Torii Station. A.P O.San Francisco 96331 |
| KG4 Guantanamo Amateur Radio Club, Box73. F P.O.New York 09593
| KH2 = Marianas Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Boxd45, Agana. Guam 96910
| KH4 c¢/o Box43, F P.O. San Francisco 96614
KH6 c/o] H Oka, KH6DQ. P O.Box 101, Aiea. Oahu, HI 96701
KHe¢ P.O. Box 7383, Saipan, Northern Marianas 96950
KL7T Alaska QSIL Bureau, 4304 Garfield St Anchorage, AK 99503
KP2 Virgin [slands Amateur Radio Club
P.0O.Box 11360, Charlotte Amalie. St.Thoman. V1 0080]
KP4 © Radio Club de Puerto Rico, P.0O.Box irl\fil. Eqr_]i@n; PR 0090‘_’7
TNT AR [£] # {i Hit
KX6 (Kwajalein). Kwajalein Amateur Radio Club
Box 444, A.P.O. San Francisco 96555
;2"&AA»AL U.S.A. KX6 (Eniwetok). Eniwetok Amateur Radio Club
' Eniwetok, Marshall Islands 96737
SWL : ¢/o M. Witkowski, 4206 Nebel St., Stevens Point, WI 54481
XE k(MEXICO Liga Mexicana de Radioexperimentadores. P.0.Box907, 06000 Mexico, D.F.
Y2-9 .(GERMANY Radioklub der D.D.R., P.O.Box 30, 1055 Berlin
}__Y_B-YE INDONESIA Organisasi Amatir Radio Indonesia, P.O.Box96, Jakarta 10002
Y) VANUATU Vanuatu Amateur Radio Society, P.O.Box 665, Port Villa
YK SYRIA Technical Institute of Radio, P.O.Box 35, Damascus
YN NICARAGUA | Club de Radioexperimentadores de Nicaragua, P.O. Box925, Managua
YO ROMANIA |
| Federatia Romana de Radioamatorism, P.0.Box05-50, R-76100 Bucharest
YS EL SALVADOR | Club de Radio Aficionados de El Salvador, P.0.Box 517, San Salvador .
YU YUGOSLAVIA Savez Radio-Amatera Jugoslavije, P.0O.Box48, 11901 Beograd
YV VENEZUELA | Radio Club Venezolano, P.0.Box2285, Caracas 1010A o
Z2 ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe Amateur Radio Society, P.O.Box 2377, Harare
ZB2 GIBRALTAR | Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society, P.0.Box 292, Gibraltar
ZF CAYMAN IS. Cayman Amateur Radio Society, P. O, Box 1029, Grand Cayman
ZK-ZM NEW ZEALAND | New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, P.0.Box40-212, Upper Hutt
T _}l’i\_RAGUAY Radio Club Paraguayo, P.0O.Box 512, Asuncion !
ZS SOUTH AFRICA | South African Radio League, P.0.Box3037, Cape Town, C.P.
A MONACO A.ssociatio.n des Radio-Amateurs: de M.onaco
Villa Marie-Joseph, 24 AV. Prince Pierre 98000
3B MAURITIUS | Mauritius Amateur Radio Society, P.0O.Box 467, Port Louis 1
3D2 FIJ1 Fiji Association of Radio Amateurs, P.0O.Box184, Suva
3D6 SWAZILAND | Radio Society of Swaziland, P.O.Box64, Manzini
4S SRI LANKA _'-R-adio Society of Sri Lanka, P.0.Box907, Colombo
4X, 47 ISRAEL Israel Amateur Radio Club, P.0O.Box3500, Haifa 31034
5B4 Cypr{xs Cyprus Amateur Radio Society, P.0O.Box 1267, Limassol
5N NIGERIA Nigerian Amateur Radio Society, P.0.Box2873, Lagos
5W ;VAES(I;KRN Western Samoa Amateur Radio Club, P.0O.Box 1069, Apia
5Z KENYA Radio Society of Kenya, P.0.Box45681, Nairobi
‘_GW B SENEGAL Association des Radio-Amateurs du Senegal, P.0.Box971, Dakar
6Y JAMAICA Jamaica Amateur Racio Asscciation, 76 Arnold Rd., Kiigs_tohns ]
t___7P LESOTHO Lesotho Amateur Radio Society, P.0O.Box949, Maseru 100 i
7X ALGERIA Amateurs Radio Algeriens, P.0.Box2, Alger-Gare
8P _’_B_ARBADOS Amateur Radio Society of Barbados, P.0.Box 814E, Bridgetown ‘
8R GUYANA c/0 S. D'Ornellas, 8R1B, 110 Barrack St., Kingston, Georgetown
9H MALTA Malta Amateur Radio League, P.0O.Box575, Valletta
9] ZAMBIA Radio Society of Zambia, P.0.Box 20332, Kitwe
9L SIERRA LEONE| Sierra Leone Amateur Radio Society, P.O.Box 10, Frze—t;;vn ]
Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters’ Society |
M I P.0O.Box 10777, Kuala Lumpur o ]
9IQ ZAIRE | Union Zairoise des Radio-Amateurs, P.0.Box1459, Kinshasa 1 ‘
9V SINGAPORE Singapore Amateur Radio Ttansmitting Society ]
G.P.0O Box 2728, Singapore 9047
—
9y TRINIDAD Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society, P.0O.Box 1167, Port of
AND TOBAGO | Spain
The copies of this newsletter will be distributed to WIA
members at Branch meetings and to other interested subscribers
by post at purely nominal cost. Anyone who would wish to take up
this offer, please contact the Editor on 002.293402.
