HAMLARKS · 2020-01-25 · Christchurch Amateur Radio Club. NZART Branch 05 . HAMLARKS December...

December 2019

7.050

Christchurch Amateur Radio Club

HAMLARKS

Christchurch Amateur Radio Club. NZART Branch 05

HAMLARKS December 2019 PAGE 2

Branch 05 Club re-occurring events MAIN BRANCH MEETING First Wednesday of the month 7.30pm, except January. All visitors welcome. At The Clubrooms, 5 Idris Road, Fendalton. Branch 05 Website www.chchhamradio.org.nz ACTIVITIES and PROJECTS NIGHT Every Tuesday 7:30pm at 5 Idris Road, Fendalton. All visitors welcome. DAYTIME MEETING (Branch05) Meet third Thursday of month, 1PM at Branch05 clubrooms. All visitors welcome. COMMITTEE MEETING 1st Monday after branch meeting 7.30pm At 5 Idris Road, Fendalton AREC MEETINGS Normally the 2nd Wednesday of the month 7.30pm. At 5 Idris Road, Fendalton DEADLINE FOR HAMLARKS COPY 11 days before the main branch meeting. WEEKLY CLUB VHF NET Every Sunday 8:00 PM on 145.625MHz repeater if available, otherwise 147.050MHz repeater. OFFICIAL NZART BROADCAST Last Sunday of the month 8:00 PM on 147.050MHz repeater. CW PRACTICE Boyd ZL3LE every Tuesday at 8pm. 3550 kHz. Listen in your shack or come along to Branch 05 clubrooms. Views expressed in "Hamlarks" are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Committee of the Christchurch Amateur Radio Club. The Editor reserves the right to edit articles submitted for publication for reasons of clarity or length. No part of Hamlarks may be reproduced without the express consent of the Editor.

Speaker for next branch meeting The specialty of the night will be the Branch AGM followed by Christmas fare to drink and nibble.

http://www.chchhamradio.org.nz/



Secretary Rory’s Ramblings - ZL3HB

Well it's Xmas soon and our AGM next month. This Hamlarks is a little early to give the required 2 weeks notice of the AGM. So come along for your chance to vote on next years crop of club organisers!!! With the new limit of 10 committee members including officers there will be an interesting voting procedure as I already have 13 nominations for committee positions. Some will miss out! Not sure limiting numbers to ten is a good idea but we all voted it in so we will see how it goes. Might mean committee meetings are a little shorter?? Still time for more nominations before the 5PM on 29th November deadline. Forms on metal shelves at rear of clubrooms. If run out they are on one of the computers along with membership forms. And remember it is our Xmas party so there will be drinks & nibbles to consume. Another Radiotek coming up on 8th December. No first timers so far so if you know of anyone interested get them to contact me. More stuff - good & other wise keeps turning up on the trading table so make sure you check it out. And from the AGM it is sub time again. PLEASE try & pay yours early without prompting as we always seem to get those who drag the chain & it becomes a bit of a pain having to chase you!! Have thought about posting out sub reminders so you have it sitting in your 'to pay' drawer but would cost the club about $200 with current postal rates so not really worth it. Mind you that is only 8 subs so maybe we should? New committee will no doubt ponder the issue! See you next month if not before. Rory ZL3HB

VHF field day Interested? 7th and 8th of December. See Rick ZL3RIK or Alan Page <[email protected]>

mailto:[email protected]



“HF 101 for Dummies” at Branch 05. ZL3CATH

23 October 2019. The audience was only 10 of us, but we were all keen to learn from the more experienced club members. Blair ZL3TOY would seem to have more experience than some. Apparently he was licensed at just 11 years old (!). Blair reckons when starting out, just borrow some gear to give it a try, avoid spending possibly thousands of dollars initially, as you may not even enjoy HF. Making use of HF nets makes it easier, as no hunting for people chasing up and down through frequencies is required. The limitations of the site often decide what antenna is going to be easiest to install. A dipole can be off-centre fed, and there are end fed options also. In areas where local rules (like in retirement villages that don’t even allow a satellite dish) there have even been wire antennas simply installed being run around the inner edge of the roof-cavity, underneath a clay tile roof. The Flat Top, the Inverted Vee and the Vertical are usually bottom fed. The Inverted Vee he said, works “So (very) well”. A drawing on the whiteboard showed how 80% of the signal radiates from an inverted vee at a low angle (just right for HF DXing). The first half of a vertical antenna, we were told does 80% of the work, so there is actually a way of end feeding a vertical from the top, with the coax running up the centre. Questions came from the floor about the height of antennas allowed in residential areas of Christchurch City, inspired by a recent front page newspaper article. (I won’t name Mike S. for fear of embarrassing him). Blair assured us that 19.1 metres is within the rules (as long as the cross sectional area at the base is small). I’ve got disappointing news for folks wanting to do serious HF work while mobile in their car. Apparently mobile HF whip antennas are only about 1% efficient. Automatic adjusting “screwdriver” antennas boost the efficiency up to between 2% and 3%. Discussing efficiencies overall, Blair reckons that 90% of HF DXing is done by the ionosphere. So there ain’t nuthin’ you can do about controlling that (just choose the right time of day/night for the band you’re on).



