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Encouraging Amateur Radio Operators

All   around   the   world,   governments   have   allocated   portions   of   the radio    frequency    spectrum    for    use    by    licensed    amateur    radio operators.      These   operators,   sometimes   known   by   their   nickname of   ‘Ham   Radio’   operators,   explore,   experiment   with,   and   enjoy   the ability     of     radio     waves     of     varying     wavelengths,     to     permit communication across distances without wires. Port    Stephens    Amateur    Radio    Club    exists    for    the    purpose    of encouraging      amateur   radio   operators   within   its   region   to   enjoy their   hobby,   and   to   advance   through   the   various   levels   of   licensing in    order    to    develop    a    greater    knowledge    and    ability.    Meetings alternate   between   business   meetings   and   practical   meetings,   but   a great    deal    of    knowledge    is    exchanged    through    the    informal conversations over a ‘cuppa’ around the tables after every meeting.

Would you like to

become an amateur

radio operator?

If   you   would   like   to   explore   amateur radio   as   a   hobby,   you   are   welcome   to come   to   the   meetings   and   let   people know   of   your   interest.   Before   you   can key   your   first   transmission,   you   must obtain    a    licence    from    the    Australian Communications   and   Media   Authority (ACMA).      To   receive   a   license   you   must pass   an   exam,   but   this   is   not   nearly   so hard   as   it   might   seem.   There   are   three levels   of   licence,   and   the   entry   level   is relatively easy. Port    Stephens    Amateur    Radio    Club has   amongst   its   members   those   who are   qualified   to   supervise   exams   at   all three   levels.   So   when   you   feel   ready, you    can    sit    for    an    exam    at    the    club meeting site.    For   more   information   about   licensing, click   on   the   “More   Info”   button   below to    take    you    to    the    website    of    the Wireless   Institute   of   Australia.   (Simply close that window to return here.)

About Radio Waves

The electromagnetic spectrum

From    the    16th    through    to    the    19th    century,    European    researchers explored     the     relationship     between     electricity     and     magnetism.     This culminated   in   the   work   of   Scottish   physicist   James   Clerk   Maxwell,   who proposed   the   existence   of   electromagnetic   radiation   across   a   continuum from   radio   waves   at   the   lower   end   of   the   spectrum,   to   light   waves,   and then    upward    to    ultraviolet,    x-ray    and    gamma    waves    at    the    higher frequency end. Maxwell’s    theory    about    radio    waves    was    confirmed    by    the    work    of German    professor,    Heinrich    Hertz,    and    Italian    researcher,    Guglielmo Marconi,   who   developed   proof   of   concept   and   practical   radio   transmitters and   receivers.   It   was   within   that   range   of   electromagnetic   radiation   known as   radio   waves   that   amateur   operators   found   their   field   of   exploration. This    covers    a    rather    large    field    of    frequencies    and    their    associated wavelengths.

Transceivers and Antennas

Nowadays, radio transmitters and receivers are generally combined into a single “transceiver”; and the point at which electrical fields either leap out into the world as electromagnetic waves, or where those waves are converted back into electrical current,  is known as the antenna. Much work is done exploring sophisticated transceivers and the many different types of antenna that can be constructed.

Propagation of Radio Waves

Radio waves are able to travel beyond line-of-sight by being refracted by a layer of the atmosphere known as the “ionisphere”. At the centre of our Solar System we have a star known as the Sun. The Sun consists of matter, compressed by its own gravity, to the point where nuclear fusion takes place. One consequence of this is that vast loops of magnetically charged matter leap up from the surface of the Sun and sometimes break free as Coronal Mass Ejections. These charged particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere and create the ionisphere. Experience has shown that the Sun follows an eleven year cycle with respect to this process, so that the ability of radio waves to be refracted by the ionisphere varies with this Solar Cycle.

Behaviour of Radio Waves at

Different Frequencies

Radio waves behave differently at different frequencies. High Frequency waves (HF) can be refracted by the ionisphere. Very High Frequency waves (VHF) may bend to some extent over small obstacles. Ultra High Frequency waves (UHF) are usually limited to line-of-sight, unless  relayed by repeaters and other man-made devices, or through unusual atmospheric conditions.

UHF Repeater

Project

Setup and running of a repeater in the

UHF amateur radio band

This   project   is   all   but   completed.   The   repeater   is   now   situated atop    Mt    Gan    Gan    and    is    in    operation.    The    call    sign    and frequencies are as follows: VK2ROJ Output:    439.700MHz    Input:    434.700MHz.    A    CTCSS    tone    of 91.5Hz will be required to access it. There    is    just    a    little    bit    of    fine    tuning    required,    such    as    a reduction    in    the    volume    of    the    morse    code    tone,    and measurement of the repeater’s range. A   fuller   report   should   soon   appear   with   “thank   yous”   to   those who   have   made   this   project   possible;   and   who   have   enabled us   to   establish   a   repeater   with   better   functions   than   we   had originally dreamed of. There   is   a   Tuesday   night   7:30   pm   Club   Net   on   the   repeater which    is    open    to    all.    This    is    helping    us    to    establish    the workable   range   of   the   computer,   with   callers   from   afar   as Toronto NSW to the south and Cessnock NSW to the west.

