QRM from VK7 AR magazine Jan

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from AR Magazine 1988 Jan page 61  -

QRM from VK7! 
John Rogers VK7JK
VK7 BROADCAST OFFICER
1 Darville Court, Blackman's Bay. Hobart. Tas. 7052

The WICEN groups in several areas of the State
seem to be having quite regular commitments to
provide communications support for such activities
as car rallies, orienteering expeditions and ocean
yacht racing (like the Westcoaster). The experience
gained from these activities, according to
their various co-ordinators, will stand them In good
stead if they are called upon to act in the case of an
actual disaster.
Due to a long lead time, this has had to be
written before the Westcoaster (the Melbourne to
Hobart Yacht Race) takes place, and a more
complete report on the outcome of the efforts of
amateur operators will be given in the February AR.
A regular "training talk" has been transmitted
each week on the VK7WI Divisional Broadcast.
WIA Broadcasts are becoming slightly more complex
in the State as further relay frequencies come
into play, and the broadcast roster now includes a
total of 28 participants. This means that each
involved amateur is concerned with originating,
relaying on 80 or 40 metres only two or three times
in the three-monthly period.
The 80 metre antenna at the Southern Activity
Centre is now "up and running" and this means
that the Centre can accept its share of 80 metre
relays as well as originating two metres. The
broadcast is being recorded and repeated now on
Tuesday evenings, 1930 hours local, on 80 metres
only (3.S90 MHz) taking up the half hour before the
Devil Net. We hope that those who listen to this
report will stay on air and join in the Devil Net
under the benevolent guidance of Bob VK7NBF
who is in his fifth year as Devil Net Coordinator.
The two metre repeater on Mount Wellington,
which has been the object of a great deal of "repair
and maintenance" work during the past two
months, is now working very well. Reports of
access to the repeater have been received from
many areas of the State which would earlier have
seemed impossible, or at least very difficult and
spasmodic. The linking of repeaters for broadcast
purposes has been faultless and has made rebroadcasting
and relaying very reliable. The
meteorological conditions at the 4000 feet-plus
level play havoc with all external filtings, especially
cables, and the group who spend time working
under such conditions to keep the repeater working
deserve the thanks of all repeater users.

WIA MEETINGS
WIA meetings are held at:
Penguin High School on the second Tuesday in the
month at 8 pm.
Launceston Maritime College on the second
Friday, at 7.30 pm.
Hobart Activities Centre, Newtown Road on the
first Wednesday at 8.15 pm.

Visitors to Tasmania are very welcome to any of
these meetings and can always be "talked in" on
one of the repeaters. As well as the general
business agenda, there is often a guest speaker or
a debate at these meetings which would be of
interest to inter-stale visitors. Recently, there have
been, for instance, talks on Satellite Communications,
Cellular Telephone Systems. Safely in the
Shack and Patching Units for Broadcast Relays.
Debates have been on Morse and the Amateur
Examinations and the Use of Repeaters.
The discussion on "Morse and the Amateur
Examinations" brought out several interesting points:

1. That if the use of Morse code became extinct in
the amateur fraternity (as seemed likely to many of
the speakers if the proposed changes are made),
we could no longer call ourselves a truly international
body. We would have cut ourselves off
from communication with amateurs in many (third
world?) countries who were forced to home-brew
their own gear and be restricted to low power.

2. Otherwise, do we expect all other participants in
radio communication also to allow Morse to disappear? 
Many will not. and how do we then communicate with them?

3. Many of the QRP groups in the amateur world
would shrink onto small "islands" of communicators
quite apart, distinct from the rest of the
fraternity � QRP is the mode of entry for many,
especially young people, into Ihe hobby.

The ATV Group is continuing to meet regularly in
the north-west of the island under the guidance of
Peter VK7AX, and to give encouragement to other
prospective ATVers. there is a transmitter kit
available from Peter.
A definite move to support would be novice
amateur operators has been set in train by Noel
VK7EG, and the branches are distributing information
packages to colleges and schools to
attempt to increase the number of candidates for
the courses and to provide personal help when
required.

The Tasmania Day Award proved to be a going
concern and, already discussions are taking place
about the possibility of a repeat in 1988.
Talking of awards, the 400th Tasmanian Devil
Award was reached a short time ago. VK3CWJ was
the lucky recipient, not only of the award certificate
itself, but also a signed photograph of the
Tasmanian Devil Net Organiser himself!

HELP NEEDED
The Max Loveless Pioneer Memorial Collection
needs some help lo get a 1960s vintage homebrew
CW transmitter back on the air. Required is a
valve or valves, type QV08 � 100 used to be used
in a DCA transmitter type T49, and also in superior
public address equipment.
If you can help with either a donation of same or
a sale, please contact VK7RS. or anyone connected
with the Tasmanian Division of the WIA. We
would like to get this particular transmitter on the
air again in 1988.
ar