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QRM
October O
<7
1986

Newsletter of the Tasmanian Division
of the
Wireless Institute of Australia

(Insert in ‘A.R.")
R.
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORY.
Postal Addresses:
Tasmanian Division: P.0.Box 1010, Launceston, 7250,
Southern Branch: P.0.Box 123, Sandy Bay, 7005,
Northern Branch: P.0.Box 275, Launceston, 7250.
Northwest Branch: P.0.Box 194, Penguin, 7316.

Divisional Officers 1986/7:
President: Peter Frith, VK7PF.
Secretary: Barry Riseley, VK/RS.
Treasurer: Frank Beech, VK7BC.
Asst., Sec.: Robin Harwood, VK7RH (Also Minuting Sec.).
Federal Council: Joe Gelston, VK7JG.
Council Member: Byron Dilworth, VK7BD.
Vice- Pres. Arthur Treyaskis, VK7SE.
Vice- Pres. Russ Pitman, VK7ZRP.

Branch Notices:

NORTHERN BRANCH MEETS AT 8 P.M. ON THE SECOND FRIDAY of each
month (except January) in Room G25, Swanson
Building, Australian Maritime College, Newnham, Launceston,
Next two meetings: October 10th. November 14th.
NORTHWEST BRANCH MEETS AT73f.M., ON THE SECOND TUESDAY of ecch
month at the Penguin High School.
Next two meetings: October 14th. November 11th.
SOUTHERN BRANCH MEETS AT 8.15 P.M. ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY of
the month, at The Activity Centre, 105, Newtown
Road, Hobart.
Next two meetings: October 1st, November 5th.

Broadcast Officers:

Divisional Co-ordinator: Arthur, VK7GH, 34, Ashbolt Crescent,
Lutana, 7009.
Tel: (H) 002.284963. (B) 002.305600.
Northern Branch Officer: VK7AV Bill,
Northwest Branch Officer: VK7ZFH Frank.
Southern Branch Officer: VK7GH Arthur.

Broadcasts commence 09.00 every Sunday, normally originated on
2m,, with relays on 80m., 40m., 144.1 MHz (SSB) and ATV.
FOR SALE FOR_SALE FOR SALE FOR _SALE FOR SALE

Wilson Electronics Corporation Model M103C three element
10 metre Yagi antenna and 25 foot telescopic mast comprising
two 15 foot (approx) galvanised water pipes. $70.00.
Computer Desk (Amstrad type) $60.00.
Apply: Jim Oliver, 2, Luxmore Place, South Launceston, 7249.
VK7 JO. Tel: 003.443314.

Two element QUAD, (boom - Oregon spreaders)
2 x 8 element 2m. Yagi Any offers?
Apply to: VK7HV who is QTHR.

Radiotorial.

The last couple of issues have contained a "Letters to
the Editor" content that, in number at least, was more in
keeping with the "newsletter" concept of "QRM" - but it took
a controversy to do it. Now it's never the Editor's intention
to whinge when he IS actually at last receiving some letters,
but let him draw your attention to those in this edition.
They are really newsy and in the spirit of the radio amateur's
exchange of information. AND, would you believe it? - both
of them come from interstate!! The letters are so long that
we have taken the liberty of publishing an extract this
month and will add the rest in thé, near future.
Perhaps our readers could take the point that controversy
shouldn't be the only reason for writing to "QRM". We changed
the distribution system to ensure that members in remote :
areas could have contact with the rest of the State - and
news is the essence of that contact. So, imagine YOU are out
in the distant parts of Tasmania, decide what sort of
reading content you would like in "QRM" and then have a go
at providing it.

’///,/” VK7 JK

FOR SALE: Commodore 64 computer and disk drive plus computer
desk - offers. Apply 105 New Town Road.
WICEN SOUTHERN TASMANIAN BRANCH

A proposed network consisting of four basic elements

1. S.E.S. H@. LIAISON UNIT

Consists of two VHF tranceivers located in the
S.E.S. Hq. building and manned by WICEN operators. This unit
would supply a simplex link with the WICEN base stations and
under certain circumstances would utilize Repeater 2 for
message handling.

