QRM
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QRM
AUGUST Es
1986 -
FOUNDED 1910 9
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 Tregaskis, 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: 8th. August. 12th. September.
NORTHWEST BRANCH MEETS AT 73P.M. ON THE SECOND TUESDAY of each
month at the Penguin High School.
Next two meetings: 12th. August. 9th. September.
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: 6th. August. 3rd. September.
Broadcast Officers:
Divisional Co-ordinator: Arthur, VK7GH, 34, Ashbolt Crescent,
4 Lutana, 7009.
Tel: (H) 002.284963. (B) 002.305600.
Northern Branch Officer: VK7AV Bill,
Northwest Branch Officer: VK7/ZFH Frank.
Southern Branch Officer: VK/GH Arthur.
Broadcasts commence 09,00 every Sunday, normally originated on
2m., with relays on 80m., 40m., 144.1 MHz (SSB) and ATV.
RADIOTORTIAL,
The deafening silence mentioned in July's notes from
the Editor has been well and truly shattered this month!
Strangely enough, it's not the technical discussion that
causes the response - it's the question of W.I.A. subscriptions
and membership. Experience of W.I.A. meetings leads us to
think that we won't improve membership numbers at the younger
end unless we can enliven the monthly meetings with talks,
debates, videotapes, practical demonstrations, etc. There's
.nothing in it for those who join expecting to receive some
training and extended know-how from those with greater
experience,
Likwise, the "more mature" section of the Institute ds
now at the thick end of things, it appears. So, who would
be left in this "oldest radio society in the world®?
A too-narrow segment of the hobby's real potential, certainly
not representative of the full range of activities available
to amateur radio fans., And a lot of lively amcateurs of long
standing left on the outside. No-one would gain from that
situation, and no organisation could continue to have an
effective existence,
Read the letters in "QRM" this month and then TAKE ACTION!
- VK7 JK.
e
To the Editor, "QRM".
Dear Sir,
I refer to the letter, page 3, July "QRM", from the
President, Mr, Frith of, I presume, the Tasmanian Division of
the W.I.A,
It would appear to me that Mr. Frith does not wish to
have pensioners as members of the Tasmanian Division of the
W.I.A, This impression was confirmed per medium of a telephone
call from the writer to Mr. Frith,
I am entitled to, and receive, a Service Pension, a
fact for which I make no apologies whatsoever.
If the statement that the Pensioner/Student subscrip-
tion is sufficient only to pay for the "A.,R." magazine and
Federal dues, then it is quite obvious that whoever set the
said subscription rate did not do their homework., At the
same time, it would be interesting to know how the g7.00 per
week from 275 members (Z1,925.00) was spent. Incidentally,
that $7.00 represents 13746 cents per week. (Big deal),
Also, if, as stated, 275 members plus the 41 Pensioner/Student
-+
members paid $5.20 to Division expenses (or whatever), the
amount realised would be $1643.20, so once again there would
appear to be something lacking with some person's homework,
as such a sum would mean o loss of $282.00,
As far as the penultimate sentence in Mr. Frith's
letter is concerned, i.e. that we (the Wireless Institute of
Australia - ond so by inference, the Tasmanian Division) have
nothing to lose, we must assume that the pensioner is classed
as nothing. (Shades of George Orwell). I wonder if this is
really the case. The pensioner can quite easily do without
the W.I.A., but can the W.I.A. do without the pensioner,
student or older amateur?
I have no doubt really, that the Federal body of the
W.I.A. is quite happy to accept the older member or, for that
matter, any member of whatever age, sex or financial standing.
But then again, the Federal body appears to be quite a cohesive
organisation, which is a bit different from the fragmented
Tasmanian DIV-IS-ION of the W.I.A, One wonders what has
happened to the membership of the Tasmanian Division, which at
one time was over 90% of licensed amateurs, and now is a little
over 53%. Could be that there is some truth in the old story
that "Any fool can sail a boat; it takes 2 or 3 captains to
wreck it",
In conclusion, I would suggest that Mr. Frith do his
homework. If the Tasmanian Division of the W.I.A. needs more
money, so be it. But please, Mr, Frith, kindly refrain from
making smart ***¥* remarks about pensioners, We are not,
I repeat NOT, second-class citizens, or amateurs.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) K.MILLIN, VK7KA.
HOW TO GET HOLD OF THE EDITOR.
His naome is John Rogers. His callsign is VK7JK. His
telephone number is 002,293402. His address is:
No 1, Darville Court,
Blackman's Bay,
Hobart, 7152,
And when you lose your copy of "QRM", remember he's QTHK. When
he is at home, the 2m rig is normally running and listening
to Repeater 2,
e
e e e et
THE EDITOR'S CLOSING DATE FOR COPY FOR THE SEPTEMBER EDITION
OF "QRM" IS AUGUST 16th. SO DON'T BE LATE!!
5
AWARDS NEWS from VK/NAI, Bob.
