Broadcast - 14 June 2026
What a wondrous thing YouTube can be.... well, sometimes anyway. This week an interesting “you might like this” suggestion popped into my feed.
It turned out to be a recording shared by Jordan, VK3ACU. It was an off-air capture of one of our very own Slow Morse Wednesday sessions, run by Nic, VK7WW.
Aside from the technical curiosity of how well the signal held up all the way into Victoria, the session itself was a little different. This particular night, Nic focused on something I’d never really thought about.
Instead of the usual practice sentences and familiar Australian call signs, he changed things. For a touch of realism, he used DX call signs and for authenticity, he chose actual recipients of the ARRL’s premier DXCC award.
As many of you know, entry into the DX Century Club requires confirmed contacts with 100 countries, so these were genuine international call signs with real history behind them. A great example of attention to detail there Nic.
Check out Jordan’s recording via the link in the text version of this broadcast: Nic's International Call Signs in Morse code
At our last club‑room technical night, Ross VK7ALH kicked things off with the return of one of the HealthKit PS-23 power supplies we looked at last month. It has now been upgraded from a two-conductor mains lead to a three-conductor cable and plug, a sensible move, given the metal enclosure.
But the real curiosity of the evening wasn’t the power supply itself. It was the original American-style two-pin plug. When Ross pulled it apart, it revealed a 3AG fuse in line with each of its plug pins. Now that’s something you don’t see every day!
Eric VK7ZPE, brought along a set of toroidal common-mode chokes he’d been building, and with help from Colin VK7ZCF, plus his test jig and Vector Network Analyser, they set about measuring how effective the chokes really were. That kicked off some hands-on experimentation and even a bit of a deep dive into toroidal materials and their differences. There were some very interesting results, proving you really can’t beat a good session of practical “test and measurement”.
Mid-year Club get-together and meal - The venue has been booked, locking in the date and time. It is to be held on the 15th of July, which is a Wednesday night, with the venue being the Iron Horse Bar and Grill located at 468 Westbury Rd, Prospect Vale, Launceston. Those who wish to attend please register the number of places required by e-mailing the Secretary or filling in the registration sheet at the club rooms.
Menu is a-la-carte. We will be arriving at 6pm for a 6:30 meal. A link to the Iron Horse location and menu information is available in the text version of this broadcast: Iron Horse Bar & Grill Menu
Just for information, the main access to the restaurant is via a wheelchair and walking friendly gentle ramp.
As usual 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 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 24th June and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
Mid-year Club get-together - Wednesday 15th July at Iron Horse Bar and Grill. 6pm for a 6:30 meal.
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.
