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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
November 1977
Vol.7 No.7
Registered for posting
as a Publication Price 40¢
Category B.
ey
Nov. 8th North West Branch, Lakins Hall Ulverstone 8 p.m.
Nov. 1lth Northern Branch clubrooms 34 Burke St. 8 p.m.
A.0.C.P. CLASSES
Kings Meadows High School, Block B room 35.
Nov. 7th Specialized Communication Systems
Nov. 14th Revision
-'Nov. 21st Revision
Nov. 28th Revision
Dec. 5th Revision
CONTESTS
Nov. 12/13 European RTTY contest
Nov.19/20 WW DX CW contest
Nov. 26/27 CQ WW DX CW contest
, i Dec. 3/4 Spanish Phone contest
e NOV. 19/20 TASMANIAN AMATEUR RADIO CONVENTION 1977
o send your registration form in NOW
¢+ Nov. 19 Deadline for the December issue of ORM
Page 2 QR M November 1977
North Western Branch notes from Wayne Gibson.
The monthly meetipg was held at Lakins Hall, Ulverstone
on the 1l1th of October. As I did not attend the meeting, the
report below is not first hand information.
Radio tutorial classes are to cease, Graeme VK7ZAQ
informed the meeting that he could no longer make himself
available for the Saturday afternoon classes. As no other
members are prepared to step into the job classes will have
to end.
Enquiries are being made to see if Adult Education
could provide a satisfactory substitute in Devonport and
Burnie.
Thanks Graeme and helpers for your efforts and the
many Saturday afternoons and weekends given up to help others.
The 2 metre beacon may soon be operating from a new
site near Natone. Leon Dive VK7YD has offered to operate
the unit from his QTH. Nothing has been settled as yet but
the beacon is not likely to operate from the Lonah site
again.
The meeting was rounded off by a talk delivered by
Bert Sectrine, the subject was '"the early days of radio".
DON'T FORGET the Tasmanian Amateur Radio Convention to be
held at Turners Beach on the 19/20th of November.
SEND YOUR REGISTRATION FORM IN NOW !!
73 Wayne
WMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWM
Novice notes by John Doolan VK7NJD
Notes this month consist of some local news and
some usefull information.
28MHz Beacon frequencies to monitor for DX openings
are as follows:
VPO9BA Bermuda 28.165
VE3TEN Canada 28.175
ZCA4RY Cypress 28.180
GB3XS England 28.185
3B8MS Mauritius 28.190
WA1IOB Massachusetts 28.150
XL 2HMF New Zealand 28.170
JALIGY Japan 28.200
DL@AR Germany 29.000
Allen VK7NAB is now the proud owner of a TS-520 and can be
heard around the bands working DX.
Mark VK7NAM has had some good DX contacts on 10 metres, JA,
P29, W's etc.. Ten and fifteen metres have given us some very
good openings this month, especially into Europe. European
openings are becoming quite frequent on 15 metres and UA, FK,
and YJ8's have all been worked by VKT7N's.
73 John
November 1977 Q RM Page 3
DX Notes by Col Wright VK7LZ.
Casual checks over the bhands during both the Phone
and CW sections of the VK/ZL Oceania DX Contest gave the
impression that although no really unusual countries showed
up, the bands were certainly not lacking in DX.
e
In general conditions were above average up to the
middle of the month, however, although still interesting at
the time of writing these notes, they are well down on the
first two weeks. At its peak, DX from all continents was
being heard on 14MHz, all at good strength, possibly the
main interest centred on the Central and South Americas,
CE, LU, PJ, PY, VPl, VP2, VP8 and ZP all put in excellent
signals, however as the month advanced the JA's could be
heard giving the same stations S9 reports whilst they were
practically inaudible at this QTH.
Another good pointer to conditions was the lack of
ZS's and Africans on the Anzus net and the stations checking
into the Pacific DX net, although regulars such as CE@AE,
KM6FC, HI8BMFP, 9HIEY and KP4's were still all workable,
most stations were well down in strength or missing entirely.
7MHz also followed the same pattern however some
good DX was worked by VK7's. Europeans were workable both
on Phone and CW around 0700Z and FM@COO on CW and CE7AA on
L e
SSB were unusual contacts.