ZL1AQO, Ivan, who is net controller of the VK/ZL
Oceania Net which operates on Saturday nights, 09.00Z,
on 3590 KHz has given us news of another ZL Award. This
time it is the MOERAKI 150th. Anniversary Award, and it
will run from 1st. December 1986 to 31st. January 1987.
VK stations are required to make one only contact to earn
the award, with any of the following stations:
ZLAFI (custodian of the award)
ZLL4CA
ZL4RU
VK4PX (who is a member of Moeraki Branch)
The usual conditions apply - any band, any mode.
The cost of the award will be $2.00, but o £1.00 mint N.Z.
note will be returned with the award if you signify, with
your application, that you wish to be rewarded in this way.
The Awards Manager is M.G.Askin,
Moeraki, R.D. No. 2,
Palmerston, Otago, N.Z.
(N.B. The above information was obtained from Bob via
a 2m/80m Link to Hobart from the north, courtesy
VK7CI, Alan, during an experiment for the WICEN
service on July 16th.)
FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE
GREG, VK7SH has up for sale an original condition FT7.
Recently aligned. $350.00. ALSO a SIEMENS 100 teleprinter
with tape cutter and internal loop supply - offers wanted for
this item. Greg is QTHR. Phone: 002.438613.
ALLEN, VK7AN is selling his Yaesu FT102, including AM/FM
Board, CW filter, AM filter and narrow SSB filter, 230 watts
PEP output. New in box. 3, Denman Road, Trevallyn, 7250,
Phone: 003.317914,
DAVID, VK7ZOT wishes to sell an IC4E UHF Handheld, complete
with leather case, two battery packs and charger. $220.00
ALSO a Playmaster 25watt stereo amplifier (as in E.A.) $80.00.
David is QTHR. Phone: 002.438736.
STUDENT /PENSIONER CONCESSIONS
when 1s a student not a student? When he/she 15 1n receipt
of a Student Identity Card.
What about pensioners without mecica. cards? Do we have a
system so rigid that other forms of procf are unacceptabilie.
What about superannuants? They have been orudent and saved
for their old age, often witih the assistance ¢f their
employers. Is there no flexibility in the syctem c
for individual cases to be considered on thelir mer:t for B
subscription reductions.
We should not bow down to the rig.dity and inflexib:lily
of a national computerised cystem nor shouid we cease to
encourage our young and elderly mempbers to enjoy the benffits
and fellowship of the WIA.
Organisations operate on tne "Ratchet effect", fees go up
but never backward. iz the proposal put forward by our Divisional
President a ploy to mitigate future rises 1n membersnip fees?
If the Division or Sranches cannot make ends meet with thelr
existing fund distribution then they snould consider local fund
raising activities to top up the coffers; these activities may
well be the catalyst to an expanded appeal to the Amateur
fraternity, swell the numbers of active memberc and attract new
members to the fold.
YK7GH
RS ARG Lma R e e
W.I.A. Broadcast Roster for 1986.
Dates Branch responsible,
3, 10, 17, 24 August Southern.
31 August, 7, 14 September Northern.
21, 28 September, 5, 12 October Northwestern,
19, 26 October, 2, 9, 16 November Southern,
23, 30 November, 7 December Northern,
14, 21, 28 December, 4 January '87 Northwestern,
Broadcost Originating Stations, August, 1986.
3rd. August: VK7RF 10th. August: VK7VV
17th. August: To be announced.
24th., August: VK7AL.
All the above from the Southern Branch.
31st. August: Northern Branch Station,
L ET EERS T0 T HE EDITOR.
Dear Sir,
With reference to the letter from our President in
July "QRM" regarding concessional membership, I was greatly
relieved to read that the matter was brought forward for
comment only, Otherwise I would have said that Peter is so far
off frequency that he is outside the amateur band even for a
full call. -
Surely even poor blind Nell can see that the primary
concern of the Institute should be to increase membership and
not to decrease it. The Federal Treasurer has stated recently
that only about 50% of licensed amateurs are financial members
of the W.I.A. I eincerely believe that Peter's proposition
would result in an immediate reduction in membership and nothing
else.. The 41 concessional members represent 13% of Tasmanian
membership and I submit that we cannot afford to risk losing
all or even part of these. I believe that all of us should
be trying to increase membership, e.g. every Sunday broadcast
should include a plug aimed at all listeners, and all Division
sponsored activities should include some membership propoganda,
pointing out what the W.I.A. does for all amateurs (and has done
in the past). 73.
Bob, VK7NBF.
Dear Sir,
I refer to Peter Frith's letter in July "QRM"and would
like to provide some of the comment he calls for. If there is
a possibility of policy change, we should all know exactly
what we are talking about. Peter repeats the oft expressed
concern at the "increasing average age of amateur operators",
He also identifies three areas from which we can draw new
operators.