2. THE BASE STATION

Consists of a home based Amateur Radic Station
located to enable direct VHF contact with the S.E.S.Hq.
building and possessing effective H.F. facilities.The
station would be able to relay two—way transmissions cross
band and have sufficient room to accommodate two or three
operators. An emergency power supply would be desirable.
The backup base station would have similar
facilities and be able to take over part or all of the
traffic load from the main base station.

3.MOBILE AND FIXED SATELLITES

The mobile units would be vehicle based with VHF
and HF facilities able to relay traffic two way cross band.
They will have a portable mast and antenna adequate to give
statewide coverage on HF and a reasonable range an VHF.
Each unit would need accommodation to support two operators
for several days and be self sufficient 1in power
generation.
The network plan lends itself to the
establishment of mobile satellites by the North and
Northwest Branches which would link in to the WICEN base
stations in the south. This possibility will be discussed
with the other branches during the exercise planned for the
north =! the end of November.
Some fixed position stations would be selected
for their strategic location or special capabilities (marine
watch etc.)

4.FIELD UNITS

These units would consist of VHF equipped
vehicles aor operators on foot with handhelds and would
provide the 1link with forward elements of the S.E.S

VK7ZAR (Alan) VK7CI (Alan)
State co—ardinator Southern Branch co—ordinator
PROPOSED OPERATIONAL NETWORK - WICEN, Southern Branch.

Fixed
Satellite
Marine
Watch.

Aobile W\
;(Zﬂ‘b O
Satellite ]V Handheld
: h 2-way or veh.
wit
crossband VHF
relay. ‘emj
S
Handheld
or veh,
E|
M&‘L?
S
2-way Crosg Handheld
""L‘ or veh.
&)
Handheld
Satellite. or veh.

New Editorial Address. i

Please note that all news, articles and letters for the
November issue must be in before 15th. October to:
QRM Editor,
105, Newtown Road,
Hobart,
This address will apply for both the November and December
issues of QRM.
A.R. ENVELOPE LABELS.
With some problems with QRM insertion in AR traced
to the labels on the posting envelopes, the following inform-
ation may be of interest. The labels are ‘also proof of
membership,but as yet, do not show the date of printing.
There are seven groups of numbers across the top line.
They are -
1. Renewal month. Mostly 1 for Jan. unless
recently joined in some other month. ‘
2. Grade of Membership:
A - Associate.
F - Full city (mainly Hobart - does not
mean much) :
C - Full country.
G - Pensioner/Student.
X - No AR (someone else in family gets AR)
3. Dist. code. All Australia is 1.
4. Branch. O1 outside Tas. 02 South, 03 North,
04 Northwest.
5. Callsign or listener number.
6. Membership number.
Peter Frith.

FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE
ICOM 490A UHF 70cm. rig, multimode mobile, 10 watts out,
transceiver covers FM repeaters and satellites. AS NEW.
Originally cost 899, will sell for %700 or near offer.
ALSO FV101DM Scanning VFO, NEW. Would suit FT101ZD, (late
model, with FM), $150.
Apply VK7AN, tel: 003.317914, QTHR.

WANTED WANTED WANTED WANTED WANTED
VK7ZAR is looking for an ICRM3 or ICRM2 controller for
ICOM radios. Details please to A. Ruthven on 002.728393,
' or P.0.Box 94, Lindisfarne, 7015.
VK7BD's Valve series - two circuits held over from
last month. MOD HT TO T
HT 2SO0V
SPGAKER pOTPLT
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Tt = 10k -7K CenRE TAED SPeRKeR TRANSFOAMER.

Lows PoLiex MODULATDR. fok MmITKAN' o2
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ANTENNA + HT SwiTcHiING Fox Simece Tx/Ey
Letters to the Editor.