Although there have been reports of good openings
on 21 and 28MHz I'm afraid my listening has been done at
the wrong times because all I've heard has been Asiatic
and American stations.
XF4JJ on the Revilla Gigedo Islands did come up on
21MHz CW for three days but I didn't hear any VK or ZL get
a contact. Other VK's have reported European contacts on
both 21 and 28MHz. ZL2HE told me that he has worked 43
countries in an arc extending from Japan round through
Asia and Europe to the Canary Islands on 28MHz, all in the
first half of October.
DX JOTTINGS
Argentina is expected to put a base on the South
Sandwich Islands and activity on the Amateur bands is a
distinct possibility.
Walvis Bay could become a new country with indepen-
dence from South West Africa.
Transkei has not as yet been added to the DXCC
listings however I@LLZ advises that independance celebrations
are set down for the lst of November and from that date it
may have a new and practically unpronounceable name and some
expected Amateur activity.
4X4AT informed me that he Q0SO'ed SV1IT and found
that he got himself a new country as the SV's QTH was on
Crete.
LU1lZA operates from Isla Laurie which forms part of
the South Orkneys, also VP8PL is operating from Signy Island
in the same group. Mac uses 1lKW but as yet has only a wire
antenna.
Page 4 QR M November 1977
VP8PJ is on Adelaide Island which counts as_.Antarctica.
VP8PC, PE, PP and PM are all on the Falkland Islands.
4X4TT is going on another Pacific Safari next
a4
Autumn and is expected to operate from ZK2.
VE1BFV has now left Sable Island and at present
there is no Amateur activity from that location.
PY@BXC expects to activate Fernando de Moronha
towards the end of November according to PY1ZAE.
CE@Z Juan de Fernando is a possibility in the CQDX
WW CW Contest.
KC4 Navassa Island, from the 23rd of November
SSB and CW, also in the CQ DX CW Contest on the 26th and
27th November.
OTH's
HBYLL via DJPZB XF4JJ via WB4KPZ
KM6FC wvia K5YMY VP2MJE via W6EL
VP1BB, Box 536 Belize City, Belize.
VP8PC, VPB8PM, Box 113 Stanley, Falkland Island.
VP8PE, VP8PP, Box 224 Stanley, Falkland Island.
o=
73 Coll
WMWMWMWMWMWMWMWM
VHF notes by Joe Gelston VK7JG.
Six metres is still as quiet as it has been for the
past few month with no contacts been made. However this
morning I did hear some CW on 52,050.
Dont forget that the DX season is just around the
corner and we do have some good openings early in November,
so if your gear is still in moth balls from last year now
is the time to get it operating.
We had one good two metre opening for the month to
VK3 this being on the 1llth when myself VK7JG and Kevin VK7ZAH
worked several stations on SSB these included VK3's YII, ZBJ,
YCS, AZG, YFU and ZBB. Brian VK7ZBY checked with the Met.
section and found that the inversion centred from Mt.Gambier
to Gipsland and was present for about 3 days. During this
time the mainland repeaters were workable from Launceston
and many VK3's were heard via VK7RAA.
At the same time I worked VK3ZBB, VK3AZG and VK3ZBJ
on 432MHz. Signals were better on this band than on 2 metres.
Winston VK7EM eas also active on 432MHz ATV exchanging
pictures with VK3's, I have no further details as they were
passed on to me via VK3ZBJ.
73 Joe
November 1977 QR M Page 5
BITS AND PIECES
David Chadderton is back from England and looking for work.
He would like to get & job in electronics, maybe even a
apprenticeship, can you help ?
Talking to Col VK7LZ the other day he mentioned that the
small number drills used for printed circuit boards are too
small to fit in the electric drill, so he wraps a piece of
paper around the shank and it works fine. Another solution
is to buy a pin chuck for a few dollars.
