Author: Editor

Ballarat Radio Fest well attended by members

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This Sunday the Ballarat Radio Fest returned and was bigger than ever. Lots of gear was on sale and prices seemed quite reasonable. Beautiful older equipment was also on offer. Many components and connectors were available. Warm congratulations to the organisers for a very professionally run day. Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio club members were present and took away gifts presumably for Valentine's day (that's right isn't it?).
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World Radio Day Special Transmission

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In honor of World Radio Day, February 13, 2023, radio station SAQ in Grimeton, Sweden, and amateur radio station SK6SAQ, are scheduled to be on the air to send out a peace message to the world, using the unique 1924 200 kW Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz CW. The Grimeton building site in Sweden, contains the Alexanderson alternator, which was built in 1924. Test and tuning transmissions will begin approximately at 13:00 CET (12:00 UTC) and SAQ will be on the air for 20 - 30 minute...
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Friendly family day at Days Picnic ground

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Beautiful weather for a well attended club family day. Starting at 10am and extending into the afternoon, members, partners and friends enjoyed a very friendly outing where we chatted and mingled in a lovely environment. Despite recent cool weather, the sun was intense and some of us chased the shade from nearby trees (which would make fine supports for antennas). It was great to meet some of the women in our lives and new member Richard, VK3LRJ, met people he's only ever talked t...
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FM on HF? We tried it out.

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Tonight's regular 80m club net was good with strong signals but quite a bit of electrical storm noise. At the end of the net, VK3TPM suggested we try switching to FM. Most of us had never tried FM on HF and we were pleasantly surprised at how good it can sound. There were some problems with, what we thought, was over deviating. Dave, VK3ASE, had joined the net and he's done extensive experiments with FM on HF. Dave explained that what might sound like over deviation can in fact be noise or p...
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Family Day, 21 Jan 2023.

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Hi Everyone, It's that time again when we make our annual pilgrimage to the top of Mount Macedon. It doesn't seem like it has been 12 months since our last family day. Date: - 21 Jan 2023Time - 1000 hrs. Catering: BYO everything. (Don't forget to bring a chair, sunscreen, insect repellent and an umbrella.) How to get there Heading up Mt Macedon road, from the Gisborne side, pass through Mt Macedon township and continue toward the top of the Mount.Lions Head Road is on the righ...
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Reducing off grid solar noise

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Richard, VK3LRJ, is a recent licensee and when he initially set up his HF station was disappointed with the high level of noise across HF. It didn't take long to figure out that the culprit is Richard's off grid solar and battery system. Some noise came from switch mode battery chargers but the vast majority from the inverter. Although he moved the antenna (an Off Centre Fed Dipole) from the building with the solar and battery equipment, noise remained quite high. A call to the in...
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