(From VK2AV Arthur, who was recently on holiday in VK7, and
has just moved into a unit in Deewhy)
Thanks for the "QRM's" which provide a little news of
happenings down your way, to my great interest here in Sydney.
We must have become acclimatized after several months in Tas.,
and 1° in Launceston was a breeze - dry cold and invigorating.
Melbourne, on the other hand, with 110 and wet, was most
unpleasant.
Am busily engaged in turning my room into a first-class
den, having taken a leaf out of the campervan construction.
All my books and gear are now fitted in a relatively confined
space. There are four 8-foot long bookshelves on one wall,
a TS130, a TS670, R1000, 3 TV's, AM/FM receiver, two large
floor speakers, KDK 2m. FM2033 transceiver and power supply.
Plus a typewriter! Two narrow tables and a chair! With all
this, I've managed to contrive a feeling of space, but it's
pretty hard after living in a house on % acre of land, to fit
EVERYTHING into one room! Hi!
The 2 metre and HF gear worked quite well in VK7, but
s ome areas were absolutely rotten for any sort of communication.
Strahan and Queenstown were poor, and Sandy Bay wasn't very
dgood either! Bright spots were 2m. contacts from top of Mt.
Wellington to Launceston (S9 sigs) and 2m. mobile to VK3RGL
(Rungarooma - S7 to S9 sigs) and to VK3 (mobile marine -
VK3DML I think it was). From near the Scottsdale Public School
I had 2m and 70cm contact with VK3 at surprising strength -
some sigs S2 and S3 direct.. When 'staying in Melbourne I could
hear the boys in Scottsdale on Mt. Barrow repeater (Ken 7KKV
and Charles 7WW). A VK3 on the coast was able to raise them but
I had no luck. Does Ted (VK7GB) know whether the Royal Signals
Association (UK) is connected in any way with the Hobart crowd
of the same name? :
Arthur.

(From Jim VK3YJ - 73 correspondent, who has sent us copy before)
My spider quad is working 0.K. and I now don't have to
worry about getting up at 2 a.m. when the wind blows strong, to
crank down the big monobander, dressed in my underpants in the
freezing cold and rain. It's worth the slight downgrade in
signal. Have you ever thought of producing a photo of a
Tassie Devil wearing headphones, sitting at a rig calling CQDX?
It would make a good QSL card, I reckon.
Jim.
A Slgnal Source for Carphone Receiver Alignment
RON HIGGINEOTHAM,” VK3RN