Of the remaining 10% total, Your antenna does about 9% and your radio about 1%. These are the only two things we can control, so that’s why getting the antenna right, is the most important aspect. Leaving the blue sky out of it, means that your antenna is 90% and your radio is 10% when it comes to HF DXing. Blair reckons that “50% of everything you’ve been taught, is (rubbish) !” This is simply because our understanding of the science behind electronics and radio has increased so much over the years. The transmitters in modern radios haven’t improved as much over the years as the receive circuits have. For some people, an older transceiver rig, but with a dedicated SDR (Software Defined Receiver) to listen in on, could be a good setup for a beginner’s shack on a limited budget. The tag-team switched out as Rick ZL3RIK took over. “First” he said “Listen. Listen. Listen” and remember that you may not be able to hear, the other side of (an apparently one sided) conversation. Use phonetics for your call sign. Listen out for stations saying “QRZ” (who is calling me). But if you hear “QRX” (“do not transmit”) that’s their way of telling you to blimmin’ well shut up ! Check your Call book for the latest band plans for Digi modes only, talk only and SSTV only. Remember that “the higher the sun, the higher the frequency”. 20 metres seems best in the day with 40 metres around the “grey line” of dusk and dawn. But Blair reckoned that 80 metres runs all day long at his place ! Thanks to Blair and Rick for sharing this information for us folks who are new to HF. ZL3CATH

Animated ZL3RIK



The Amateur Radio weekend course

ChristchurchAmateur

RadioClub

Next session 15th & 16 February 2020 If you have bookings or questions, contact Michael Duncan [[email protected]]

Christchurch Radio Club AGM 2019 Notice The Annual General Meeting of the Christchurch Amateur Radio Club will be held at the clubrooms, 5 Idris Rd at 7.30pm on Wednesday the 4th December 2019. All members are asked to attend and have input to THEIR club. If you have any concerns or ideas for the future of the club, or remits to go forward to Conference please come along and discuss. A Xmas supper will be served. Agenda will be

• Election of club officers • Consideration of accounts • Nominations for awards • Remits for conference • Confirmation of AREC officers • Election of Trustees • Constitutional motion limiting same family signatory powers.



Christchurch Amateur Radio Club AGM 5th December 2018

Apologies ZL4FZ, ZL3QC, ZL3LE, ZL3TO, ZL3ACU, ZL3TVP, ZL3BWG, ZL3GX, ZL3JGM, ZL3AHL, ZL3DEN, ZL3EP. Moved to accept by Ian ZL3TAO. Carried. Visitors Graham Vincent Minutes of 2018 AGM moved to accept by Rory ZL3HB, seconded Simon ZL3SI. Carried. Correspondence Amsat Jnl. Q-bit, Forsyth Barr info Ian ZL3TAO asked for a minutes silence for SK’s Bruce ZL3ABJ and Andrew ZL3CC Reports - Ian ZL3TAO presented his 2018 President’s report, Carried. -Gareth ZL3VP presented Trustee’s report, seconded ZL3RX. Carried. - Richard ZL3UE presented Treasurers report, seconded ZL3ADF. Carried Geoff ZL3PX then took the chair for election of officers. One nomination for President Ian ZL3TAO. Moved ZL3RX, seconded ZL3VP. Carried One nomination for Vice president ZL3TMB moved ZL3SI, seconded ZL3RX. Carried One nomination for secretary Rory ZL3HB. Moved ZL3VP, seconded ZL3RON. Carried New nomination for Treasurer Peter ZL3IA, moved ZL3BA, seconded ZL3QH. Carried Committee as posted on board moved by Ian ZL3TAO, Carried. Committee being elected officers plus ZL3JVX, ZL2IC, ZL3TFK, ZL3MWD, ZL3TDF, ZL3ADZ, ZL3TOY, ZL3RIK, ZL3DO, ZL3UE. Ian ZL3TAO moved trustees be ZL3VP, ZL3RX, ZL3TMB, ZL3TFK. Carried. Rob ZL3RX moved that Richard ZL4FZ be confirmed as AREC section leader as voted at AREC AGM. Seconded Gareth ZL3VP. Carried. Ian ZL3TAO moved that Christchurch Community Accounting be reappointed as club auditors. Carried. Remits to NZART AGM. None were proposed.