One question that seems to be asked regularly is "what type
of pen do you use for PCB etching"? From experience I found
that the best is Parcelmate (black ink) however it draws a
fairly thick line. Another pen I use is Kuretake (blue ink)
but when using this pen you must etch quickly as it does wear
of after about 15 minutes in the etching solution. Etching
can be done in 5 - 7 minutes if you use a slightly stronger
solution (ferric chloride) use at a temperature of 30°C or
higher and give it continuous agitation. I did hear about
a pen called Artline 7000 which is supposed to be very good
and has a harder tip than Parcelmate but I haven't tried it.
Before using single strand copper wire, clamp one end in a vice
and pull the other end tight with a pair of pliers to harden
and tension it. If the wire breaks where it bends around the
jaws of the pliers you have tensioned it enough. 2ir wound
coils will now be much more rigid and wire links bent to
shape for mounting on PCB will retain their shape much better.
A standard mouse trap bolted to the work bench is a very
handy third hand when soldering.
Several of our members have recently built the ACCU-keyer
as described in the ARRL handbook. I can recommend this
project to anyone interested as it is easy to built and
get going. Squeeze type paddles are available from 2 sources
that I know of: 1) The Galbraith Keyer Paddle from
The NZART, Christchurch Branch Project Group, P.O. Box 1733
Christchurch New Zealand. the cost is $16.00 N.Z. including
postage. 2) HAM-KEY HK-2, available from several sources
in the USA, one being, Ham Radio Centre Inc., P.O. Box 28271
St.Louis, MO 63132 USA. Cost including Air Mail postage is
$23.00 U.S. mine arrived 11 days after I posted the letter.
Incidentally I've always found it easiest, when buying from
America, to get the bank to give you a cheque on the Bank of
America for the required amount.
FOR SALE. Lafayette 5 band Amateur band only receiver
plus WWV $150.00
Lin Williams C/o JBL Electronic Servicing
178a Charles St.
1 - TCAl1674,6 metres AM 53,032 and tunable
also 52.050 RX only $45.00
1 - MIR25-141, 25W 146MHz single channel $45.00
contact- Greg Taylor VK7ZYT (002) 345412 bus.
(002) 493343 a.h.
Page 6 QR M November 1977
Some notes on CERAMIC CAPACITORS. by Trevor VK7TB
First lets make it quite clear that ceramic capacitors
are not the be all and end all in capacitor design. However
they have some important advantages when associated amateur
radio applications.
1) They are relativily cheap. (when compared with other
constructions)
2) There is a wide range of values available.
3) Small size and low leakage.
4) Very low self inductance. (a important consideration in
VHF use)
5) Good capacitance stability. (use in tuned circuits)
At high frequencies even a few inches of wire can
have a fairly large inductive reactance value, often too
large to be considered a good bypass return.
A capacitor value may be calculated to be a short
circuit at the required frequency, but because of its
physical construction the circuit bypass may look quite
inductive.
impedance between "A" &"B" is high.
| p—r—"
7\
large value of inductance included in the C due to
circular construction.
The object of a good bypass capacitor is one which
allows all the RF current to flow through the C rather than
through the DC supply. To be effective the overall impedance
of the bypass should not be more than 1/10 of the impedance
of the circuit impedance.
Ceramic capacitors are considered to be very usefull
as bypasses and tuning C's for frequencies up to about 200MHZ.
Ceramic C's are generally made by applying a silver coating
on a piece of baked ceramic. A number of types of ceramic
material have been developed with permittivity wvalues.
In the manufacture of ceramic C's the ceramic material is
molded into a thin circular, cylindrical or rectangular form
and baked to procuce a very hard substance. Then a thin
layer of silver is deposited on each side to form the plates
of the capacitor. After the leads are attached, the unit is
enclosed in a suitable insulated case.
When using a ceramic C in a bypass circuit at UHF
carefull consideration must be given to lead length. if the
shortest possible lead length does not offer the required
low Z bypass, then a system of using the length of the leads
to include some series inductance can be incorporated.
The circuit then looks 1like,
] p—rr—=
Xe ofC ZXL 7L
ConTROUED AMOUNT OF Z 15)/
ABjustivg LEAD LENSTH
November 1977 QR M Page 7
When the Xc of C equals the X1 of L the circuit is series
resonant and therefore the impedance developed between points
A and B is very low indeed (Low Impedance Bypass). Table 18-11
on page 553 of the 1975 ARRL Handbook lists a set of values
of series resonant frequencies for lead lengths of % and 1 inch.