Technotalk

On this page we give access to some of the technical presentations, interesting articles, and helpful discussions we have shared as a club. And well, isn’t this what it’s all about? Vector Network Analyzers - John Proctor VK2DLP  1 July, 2018 The slide presentation given to the Club on 1 July, 2018. Demonstration of a VNA display at 2 metres wavelength Demonstration of a VNA display at 70 cm wavelength Demonstration of a VNA display for a Low Pass Filter Response “Your RF Cable, the unknown Entity” - Professor Dr  Thomas Baier, DG8SAQ The slide presentation in English and in pdf format

Membership

Holding on to a passion

There   is   an   old   story   about   a   man   who   was   watching   his   camp   fire   one   night.   The fire   was   burning   well,   but   every   now   and   then   an   ember   would   be   expelled   from the   fire   with   a   crackling   sound.   The   man   watched   the   expelled   ember,   and   soon saw   it   lose   its   heat.   But   the   remaining   embers   remained   in   the   fire   and   helped   to inflame each other so that the fire kept burning.

The    

Club’s    

Constitution    

and    

it’s

Standard   

Operating   

Procedures   

are

available as pdf documents here:

Constitution

SOPs

Secretary’s Blog

Keeping you up-to-date with Club events

The next meeting of the Port Stephens Amateur Radio Club will be on Sunday March 3, 2019 at 10 am in the Marine Rescue HQ at Lemon Tree Passage.

Rogues Gallery

Our Executive Officers …

Our   club   president   is   Richard   Osborne.   Richard   is   well- know     for     his     community     service     which     has     been recognised    by    the    bestowal    of    an    Order    of    Australia Medal. Our    new    club    Secretary    is    John    Proctor.    By    way    of introduction   to   Club   members   and   the   wider   community, …   John   was   raised   in   Canada.   In   school   he   developed   a keen   interest   in   electronics   and   ham   radio   and   pursued   a career       in       electrical       engineering.       (B.Sc.E.E.-Queen’s University,   Ontario).   Beginning   with   his   work   in   R   &   D   with Bell    Northern    Research    Digital    Equipment    Corporation, John    worked    with    many    companies    in    Technical,    Sales, Marketing    and    Corporate    Management.    He    retired    as Managing   Director   of   Black   Box   Network   Services   in   2004, but   continues   to   work   in   retirement,   contracting   in   marine radio    and    on-site    computer    support.    John    migrated    to Australia   in   1977   to   escape   the   snow   and   ice   of   Canada. He   worked   his   way   up   the   amateur   radio   license   levels   to become   “Full   Call”   in   1979.   John   also   developed   an   interest in    sailing    in    his    time    with    the    Royal    Canadian    Navy Reserve,    and    has    passed    his    Certificate    III    Master    IV (Master of a vessel <35M). Our   club   treasurer   is   Leigh   Aanensen.    Leigh   has   served admirably   as   club   Secretary   for   many   years   and   has   now accepted election as Club Treasurer.

… and Committee Members

W.I.A. Learning and Licensing

… and the rest of the crew

Garry VK2PE

Mark VK2CMS

Harry VK2KOG

Allan VK2FLTP

Keith VK2KAF

Peter VK2FPET

Greg VK2JCT

Jim VK3ERH

Greg VK2NGC

Ted VK2UI

John VK4FAJP

Contesting and Awards

Welcome to the world of contesting! This covers an area where amateur radio operators use their knowledge and skills to make numerous on-air contacts in challenging situations.

Contact

The Secretary, Port Stephens Amateur

Radio Club

PO Box 3O13  Lemon Tree  Passage NSW 2319 Secretary: John Proctor Email: secretary@portstephensarc.org Also Treasurer: Leigh Aanensen Email: treasurer@portstephensarc.org President: Richard Osborne O.A.M. Email: president@portstephensarc.org Education Coordinator: Leigh Aanensen education@portstephensarc.org WIA Assessor: Adam Gardiner Email: vk2yk@wia.org.au Webmaster: Greg Crawford Email: webmaster@portstephensarc.org

Directions

The meeting venue of the Port Stephens Amateur Radio Club is the Marine Rescue radio base at the top of 154 Whitbread Drive, Lemon Tree Passage, NSW. See the following map:

Notes on driving there

As one comes to the end of Whitbread Drive, the road becomes narrow and at places has drainage gutters across it, both of which reward driving at low speed. The end of Whitbread drive rises to the Marine Rescue radio base.