ALARA's Poetry Corner.
This poem, Helene tells me, was written by ALARA's new Publicity
Officer, Joy Collis VK2EBX, who has composed many poems. Apparently
they come to her "out of the blue" and she needs to keep a pencil
and paper with her at all times!
DX BEFORE DISHES':
DX before dishes?
That's 0.K., I suppose.
The dishes are always with us -
The DX comes and goes. Crumbs upon the carpet?
You can't vacuum the floor.
You might miss, above the cleaner's noise
A chat with Labrador.
And though the dust is inches thick,
That is a matter minor,
When you hear, above the QRM,
A YL i f hina! .
valne Fiom Ching What if you haven't made the beds,
Or if the kids are bawling?
These things are unimportant
When San Felix is calling!
What if the lawn needs mowing,
All the windows cease to shine?
Who cares about those boring chores,
When Svalbard's 5 by 97 The O.M.'s bent the tinopener?
Well, who can think of cooking
When Africa is coming in,
And round the bends you're looking?
BUT - if you do the dishes,
(With one ear to the set)
Here's a bit of good advice
'Twould pay not to forget: If you should hear some rare DX
Which everything surpasses,
Don't "drop what you are doing"
If you're washing crystal glasses!!
(Perhaps that will encourage the ladies to browse through QRM as well -
or even to start to contribute towards it each month!)
A.L.A.R.A. REPORT.
ALARA would like to extend a big welcome to Grace VK7NNN who recently
joined our Association, bringing the number of members in VK7 to SIX.
Grace took part in the ALARA 10th Birthday Award and, owing to her
participation in one of the recent weekly nets, we have achieved a
record number of 3 VK7's present.
Helene went to the VK3 ALARA 10th birthday get-together at the Moorabin
Radio Club on 26th July and about 30 ALARA members were there.
(@ont)
(Cont) )
It was a particular privilege to meet Austine VK3YL who was the first
female licensed "op" in Australia, having been on the air since 1930.°
Several previous ALARA Presidents attended the get-together, to make
it o really memorable occasion.
from VK7HD Helene
(President)
WANTED.
Second hand transceiver, to buy reasonably cheaply, or to loan for
the period of the JOTA weekend and a short practice time beforehand.
Please contact VK7KTC (QTHR) or 002-278983 (evenings).
W.I.A. 75th. Birthday Celebrations.
The President of the Rotary Club of Kangaroo Bay (at Bellerive)
recently became aware of the W.I.A's 75th. Birthday Celebrations and
invited Warren VK7CV to be guest speaker at his club to talk on it
and on Amateur Radio in general. This he did on Monday evening 22nd.
July, with a display of equipment and a thirty minute tclk with an
emphasis on W.I.C.E.N. and the availahillity of repeaters. As a practical
demonstration, Warren had a pre-arranged contact with Bruce VK7ZBA
at Cranbrook near Bicheno on the east coast. The equipment in use
was the IC2A handheld which created a lot of interest and questions.
In all, it was a most successful evening.
W.ANTETD .
Yaesu SP101P or SP101 extension speaker and FV101l external VFO.
Must be clean or near mint condition. Cash paid.