This table should be used as a guide only because series
resonant values would change between the various ceramic C
manufacturers due to the different types of construction.
One consideration that is often not mentioned is that
of the current handling capability of a capacitor, that is
the amount of RF current flowing in a capacitor. While ceramic
capacitors are generally physically small, limiting their RF
current capability they can operate at quite high temperatures
without failure, making them less prone to failure on high .
peak RF currents (e.g. SSB situations).
Ceramic capacitors also make very good tuning C's,
values up to 120 pF of N.P.O. rating (N.P.O. meaning negative
positive, zero) , this simply means that for a given temperature
range the value of capacitance does not change.
Ceramic C's make very good compensating capacitors,
they come in temperature coefficients from P100 to N5600
( frequency compensation of variable L C oscillators), the
letters P and N indicate positive and negative respectiely
and the number following the letter indicates the temperature
coefficient in parts per million per degree centigrade rise.
.
Thus N750 indicates a decrease in capacitance of 750 units
per million units for each 1°© increase in temperature, based
on an ambient (surrounding) temperature of 25°C.
In conclusion, I think you will agree that ceramic
capacitors are very usefull devices to have a range of in
the shack.
NOTE: Dick Smith is importing low voltage Silver Mica
capacitors, these are truly the Rolls Royce of fixed
tuning capacitors.
VK7TB
WMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWM
THE ATHOL JOHNSON CONTEST:
The Athol Johnson contest was very poorly supported
with only 5 logs being returned. The total score was around
120 points.
There were no SSB contacts logged and 6 metres FM
accounted for about 3% of the contacts, the remainder were
on 2 metres FM.
The winner was the North West Branch using the
callsign VK7WI/P with Kirby VK7ZKC and Tony VK7AX submitting
the log.
WMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWM
Page 8 O RM November 1977
WORKED ALL QUEENSLAND AWARD
Issued by: The Wireless Institute of Australia
Queensland Division
%k Kk ke ok Kk kg ke Kk Kk e Yo Yok R K sk Kk R K Kk %k ok Rk okokok vk ok
1) This Award is divided into TWO sections: -
WORKED ALL CITIES AND TOWNS
WORKED ALL SHIRES
2) Any transmittingy amateur or listening amateur may apply
for this Award, provided that these applications comply
with the rules.
3) Only ONE Award will be issued, but this will be updated
upon receipt of further additions.
4) WORKED ALL CITIZ:ES AND TOWNS
Ther are 20 (twenty) Incorporated Cities and Towns in
Queensland.
Brisbane Goondiwindi Rockhampton
Bundaberg Gympie Roma
Cairns Ipswich Thursday Island
Charters Towers Mackay Toowoomba
Dalby Maryborough Townsville
Gladstone Mount Isa Warwick
Gold Coast Redcliffe .
v
Initial Award: Fifteen (15) contacts with Radio Amateurs -
from these Cities and Towns. A "Silver
Sticker" will be awarded if ALL Cities and
Towns are worked.
5) WORKED ALL SHIRES
Ther are 111 (one hundred and eleven) Shires in Queensland
For this Award, the listing as at 1/1/76 is considered to
be the correct one. The population figures in these Shires
range from 250 to well over 25 000.
Albert Burrum Gatton Maroochy Redland
Allora Caboolture Gayndah Millmeran Richmond
Aramac Calliope Glengallan Mirani Rosalie
Atherton Cambooyva Gooburrum Mirian Vale Rosenthal
Ayr Cardwell Herberton Monto Sarina
Balonne Carpentaria Hinchinbrook Moreton Stanthorpe
Banana Chinchilla Ilfracombe Mount Morgan Tango
Barcaldine Clifton Inglewood Mulgrave Tara
Barcoo Cloncurry Isis Munduberra Taroom
Bauhinia Cook Isisford Murgon Thuringowa
Beaudesert Crows Nest Jericho Murilla Tiaro
Belyando Croydon Johnston Murweh Waggamba .
Bendemere Dalrymple Jondaryan Nanago Wambo -
Biggenden Diaman:ina Kilcoy Nebo warroo ’
Blackal Douglas Kilkivan Noosa Widgee .