“The May 1969 lssue of the Eastern Initial bias on thc diode is obtainad Two methods of construction have
‘and: Mountain District Radio _Club from the two 47K resistors across the been uscd. One uses a printed circuit
}oumal .contained details of an ex- supply rail and initial frequency adjust- board and in the other systemn the com-
treme ly “black box" for
-useful.little ment is made by means of the variable ponents and transistors are mounted on
the alignment ‘of fm. carphone receiv- capacily across the diode. Mate that tag strips which are attached to the
ors. Since it operated from a 12v. 10 it may be neccssary with some diodes lid of a small metal box.
maA. d.c, supply, it held obvious attrac- to vary the top bias resistor until
tions as .a device: that could be used cenfre “frequency. is obtained with the In use thls device has proven most
away from power sources other than a trimming capactior across the diode at useful. The only criticism is that the
car battery as well as in the shack for half range. deviation is a little on the low side,
“ground based” reccivers. On switching on the modulator the but no doubt this could be improved
Another attraction was the fact that bias across the diode varics at an audio by the use of a higher gain transistor
it couild provide a low level signal when rate. This causes the capacily of the in the audio oscillator, or an adjustment
required (rather than having someone diode to change (also at an audio rate) to the base bias. In use this slight lack
come “up and provide carrier for your and in turn the frequency of oscillation
of deviation has not proven any draw-
adjustments and thus occupy a net fre- varies.
back.
*Qv It appears te go well with pretty well
“% See Text,
any modern crystal in the 2-15 MHz.
range, but, as pointed out in the orig-
inal article, older crystals such as the
surplus DCI11 series might need a
-039 -039 -039
higher gain device such as the 2N3565
]l'sgu.a in the crystal oscillator. Crystals much
below 2 MHz. need different circuilry,
which rather rules out the circuit as a
455 KHz. test oscillator.
Besides its utility as a signal source
for the alignment of t: e rf. and1st if.
stages of any 2 or 6 metre carphone of
any make, it can also be used o lince
F1G.1. SIGNAL SOURCE FOR F. M. CARPHONES. up the sccond if. stages if they are on
a frequency of 2 MHz. or higher. All
qu>ncy unnecessarily). Moreover, since The high m.tputis taken viu a 10 pF. that is needed is a ‘crystal of the appro-
the device could use the tx crystal from capacitor from the collector of the priate frequency.
the set under adjustment, there was no crystal aosciflator. Originally it was
need to buy new crystals for it suggested that a “low” output could “+1
ke obtained from a second (uncon- ¥
4
Basicully the cxrcuxt consisted of a
crystal oscillator _in the 2-1§ MHz.
nected) output socket located 17 away {© CHANGE OF ADDRESS !
irom the “high™ output sscket. In my i WIA. members are requested !
-range (which pr_odug:ed covious har- case the coupling was not suflicient and
monics useful up té6°and beyond the i to promptly notify any change of !
144 MHz. band) and a siraple audia was increased by the 1 PE. capacitor
«scillator modulating the oscillator by across the {wo sockels. This capacily i address to their Divisional Secretary I )
means of a BA102 diode., can be varied {o give a suitable “Jow™ i —not direct to “Amateur Radio™. ;
The circuit was originally developed output. In my case this was 6C uA. e —
sy Een VK3AKK and gave a “high"
output for initia] alignment and a “low” — e
output for final tweakmé to optimumn i DISTANCE TABLE FOR ROSS HULL V.H.F. CONTEST
perfurmance
i Syd. Canb. Bris. Melb. Heb. Adel. NZ. Dar.
A Chinese (more or less!) copy wazs i Sydney _. .. ..
hookad up according to the original o 160 460 460 660 710 1300/ 1950
article, but did not modulate too well. 1500 ° .
In retrespect this failure wa: srobably
| Canberra .. ... ... 160 0 600 250 530 6701300/ 1930 1940 |
due to the very old crystal used and 1500
wis no reflection on the ciccuit as such. l Brisbane .. ... ... 460 600 0 860 1110 990 1500/ 1790 2240
However, at the time, this point was 1700 i
not appreciated: and Les VKSZBJ came iMeIboume e . 480 290 8GO 0 400 400 1500/ 1920 1720
to the rescue with <ome minor. circuit 1700
changes which got the device gaing. ! Hobart _. ... .. 660 330 1110 400 0 710 1300/ 2280 1880
“The circuit used is shown in Fig. 1. 1500
Adelaide . .. ... 710 670 990 400 710 0 1900/
The audio side uses a ME1002 tran- 2100
sistor as a phase shift oscillator and New Zealand™.. ... 1300/ 1300/ 1500/ 1500/ 1300/ 1900/
xith the values shown gives about a
0
1500 1500 1700 1700 1500 2100
300 Hz. note. The ecrystal oscillator
usgs a TT (or 2N) 3564 transistor ane Darwin ... ... ... 1950 1930 1790 1930 2280 1620 2550
wmodulation is cffected by the BAIC2
divde at the ground end of the cryst:nl. Perth . _. _. .. 2040 1940 2240 1720 1880
* 1330 3000/
3200
~ 43 Elcanor St Ashburlnn, Vic., 3147,
WIRELESS INSTITUTE STORE (STOCK)
VK7ZBW (MIKE) STORES & EQUIPMENT OFFICER
PHONE (002)-28 7010 (QTHR)
PRICES & STATUS CORRECT AS AT 30/08/86

UNDERSTANDING AMATEUR RADIO RADID AMATEUR WORLD ATLAS IN STOCK
RADIO AMATEUR LICENCE MANUAL R.A. PREFIX MAP OF WORLD IN STOCK
OPERATING MANUAL (2ND EDIT.) A.R AND ELECTRONIC STUDY GUIDE IN STOCK
ARRL HANDBOOK 1986 1 IN STOCK BASIC TRAINING MANUAL NZART
HINTS & KINKS FOR RADIO AMAT. CALLBOOK 1985 NZART
NOVICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS IN STOCK RTTY TODAY UN.ELEC. IN STOCK 15.00
WEEKEND PROJECTS WORLD PRESS SERVICE FRER’S IN STOCK 15.00
ARRL ANTENNA BOOK IN STOCK AMATEUR OPERATORS H/BOOK P & T UPDATE OCT