Above all must suit FT10I1E.
Contact Allen VK7AN (003) 317914. 3, Denman Road. L'ton 7250
WANTED.
One FT-7 or TS-120V in good condition. Please contact
VK7EA (QTHR) Phone (002) 287246.
Two 27 MHz CB Transceivers, suitable for conversion to 27 MHz Marine
Band. Please contact VK7PV (QTHR) or phone (002) 280299 (Bus)
or (002) 446132 (A.H.)
QS L CARDS.
PLEASE do not throw out your old QSL cards or your surplus. I would
like to start up an archive for our Tasmanian Division. Just give
me a ring on (002) 296504 and I will pick them up. Or send them to
VK7DQ, 10 Maranoa Road, Kingston, 7150.
Thank you, VK7DQ.
73's from Jim, VK3YJ.
You will remember the excellent contribution made to our July issue
by Jim who writes the Australia column for "73" magazine. Well, when
Helene, President of ALARA, writing on another page, mentioned that
she had met Austine, VK3YL, the opportunity to publish the following
article seemed too good to miss. Our acknowledgments to 73 magazine.
sets, she used to do a tour of the city opti- ¥ia
cians, getting their broken or rejected
quartz lenses, and, if successful, would
hurry home with them to grind her own
crystals. :
With this type of equipment, Austine
had her first CW contact into Belgium on
AUSTRALIA September 30, 1931, with Baron de la
Rouche ON4HM. To commemorate this
Jim Joyce VK3YJ
contact, the Baron sent her a bronze repli-
44 Wren Street
ca of the Sacred Guardian Monkey of
Altona 3018, Victoria
Mons. She also had a successful contact
Australia
with a South African amateur in the early
THE AUSSIE YL 1930s, using a UV199 tube fed with dry
How often we have heard the pileups batteries, with less than 1 Watt of input
and QRM disappear when a rare DX sta- powaer, in a portable situation.
tion says those magic words "“Please Being an adventurous young wisp of a
stand by—there’'s a YL calling.” Even girl, Austine was fond of horseback riding
those persistent callers, jammers, and de- and driving a little sports car, plus riding
liberate QRM merchants who have, unfor- motor bikes. It was only natural, therefore,
tunately, become a sad fact of life on ama- to take up flying. On September 6, 1933,
teur radio these days seem to go QRT she became the first woman admitted to
when the ladies are transmitting. Maybe it the Royal Australian Air Force Radio Re-
serve, the training for which included fly- Austine Henry VK3YL.
is chivalry, or perhaps a mark of respect to
these adventurous young ladies who have ing around in a Wapiti biplane. This plane, her entry to the DXCC Honor Roll as the er Mitchell VK3AZU (the designer of the
involved themselves in what was predomi- although old, was very solidly constructed first and only Australian YL to gain this Alara award), a certificate for being the
nantly a male hobby in the early days of and was used extensively to train both pi- achievement, but this is only one of Aus- first VK YL to receive this award.
amateur radio. Every so often, a YL opera- lots and radio operators, with the pilot in tine's many tirsts in the field of amateur Those are only a few of the various
tor is heard who is a fine exampie of why the front cockpit and the radio instructor
radio. Up untH 25 years ago, Austine was awards Austine has to her credit. She is
we OMs have that respect. and pupil in the back cockpit. With these using only a 40-meter Zepp antenna, grad- also a foundation member of Yasme, win-
cramped conditions, the student virtually uating to a half-wave centerfed dipole, but ning Certificate No. 7 in the prestigious
Austine VK3YL had to sit on the instructor's knee (lucky
in the last few years she has upgraded her Yasme award, one in front of the famous
Austine Henry VK3YL is such a young instructor!). The main requirement for fiy- antenna system to a triband beam. Her Don Wallace WBAM who got Certificate
lady. As a life member of the Society of ing in these conditions was to stand up
transmitters have graduated from home No.8 in 1980. .
Wireless Pioneers and as a member of when you landed. Otherwise, if the land-
brew, to converted surplus WWII equip- What more can be said about a woman
54-years standing with the Wireless Insti- ing was bumpy and you were sitting down, ment, to these days, when she is using who, after 54 years of amateur-radio oper-
tute of Australia, she has the distinction you could crack your skull on all the gear.