Let's examine first the "increasing age" aspect. An
increasing average age would seem to indicate that the amateur
is a dying breed, leading to an ever-decreasing number of users
of those hard-won privileges we now enjoy. Why should that
worry us? Surely a smaller number of operators would mean
less overcrowding on the bands, something we constantly complain
about, Ah, I hear you say, but with fewer operators, we will
stand a greater chance of losing some of our bands to those
who already cast envious eyes in that direction. So let's be
quite honest - we are not worried so much by increasing age as
by decreasing numbers. The two are NOT necessarily inter-
dependent. —_—
Peter mentions three sources from which we can draw new
members:
Group 1 -young people who Peter says are '"generally
too occupied" and would therefore be unlikely to provide much
input.
Group 2 - the not-so-young folk who have "settled down".
Group 3 - the retired group, who will generally have
plenty of time but perhaps limited finances. They can be a
valuable asset to the hobby, EVEN if only to make up numbers;
remember numbers are our main concern.
While we should do all we can to attract groups 1 and 2, let's
not lose sight of group 3 and woo them just as actively.
Now let's examine Peter's thoughts on the financial
implications of more and more retired (pensioner?) operators.,
I must admit I find this part of his letter rather confusing.
Doing a few sums with his figures, we find that 275 @ g7.00
makes $1925, whereas (275+41) @ 35.20 = $1643.20. Sorry, can't
follow that. Do we need more money or less?
As for Peter's personal solution, I'm sorry it's obvious to
me. I think you are advocating doing away with the pensioner
rebate. If this is so, then, with respect, I submit we DO
have something to lose - numbers! We have a definition of
"Pensioner", quoted by Peter - what's wrong with using it?
I agree if a man can afford to pay the full rate, he should do
so, but I can't agree that someone on a very restricted income
should. Especially when it is in our interests that he pay
anything at all - remember the numbers game: And before we
have loud shouts of "why should they enjoy the facilities we
pay for?", let me ask what are those facilities and who mainly
uses them? I suggest the most expensive to the Division are
the specialised repeaters such as Special Comms and the like.
These are the most expensive modes to gear up for, and I would
bet an 807 not too many real pensioners can afford to use them.
I'm sure there is Latin for "he who uses pays".
Summarising, then:
1. our real concern is not increasing age, but decreasing numbers,
2, We need the retired person as much as he needs us. In fact,
more so. He doesn't have to join the W.I.A, and won't if he
thinks it more than he can afford!!
3. We should accept "user pays",
Before we have any broadsides fired in my direction, by
any of our retired W.I.A, members, let me hasten to explain
that I number as one of you, so the expression "even if only to
make up numbers" is not intended as derogatory but was used .
deliberately to make a point. |
After all, we know our real worth
is in keeping those youngsters like Peter on the straight and
Nnarrow. Noel, VK7EG.
7
TAS DEVIL UPDATE .
A continuing story by Ian, VK/Id.
I now understand the meaning of the statement "We reserve
the right to improve the design". Wishing to finalise the
design I decided to add a few improvements and in so doing
unearthed an unexpected barrel of worms. Having recovered
from my red face, I will now share the knowledge. Two features
‘were destined for improvement: To run IC2 from 12v. to over-
come the low voltage problem associated with the muting of IC3.
And to change VR1 and VR2 to provide better setting capability
for the RIT circuit. So, here we go:
The lead supplying 5v. to IC2 was disconnected from IC] and
reconnected to the 12v. supply. The wipers of VR1 and VR2
were connected to the track ends of VR3 (the PC tracks need to
be cut). The 5v. was applied to the track of both VR1 and VR2
and the other track end of VR2 was taken to earth. This arrange-
ment allows a variable preset voltage to be applied to each end
of VR3 thus allowing a far greater accuracy in the setting of
the range of the RIT. SO, enter the red face:
The mods to IC2 which, I should add, included strapping pins 12
and 13 to pin 14, worked perfectly. However, the RIT did NOT!
With PB1 pressed, 5v. was present across D1 instead of the 2v. as
at the junction of R29/R21. The discovery:- Q7 and Q8 are wired
as emitter followers, hence the voltage at the emitter equals
the voltage on the base, (less 0.6v.). The base voltages had
risen because of the 12v. supply to IC2, hence the emitters rose
to some nominal value determined by the value of R18, R19 and
the base currents of Q7 and Q8.
There is a happy ending to the story:- Q7 and Q8 were
replaced with PNP 2N3905 devices, R18 was connected to the base
of Q8, and R19 to the base of Q7. This modification has
improved out-of-sight the frequency stability. The reason for
this is that the bias on D1 was being determined by the base-
emitter characteristics of Q7 and not by the voltage across R20
as was the intention of the design. These characteristics are
very temperature dependant, hence the drift. The mod to VR1, VR2
and VR3 was very worth while as it is now possible to set the
range, negative limit and positive limit of the RIT independently
and still dlow a null at the mid-mechanical position of VR3.
The mod to the unused gate of IC2 is recommended as, apart from
conforming to convention for CMOS devices, it prevents any
possible random switching due to the gate not knowing if its
input is low or high. As far as IC3 goes, the desired result was
achieved, the gain increased by about 20dB with the supply of
12v. instead of 5v. It is necessary, however, to replace R22