Saturday’s meeting will be a “show n tell”. You are encouraged to bring along items of interest, projects complete or not, interesting equipment or accessories.
Here’s a few previews.
Graeme VK3CDO will bring an AWA made military radio A510.
“The A510 wireless set was a crystal controlled, low power light-weight transmitter-receiver, designed primarily for use by long range infantry patrols. It could be used as a man packed station on the move, in a vehicle, or as a ground station. For the ground station role, improved aerial systems were provided to achieve greater range. It operated on either voice or CW. It was powered by dry batteries which normally provided 24 hours working. The frequency range was from 2 Mhz to 10 Mhz.
The WS A510 was designed by AWA (Amalgamated Wireless Australasia) in 1950-51, to meet an Australian Army specification for a small waterproof HF transmitter/receiver that would have good performance in the Pacific area, ie from flat plains country to mountains and rain forests. The existing Army portable sets such as the UK WS No.68 and the VHF portable sets of the era were ineffective in jungle situations as well as being bulky, heavy and difficult to maintain and keep moisture free. A number of prototypes were made and tested by AWA before settling on the design.”
– VK2DYM
On the home-brew front, Peter VK3TPM, has been building an AM transmitter for 7.125Mhz. It’s (literally) a bread-board and puts out about 3W – sufficient for a contact to a station in Bendigo.

Individual modules are made by using a Dremel rotary tool to cut copper between component legs.

AM is generated at low level using a diode ring mixer with DC added to offset the audio so it produces AM rather than double sideband. Dave VK3ASE has also used this technique to produce high quality AM.

Build your own drone? Yes you can!



If you have something on the bench – bring it along!