Drake equipment. ating, is'still heard in the pileups, keeping
of having the longest YL membership rec- Austine was most upset that they
Austine is quite proud of some of her her operating techniques in CW and SSB
ord. In 1830, Austine was awarded a tro- would not send her to the war zone as a ra- earlier award achievements, some of sharp, just in case there comes on the air
phy from the WIA for the best piece of dio operator in one of the planes, just be-
which are: the first to work WAC-YL, Cer- one of the four countries she still needs to
home-brew gear in the local WIA home- cause she was a woman, but despite other
tificate No. 22 for the YL-DXCC from Cana- have worked the lot.
brew competition. commitments during WWII, she spent a
da (hand-printed in gold), and from Heath- 88s, Austine!
1830 was an active year for Austine, as lot of her spare time at the WIA on a volun-
she also became a member of the ARRL teer basis, instructing service personnel
on April 14, 1930. She has 30 years of and others in the art of Morse code. It was
membership in the RSGB, plus she has not unusuai for Austine to take them into
been a member of NZART over the last few her own home for free private tuition so
years. Austine has really kept her finger that they could pass their exams.
on the puise of overseas amateur-ragio After WWII, Austine maintained her in-
activities. No wonder she has many tales terest in amateur radio, with a particular
to tell of the good old days In radio. interest in DX. One of her most interesting
When she received her first crystal set contacts was in 1957 with Michael
as a child, she immediately pulled it to FOBAP/MM, on the ill-tated Taniti Nui raft
pleces 10 see how it worked, graduating to expedition between Tahiti and Chile. This
vaive [tube] sats that she made herself, expedition ended up 600 miles short of
gaining enough expertise to pass her ex- Chile when the raft broke apart after a
perimental license exam on May 13, 1830. week of storms. Michael was using a
Only the third woman to obtain an ama- transceiver with 1 Watt of input power at
teur license in Australia, Austine became that time. Can you imagine trying to send
VKayL SOS, plus your position, on a raft of
20-inch logs that are breaking apart in the
As there was no commercial gear avail-
middle of the ocean with 30-foot waves
able for amateurs in those days, Austine
pounding down on you? That would defi-
learned at an early stage how to get the
nitely take a steady hand on the key.
best out of a home-brew 1-Watt-input Point Cook, 1933: The Wapiti in which Austine 3YL/3D6 made her flying debut. (Picture
CW is a mode at which Austine has re- given to her by Jim 3NY/386.)
transmitter. To get the crystals for her
mained very proficient, proof of this being
SO YOU WANT TO CONTACT THE EDITOR?
His name is John Rogers. His callsign is VK/JK. His telephone
number is 002.,293402.
His address 1is:
1,
Darville Court,
Blackman's Bay,
Hobart, 7152,
And when you lose your copy of QRM, remember he's QTHR. When
he is at home, the 2m rig is normally running and listening to
Repeater 2.
SATELLITE INFORMATION.
There is o mass of information now available to those who are interested
in this particular sphere of amateur radio, and it would be quite ,
possible to fill "QRM" every month with just this aspect of our hobby.
In order not to waste space by publishing items of limited value, or
on the other hand, to avoid missing out news that would be widely
appreciated, we would like your views on exactly what a "Satellite
Information"” section should include. No response will probably mean
that, being left "in the dark", we shall use our space in other ways.
TARC 1985 HAMFEST.
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS.
RECEIPTS 3 g
Convention Raffle 805.00
TARC 549.70
Profit on Dinner 48.50 1403.20
PAYMENTS
Raffle Prizes 664.00
Insurance 236.48
Hall Hire 150.00
Cocktail Function:
Drinks 193.00
Food 472.00
Morning & Afternoon Teas 47.70
Promotional Materials:
Printing 265.00
Name Tags 9.80
Advertising 100.80
Video Hire 20.40
Display Boards 46.43
Sundry Materials 65.10 2270.71
Amount refunded from W.I.A. 867.51
1403.20
s—
WOULD ALL ASPIRING CONTRIBUTORS TO "QRM" PLEASE NOTE THAT THE
EDITOR'S CLOSING DATE FOR COPY FOR THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE WILL BE
FRIDAY,
e————— e 30th. AUGUST.
ANMNART.EANGA, LT 5. A NAR.T.SANART.SANGA. R.T.S.A.N.A.R.T.
A.N.A.R.T.S.
(BULLETIN No. 3 - May 1985.
