Broadcast - 7 December 2025
The highlight of this week happened over last weekend, starting at midnight on Friday. NTARC with REAST (WICEN), NWTARC and the Ulverstone Radio Operators’ Club came together and provided safety communications and rider tracking for the final equine event of the year, the 24 hour State Championships held near Sassafras. The communications trailer was delivered Wednesday morning and was setup. Quickly followed by the 70cm, data and 2 metre, voice repeaters being setup at a nearby hill top farmer’s shed. Check points were then visited to prove voice and data integrity.
All the midnight start contingency had arrived by midday Friday and headed out to establish their checkpoints. Checkpoints were at Rubicon, Dolerite, Orchard and the original Garneys Stump. Rides were 160km (starting at midnight), 100km (starting at 04:00), plus 40km at 07:00. We provided the organisers with seven checkpoints at four locations and a communications trailer at Ride Base. Unlike last year’s almost continuous stormy weather conditions, this year was the opposite, mild throughout the weekend, but the direct sun still had quite a bite to it.
Operationally the weekend went smoothly without any major horse or rider mishaps. Unfortunately a small group of riders were talking and missed a turn off, this added an extra ten kilometres before they realised their mistake. However one of these riders still went on to win the 160 km event!
Those of us that stayed till Sunday finished the last of the packing up of the check points, repeaters and communications trailer in the morning. This was interspersed with consumption of the renowned “Egg and Bacon Rolls” and much chatter before settling in for the official event presentations. Finally dispersing mid-afternoon and making our way back home to the North West Coast, Hobart and Launceston. This proved to be an excellent chance for like-minded amateurs to gather together while volunteering to assist the community.
Attending were VK7s: Justin TW, Harry HXT, Jim JZ, Oliver NFI, Murray ZMS, Eric EV, Rob ARG, Fran FRN, Stuart ES, Roger ARN, Stuart FEAT, Idris ZIR, Andre ZAB, Stefan ZSB and from the Ulverstone Radio Operators’ Club Johan, Alex and Michelle.
Thank you to all who assisted in the smooth running of the communications side of this important Tasmanian event.
Back in early November Ross VK7ALH brought in an immaculate condition Yaesu Musen FL-50B, which he had recently acquired. Evidently it was originally sold in Johannesburg South Africa.
Last technical night Ross brought in the original version of the same model, an FL-50 purely for comparison between versions. It was still a tabletop model but manufactured slightly earlier in the mid 1960’s and bore the extra name of “Single Sidebander” that was subsequently dropped. Frequency coverage was still from 80 to 10 metres in five amateur bands with an all valve construction using a 6JS6A as the final, producing a peak output of approximately 50 Watt. There were some internal changes in layout that were streamlined in the B version but very identifiably similar. The stand out difference was that most switches were rocker types, whereas the B version used slider switches that had become very popular. The transmit Push-To-Talk or “PTT” button as it is commonly known, is literally a push in button on the front panel as opposed to a lever key switch on the later version. The changes to the analogue front panel display were quite distinctive between versions but overall they had the same style. This one certainly wasn’t pristine like his latest acquisition, but it still was in good condition and worthy of his collection. Thank you for the chance to compare production line versions Ross.
Please take note, because the Christmas break is almost upon us, we have added an off fortnight Club Room Technical Night. This will be the final session for the year and held on Wednesday the 17th of December. It will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea. Probably not necessarily a show and tell or even a presentation, more of a coffee or tea, food and plenty of chatter type of evening. The exception being, I believe, Colin VK7ZCF will have his laptop, drafting and 3D printer software with him just in case there are any follow up questions or problems from his previous presentation on Computer Aided Design and 3D printing.
As always pictures will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast. NTARC Blogs
UPCOMING EVENTS
On Air Test and Technical Net session - Every Wednesday, Test-Net and CW course on 3.580 MHz from 7 pm, then a Technical Net on 3.567 MHz from 7.30 pm till 8.30 pm. Your host for the evening is Nic VK7WW.
NTARC General Meeting – This Wednesday night the 10th of December at 7:30 pm, NTARC club rooms. If you have items you would like added to the agenda please email the secretary at: secretary@ntarc.net no later than Tuesday the 9th December.
Club Room Technical night - The final session for the year will be Wednesday the 17th of December and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
Coffee Morning - Held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10 am to noon.
Finally – If you have any items of news please email them to the Secretary at the following address news@ntarc.net all items to be received no later than 5 pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
That’s all folks,
73, Stefan VK7ZSB.
