Broadcast - 25 January 2026
A reminder to all users of VK7RAA, 2 Metre repeater on Mount Arthur. Don’t forget that due to the ongoing problem with the squelch opening, it was decided last year to implement tone access. This will require your transceiver to send a CTCSS sub-tone of 123.0 Hz on your transmissions. This change will be implemented in the near future, depending on weather and site visits. It will stay in effect until we can resolve the interference problem.
The Club Room Technical night had its first get together for 2026 last Wednesday night. It was very well attended with eager members swelling the numbers even before the normal start time of 6:30. There was certainly a lot to catch up on amongst the members after the Christmas break.
Interestingly and also overwhelmingly, the items brought in for the perusal of show and tell weren’t from the Christmas period. Nearly everything came courtesy of a “Huge Car-boot Sale” recently held by REAST at the Queens Domain! The cross section of items ranged from an original AVO 8 Mk2 multimeter to a Hantek Digital handheld portable oscilloscope. Hard-line co-axial cable to a Digital Capacitance and Inductance Multimeter. A Double Paddle Morse key to an HP Dart Logic Analyser, this one also brought back some happy memories of fault finding and adjustment from last century. These items plus many technical subjects were covered during the customary round table discussions that followed.
One common thought was, what a great day the car-boot sale was for all us northerners that travelled south for the day. Apart from all the “goodies” it was an excellent chance to catch up with friends and see some new faces. On the day the smell of nostalgia may have been old but the sausages and hamburgers weren’t and they tasted great! So from Wallace and Gromit, thanks for “A Grand Day Out”.
In case you have forgotten, NTARC’s 2026 membership is due and the fees are still just $45.00 for a full voting member and $5 additional for each family member that the voting member wishes to add to his or her primary membership. If club membership is not your cup of tea, we fully understand, and we thank those people who made direct donations to the club. If you are a repeater user or would just like to support its funding, we would also be happy to receive your contribution towards ongoing repeater maintenance. Donations can be made either in person at a club meeting or coffee morning, or by post to PO BOX 275, Launceston 7250. Any donation will be gladly accepted and officially receipted.
The Annual General Meeting of NTARC will take place on Wednesday, 11th February 2026 at the NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street Rocherlea, commencing at 19:30 hours (7.30 pm). Please start thinking about who you would like to see nominated for the new 2026 committee. Club members are reminded that they will need to be 2026 financially current to be able to nominate or vote at the Annual General Meeting. Nomination forms are available from the NTARC website in the members’ area for download. For your convenience, the forms are also available from the NTARC club room at the Coffee mornings and next Club Technical Night.
UPCOMING EVENTS
On Air Test and Technical Net session - Every Wednesday night, 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.
Club Room Technical night - The next session will be on Wednesday the 4th February 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.
Annual General Meeting & General Meeting - Wednesday the 11th February 2026 at the NTARC Club Rooms, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street Rocherlea commencing at 7.30 pm.
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.