THE AUSTRALI AN MeTIOMAL AMSTEUR RADIC TELEFRINTER SOCIETY,
(BN AR TS is a non-profit arganization, which helps promote radio
t eletype and other narrow band modes, including RTTY, AMTOR, ASCII, FAX and S
SETV and now also helping promote Packet Radio, using the popular U2
protocol
ALMN.AR.T.S, i the main voice in Australia on narrow band modes.
It has be = n promcoting and helping many fellow amateurs to get on the air
etc., cince it Was farmed in 1%7&.
ANAR.T.S. through ite club callsign VK2TTY and RTTY repeater
VKZRTY in Sydney, radiate a regular weekly RTTY broadcast., The time and
frequencies are on Sundays at 8838 UTC and 8%3@ UTC, on the 28M, 48M, 28M
and 2M bands. Some items tranesmitted on the broadcast is DX news, current
events and cantests, csatellite reports, Ian eric repoprts, news from
cther clubse etc. Inm addition to the broadcast'we have a club gquarterly
newsletter to members, with interesting news from near and far, FREE
adverts for amateurs, advice on suitable equipment, projects andrainy—day
contestse etc.
Help isgiven and encouraged for those interected toacssemble their
Quin gear . ble have a variety of project boards includinag, CEMODULATORS,
MODULATORS and POWER SUPPLIES. ATl the boards come with circuit diagrams,
parts lists and full documentation on assembly, mostly for around $1@.68.
For membership, or any enquiries includinga S.4.5.E., write toaThe
Secretary, ALNLAGR.T.S. P.O. Box 244 Crows Mest, 2845 N.S. W,
JIM (VK3YJ) on C.B.
(with acknowledgments to "73")
CB RADIC
introducing a similar Novice-class license lieve it or not, freely-advertised linear
CB radio has been both a blessing and a now get on the air with their own net fre-
and, going by the upsurge in amateur ra- amps for UHF.
curse to amateur radio in Australia. It quencies to chew the fat about old times.
dio in Australia, it would be a good thing,
started with the truckers in the Blue | would not be surprised if in the near fu- We also have the lifetime SWL who
as bp until the advent of CB and the Nov-
Mountains of New South Wales (VK2), ture, due to our archaic import and resale could not pass the previous license test
iceclass license, the amateur-radio for the full call, but now, due to the Novice
where it was put to good use as a safaty laws in Austraiia, 14-MHz sets appear for
scene in Australia was virtually stagnant. license, with a bit of study is able to trans-
device on the narrow, steep hills, but with resale, as it is quite legal to import and re-
As an example, going by WIA member- mit 1o stations he has logged as an SWL
the showing of the film Convoy, all ot the tail any type of equipment providing it is
ship (which has remained at approximate- over many years.
rest of Australia became aware of what not dangerous to health or does not inter-
ly 80% of the total amateur population), In conclusion, due to the upsurge of CB
was to become a loss of 27 MHz to ama- fere with emergency services. A CB opera-
from 1963, with 3,500 members, to 1973, radio we have had both gains and losses,
teur radio in Australia and a headache for tor can quite legally buy himself an FT-
there was an increase of 1,000 (28%), but and only time will tell if it has been good
our Department of Communications, but a 902DM with an FL2100Z linear, connect it
boom for amateur radio. by 1983, with the advent of CB and the for amateur radio in Australia. | do person-
to his 6-element monobander and, unless
With the interest created by CB, it did Novice license, there was an unprece- ally feel, however, that with the advent of
he causes interference (with a resulting
not take long for people to realize that
dented upsurge in new amateurs and the latest toy, namely a cordless tele-
visit from the overworked DOC investiga-
with ever-increasing chaos on 27 MHz, membership was 8,500. That represented phone with a 9-km range (together with
tor), can operate illegally to his heart’s
there had to be something bstter in the a 53% 10-year increase, nearly twice that other as-yet-untested frequency damag-
content.
fieild of communications. It is here that of the previous 10-year period. ing devices being imported into this coun-
However, like everything eise inlife, you That is the negative—but worth think- try), we may suffer an unprecedented in-
both the Wireless institute of Australia
get nothing for nothing. The cost to the ing about—side of the CB input to ama- terference problem on the amateur bands
and the DOC, to their credit, got together
amateurs 80 far has been the loss of the teur radio in Australia. and commercial frequencies.