Subscriptions. The committee recommends they stay the same at $25. Moved by Ian ZL3TAO. Carried. Constitutional amendment. A change to wording moved by John ZL3ADF, seconded Doug ZL2BCF that figure of 15 max be changed to 10. Carried. So amendment to section 5 of club constitution under ‘Officers and committee’ states ‘The committee shall consist of the Officers, not less than 5 ordinary members and the ex officio positions and to a maximum of 10 members total including officers with ex officio members in addition’. Carried. Trevor ZL3ADZ against. General Business Trevor ZL3ADZ noted that the AREC Treasurer should be an ex officio officer. May need a special general meeting to clarify? Amateur of the Year cup was then presented to Graham Lees ZL3GSL for his unfailing help with club projects and events such as Radiotek, Scouts etc. Ian ZL3TAO then made a presentation to Richard ZL3UE for many years’ service as Treasurer of the club. The Telfer cup for services to AREC was presented to Alan ZL3GX in abscentia. Mark ZL3BA asked if club was supporting 2020 West Coast Conference at Shantytown. Nelson is organizing and club will support as required. AGM closed at 8.20 PM followed by a Christmas supper.

Thanks to Ecotech Services Ltd Christchurch Amateur Radio Club would like to thank Alan Leifting at Ecotech Services Ltd for the kind donation of a dual core computer. Ecotech Services Ltd is located at 139B Wordsworth St, Sydenham, 03 377 0773. If you thought the BR05 trading table was interesting, visit Alan to see a vastly more comprehensive collection of interesting, used electronics!



Remit for NZART Conference

That the following clause be added to the constitution 7.2e After a Branch has been deleted or put into recess (as per 7.1 c or d), the General Secretary must transfer the remaining members attachment to another Branch. So that the following procedure can be followed

1. When a Branch is deleted or put into recess, a notice to that effect will be published in Break In, and the remaining members shall be instructed to advise the General Secretary of their preferred Branch within 30 days.

2. Thirty days after publication (as above) the General Secretary shall transfer the attachment of the remaining members to an appropriate Branch.

Comment from the Branch05 president ZL3TAO:

1. Usually there are very few members involved. 2. Sometimes the club has ceased to exist. 3. Sometimes the club continues but does not have enough NZART

members to remain as a Branch or has made a change to its constitution that has not been approved by NZART.

4. Sometimes there are several members who are not members of the club, but are attached to it for NZART purposes.

“H” NIGHT CONTEST

Band- 80 METERS Mode- Amplitude Modulation Phone only, that is a carrier and side bands. DECEMBER 8th Time- 7.30 to 10PM, 5 half-hour periods The aim is to work individual stations once in each period, unless they are able to change radios and operate in another category, Eg. use a ZC1 for 15 minutes then change to a modern radio for 15 minutes. For more info – http://radio1nz.com/about-amateur-radio/h-night-80m/

http://radio1nz.com/about-amateur-radio/h-night-80m/



ZL3AC Jock White Field Day - Wayne ZL2AYB

The NZART Field Day HF Contest is scheduled for Saturday 22 February 2020 and Sunday February 23 2020. Please mark your calendars. Branch 05 has again applied to LINZ for approval to use the same Bexley Red Zone site we used this year. Feedback was that this site proved to be ideal. Please make this event known to any Branch Members and ask them to email me if they would like to be included in update emails, if not

already included. It seems to me that Field Day is a good opportunity for those new to HF operation (SSB & CW) to become involved with the Team effort. We do have a list of the radios and equipment that it will be necessary to have on site. I will be updating this list and

emailing for perusal and comment in a subsequent update. Anyone who is not already receiving Field Day emails contact me at [email protected].

Hamads For Sale ICOM 5100A Dual Band VHF/UHF D-Star Mobile or Base . Touch Screen GPS etc. and Bluetooth module included. 1 year old surplus to requirements . Original box and in as new condition. Never been used mobile. $675 ono Contact John ZL3ADF Ph 03 352-6323 For Sale I have a very low mileage Yaesu FT1802 for sale. I'd like to see $250. My contact details are 021 365550 or email at [email protected] Oliver ZL3OOC

One speaking, one praying





Minutes of the Branch 05 meeting

Christcurch Amateur Radio club meeting 6th November 2019 Apologies ZL3DO, ZL3MJS, ZL3AHL, ZL4FZ. Moved to accept by Ian ZL3TAO. Carried. Visitors Kelvin Scott & Nicole, Geoff ZL3GA Minutes of October meeting moved to accept by Rory ZL3HB, seconded Rob ZL3RX. Carried Correspondence Q-bit. Reports AREC Harris Trophy cancelled due to a search Wandeertrak search successful Repeaters All OK. Marleys hut wet & forget done for moss/lichen. Some weed eating needed soon. QSL Bureau No cards Tuesday night Usual crowd with 2 new Hams passing exam Band report 80m OK at present Maldives DXpedition later in the month plus Willis Island so should be some good DX. A SOTA day coming on 1st Feb 2020 trying for all 10 summits on Banks Peninsula. General Business Members stood for a minutes silence for the passing of Barry ZL3ACU. It was suggested we get some chairs with arms for older members. Dave ZL3FJ asked how many present used each of the VHF/UHF bands. Mike ZL3TMB mentioned a 1296 repeater is planned. VHF field day on 7/8th December. Club trying to get enough interest to go to Mt Pleasant. Club needs use of some beams for this field day event. Can anyone help? Meeting closed at 7.50 PM. Geoff ZL3GA then gave an interesting talk on small holiday type expeditions to various Pacific Islands. Very interesting.

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