PR RRAERARA R
FM & REPEATERS FOR RADIO AMAT. IN STOCK W.I.A. BOOK VOLUME 1 IN STOCK 3.50
SATELLITE EXPERIMENTERS H/BOOK 1 ON ORDER W.I.A. CALLBOOK 1985/86 IN STOCK 4.50
RADIO AMAT. EXAM MANUAL RSGB W.I.A. CALLBOOK 1984/85 IN STOCK 2.00
RADIO AMAT.OPERATING MANUAL LOG SHEETS (PER 100) 2.50
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS H/BOOK IN STOCK W.I.A. LOGBOOK IN STOCK 4.60
12D AMATEUR RADIO AWARDS RSGB IN STOCK THE RADIO AMATEURS WORLD ATLAS IN STOCK 3.00
13 AMATEUR RADIO TECHNIQUES 1 ON ORDER STICKPIN TRADITIONAL AUST. IN STOCK 4.00
14 TEST EQUIPMENT FOR RADIO AMAT. IN STOCK STICKPIN INTERNAT.DIAMOND IN STOCK 4.00
15 HF ANTENNA’S FOR ALL LOCATIONS IN STOCK STICKPIN INTERNAT(CALLSIGN) IN STOCK 4,00
R PRERR RO RERRERER AN

16 VHF/UHF MANUAL RSGB IN STOCK W.I.A. STICKERS (CAR WINDOW) IN STOCK 1.00
18 UHF COMPENDIUM PARTS 1 & 2 W.I.A. MINI LOGO (SHEET OF 1@) IN STOCK 1.00
18A RAD/DATA REF. BROOK IN STOCK W.I.A. TIES IN STOCK 9.50
18R A/R SOFTWARE IN STOCK W.I.A. PENNANTS (FELT) IN STOCK 4,00
19 SATELLITE TRACKING SOFTWARE IN STOCK S6A W.I.A. PENNANTS (SATIN) IN STOCK 6.00
20 INTERFERENCE HANDROOK IN STOCK 57 T-SHIRT (7STH ANNIVERSARY) 8.00
21 WIRE ANTENNA’S FOR RADIO AMAT. IN STOCK 58 LEISURE SHIRT (LOGO ON POCKET) 11.00
22 RADIO AMATEUR ANTENNA H/BOOK IN STOCK 59 WINDCHEATER (W.I.A. LOGO) 17.00
23 BEAM ANTENNA HANDBOOK (NEW ED.) IN STOCK 60 W.I.A. CLOTH BADGES IN STOCK 2.50
24 ALL ABROUT CURICAL QUAD ANTENNA IN STOCK 61 SOUNDS OF A/R 7.00
25 CARE & FEEDING POWER GRID TUEE CA3 BENELEC COAX (RG213)/METRE IN STOCK 1.98
26 VHF H/BOOK FOR RADIO AMATEURS IN STOCK CAh4 BENELEC COAX (RGS8C/U)/METRE IN STOCK © .54
27 MICROCOMPUTERS IN AMAT. RADIO 1 ONLY CAS ANDREWS HELIAX (LDF4S5@) .0.A.
30 AMATEUR TELEVISION H/ROOK VvOL2 IN STOCK Co3 N-TYPE ACME CONNECTOR(C39-19) .0.A
32 REVISED AMAT/TV IN STOCK DI1 VERBATIM FLOPPY DISKS/10 21.00
32A MICRO & TV PROJECTS DI2 CTRL.DATA FLOPPY DISKS/10 21.00
33 FORIEGN CALLBOOK 1986 S01 MAGNA SOLDER & FLUX (PER FOOT) IN STOCK 3.50
AR R AR AR AR RALCHRE

34 USA CALLBOOK 1986 WI1 ENAMELLED WIRE 14 GAUGE PER/LB IN STOCK .75
AR

IN STOCK
AR AR R R AR AR AR R RARARAERRRARER

35 DX GUIDE W12 ENAMELLED WIRE 16 GAUGE PER/LB IN STOCK .75

L Q0