with the result being a Novice class of am-
ateur license. 27-MHz band and, with retailers down The positive side has many pluses. It is The extent of such interference could
To pass this, you had to answer a here now quite blatantly advertising CBs not unusual to hear on the CW section of be such that the Department of Communi-
50-question, multi-choice paper on rela- with a frequency coverage of 26.965 to the Novice band a couple of Novices rat- cations (DOC) may have some difficulty in
tively easy electrical laws, operating pro- 28.805 MHz in 5-KHz steps, how long be- tling away on CW at 20 wpm; some are controlling it, as in past instances with 27
cedures, and basic radio theory. You also fore we aiso lose 28 MHz? even faster. These speed merchants on MHz. There is some ray of hope, however,
had a 30-question paper on rules and regu- “It will never happen,” | hear the old- the key usually are ex-service signal per- since at this very moment a new Act of
lations (multi-choice). Your CW test was timers saying into their 807s, but the CB sonnel or postoffice telegraphists who, Parliament (Radio Communications Bill)
at 5 wpm, send and raceive. fraternity in Australia now legally has 40 over the years, have forgotten all about ra- is in the final stages of debate and is ex-
If you passed this exam, you were al- channels and no restrictions on antennas dio but, with the advent of the Novice li- pected to pass the Senate shortly. When
lowed to operate poth SSB and CW on a (six-elsment beams are quite common) cense, have found that with a little study this occurs, the Department of Communi-
section of 10, 15, and 80 meters, with a plus freely-advertised linear amplifiers of on solid-state basics, they can get back cations will have little difficulty in obtain-
maximum power output of 30 Watts PEP. up to 600 Watts output for 27 MHz. What into the communications field. As most of ing a prosecution against illegal opera-
A tew countrias have been thinking of also happened to the legal limit of 12 Watts these gentlemen are now retired, they tions, since the mere possession of trans-
PEP for CB? The CB operators in Australia tend to study and get their full-cali li- mitting equipment without a license or
also enjoy a section of the UHF band quite cense. The result is that many ex-signal just cause will be an indictable offense.
legally, with access to repeaters and, be- ops of the various services during WWII
rlO88Y ELECTRONICS
477 NELSON ROAD,
MT. NELSON 7007
Telephone (002) 23 6751
S TP .TR TS
SPECIFICATION
FREQUENCY COVERAGE:
150KHz - 29.999MHz
118MHz - 173.999MHz*
FREQUENCY
100Hz (Digital Readout)
FREQUENCY STABILITY: )
<+ 300Hz in 30 mins after 1 min on
< 50Hz in 30 mins after warm up
MODES OF RECEPTION:
AM, CW, FM NB, SSB (LSB/USB)
A3E, A1A, G3E, J3E
SELECTIVITY:
FRG8800 SSB/CW (J3EIA1A!2
2.7KHz @ -6dB, 8.0KHz @ -50dB
General Coverage K FM (G3E) narrow:
Continuous coverage from 150KHz to 30MHz. A 12 button keyboard is fitted as standard 12.5KHz @ -6dB, 30KHz @ -40dB
Two speed spin tuned VFO plus keyboard plus allowing quick accurate changes of frequency AM LA:’EH (standardnarrow):
computer interface control. and band (MHz and KHz programmed 6.0KHz @ -6dB, 15KHz @ -50dB
individually). The keyboard aiso has nine
2.7KHz @ -6dB, 8KHz @ -50dB
All mode control buttons to allow rapid changes from
The FRG8800 demodulates SSB (USB & LSB) memory to VFO, memory to memory and VFO to SENSITIVITY:
CW, AM (Wide and Narrow) and FM narrow as memory. Memory channels can aiso be recalled SSB/CW (J3E/A1A) @ 10dB S + N/N:
standard. This, complemented by an all mode at the turn of a knob, ideal for storing <0.4uV into 50 ohm, 1.50-30MHz
squelctr, produces the most practical receiver calling/working channels or broadcast <3.0uV into 500 ohms, 0.15-1.6MHz
available. The FM narrow is useful for 10M, CB reception.
