Broadcast - 5 April 2026
Last week’s Technical Night on MeshCore drew a very health crowd, with plenty of members attending and even a few broadcast listeners dropping in to see what was happening.
We covered a lot of ground:
There was hands‑on work programming a Seeed Studio device, along with a look at some of the quirks, after programming, of using the interface on a T‑Deck.
We demonstrated sending messages, setting up private channels, and routing messages through repeaters to show how user‑configured paths actually work.
And of course, there was plenty of fun posting to and reading from the club’s Bulletin Board Message Room server node.
One of the real highlights of the night was the deep dive into the MeshCore tools. These are genuinely impressive. The interactive line‑of‑sight contour slice between two points drew a lot of attention, as did the predicted repeater coverage displayed in a multi‑layer heat‑map format. And as always, everything looks even better on the big monitor when everyone crowds around for a closer look.
I know from seeing the large monitor displaying the current MeshCore nodes being tested, a dozen nodes doesn’t look like much compared to the current greater Launceston Meshtastic network. But that’s perfectly normal at this stage. MeshCore will need to prove itself in real‑world use before features like remote repeater programming and the excellent tool suite tempt people across. For now, reliability and coverage remain the key drivers.
Time got away from us, the clock slipped well past ten before anyone noticed, so we will definitely be running a Part Two session.
Unfortunately the presentation on the club’s new user‑pays repeater usage billing system didn’t stand a chance of getting a look‑in and will have to be postponed...... perhaps until next April! Hi-Hi
We will end on a held over Technical Night item, this time from Colin VK7ZCF, he recently obtained a pair of Cardwell remote control variable capacitors, rated up to 1.5 and 3.5 thousand Volts respectively and naturally wanted to show these lovely and still in excellent condition examples to members. This brand is famous for its high capacity per cubic area and extremely low capacitance to chassis specifications. These are both twin ganged units incorporating interlinking gears and electric motor for adjustment. They are not Differential Variable Capacitor but are a Tracking Pair. Additionally the higher voltage unit also incorporated a variable resistor to provide positional feedback on exact plate position for repeatable operation. The other unit can easily have this facility retro fitted.
One wonders if Colin has a remote antenna matching unit on the horizon suitable for balanced feeder?
If the name Cardwell rings a bell or sounder in this case, Dr. G. A. Cardwell manufactured telegraph keys and sounders for the Western Union Company in the mid-1890s. After forming his company the American Telegraph Typewriter Company in 1907 he continued manufacturing telegraph sets. His stepson, Allen D. Caldwell joined soon after this company was formed and they branched out, developing and manufactured variable air capacitors. Along with this they found time to design, manufacture, and install the first automatic stock quotation system at the New York Stock Exchange. The rest is long and quite convoluted, suffice to say, eventually Cardwell Condenser becomes a member of the Viking Group of Companies and changed their name to Viking Technologies, Ltd in 2004 and they are still manufacturing today!
If you’ve seen a telegraph or Morse key but aren’t quite sure what a sounder is, you’re in for a treat. Justin VK7TW, brought together a collection of memorabilia to brilliantly recreate an authentic Telegraphic Station which features a sounder. Check out REAST’s Wednesday night presentation titled “Blast from the Past”, which aired on 23 July 2025.
The YouTube link is included in the text version of this broadcast, Blast from the Past
Unfortunately, there are no photos of MeshCore night on our website under “Blogs” this week, as my camera had a bit of a hissy fit and managed to lose everything I took on the night, but luckily Colin’s pictures were from the previous tech night. NTARC Blogs
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 Wednesday the 15th April and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
Club General Meeting - Saturday 18th. April at 2:30pm. Held at the NTARC Club Room, Rocherlea Scout Hall, Archer Street, Rocherlea. If you have items you would like added to the agenda please email the secretary at: secretary@ntarc.net .
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.