Boonah Duaringa Kingaroy Paroo Witon
Booringa Eacham Kolan Peak Downs Wondai
Boulia Eidsvo..d Laidley Perry Woocoo
Bowen Emerald Landsborough Pine Rivers Woongara
Broadsound Egk Livingstone Pioneer
Bulloo Etheridge Longreach Pittsworth
Bungil Fitzrov McKinlay Proserpine
Burke Flinders Mareeba Quilpie
November 1977 QR M Page 9
Initial Award: 51 (fifty one) contacts/shires. "Stickers"
for 61, 71, 81, 91 and 101 Shires, with a gold sticker if
ALL Shires have been contacted.
L
0 so
6) MODES AND BANDS
All legitimate modes and bands mav be used, LF, HF, VHF,
UHF, OSCAR, EME etc., but cross band contacts (except Oscar)
are NOT allowed.
7) SPECIAL VK- RULES
As a number of areas are not active, "DX-petions'" to these
areas are encouraged to help the Award Hunter (and others)
to get that rare Queensland Shire, Town or City.
The following will apply:
a. The Queensland Awards Manager or his appointed Delegate
shall be advised in writing of the intended VK..... /P
operation in those areas which are not too active or
are non-active.
If the approximate dates are available, advance publicity
could be given and you may become a much sought after ‘
"rare-DX-station".
b. A copy of the VK..... /P log shall be forwarded to the
Queensland Awards Manager for use as a check list.
The VK..... /P operator will automatically be credited with
"as having worked'" that particular area, if:
i. At least 50 contacts are made with a minimum of 4 VK-call
areas OR
ii At least 30 overseas contacts are logged.
METHOD OF APPLICATION
A CERTIFIED LIST OF CONTACTS, AS PER CHC RULES (or similar)
TO BE SENT TO: The W.I.A. QLD. Div. AWARDS MANAGER
G.P.O. Box 638
Brisbane, Qld 4001
With either, $1.- Australian or 10 IRC's or equivalent in
mint stamps or M.O. for the initial Award.
Subsequent Stickers are FREE, although a return
Postage will be appreciated.
9) Contacts made as from 1lst January 1976 will be valid for
this Award.
10) _SPECIAL RULE FOR QUEENSLAND AMATEURS
As a matter of courtesy to the amateurs of the world outside
.0
the Sunshine State, PLEASE make sure that you will be able to
tell in what City, Town or Shire you reside or are operating
from.
INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION ON YOUR QSI. CARD.
Page 10 QR M November 1977
LOGIC PROBLEM
A JA statiol worked 6 VK stations in quick succession
the other day but nixed up all his notes. He worked 6 different
call areas and all stations were using different antennas
e
and transceivers. *rom the following clues can you discover
T
the name and callsign of each station and the equipment they
'
used ?
On the next page is a chart which should help you
solve this problem. You could put an X for'"no"answer and
a circle for a'yes"
1) The Kenwood was not used by VK4, Collin or Joe.
2) John and the users of the Vertical and
(who is not VK8)
the Long Wire all operate regularly.
3) The owner of the Heathkit does not use a Long Wire.
4) Brian, David and the VK7 all used to have Rhombics.
5) The VK6 isn't Collin, David or Brian, but he does use
Swan equipment.
6) Neither the Drak: nor the Swan owner used a Beam or a
Dipole antenna.
7) The VK2 could not afford a Beam.
8) David used either a Kenwood, Swan or Heathkit transceiver,
but not a Beam.
9) Neither Peter nor the Heathkit owner is a VKS8.
10) The Rhombic was used with a Kenwood.
11) The VK4 didn't use Yeasu equipment.
12) The VK7 did not use Drake or Yeasu. The VK6 didn't
use a Long Wire.
13) Brian did not have a Vertical, Long Wire or Yeasu
equipment.
14) John hasn't got :-oom for a Rhombic antenna.
15) The Yeasu was no: used with a Long Wire.
When using the chart remember that once you have
a definite "yes" (:ircle) you can place a X in the remainder
of that row and column.
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Page 11
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