<1.0uV into 50 ohms, 118-174MHz2"*
and for VHF with the optional VHF convertor The keyboard is complemented by an opto-
coupled, two speed, VFO drive: fast for rapid M 035‘) @20dB S + NN:
Memory ) tuning of a band or slow for accurately tuning in .OuVinto 50 ochms, 1.60-30MHz
The FRG8800 comes fully equipped with twelve a signal. In addition a fine tune control <2.0uV into50ohms, 118-174MHz*
memories programmed and scanned at the compensates for drift in the received signal.
touch of a single button. Any of the memory The dial can be electronically locked AM (A3E) @ 10dB S + N/N:
channels will accept a frequency within the preventing accidental change in frequency. <4.0uV into 50 ohms 1.60-30MHz
whole range of the receiver including the VHF <3.0uV into 500 ohms, 0.15-1.6MHz
range (with the optional VHF unit). The mode is <10uV into 50 ohms 118-174MHz"*
also stored in the memory eliminating the Clock/timer
need for inconvenient manual mode change, Dual accurate 12 hour clocks, with AM/PM SQUELCH SENSITIVITY:
when hopping from one memory to the next. indicators are ideal for log keeping (GMT/ SSB/CW (J3E/A1A):
Local). The clock uses the main digital display <2uV, 1.60-30.0MHz
Selectivity & Sensitivity and features full back-up facifities in the event <4uV, 118-174MHz"
Four filters are fitted as standard (SSB/CW, of a mains failure or disconnection. The timer
AM, AM-NAR and FM-NAR) with bandwidths can activate the receiver or tape recorder via FM (G3E):
chosen for optimum performance, these the relay contacts provided. A snooze facility <0.5uV, 1.6-30.0MHz
combined with switchable AGC and variable allows up to 59 minutes of listening. <1.0uv, 118-174MHz*
tone control provides maximum enjoyment
despite today's crowded bands. AM (A3E):
High input sensitivities are obtained by the VHF Converter (optional) <2uV, 1.60-30.0MHz
latest in RF stages, making the most of The FRV8800 extends coverage to include <4uV, 118-174dMHz*
inefficient aerials and difficult locations, and a 118-174MHz all within the main frame, thereby
continuously variable RF attenuator control allowing monitoring of. PMR, marine and air AUDIO OUTPUT:
overcomes problems encountered with very bands, as well as 2M. 1.4W in 8 ohms internal @ 10% T.H.D.
powerful stations The FRGB8800 is operated as before via the 4-16 ohms external speaker/phones
keyboard or VFO, and the memory still holds Constant level line output (recorder)
LCD Dispiay any frequency and mode. The actual VHF
POWER REQUIREMENTS:
The back-lit green LCD display incorporates frequency is displayed on the main LCD to a 100/120 220/24V @ 50/60Hz
easy to read ‘any angle’ 10mm digits. resolution of 100Hz
A twelve function display indicates the 35VA Rx, 5VA standby
transceiver's status at a glance. It includes 12VDC (nominal)*
memory channel number, mode, and Worldwide 1A Rx, 0.020A standby
frequency to a resolution of 100Hz. Also At 6.1Kg (excluding convertor) the FRG8800 is DIMENSIONS 5Exllne ections):
included is a two dimensional LCD, graphical ideal for taking on any trip. The power supply is 235/270 D, mm
SIMPO and 'S’ meter, which is conventionally easily adjustable from 240-220 VAC to 110-120V, 335/350 W, 120/130 H,
calibrated at 1-5 and 0-9, +20dB, +40dB, +60dB 50/60Hz mains and 12VDC operation is available Weight 6.1/6.3Kg (w/0, ¢c/w VHF unit)
respectively. as an option “ OPTIONAL UNIT
WANTED
: One FT7 or TS120V or TS130.
Please contact the address above.
' - POWER DUPLEX SELCALL
BASE BASE
STATION STATION4
VEHACLE VEH:!‘CLE v\égllcj:fi.s VE",",CLE
BASE
WAREHOUSE STATION 2
VEHICLE VEHICLE VEHICLE VEHICLE '
BUSINESS PRIVATE
X470 X470
wherever you drive, work, live...
TX470... THEULITIMATEIN TWO-WAY RADIO
Electrophone TX470 UHF 2 way radio The TX470 incorporates the exclusive
brings you your own high quality, Electrophone Interference Shield ..
professional communication system. giving you crystal clear reception
The TX470 has been especially Reception that is free of
designed for Australia’s harsh inter!~rence from mctor ignition,
environment, by Japan’s leading elecirical apparatus, cr neorby
communication company. fransmissions.
AVAILABLE FROM GEORGE HARVEY ELECTRIC PTY. LTD.
@/6, York 5t, 162-4, Argyle St.
ec Op One. Launceston, 7250 Hobart, 7000,
003.316533 002.342233